Table of contents for December 2020 in Tactical Life

Are you ready to kick 2020 and all of its troubles and miseries to the curb? If you’re like us, you’re of the belief that 2021 can’t come soon enough. One more virtual meeting or hour-xslong video conference call could send us all to the funny farm. As it stands, the gun industry’s largest trade show, known as the SHOT Show, is still on track to take place this January in Vegas. However, SHOT shot-callers are “actively monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, as the health, safety and well-being of our industry and the local community is a priority for us.” We certainly hope that SHOT 2021 is held and that all involved parties come out of it no worse for wear. That said, our editorial team recently embarked on its…

HIGH INTENSITY. VIOLENT. FAST. TAXING. These are the words I’d use to describe the engagements we practiced at the Centrifuge Training VCQB course in Texas recently. They were demanding yet fun. That sounds appropriate for the person who will find himself cornered in a vehicle in a very bad place, far away overseas, right? I had no idea that bad place would become countless highways and street intersections across the United States. Vehicle close-quarters battle is a real thing, and might be necessary training for an evolving threat. “IT’S PAINFULLY EVIDENT THAT VEHICLE CQB TRAINING IS ANYTHING BUT A NOVELTY IN THE UNITED STATES THESE DAYS. IT’S A SAD NECESSITY.” THE DANGER ZONES At the time this seemed to be a bit of a novelty curriculum—one less likely to be…

To me, Rise Armament is one of those companies that has come on so strong over the last handful of years that it would be foolish not to keep an eye out for new introductions from the Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, manufacturer. I was recently able to tour the company’s manufacturing facility for a feature story in the August/September issue of Tactical Life and was very impressed with what I saw. Originally a producer of aerospace and oil exploration parts, Rise has now risen as one of the top manufacturers of AR triggers, parts and full rifles. It’s my contention that if you put a Rise drop-in trigger in your AR, you’re not likely to want to swap it out for something else anytime soon. That tour is where I first…

Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa once said, “To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life.” There couldn’t be a better quote to personify Kelsey De Santis. Just looking at De Santis you see a young woman who’s just as sweet as she is beautiful. Her smile will set you at ease in an instant, leaving it impossible to comprehend that she’s also a powerhouse that could knock you out in a single blow. Beauty and strength are not the only attributes De Santis possesses; she’s also highly educated. Brains, brawn and beauty, De Santis is the absolute definition of a triple threat. De Santis grew up in southern California with her mom and brother. Having a father who was not active in…

This past September saw Athlon Outdoors host its fourth annual Rendezvous in Driggs, Idaho, near the Grand Tetons. For three days, dozens of gun manufacturers unveiled their latest and greatest wares—many still under wraps—to Athlon editors and content creators, giving us plenty of trigger time to create more content for our various print magazines and websites in the coming months. But this amazing event wouldn’t have been possible without several key sponsors donating goods for every participant. Here we’d like to show our support and fill you in on the great gear that made for another awesome Rendezvous. —The Editors 1 5.11 TACTICAL RUSH LBD MIKE 56 L What kind of shooting-range Rendezvous would be complete without a bag for toting clothes and gear? Embroidered with our Athlon Outdoors logo,…

While the general idea of handgun defensive ammo hasn’t changed much for a few decades, the jacketed hollow-point pistol bullet has been tested, engineered, fielded and refined into a remarkable performer compared to the old-school designs many of us grew up with as pistoleros. We now know much more about what defines a successful pistol projectile, what challenges that success and what generally makes them fail. With this information, industry has given us a plethora of great options when choosing a defensive or tactical pistol round. From generic soft-point or JHP options to branded bullets like those found in the Power Shok, HiVel and original HydraShok lines of the 1970s and ’80s to the latest designs such as the Speer Gold Dot G2, Hornady FlexLock, Federal HST and the Winchester…

For a rifle to be considered versatile it must be able to satisfy multiple roles with equal aplomb. Viable rifle candidates for this title are the POF-USA Revolution DI (POF REV) and Sig Sauer 716G2 DMR (SIG716G2 DMR) chambered in 7.62mm (.308 Win.). The combining of the AR platform with the increased power represented in the 7.62mm cartridge is a defining feature of both rifles. HISTORY LESSON In general terms, ARs come in two patterns and two operating system—AR-15 and AR-10 that are either direct impingement or piston driven. The AR-15 is most associated with 5.56mm and AR-10 with .308 Win. Many would characterize the AR-10 as an AR-15 on steroids with its larger size, larger caliber and heavier weight. The AR-10 actually predates the AR-15. Eugene Stoner first introduced…

There was a day not too long ago when the idea of consistently punching rounds on a target at 1,000 yards was a stretch unless you had a super high-end and expensive rifle. Those days have changed my friends, as 1,000 yards has become a bit of a starting point nowadays. What has changed as well is the idea that you need a pricey rifle to get the job done. The answer to this challenge comes to us from none other than Mossberg! In the shotgun world, Mossberg is the king of the hill. While not common in everyday conversation, Mossberg also makes one helluva series of rifles. In fact, they are some of the nicest long guns in the industry and in many cases quiet gems. One of their…

Despite what you might have been led to believe, Soviet military doctrine was mostly defensively styled. Yes, the big scary Red Army seemed poised to conquer the world at any moment, but the reality is that they had little desire to. The Soviet Union spanned more than 14 time zones and included massive reserves of oil, natural gas, timber and gold. Expansion was simply not a motivation. Before this devolves into arguments of economics and politics, let’s just accept the fact that Soviet military doctrine was different from that of the West’s. One difference of tactics was the doctrinally preferred use of designated marksmen over snipers. While snipers require extensive specialty training and equipment, a designated marksman does not. With the intent of simply having farther reach and the ability…

CENTURY ARMS AP5 Anyone who has heard of Century Arms knows that it offers a huge variety of firearms. Adding to its impressive lineup, Century Arms will be selling what most will recognize immediately as everyone’s favorite sub-machine gun. Get out your credit cards and meet the Century Arms AP5 Pistol! AP stands for Apparatus Pistol, which is Latin for “Machine Pistol.” The “5” was left to pay homage to HK’s MP5. The Gun Gods have surely smiled down upon us, and given us one of the coolest firearms ever invented. The AP5 is built in Turkey on original (HK) equipment. And get this, all of the parts of the Century Arms AP5 are completely interchangeable with the HK MP5! No price has been set as of yet, however, I…

Just what the heck is a ZEV anyway? ZEV sounds like some kind of super villain who should be throwing the Man of Steel through an office building. However, the seasoned comic book nerd appreciates that this fictional malevolent Kryptonian would actually be Zod. ZEV, by contrast, is a remarkably refined striker-fired combat handgun. The folks at ZEV cut their teeth offering aftermarket parts designed to make Glock’s guns better. After producing custom triggers, slides, buttons, levers and widgets, the ZEV guys woke up one day and realized that they had made the whole shebang from scratch. As a result, they then further transformed their design into something modular, complete and uniquely special. Their masterwork is the O.Z-9 Modular Build Kit (MBK). PHILOSOPHY Let’s address the obvious question. Is the…

The Beretta 21A Bobcat was introduced in 1984 and immediately became a favorite for those who like micro semi-autos, particularly in .22 LR. While .22 LR is not optimal for personal defense, the little Bobcat is ideal when you are prevented from carrying anything larger. All 21A Bobcats are manufactured at Beretta’s plant in Accokee, Maryland. The 21A also captured the hearts of those who enjoy running very quiet suppressed pistols. This made the 21A a favorite to send to various shops to have the barrel threaded. This procedure entailed installing an extension with a larger diameter than the barrel, allowing it to be threaded for 0.5x28. I went through this process with an older 21A and have thoroughly enjoyed the results. It has been encouraging that, in the past…

As a nation of 328 million people, we Americans own some 274 million automobiles. While the overt purpose of all this sundry rolling stock is to drag our lazy carcasses from Point A to all points beyond, our cars represent much more than mere mechanical conveyance. Asserting that a motor vehicle is little more than unadorned transportation would be akin to standing atop the catwalk in Milan and proclaiming that clothes need do nothing beyond keep us warm and dry. Reality is that our vehicles are fashion statements and status symbols all mounted atop four sexy wheels. A nice sportscar is a safe and legal recreational drug. It really isn’t just about getting there. It’s about getting there in style. Nowhere will you find a better embodiment of that timeless…

LARRY VICKERS needs no introduction to the firearms community. After a successful career in the U.S. Army, including 15 years in Delta, Larry entered the industry determined to make an impact. From developing a successful line of after-market parts with TangoDown to a highly productive YouTube channel, Larry was suddenly everywhere. He has been a brand ambassador for Aimpoint, Blue Force Gear and Wilson Combat, and has also co-authored a series of “coffee table” books. Fittingly, his first book was the Vickers Guide to the 1911, followed by guides to the AR-15, the Kalashnikov (AK), WWII Germany and his latest, Vickers Guide to Sig Sauer. “…IT IS AS CLOSE TO A CUSTOM GUN AS CAN BE PRODUCED WHILE KEEPING THE COST TO LESS THAN HALF WHAT A SIMILAR CUSTOM BUILD…

Some people wear a ring because they are married and some just wear rings to show off their individual personality or highlight their lifestyle. Whatever the reason you have for wearing a ring, you have probably ran into a problem where a metal ring digs into your finger or hand and possibly even cuts you. I ran into this problem on the range while shooting and when working with my hands. Groove Ring is the world’s first breathable active ring that is not only super comfortable but functional. Groove is not the first silicon style ring, but it has raised the bar on traditional silicone, activewear rings with its flexible, very strong material, inner breathable design and incredibly beautiful colors. Groove is the active silicone ring designed just for you…