NRA American Warrior Issue 22

At the Range
with SIGs New

P-320 Pistol
Earl Davis:
The Story of
a WWII Hero
Healing
Through
Shooting
Blackwater:
A Civilian
Warrior Tale
The FNS 9L:
Perfection
in Polymer
Eat, Work,
Sleep, Shoot:
Craig Calkins
Of F-105s,
Pilots and
Heroes
WarriorWare
We feature SIG and FNS pistols, plus our
Precision Trainer, Part II.
Virtual Warrior
Games, videos and more for the
modern warrior.

Marines: Shooting To Heal
Meet the Warrior Games shooting team that
dominated the competitionas usual.
The Little County That Could
A tale of planes, pilots and heroes
culminates in Haralson County, Ga.
If You Were A Cop
... What would you drive? The case for
equipping those who serve.
NPSC Domination
Robert Vadasz extends his reign at the
Police Shooting Championships.
The Replacements
Men like Earl Davis are fading fastand
theyre irreplaceable.
Eat, Work, Sleep, Shoot
Colorado Springs police officer Craig Calkins
thrives on competitive shooting.
Of Glocks And Glory
Why you should make time for a Glock
Sports Shooting Foundation match.
Civilian Warriors
A look back at some of the unknown heroes
in our nations War on Terror.
American Warrior
THE NRA MAGAZINE FOR
THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR
NUMBE R 22
ON THE COVER:
LOREM IPSUM DOLOR. Photo by Don Jones.
THIS SPREAD:
Marine Shooting Team. Photo by Don Jones.
Welcome to the Warrior.
W E L C O M E T O T H E W O R L D O F T H E W A R R I O R
WARNING: All technical data in this publication, especially for handloading, reflect the limited experience of individuals using specific tools, products, equipment and
components under specific conditions and circumstances not necessarily reported in the article and over which the National Rifle Association (NRA) has no control. The
data have not otherwise been tested or verified by the NRA. The NRA, its agents, officers and employees accept no responsibility for the results obtained by persons using
such data and disclaim all liability for any consequential injuries or damages. No advertised item is intended for sale in those states or in those areas where local restrictions
may limit or prohibit the purchase, carrying or use of certain items. Check local laws before purchasing. Mention of a product or service in advertisements or text does not
necessarily mean that it has been tested or approved by the NRA.
TEAM WARRIOR:
Editor
Mark Chesnut
Guns & Gear Editor
Frank Winn
Creative Director
Clay Turner
Photography/Videography Team
Dennis Azato
Michael Ives
J.R. Salzman
Rick Stewart
Writing Team
Tom Hoser Freeman
Chuck Holton
Dom Raso
J.R. Salzman
Rick Stewart
National Rifle Association of America
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, VA 22030
Wayne LaPierre
Executive Vice President
Chris W. Cox
Executive Director, NRA-ILA
Kyle Weaver
Executive Director, General Operations
W E L C O M E T O T H E W O R L D O F T H E W A R R I O R
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TOM HUSSEY
Defending Our America: Episode 11
Liberty, Security and Eyes in the Sky
Who Are the Bad Guys?
The Men Behind the Drugs
View the Defending Our America series,
sponsored by SIG Sauer on NRA Life of Duty here.
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE
WARRI ORWARE
GUNS, GEAR & GADGETS FOR
THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR
A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R
hen a pistol-sized box appears on your desk from Newington,
N.H., who says Uh-oh, its a SIG?
After all, from the legendary P210, P220 and P226
to the innovative P227 (AW13), SIG Sauer pistols are
acknowledged icons of quality, reliability, innovation and
accuracy the world over, and have been for decades.
Those nervous guys would be us. Not that
weve ever had a problem, mind you, but rather that Cupids arrowor
bullet?never quite found the mark with us.
Well, everything changes.
W
B Y FRANK WINN
G U N S & G E A R E D I T O R
P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y
MICHAEL IVES
SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE
The grip and
slide slots
would be open
on the DAO 250,
but are closed
and filled with
striker-related
components on
the P320.
N R A A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R / / / /




N R A A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R
/ / / /

WARRI ORWARE
O U T S I D E
The cause of our apprehension is the latest addition to the SIG family of
pistols: the 320. While the heritage is clearly P family, the newest scion of the
house claims several innovative developments.
Perhaps most obvious is the lack of an external hammer. Unlike the cosmetically
similar P250, the hammer travel slot in the rear of both slide and frame is sealed,
and with good reason: The 320 is SIGs entry into the striker-ignition fray.
Like most striker pistols, the 320 is steel above, polymer below. The slide is
nitron-finished stainless steel with dovetailed front and rear sights. Our sample
pistol was fitted with a pair of SIGLITE night sights. Other slide cuts comprise a
nose taper to ease holstering (and to save weight),
a generous ejection port, locking notch, disassembly
relief, and front and rear cocking serrations.
About those cocking serrations: They might be the
best weve seen on any pistol, ever. It doesnt matter
how you like to manipulate the slide (from the front or
rear of the ejection port, slingshot, web-of-the-hand or
cross-gripping), we think their design is ideal. They are
deep, but not so deep that theyll prove a rust or
snag hazardbeen there, done that. Theyre broad,
but not so broad as to be ineffectively slippery to the
small-fingered, heavily calloused or when wetbeen
there, done that, too. This may seem like an odd thing
to like so much, but when it comes to safety and
malfunction clearing, this can be a huge deal.
Dropping down to the frame brings us to another
major departure from most of the Pssaid frame,
isnt. Instead of being the serial-numbered heart of
the firearm, SIGs grip module is merely one of nine
swappable components. With a single acquisition, the 320 gives the owner small,
medium and large grip diameters, as well as duty, carry and sub-compact overall
pistol size, all with magazines to match.
Visit the Gear Channel
Good front serrations
get the strongest digit
(thumb) back in the
slide manipulation
game, and the 320s
are superb. A good look
at the muzzle taper and
accessory rail too.
Nine choicesFull
(length) Medium
(grip diameter)
was issued to us.
Wouldnt change a
thing, but sure could!




N R A A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R
/ / / /

If thats a shock, take some time: It settles in nicely the more you
think about it.
Molded-in grip texture is common to each grip module. Highly
reminiscent of the E
2
treatment introduced on the P226, its a surface
weve admired before. We tested it wet, muddied and even oil-slicked.
The last is always a challenge, but the 320 soldiered on. We also tried
to snag it on various lining/clothing materials, and found it essentially
snag-free. One of our test materials was
a microfiber-type on which even chapped
skin binds badly, but it slid over the SIG
texture with ease.
The bottom of the grip module has a feature we expect to see proxied
or out-and-out copied, and soona generous relief cut which allows a
really authoritative grasp of the magazine base plate between thumb and
forefinger. As experienced handgun shooters know, a Type 3 malfunction
can lock a magazine amazingly, dangerously tight during the dreaded
double-feed, and serious leverage can be needed to free it. While we did
not experience any actual double-feeds during our range tests, we simulated
several. The 320 excelled in reducing these stoppages precisely because it
provides for such sure magazine removal.
In the past, weve seen, and had trouble ourselves, with the position/
architecture of P series slide locks, as certain hand dimensions and grips
will repeatedly activate the unprotected lever and lock the slide in recoil. We
tried to excite this considerable, even dangerous, inconvenience on the P320
and had no success at all. Even with buckier defensive loads, the slide lock
never engaged in thisah, unhelpful?way. We cant say whether this is due
to the reshaping of the lever to include a downward bevel or the addition of
a small guard shelf. Either way, its a welcome advance.
The magazine release is another clever joy of the P320. Defaulted to the
leftsorry southpawsits nevertheless dead simple to swap. The first time
we did it, we went slowly to make sure no small parts escaped (particularly
the small spring). But the second time we timed it at under a minute, easily.
Its also our opinion that mag release springs generally have more tension
than desirable, but wed rate this one nearly perfect. The button itself is
also a nifty compromise. Its long enough for easy access, and its triangular
shape is nicely beveled and textured for sure tactile feedback without digging
WARRI ORWARE
Nice trigger
guard under-cut
yields great high
hand position.
Mag release
flips around for
lefties toowe
could do this
in well under
a minute with
a smidgeon of
practice.
Type 3
stoppage
clearance is
exceptional
on the P320
due to solid
mag base
plates and
the grip
relief cut.
The grip scallops are bilateral,
and we found them an unexpected
benefit in several ways.
SIG 320 magazines are
first rategreat tubes, good
base plates, followers and
captive internal lock plate.
Disassembly is a cinch, and
round-count limiting is wisely
done with a dimple (in box)
rather than a cut.
into your weak-side palm. For duty or competition, its another part that
doesnt demand swap or modification.
For servicing and cleaning, the 320 reprises what weve long argued is
the best takedown in the world, similar to the Walther P38 of World War II
fame. With the slide locked back, a forward, left-side lever rotates to a
stop, and, with release of the slide lock, permits the slide to be swept
forward off the frame.
In the new SIG, takedown is not only easydare we say foolproofbut
also exceptionally safe. First, locking the slide back ejects any chambered
round and exposes any magazine that might still be in position. Second,
the disassembly lever cant be activated to the release position with a
magazine in the grip module,
so the ammunition source must
be removed. Thirdly, there is no
necessity to press the trigger to
release the slide: Even if a round
manages to remain chambered
(mechanically possible, but
difficult enough to alert you that
something is decidedly amiss),
the trigger is still deactivated by
the disassembly lever. Were not
saying the system cant be beat,
but we didnt discover how!
The bilateral thumb rests
top other clever grip architecture
nuances. In a one-handed grip,
the thumb certainly finds these commodious. But a modern, two-handed
grip has the thumbs otherwise occupied, and these take on a different
function. On the left, they prevent the fleshy part of the thumb/hand from
unhelpfully contacting the mag release. On the right, we found them a
valuable aid to proper gripthe ridge on the underside of the index finger
knuckle is an instant cue that hand position is too low, especially when
drawing. Lastly, they constitute a de facto relief cut, alternately making the
mag release (on the left) and trigger (on the right) easier to reach without
compromising overall gripping diameter.
...THERE IS NO NECESSITY
TO PRESS THE TRIGGER TO
RELEASE THE SLIDE: EVEN
IF A ROUND MANAGES TO
REMAIN CHAMBERED...
THE TRIGGER IS STILL
DEACTIVATED BY THE
DISASSEMBLY LEVER.
WARRI ORWARE
Email the Editor
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Grip module with
action core in place.
The disassembly lever
removes to the left, and
with a gentle pull forward
and then up, out comes...
WARRI ORWARE
I N S I D E
The 320 is the first striker-fired SIG. Borrowing
from the modular P250 (introduced in 2007), it
replaces the DA-only, hammer-based action with
a striker-based ignition system. As we said, this
stainless assembly is the actual pistol, and virtually
everything else can be swapped in and out.
These swaps even include caliber: With the P320,
9 mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W and (eventually) .45 ACP
slide assemblies are available to build up from your
original core. If thats not versatile enough for a single
serial number, were open to suggestions.
With the slide off the pistol, our 9 mm presented
other reminders of SIG precision and attention to
detail. The barrel is a conventionally rifled design with
integral feed rampa combination we were able to
get to feed spent brass about half the time. Is there
any wonder our malfunction report is short?
Unlike some previous P family pistols, the
320 uses a long life, flat wire recoil spring with an
unusually high turn count (49) on a two-piece steel
guide rod.
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the
serialized
core of the
P320. Its
a dream to
maintain, to
say nothing
of amazing
versatility.
The P320
slide, with
barrel
and recoil
assembly still
in place. Lots
going on, all
of it good.
Numerous internal cuts
take care of dynamic
balance in the slide
action. Smooth shooting
is the result, with great
return to point-of-aim.
SIG Sauer Promotional
Mop up that drool when youre finished.
The grip texture and
architecture are great.
We particularly like
the shelf under the
slide lock: no more
accidental activation
at juuuuuust the
wrong moment.
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There are
circumstances
under which the
ejector could
folda contact
nuclear blast,
for instance.
Otherwise, not
so much.
Case extraction was extremely
sure with our P320, and the
underside of the extractor claw
provides loaded-chamber indication
you can feel from Pluto.
SIG P320
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AT THE RANGE
One of the things we immediately liked about
the P320 was the inclusion of a holster and second
magazine. An irritating hazard of, and barrier to, our sort of
analysis can be the availability of this type of kit as there
isnt any good way to proxy the speed of a reload without a
second magazine. And generic holsters? The best of them,
well, stink.
We didnt head to the range expecting functional issues
whatever our other apprehensions might have been about
the 320, reliability was not among them. Still, we tested
a wide range of projectile weights from 90 to162 grains,
including bullets of round nose, truncated cone and several
different hollow point designs. Overall cartridge lengths
varied from 1.020 to 1.160. All were digested effortlessly.
The guide rod/recoil spring configuration handled all
bullet types and load levels with ease. Lighter loads cycled
decisively with cases ejecting at about the 2:30 position
(slightly forward of directly right), while heavier loads tossed
cases at a typical 4 to 4:30 position. We never felt the
pistol was close to slamming (full spring compression),
even with heavy defensive ammunition. Combined with
the recoil-dissipating flex of the polymer grip module,
the spring/guide rod kept the 320 docileeven with the
pistols slightly higher bore lineand meant that return to
point-of-aim was very predictable.
We even fed the SIG some slightly but deliberately
deformed cases to simulate ammunition damage that
can occur in the field, but no joy: Feeding and ejection
proceeded unabated.
WARRI ORWARE
Email the Editor
SIG P320
> > > >
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Accuracy was splendid as
well, another hallmark of past
SIG pistols. With concentration
and good trigger work, even
a single survivor on the plate
rack was rare to 35 yards, and
unlikely even at 50.
This we largely credit to the
new trigger system. Weve long
noticed that SIG P series fans
are most frequently those whove
had extended opportunities to
use their SIGs to the exclusion
of all others, and, almost
as frequently, had access to
plenty of training ammunition.
Otherwise, mastery of the DA
triggers has been variable, or at
least lengthy.
These considerations are
essentially immaterial on
the 320. The short take-up,
moderate press weight (nominal
of 5.5 pounds, ours settled to
about 4.9) and very short reset
makes this a system to which
most anyone can accommodate
well and very quickly. The
loooooooong first press thats so difficult to master is loooooooong gone.
Note that both tabbed and un-tabbed versions (ours) of the trigger are
available to meet departmental, agency or personal requirements/preferences.
We hadnt the slightest inkling that this trigger-mounted lever was necessary,
and would skip it given the choice. But depending on how you count, this adds
a fourth safety to the out-of-battery/disconnector, and drop/striker safeties
present in every pistol, irrespective of trigger choice.
The 320s
beavertail: not
over-arched with
a tendency to
bite the thumb
knuckle like
one we know,
yet sufficient to
provide enough
forward leverage
to dampen recoil.
Going To Work
Andrew T. Reinhardt, 2012 Rocky Mountain 300 Shoot-off Winner
takes the SIG P320 through its paces.
WARRI ORWARE
Email the Editor
Simple excellence,
superb quality.
Shoots like the
proverbial house
afire too.
WARRI ORWARE
THE SHORT TAKE-UP, MODERATE
PRESS WEIGHT AND VERY
SHORT RESET MAKES THIS
A SYSTEM TO WHICH MOST
ANYONE CAN ACCOMMODATE
WELL AND VERY QUICKLY.
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Takedown
position,
which also
deactivates
the trigger.
Normal
position of
the takedown
lever.
G R I P E S
Our range work is probably predictive of what we have in
terms of gripesdarned few. In fact, the only one is a matter merely
of taste, and is easily amended.
In darkness or low light, we like the SIGLITE sights. They are added
to the pistol as an option and at a very reasonable price too. The
potential for difficulty, however, appears in daylight use. Over time,
general grime and carbon tend to attach themselves to the lenses
of the tritium lamps, and turn what are decently whitish dots an
unhelpful gray. Before long, the three-dot tactical style sight picture
fades, and cleaning cannot fully restore it.
To many shooters, this doesnt matter much: Theyre aiming based
on the notch-and-post for distance precision, and the dots remain
satisfactory closer in. If this is you, then youre good. If not, consider
something like the Trijicon HD (NRA/AW review here), TruGlo TFO
(review here) or the soon-to-be-released XS 24/7 sights (review here).
If your SIG is destined for competition, consider the Battlehook: Their
exceptionally low profile is a great complement to the P320. Come to
think of it, their duty sights are great too (due in December 2014).
The second item isnt a gripe either, but a caution. SIG notes
with justificationthat there is no necessity to press the trigger for
disassembly, and they are correct. Thats a nice safety touch as
we observed in our discussion of takedown, but also not unique:
We know of at least one other properly cleared striker-fired pistol
that shares this characteristic. The potential for an unintended
consequence occurs upon reassembly, however. A nimble, practiced
hand may be tempted to reassemble a freshly maintained 320
without employing the slide lock, and doing so appears to work.
It also results in a dead trigger. Reinstating proper trigger function is easyjust pull
the slide to the rear and engage the slide lock (youll hear a click) and re-release the
slide. Merely racking the slide, even repeatedly, will not restore trigger functionits the
slide lock lever that does the trick.
This is not a malfunction or design error, as theres no way to seat a magazine in
the pistol until the proper procedure has been completed. SIGs outstanding manual
details correct reassembly (page 38, steps 6-8), but we couldnt find a reference to this
apparent gotcha. If you discover this inadvertently, at least youll now know there is
absolutely nothing wrong with your P320.
WARRI ORWARE
Email the Editor
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Top rank in
our book, by
just about any
measure we
know.
F I N A L
A N A LY S I S
We alluded in our title that the P320
was a departure for SIG, and we stick by that
assessment. The striker-based ignition and
switchable polymer grip systems are obvious
to all, and for many applications represent
thatahemSIGnificant leap.
But the devil, as they say, is in the details,
and in this case we think SIG got even more
important things right. A single, consistent,
short-reset trigger press is the standout to
us, but the dazzling versatility isnt far behind
(6,900+ possible combinations our mathwe
thinkreveals). And all of this comes without a
remotely consequential nick in SIGs traditional
stock-in-tradeaccuracy, reliability and granite-
esque durability.
We get to the metaphorical end of the day,
therefore, with none of our past SIG Sauer
P series caveats. In our view, the P320 isnt
merely good, or even very good.
Its great.
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P R E C I S I O N T R A I N E R , P A R T I I
We get down to it, or at
least start: shooting itty-bitty
bullets a long way.
Sponsor an LOD Membership
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P H O T O S B Y
MICHAEL IVES
B Y FRANK WINN
ur Precision Trainer rifle is
coming along. In Part I,
we took a look at some
selection criteria, and
came up with the Ruger
10/22 as our base platformand
a fine one it is proving to be.
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The goal of the project is to field a rifle that allows a dedicated
practitioner to develop and/or maintain long-range skills without having
access to a multiple thousands of dollars rifle/optics suite, or to a 600- to
1,000-yard range. Our premise is that a sufficiently good rimfire can isolate
technique issues for 10 to 12 cents a shot, and teach a high percentage of
the necessary skills on a 200-yard range.
While lots of factors contributed, three in particular lead to our choice
of the 10/22. First, the long life of the designit is in its 50th yearmeans
there are plenty of aftermarket parts/choices available, and especially
good triggers. Then, theres the very reasonable start-up cost of around
$300. Also, many people have one around they dont shoot much
anymore (but should and will, we hope). Finally, we considered the ability
of the action to conform either to a pistol grip-configured rifle or to a
conventional stock design.
In a classic test of
whether or not a barrel
floats in the stock, our
dollar bill doesnt make
it all the way back to the
action. Well fix that!
Care and half
an hour took
50% off the
trigger press
weight.
Depending on the age of the
10/22 youre building out,
screws may be of different
types so have the right tools
handy. Be careful about over-
torqueing steel threads in the
aluminum receiver.
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In Part I, we decided to swap
out the trigger components in
the 10/22. As we noted, we
found the trigger crisp, but a little heavy (it settled at 5 1/2
pounds). For our precision training at distance we wanted
more delicacy. Keep in mind you can put just about as much
money as youd like into a 10/22 trigger. Volquartsen Custom,
for instance, has a drop-in system (or at Brownells, here) that
replaces your entire housing and all components for about
$250. Wed argue its worth every penny:
You remove/replace one screw and two
pins, and in roughly 10 careful minutes
youll have a pretravel and overtravel
adjustable trigger at about 2 pounds. And
they make the rifle an absolute dream
to shoot.
Youll anticipate, perhaps, why we
arent going this route: Part of our goal
was to create an economical training
rifle without breaking the bank. More
money left over for ammunition seemed
a worthwhile by-product of a little
more work.
Fortunately, project sponsors
Volquartsen and Brownells provided
us with a great intermediate step, a
hammer kit (or straight from Volquartsen)
for just this purpose. A reasonable
alternative to a full swap-out, it has
benefits all its own. First, youll learn a
lot about how your rifle works. Second,
you can get a substantial percentage
of the improvement for a fraction of the cost. This kit makes
use of many existing parts, but replaces the all-important
hammer with an EDM-cut, ultra-low-friction version mated
with precision bushings, and new springs for the hammer and
trigger return plunger.
The larger cutout (as opposed to the v
shape) is the difference in automatic bolt
release. One fingered and easy, as opposed
to the v cut in factory part, above
INSIDE
Looking up at the
barrel/receiver/
bolt fit through the
magazine well. The
bolt face meets the
rear of the chamber,
and the extractor
claw moves freely in
its channel. Perfect.
Barrel install
with clamping
block. We
found specs for
tension here as
low as 10 in-lbs.,
and as high as
65 in-lbs. Go
slowly.
The old lever-
less magazine
release will be
missed by an
exact total of
zero people.
While weve been in the Ruger action many times before, we took our
time, making sure we had all our tools (a conveniently small seta parts
tray, 5/32th Allen bit and driver, a .125 punch, and a toothpick for a slave
pin), good light, and most important of allan empty firearm. Youll find
the Volquartsen instructions concise and complete. You might want them
printed slightly larger, but dropping from
more than 5 pounds to 2 1/4 made the
effort worthwhile.
Our Ruger came with an extended
mag releasea part we used to buy and
addso the only other change we made was a Volquartsen Automatic Bolt
Release. Were not so sure about the automatic part, but just take our
word for it and add one. It makes a clumsy two-handed operation a one-
finger undertaking.
While youre inside the actionor poking around on the webyoull see
that many other things could be tuned up, but weve stopped for the time
being. Even better performance can surely be added by further upgrades,
but keep in mind the concept of diminishing returns. You may want them
later, but its also a good idea not to change too many things at once.
Plus, it keeps your project more affordable.
Our last change was to install our Volquartsen barrel. Its a bull profile
of .920 inches diameter with a 1-in-9 twist. The first characteristic is to
reduce barrel flex, the second is to allow us to spin very heavy bullets
to stability.
Installing a barrel on a 10/22 isnt particularly difficult, but does
require caution. Once again, only proceed when youre certain you
have an empty rifle. Thanks to Brownells weve got a very
complete video showing the install of a Volquartsen barrel
almost identical to our upgrade. Pay particular attention
to chamber/bolt face fit as the video recommends.
Remember, too, that youre mating a steel barrel to an
aluminum receiver, and the apparent need to brute-force
anything is code for get a professional involved, i.e., your
friendly gunsmith.
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Easy to see
some fitting
work will be
needed on
some stocks.
Good news is
lots of choices.
Counting the factory stock, we had seven
at our disposal. As wed shot the original
pretty extensively in Part I, we set it aside
for Part II. Also, it didnt seem polite to
start grinding away on the factory stock to
make it fit a .920-inch diameter barrel.
The Axiom was the easiest to get our
barreled action into, and is cut the best
to securely accommodate the rear of the
action. Unfortunately, its just not stiff
enough for our tastes. If youre really a
project-lover, heres a good one: Figure out
a way to stiffen this little guy up. It was the
cool-factor winner in an un-scientific range
crowd poll, and won the free-float and
actual drop-in comparisons by a country
mile. Its a good design for sure, but one
that needs better execution.
In the TAPCO/Intrafuse, we especially
like the option of a straight pull or a drop,
and shot it both ways. We do wish it was
stiffer and allowed the barrel to free-float
without modificationwe left the top cover
off the handguard to aid this and will
fix it later. Lots of rail estate here too,
cleverly configured. It makes secure bipod
mounting easy. As AW readers, however,
we know youre proof against the absurd
larding-up of the remaining rails, right?
Right?!?
OUTSIDE
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If only the
Blackhawk/
Axiom were
stiffer. Great
looking and
had the best
internal fit
of the lug
on the rear
of the Ruger
action.
Barrel and action fit is crucial to
good long range performance,
especially with the delicate
ballistics of .22 rimfire.
TAPCO can be
bought with BOTH
straight and
dropped stocks.
Lots to like,
including all the
rail estate.
The Butler Creek we admired for its trimness, (short)
length and general no-frills functionality. When this
stock was first introduced, there were legitimate snipes
at looseness in the folder joint. But recent samples
weve seen are uniformly good in this regard, and our
pictured sample was a borrowed one with our action
plopped in and shot. Its been in service about 20
years and is still solid. The message here is simple:
Select it in person if you possibly can (a mail-order/
website problem, we concede), and no slapping it
open or closed.
Note that you have to open up the barrel channel
substantially for a bull profile barrel like ours to fit,
and this takes some time. A bipod can be attached to
the provided sling swivel, as we did with a long-suffering
Harris. If theres a consequential knock on the Butler
Creek its that some examples of the stock do not
seem to fit the rear of the action as tightly as wed
wish given the single stock screw that connects them.
Like many of our stock options, bedding is the best
and once-and-for-all solution to this problem.
Theres an argument to be made that the TacStar
Adaptive Tactical Stock isnt quite as versatile as our
TAPCO at the butt, but its the hands-down winner
at the other end. The nifty design of the forearm
has about six different configurationsa factory or
bull profile barrel is accommodated by removal of
an insert. Slings and bipods can be stud-mounted,
or a clever panel flipped over and reattached with
a polymer rail section exposed. The butt strikes a
balance between the TAPCO options, with a slight
drop, but straight pull.
Like most of the others, our TacStar wasnt a drop-in
fit, and some fairly aggressive inletting was required
around the rear of the action and trigger guard areas
to get our barreled action in. Once this was done,
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The Butler Creek
folder has been
around for a long
time with good
reason: solid
construction and
27 inches short.
That dollar bill
slides all the way
back to the locking
block, verifying
the absence of
stock contact: the
desirable free
float.
Note that you have
to open up the barrel
channel substantially for a
bull profile barrel like ours to
fit, and this takes some time.
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however, the TacStar shone in several ways. The drop and adjustable length of
pull in the stock combine with a biggish grip diameter to make a comfortable
position behind the scope easy to find. Notably superior stiffness made loading
the bipod for greater stability a cinch too. Our sample has a camo variant color
scheme that we, uh, detest, but thats simply a matter of taste. Good news
though: Its also available in black.
Our last stock variation is a tried-and-true conventional (no pistol grip) stock,
also from Volquartsen. Essentially a heavy sporter style, its a dimensionally
stable, laminated wood creation, CNCd with a rollover cheekpiece, bull barrel
channel and wide forend. It makes for a very comfortable-to-shoot rifle, and
maybe the best choice if your precision training is developmental for a centerfire
companion like the M24 or M40, or a hunting rifle with a traditional stock. One
minor knock is it has no sling stud.
10/22 magazines havent changed
in years, and in our opinion,
should always be preferred over
imitators. Standard 10 round, and
a 25-rounder (right).
Obviously, we were anxious to test the performance
of our beautiful barrel, but to do that in the rimfire
world takes careful ammo selection. This is an
important divergence from centerfire. There, you can
reload your own if youre really stuck, but it can be
punishing in terms of time consumption. Plus cost will still be daunting in relative
termsfour or five to one, compared to rimfire.
So we trotted out to the range with our chronograph and 20 types of .22 LR
ammunition in tow. If you surmise that things are about to get technical, you would
be correct. But well make it as painless as possible.
In Part I we talked in some detail about barrel vibration as shots are fired, and
interactions with anything making solid contact with the barrel, most especially the
stock. While the impact on accuracy through this mechanism in .22 LR is smaller
than in a centerfire rifle, it still cannot be ignored. The lighter bullets and lower
velocities of rimfire render its ballistics delicate by comparison. Allowing the barrel
to move freely, however, is hardly where it ends.
Our twist rate choice is another factor. Pretty much everyone knows the lands
and grooves of the rifled barrel twist in order to spin the bullet fast enough for it to
gyroscopically stabilize, and this has a relationship to velocity. Too slow and/or not
enough twist, and youve got a musket: poor accuracy at least, and maybe bulletsif
they hit at allhitting the target sideways (key-holing). Too fast and/or too much
twist, and the projectile can literally spin apart. Check out this relationship with the
Berger Bullets Twist Rate Stability Calculator if you want to learn more.
AT THE
RANGE
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American Eagle
variants were reliable,
but strictly 100-yard
or closer fodder.
Winchesters probably
good to 150, the
PowerPoint (center)
weve seen amazing
performance from on
occasion.
Remingtons,
Winchesters and
CCIs show many
subtle variations:
copper-washed,
bare lead, hollow-
point, round-
nosed. Far right
was our budget
star over the
chronograph: CCI
AR Tactical.
Point is, were watching for evidence of this effect on the accuracy of the Trainer, as
our barrel spins the most common .22 LR bullet (40 grains) about 28 percent faster
than the typical 1-in-16 twist barrel. In case youre wondering, all our projectiles are
listed as solidly stable in the calculator.
The remaining big ballistic player may well be the mother lode of our Precision Trainer
projectbullet drop. This is where our chrono data
becomes so important, and why we tested so many
different types of ammunition.
Knowing velocityand more importantly, velocity
variationmatters so much because of the effect
it has on projectile TOF, or time of flight. If time of flight varies widely shot to shot,
gravity has more (or less) time to affect drop and create the vertical point-of-impact
errors that we discuss below in some detail. But it also significantly affects things
like spin drift (essentially the curve ball effect applied to a bullet, just to the left
or right based on barrel twist direction), and Coriolis effect: the Earth spinning
More Remingtons, then
RWS, Eleys, Aguilas
(including the 60 grain SSS
loaded in a .22 Short case),
and the dimpled Federal
900B, now superseded by
the 922A.
The Volquartsen 1-in-9 barrel
is really designed for heavier,
subsonic loadsespecially the
60 Aguila SSS (upper right).
Federal Gold Medal Match was
the tightest, velocity-wise:
only 6 feet/sec variation in
5-shot groups.
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under the bullet as
it travels between
barrel and target. And
before you believe the
twaddle that these
dont matter, consider
that the Shooter
Ballistics Calculator (AW 19 review here) shows our best ammo will still hit a
hypothetical 150-yard shot, but miss relatively badly on a 200-yard shot on
the same target if you dont reckon with these effects.
At 100 yards, our worst performing ammunition displayed a 114 ft/sec
difference between the fastest and slowest rounds in a string. As dreadful as this
sounds, it only accounts for an inch of difference in point of impact (we checked
our calculations on the Hornady Ballistics Calculator). On our 4-inch MGM
dueling tree target, this meansif we do our partevery shot should hit, and
pretty easily too. Heck, we could theoretically load potluck and still hit almost
half the time as long as any wind or other drift was properly accounted for.
But at 150 and 200 yards, the game changes dramatically. Velocity variations
alone are now accounting for 3.2-inch POI changes at 150, and 6.2 inches at
200 yards. If you contrast this with the best-performing ammunition (Federal
900A Gold Medal), the reason for our diligence becomes clear. The math shows
velocity-sourced POI variation is cut by 90 percent at 200 yards, by 93 percent
And still more. If you
dont recognize a lot
of the packaging,
well, thats how
deep we had to dig
to find .22 LR to burn
up for your benefit.
Classic lines for
classic skills:
The Volquartsen
laminated
sporter.
at 150, and by more than 95 percent at 200 with the Gold Medal.
Granted, this is expensive rimfire ammo. Last time we could find it, it was
about 25 cents a round. Thats depressing until you consider its centerfire
counterpart was $2-plus per round. Our second best performer, however,
is starting to show at least spotty
availability and at one-third the cost,
so hope springs eternal.
Narrowing our ammunition hunt was
the primary goal for round two on the
range with the Precision Trainer, but of course we had to try just a few
200-yard shots. It was breezy for rimfire at this distance, but steady, and
we got three out of four on, with one called miss using middling quality
ammo. Were saving our hoarded good ammo and techniques for making
the best use of our Vortex optic and reticle for the experts.
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Things are going well with the Ruger Precision Trainer.
Were happy with our internal changestrigger and
bolt release. And certainly the Volquartsen barrel is
performing well. And in the areas where it isnt, our
velocity variation checks show its almost certainly
an ammunition issue. Well find out next time if the 1-in-9 twist is really too fast. In
terms of stocks, the Sporter and TacStar will get the most play.
Weve also got ammunition narrowed down a bunch. The Ruger/Volquartsen/Vortex
combination doesnt seem to let the less precisely built sneak through. Weve yet
to find another source for the spectacular Federal Match, but were looking. In the
meantime, a couple of other alternatives are available in reasonable quantity, and
well lob plenty of those.
With the nuts and bolts of our project settled, next time well throw a trio of
seriously fine rifle shots into the mix, and give them the final yay or nay on the
notion of the Precision Trainer.
WHATS
NEXT
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I
I
T H E F N S 9 L M A K E S I T S D E B U T
BY FRANK WINN
GUNS & GE A R E DI T OR
P HOT OS BY
MICHAEL IVES
ts hard to look at the history
of lightweight, polymer-framed,
striker-fired pistols and not admire,
indeed envy, their success. Even with
the proverbial 800-pound gorilla still
very much alive and in the gamewe all
know who that ismany others have found the military, law enforcement and
civilian markets rewarding.
In this frame of mind, we then wonder: Why would another major player wait roughly
two decades to join the polymer/striker fray? After all, in some arenas, this company is
the 800-pound gorilla.
We think weve sussed out an answer, albeit in a very odd placesomewhere
between John Milton and Robert Burns. Those who only stand and wait may well
be planning to thwart the best laid plans of mice, men or unsuspecting
competitorsand deliver a pistol as good as the FNS 9L.
T H E F N S 9 L M A K E S I T S D E B U T
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Machining of the slide
provides outstanding
gripping contours for sure
slide manipulation. Good
cocking serrations help too.
Solid sights,
which are well
positioned at
the extreme
rear and front
of the slide,
provide a long
sight radius.
Were fans of
the U notch.
The trim nose of the 9L
makes re-holstering a
breeze.
At first blush, the American-made FNS 9L
looks like what it isa hammerless, steel
above/polymer below auto-loading pistol. In
our heads, we added good-looking too, but maybe thats just us. Our
particular sample was matte blackwe presume a high-tech oxidebut
matte silver is available too.
Closer inspection yields a harvest of great standard
features, including fully ambidextrous controls. It took
our industry a frustratingly long time to awaken to the
need for these, and the execution of them on the 9L is
excellent, although you need to use them on the range to
fully appreciate some of their sophistication.
Of pistols in this class and type, the 9L also has a
noticeably trimmer slide (by as much as .106 inch),
especially the upper half forward of the ejection port. That
might strike you as a so what? item, but we noticed
in our shooting trials that slide manipulation remained
sure for those of us with regular/biggish hands despite
there being less, in a literal sense, to grab. A couple of
small-handed volunteers, however, were emphatic in their
appreciation of the narrow top.
In retrospect, we think this is a limited but real effect,
and not some subjective, or even worse, transmogrified
cosmetic preference. The benefit to malfunction clearing
and overall handling safety accrues through two
mechanisms. First are good cocking serrations. They are
not our absolute favorites, but good, and plenty of them.
Second is the taper from the narrow upper half to the
wider lower half (got to have room for rails inside, right?)
of the slide. This machined step provides more contact
area for most slide manipulation techniques.
Think of it this way: Youre placing your gripping
surfaces (fingers, etc.) in a shallow joint, where there
are two surfaces with which to have contact. The result
is more static friction, and hence more leverage. The least advantage
is with a traditional slingshot (weak hand thumb and forefinger)
technique, the most with a crossover grip forward of the ejection port.
This latter is so secure that the pistol can be hand-cycled well faster
than many can shoot it (10 rounds in well under two seconds).
OUTSI DE
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Its practically cheating, yet right there on
the USPSA Production list. The mag well
is like a funnelif you find a way to miss a
reload, wed be curious to know how.
Forward, the frame has a Picatinny
rail for a light, laser or combo device.
One of our favorites: the Crimson Trace
Railmaster Pro.
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Major components
may constitute
a small parts
count, but a big
performance
advantage.
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Two back straps may not seem like
enough, but grip texture is so effective
it trumps mere dimensional alternatives
in our view. Press the latching lever
through the hole in the back strap to
releasea tool in the lanyard loop makes
it even easier to pull.
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Sights on our test pistol were a dovetailed pair of three dots:
.125-inch blade in front, Warren-style U notch in the serrated-face
rear. They are nothing fancy to be sure, but rugged and a much better
start than some we could name. With the almost overwhelming variety
now available (AW comparisons/reviews here, here and here), we have
to spot manufacturers this one: Theres no point in trying to guess
what most people would really like, and its impractically expensive to
try. Tastes simply vary too much.
The polymer frame has an ample supply of well-executed features,
too. Full ambi we already mentioned. In other words, magazine and
slide releases are always available on both sides of the pistol, no
switching required.
The trigger guard also stands out. Its noticeably larger than most,
and we cant help but think how useful this will be for gloved use.
Combined with a flatter-faced and more vertical trigger (in prepped
position), fouling of glove finger material should be just about nil.
Nicely undercut, it also helps to establish the high grip so effective in
soaking up recoil impulse, and the straight press so useful to precise
and/or rapid trigger actuation.
A studied observer might look at the grip of the FNS and conclude,
huh? We would understand why. The texture design seems to borrow
tidbits from a half dozen other pistols: pyramidal shapes here, vertical
striations there, horizontals elsewhere, and logography thrown in to
please the marketing/branding folks. It has swappable back straps
tooone arched, one flat, both with lanyard loops.
A final detail: Of the fixed beavertail pistols, we like the FNS best.
Theres plenty of material here to keep very meaty hands protected
from slide bite, and also to render an over-high grip (with the same
literally bloody result) essentially impossible. We raise the point
because we know of a competing pistola pretty darn good one in
many other respectsthat arches the beavertail too far over the web of
the hand. It feels great at the store or the armory, but doesnt work well
with the anatomy of some hands: We had no slide bite, but it left us
blistered, then bleeding after only 120 rounds. This is old advice, but
still sound: If at all possible, test shoot before you buy.
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The inside of the FNS 9L is as reassuring as
the outside, and getting a look at it is another
simple pleasure. In a popular, useful homage to
the P38 (Walther, pre-WWII), takedown proceeds from an emptied,
slide-locked pistol by means of a single, left side, frame-mounted
lever rotated down and forward. Release of the slide lock and striker
then allows the slide to come off the pistol to the front. So easy a
caveman well, you get the idea.
The interior of the slide evinces no mysteries, though the radiused
lower lock-up and what appear to be relief channels on both the
barrel hood and slide strike us as clever
indeed. They provide plenty of surface
to be lubricated and bear wear and
stress, yet ample room for combustion
by-products and environmental
contaminants to be cleared by slide
action long before they can degrade
functioning or accuracy.
In terms of surprises, the polymer
frame has a few. Most obvious are the
substantial frame rails. Not only are the
rails much larger in surface area relative
to competing designs, but they are
replaceable, too. It speaks volumes about
FNSs confidence in the durability of their design that such a provision
exists, but it also adds the abilitythrough a replacement of the rear
set (which contains the striker release mechanism)to field a version
of the FNS with an ambidextrous external thumb-actuated safety.
We saw no indication whatever that such a safety is needed since
the pistol already boasts the ubiquitous drop, disconnector and
trigger safeties. Deduction leads us to the conclusion that certain
commercial opportunities are enhanced by this capacity.
WARRI ORWARE
The rails are
much larger
than competing
designs, and
replaceable too.
I NSI DE
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The channel just forward of the
chamber aids debris clearance, and
simplifies barrel/slide lock-up fitting.
There is plenty of
lock-up and rail real
estate. Center is the
beefy ejector. Rails
are replaceablean
invitation to shoot
your 9L a lot!
Slide half of the lock work:
Striker pre-sets on slide motion,
and is noticeably powerful
great medicine for hard primers.
Silverish ovoid is the far end
of the trigger safety system,
blocking striker movement until
the trigger is pressed.
As we said, this
is the best ambi
mag release
weve seen. Its
available on
both sides, all
the time. A good
look at that large
trigger guard
too.
Loaded chamber indication
is both visual and tactile
on the extractor claw.
Ready to go, as shown.
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While the FNS isnt exactly a new
pistol, there are not a tremendous number
out there yet, and our experience with
them is limited. Consequently, we warmed up as we would with a new design:
function and projectile shape tests.
Function tests start with all possible round counts for the magazine, zero to X
(where X is maximum capacity). Mainly the results tell us two things: Does the
slide lock back as it should, and do all states of magazine spring tension still
allow cartridges to chamber correctly (or, for instance, does the slide get balky with
maximum up-pressure on it from a fully-loaded magazine)?
These tests also vary projectile type/shape as widely as practical to test whether
particular projectile geometries and/or OALs make a given pistol malfunction.
With one rare exception (more on this later), the 9L was superb. We happened to
have an unusually wide variety of 9mm ammunition available when we conducted
these tests, and the FNS breezed through them. Short OALs were no issue, even
down to 1.020 inches, while bullets as heavy as 162 grains stabilized well in the
cold hammer-forged, 1:10 twist barrel. The barrel and long sight radius yielded
superb accuracy too.
Once these basic functions of the pistol were vetted and we moved on to some
tactical/practical exercises, the true excellence of the FNS 9L became apparent.
First, the mag release: This simple function andyoud thinkpart, have alternately
tortured and delighted designers and shooters for decades, but the best stock one
weve yet seen is on the FNS. Yes, we actually said itthe best, period.
The mag release is ambidextrous as we mentioned, but utterly without
compromise on the 10-percenter side. The complexity of the shape at the micro level
has an almost Frank Lloyd Wright sort of eleganceand functional excellenceat the
macro level. Seriously: If you dont take a look and think Guggenheim rotunda, we
want to know what does come to mind. But we digress.
Its the proper length: Our primary shooter may be the shortest-thumbed dude
in the world, but even he can run it without a re-grip. Yet despite this length, its
delicately recessed enough that we couldnt induce an inadvertent mag release, nor
find a grip that was a problem for the weak-side hand. We also failed to find any
issues on the strong side: There was no back pressure fighting activation from the
palm or knuckle of the trigger finger, and easy activation with the trigger finger on the
master side if needed.
Next to impress us was the grip texture and architecture. The FNS lacks the
swoopy curves and extensive girth variations of other pistols in the class, and only
offers two backstraps. And as we noted, the texture seems like a hodgepodge
AT THE RANGE
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of characteristics borrowed from other pistols. But our shooting results suggest
all those options and consistencies on other pistols dont fair that well by
comparison. The exceptionally secure feel of the L9 grip is impressive, with dirt and
contaminants overcome with particular ease. Nowhere is this more obvious than in
either strong or weak hand-only shooting: This is where the small native dimensions
and positionally optimized textures constitute a tangible advantage.
A caution here: If you just pick up an FNS, the texture may seem too aggressive.
Certainly it did to us. But
700 rounds latter, we have one new,
small callous, but wouldnt change
a thing. In any case, itd be easy
to knock the texture down a little
if your accommodation was less
complete than ours. (Beware that
such a mod may not be legal for
some competitive classes, however.)
The FNS does not boast a
particularly light trigger, but it isnt
heavy either. Our scale showed
5.4 poundsabout average for
a stock pistol in this class. But
in our hands at least, the 9L
performed like a much lighter
trigger. We attribute this mainly to the verticality of the trigger face
just as the shot breaks, and to a relatively short reset. The striker
action is of the pre-set variety, wherein the striker is tensioned
for firing by slide, not trigger, movement. Very few will even notice
theyre releasing a safety during trigger press.
Short stroking was the only issue we encountered, and that very, very rarely. A
little analysis linked this to one very specific batch of ammunition, and we were
able to reproduce the issue in another brand of pistol, similarly sprung. So it was
obviously an ammo lot issue.
This begs comment, though in two parts. First, always, always, always check your
ammunition, as identically labeled lots vary, especially with powder availability as
chancy as it has been the last two years. Anybody who tells you different is selling
something, and perhaps a dangerous something.
Second, we dont second-guess the spring rate/guide rod combination on the
9L at all in relation to this theoretic issue. Why is simple: With every other type of
ammunition we tested, we found the FNS superbly, exceptionally flat in recoil over
a huge range of bullet weights, types and powers, thumpy defensive loads included.
In our experience, only tuned systems have been better, none by much, and none
over such a wide range.
Every aspect of
the grip texture
is carefully
considered, and, we
think, marvelously
functional.
WARRI ORWARE
Email the Editor
Sendin Some Downrange
The FNS 9L meets Andy Reinhart, 2012 Rocky Mountain 300 Shoot-off Winner.
The slide release works just
as intended, but we think it
a trifle over-protected by the
frame contour. Thats a very
small failing.
Our 10-rounders
got a workout to
test the dimple/
cut round count
limiting method.
It showed no
problems, and
easy button-style
disassembly.
WARRI ORWARE
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Were betting no one will be surprised by a
short gripe list for the FNS 9L.
We had only one, to be precise. We found
that the well-intentioned guard molded into the frame around the
slide release over-protects the control from accidental activation.
Paradoxically, our shooting grip is one that makes this a good feature.
We found that more, or at least more precise, pressure was required
to release the slide than we expected.
In fairness, wed have to observe that release of the slide using the
lever is a fine motor task, and hence suited only for administrative
handling. Certainly wed not call it any sort of deal-breaker, especially
since sound technique will answer: When actually shooting, grasp the
slide overhand from the weak side, pull it to the rear, and release it
immediately (absolutely do not try to ride or push it forward, youre far
more likely to create a pinch or mis-feed hazard than to aid feeding).
This no-slide-release-involved technique ought to be practiced a lot
anyway for another obvious reason: Its an absolutely crucial step in
rapid, effective malfunction clearance.
We hold another gripe in abeyance. If you find yourself in a
round count-limited state, youll see that the 10-rounders for your
FNS series pistol are of the dimpled and body-cut variety. You may
share our bitter experience following the 1994 Crime Bill: Expensive
magazines could and did simply explode at the count-limiting
cut, and unrepairably so. What should have been a warranty item
infuriatingly wasnt, and replacements were madeapparentlyof
unobtainium.
Looks to us as though the FNS mags are proof against these
failures in two ways: The dimpling is a corrugation to the mag body,
which in theory makes it stronger, while still limiting staggered round
descent and hence round count. The nature of the cut is different too:
Instead of being perpendicular and symmetric around the body, the
FNS cut is angled, and much thinner (done by laser, we suppose)
and intersects the large, offset dimples. This leaves more metal intact,
and limits any flex below the fatigue level. We worked ours hard with
no hint of difficulty. Bullet, dodged.
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After our range
report, perhaps
there arent many
surprises left. We
think the FNS 9L is an exceptionally fine pistol.
A host of well-engineered and executed
features set it above most peers. Overall
trimness not only makes it easier for those
with smaller hands above and below, but also
more maneuverable in any prospective duty
role. This fine trait will also help it find adopters
that many previous pistols have effectivelyif
unintentionallyexcluded from the striker-fired,
double stack world. Dont let the modest contours
of the grip fool you. The FNS is fantastically secure
in every remotely practical/realistic grip we could
contrive, and especially comfortable and docile in
single-handed use.
We wish we could describe our taste for the
trigger with more clarity. Though it measures well,
we liked it far better than it measures, and this
will translate into rapid accommodation for a
disproportionate number of those who step up to
give it a try.
Suffice it to say that while the wait for a
striker-fired Fabrique Nationale pistol was long,
that patience is rewarded in every particular by
the FNS 9Lan unalloyed masterpiece.
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Worth
the wait.
ight up front, we confess:
Our rifle(s) and shop are
littered with Magpul gear.
Now, however, weve encountered
a new and particularly cunning
Magpul schemeour surfeit of Magpul kit is somehow
not enough. Their new MOE SL line of furniture is
practically forcing us to field another AR, fit end-to-end
with the slimmer (hence SL) components. Diabolical!
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MAGPUL
MOE SL
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Or maybe not.
Either way, the new SL components appeal for sound
reasons. Trimmer dimensions always translate to better
maneuverability, and you wont often find yourself
hung up by inches, but rather tenths, or even a few
hundredths. Stuck is still stuck, and the SL grip, stock
and forearm reduce that chance without sacrificing
Magpul quality and durability.
While cosmetically similar to existing Magpul
offerings, a sharp eye and ready caliper show up the
differences quickly. The SL handguard for instance
shaves a whopping .54 inches off issue width. This puts the rifle deeper in the
support/forward hand with obvious benefits. Were big fans of the migration
away from full-round fore-ends/handguards, and toward rounded corners on
a more rectangular cross-section. The resulting edge/corner creates a firmer
control on the front of your rifle. The gently elliptical bottom is also better than
round if the rifle must be rested here for a longer shot. Magpul also has a
really nifty variety of rail fitments for their handguards too, with mounting slots
at the 2:30, 6:00 and 9:30 positions. They cut weight and more bulk/width
without sacrificing precise position options, and no cheese grater effect.
The SL grip is .13 inches thinner than issue, but adds .37 inches of depth.
Once more, the discerning will generally appreciate the superior position this
gives for trigger actuation.
The tremendous number of stock variations makes this difference
harder to quantify, but the average difference still shaded to the SL: Its
.2 inches thinner than several others we measured. And we really love the
ambi paddles for length adjustment, which makes the stock uncommonly
sure-handed, especially in firing positions where its difficult (or unwise) to
reach over the top of the rifle.
So we (boringly? repetitively? unnecessarily?) say again: Well done Magpul.
Were arguing the
improvements
here arent simply
incremental. Not only
more maneuverable
for us all, but easier
to handle for shooters
with smaller hands
as well.
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A little red
showing
theregreat for
preserving those
night eyes.
Brightness
settings are
extremely well
chosen to mix
battery life and
available light.
Wed forgotten
how bright 70
lumens is.
The plug
compartment
seals up well too,
with a gasket and
tether.
WARRI ORWARE
Okso we are obsessed. The
upside is that we know a good one
when we see it, and Streamlights
ClipMate fits that description in so
many ways.
This task-class light simply rocks.
As the name implies, it has a clip, and a good one. Weve clipped it to belts,
waistbands, pockets (shirt and pants), collars and hat brims, all with great
retention. This is due partly to the clip itself, which grabs the ClipMates
polymer housing through 270 degrees and is reinforced with four screws. The
remainder results from a stand-off style mount for the clip. Flush-mount clips
apply pressure that actually vectors away from whatever you clip to; not so
with the ClipMate.
Getting the light where you need it is the real issue. Enter the metal
gooseneck. Short enough to match the body of the light in form factor,
this protects it in pocket or kit. But its also long enough to corner in any
direction. Thats right, a full 90 degrees (a little more, actually), and it stays
where you point it.
As if that isnt enough, it runs white (C4 LED) and night vision-saving
red. Full power white is 70 lumens with 3.5-hour endurance, bumping up to
24 hours at 10 lumens (low). Red run times are solid too: 16 hours on high
(.5 lumens), and an astonishing 65 hours on low (.2 lumens). All with IPX4
water resistance.
The coup de grce is charging methods. A tour of the house, car and
office showed us 34 different places to charge this baby, and thats without
unplugging anything else. The not-so-secret method, of course, is the built-in
USB plug. Just pull off the end cap, and charge away.
Funny thing: The available settings are so versatile weve yet to recharge
the darn thing in two months of fairly steady use.
Were getting one. More. Or maybe some.
ere not obsessed with flashlights. Its only luck
that we remember the first really cool one we ever
saw (Sanyo NL-421 Cadnica, circa 1966). That doesnt
prove a thing. And just because weve bought case lots as
Christmas gifts is hardly dispositive. Drawers full? Hardly.
Well, er, just that big one.
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We found the PRO as functional as it is
elegant, in that all-business, no-messin-
around sort of way. We ran it on 18-inch
and 14.5-inch DI rifles, a 16-inch piston,
and a PCC AR with equal success. We
couldnt, however, recommend it for
oh, wait; never mind.
PRO on a PCC AR. Youll see more
of this in AW 23.
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The latest arrival is the
Aimpoint PROthe Patrol
Rifle Optic. It joins a nearly
40-year parade of products
from the inventors of the
electronic red dot sight but
puts a special focus on law
enforcement applications.
The mounting system/
hardware captured our
attention right away. A
single knurled knob on
the left side is the only
attachment kit youll need for an AR-pattern rifle. That knob is a torque-limited
ratchet that puts the optic on your rail with optimal tension every time. And set up
for co-witness? You bet: The ideal riser/ring (30 mm) comes pre-configured.
Controls and access on the PRO are another clever combination of engineering
and execution. To lose either windage or elevation adjustment caps or the battery
compartment cover, youd have to remove all three at the same time, joined as
they are by a rubber keeper. Like the rail ratchet, the caps are genuinely toolless,
and thoroughly waterproof (to 150 feet).
Threads on the caps are not overly fine either; this is always tempting as it
makes waterproofing easier, but makes cross threading more likely. The Aimpoint
strikes a near-perfect balance, we believe.
We like the battery choice, too: a tiny-but-not-too-tiny DL1/3N (or 2L76). Its
a widely available, time-tested camera battery thats been repurposed and has a
continuous runtime in the PRO of about 30,000 hours.
In addition to legendary durability, a crucial Aimpoint differentiator over the
years has been optical clarity and representation of an accurate impact point,
edge-to-edge. We pushed this pretty hard, but could find no material chink. That
2-MOA dot stayed round, sharp-edged and right on POI wherever we put it in the
field of view. The fine optics come well-protected too, with multi-layer coatings and
pop-up covers.
The Aimpoint PRO wants for nothing: Its a trim, tough, easy-to-operate
11-ounce gem that youll mount, sight in, andin the best senseforget, shot after
shot, year after year.
Like Aimpoint says, Weve done the science; you pull the trigger.
heres a lot of sighing around
the office when Aimpoint sends
us something. Mainly, weve
concluded, it is because our rifle count
goes beyond our Aimpoint count.
T
AIMPOINT PATROL
RIFLE OPTIC
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In coming issues of
NRA American Warrior, youll
see some new directions, and
one of these will focus on
techniques and technologies
to sharpen existing skills,
or help acquire new ones.
With this in mind, we take a
look forward at two youll be
hearing more about.
Tactical Solutions of Boise,
Idaho, has been a game-
changing player in the rimfire
world since 2002, with innovative products for
a host of platforms and applications. A new
favorite of ours is their rimfire conversion slide
and magazine combo for Glock pistols.
The TSG-22 will convert any generation of
Glock pistol frame (either G17/22-sized, or
G19/23-sized) into a smooth-shooting, accurate rimfire. As its machined from
steel, the slide and barrel assembly arent hugely different in weight and reproduce
the feel of running your Glock in every sense but recoil. The Glock sight picture is
even reproduced with fidelity: front dot, squared white U rear. Spare magazines
are readily available (Brownells, for instance, 10 rounder, or 15) as well, andunlike
some other conversions weve used over the yearstheyre reasonably priced and
provide full functionality.
With .22 LR ammo making a fairly routine reappearance in retail channels (finally!),
its a great way to stay sharp on your trigger press and sight picture for about 2/5ths
the cost of centerfire.
Lone Wolf Distributors is another Idaho company (Priest River) that never stands
still, and were fans of several of their offerings for a simple reason: They run like crazy.
During the recent unpleasantnessthe ammunition shortage, not the other one
Lone Wolf conversion barrels were a great way to keep shooting with ammunition other
than what was native to our pistol.
Well have a full report down the line, but are glad to whet your appetite meanwhile:
In a full-size Glock (G22), weve just surpassed 3,000 rounds of mixed ammunition,
while saving about 3 cents per round due to the offset between 9 mm and .40 S&W.
Our G27 and G35 tests arent finished as yet, but stay tuned. Weve learned some
fascinating things about reliability.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Read this Quick Strike like
Elmer Fudd hunts Bugs Bunny:
vewy, vewy qwietwee. Thats because it
isnt really a Quick Strike.
S
TRAIN MORE,
GRIPE LESS
WARRI ORWARE
WARNING: Technical data and information contained in NRA American Warrior are intended to provide information based on the limited experience of
individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions
absolutely necessary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. Always consult comprehensive reference
manuals and bulletins for details of proper training requirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity.
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Just about anything
that keeps us pulling
the trigger is worth
investigating, we figure.
The TacSol Glock Rimfire
Conversion flanks three
caliber conversion
barrels from Lone Wolf
Distributors.
Just when were trying to rebuild
our cache of .22 LR, along comes
the TacSol. 200 roundspffftgone!
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GAMES
D E S T I N Y V I D E O G A M E R E V I E W

e reviewed the beta
version of Destiny for
you in AW 21, but now
we have the full release
to dive into. The technical
aspects of the game remain
top notch as we previously observed: The
graphics and physics engines show ample
evidence of the $500 million (yeahhalf a
billion bucks!) that Bungie is rumored to
have invested.
We were particularly excited to be able to jump in
right where we left off in the beta. But this proved to be
our first disappointmentwe had to start all over. This
was a small annoyance, but we thought it was surprising
that those who helped test werent instated in the full
game. It was hardly the end of the world, though.
So after we trudged back through the opening
levels, we were able to explore additional worlds:
First the moon, then Venus and Mars. As we worked
our way through the levels, there was a decided
sense of familiarity. Go here, shoot these enemies
and release your ghost to hack some system. Don't
misunderstandwe think the game remains a hazard
to many normal obligations (eating, sleeping, bathing),
but the story lacks the up-kick of imagination we were
expecting. We lauded the initial storyline after all, but
>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
D E S T I N Y V I D E O G A M E R E V I E W

in the final delivered version, we think Bungie did a classic over-hype,
then under-delivered.
The offset between the beta and final is probably reflected best in the
creativity that has been funneled into the seemingly innumerable weapon
and armor choices. To find fault here, youd really have to nit-pick. We couldnt
find a single sort of weapon that wasnt either there or for which there was a
very close proxy (other than the ridiculous, that is).
As far as the multiplayer mode is concerned,
the crumble provides another outlet for leveling
your player if you do get a little tired of the story.
The only downside is level disparity: It makes
a huge difference in this mode (i.e., a low level
player get owned easily by anyone 5+ levels
above, however good his tactics).
We should also note that there are two (as yet unspecified) expansion
packs that are already well into development, with the first set to arrive
in December.
Overall, we still find this to be a very enjoyable game, and the tech on
display gets our highest marks. Weaknesses in the story, however, bust it back
just a little.
GAMES
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FOOTBALL FUTBOL
VS.
TWO GAMERS COMPARE FI FA 1 5 AND MADDEN 1 5
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FOOTBALL FUTBOL
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V I R T U A L W A R R I O R / / / 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
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FI FA BY
CORY FOSTER
MADDEN BY
BEAU JUDGE
BJ: Well, first off, this is
America. We play real football
here, and not just with our
feet. The kind where theres
actual contact, not just dancing
around dabbing at a ball on
a piece of grass. In our version of the game, we regularly bleed
on that grass. Now and again, we even peel it off our faces. And
as far as Madden 15 is concerned, you get to take control of
these bruise-generating leviathans and attempt to obliterate your
opponent the right waysix points at a time. Against the CPU or
another human player somewhere across the country, crushin em
is the name of our game. Is that far superior to manipulating the
thumb sticks to orchestrate a turf ballet? Obviously.
Email the Editor
FIFA: Next-Gen Goalkeepers
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Madden: General Gameplay
CF: So let's go ahead
and disregard the fact
that soccer is the most
popular sport in the
world. We can ignore
the global phenomenon
of the World Cup, and forget about the fact that even
cricket has more players and fans around the world
than so-called American football. To this gigantic
audience, FIFA 15 brings the staggering roster of
players and teams from previous versions, but turns the
speed up a notch to make a solid addition to the line-up
of titles running on the new Ignite engine.
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VS.
FIFA: E3 Trailer
CF: If you're feeling particularly patriotic, then
lets go all the way: Scrub the shabby, antiquated
regional kerfuffles and go global. All 19 MLS
teams and the U.S. National team are available
for that so-called turf ballet. Player collisions,
acrobatic header contests and slide tackles
show real athletes at work, and with no more
protection than a thin plastic plate over their
shins. The game you actually play with
a footand keep playingwithout the
shameless commercial halts to check
for nasty hangnails and bruised egos every five
picoseconds. FIFA 15 keeps the action going until
there is a serious foul or the ball leaves the field.
GAMES
VS.
GAMES
Madden: Ultimate Team
BJ: Hey, if the rest of the world isnt up to it,
how does that get to be our problem? We feel
plenty patriotic with the 32 NFL teams weve got
here in the U.S. (how many more world-class
athletes are left anyway?), and all available on
Madden 15. Blast the stops if you want, but
thats what makes for a continuously evolving
strategy that gives you complete control,
putting that hard-won football IQ to the test. The
play-changing audibles on both sides of the ball,
the subtle shifts of individual playersthese are
what make the Madden franchise great. You can
paste your own likeness on a player in both
Madden and FIFA. Its your choice as to whether
its on a football stud or a soccer ballerina.
BJ & CF: Despite all the bickering and joking, both of these
games are great additions to their respective franchises and
bring an awfully high percentage of the fun of the actual
game right into your living room. They add many new
features and retain popular existing ones that we have come
to associate with Madden and FIFA. Well done, across the
board, er, field, er pitch. You know, the green stuff.
(But football is still better than futbol.)





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FIFA: Barclays Premier League
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GAMES
Email the Editor Visit the Gear Channel
Madden: War in the Trenches
FI FA
CF: Well-liked are the
career modes available in
both franchises, which have
both gotten some nice tweaks to
the player growth functionality that
rewards the time you put into growing
a great team. If you happen to be managing a team that needs
picture books and pep talks in between plays, you will also have the
option to show your players instructional films to (hopefully) make
some of the information sink in. The players who know the game
and their position on the pitch can move straight along to practice
drills and actual league play where the only audible that matters is
GOOOAAAALLLL! But a point for Madden 15: It will save you the
19 hours it takes to watch an actual football game.






VS.
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Sniper Elite 3: Save Churchill DLC
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VI RTUAL WARRI OR GAMES
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Watch this before you consider a career change.
rom end to end, Colts LE6940 Series is utterly professional grade.
A patented monolithic upper tops the rifle from gas block
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S P ONS OR E D BY
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BARREL/OVERALL LENGTH
16.1"/32" (collapsed)/35.5" (stock extended)
CALIBER
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MODEL NUMBERLE6940
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MAGAZINE CAPACITY
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T E C H N I C A L S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
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At the Warrior Games,
one event rises above all
others when it comes to the
healing power of sport.
U . S . M A R I N E C O R P S W O U N D E D W A R R I O R S H O O T I N G T E A M U . S . M A R I N E C O R P S W O U N D E D W A R R I O R S H O O T I N G T E A M U . S . M A R I N E C O R P S W O U N D E D
ANY OF MY BEST friends at
the Olympic Training Center
complex in Colorado Springs
are Paralympic athletes. Im also close to many former and current warriors in
various military branches. However, my experience at the 2014 Warrior Games
touched me more deeply than I ever expected.
For many wounded military members, the wounds penetrate much deeper
than what is outwardly visible. Take the Marines, for example. Every day they
train to be the best of the best. When they become ill, injured or wounded, the
challenges change. When a Marine loses physical health, a part of his former
identity is also lost.
While its easy to see the competitive aspect of the Warrior Games,
the value actually runs much deeperespecially in the shooting events.
Maj. John Schwent, USMC (Retired), is head coach of the Marine shooting team
at the Warrior Games. He said that when his Marines are handed an air rifle,
they view it as not being a real gun, as they are used to shooting military style
weapons. But once they begin shooting air rifles, they realize how difficult it is.
Suddenly theyve discovered another way to push their limits.
For Gunnery Sgt. Pedro Aquino, who medaled four times this year, the positive
effect shooting has on his daily life is purely mental. Excelling at
air rifle shooting requires extreme focus and thought control. When he was
forced to go off painkillers to concentrate, his intensity increased; pain only
became a distraction.
Every time Im behind those sights, my head clears and all Im focusing on
is that pellet, Aquino explained.
In past Warrior Games, MSgt. Dionisios Nicholas has medaled multiple times
By Sarah M.F. Beard
Photos By Don Jones
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L EF T AND PREV I OUS PAGE:
SGT ANDRE BURGOS & GUNNY
Despite amputations above the right knee and
on the left hand (partial), there seems to be no
stopping point for Burgos and his service dog
Gunny. Burgos is currently well on his way to a
degree with magna cum laude honors and uses
shooting to sharpen his goal-setting for school and
overall success in life. For him, Short-term goal is
make a good shot. Long-term goal is win the match.
in shooting and swimming. This year, back surgery left him unable to compete,
so he was asked to be on the coaching staff.
While swimming helps him heal physically, shooting is completely different
due to the concentration involved. When Im shooting, there is no pain,
Nicholas said. Im in my own world. Theres no way to describe it.
Competitive shooting acts as therapy not only in the physical sense, but also
in restoring purpose to the lives of these individuals. For many of these warriors,
a common effect of medication is a loss of a sense of normalcy. But when a
shooter overcomes the effects of medication to compete at a higher level, he
becomes himself again.
Its therapy, Davis said. Its absolutely therapy, because you feel a
purpose again.
At the 2014 games in early October, the Marines dominated the medal
count, more than doubling the shooting medals of any other branch. While
proud of that accomplishment, team coaches look beyond the glistening
medals and instead focus on the renewed glow in their athletes eyes.
At the end of the day, this program exists because we are truly trying to
save lives, Schwent said.

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Sarah Beard is a member of the U.S. Shooting Team,
currently in training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in
Colorado Springs.

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SGT CLAYTON MCDANI EL
Walking into the range on Friday with a gold medal in archery
already under his belt, McDaniel didnt let the pressure get to
him. After an impressive qualification and final, he won another
gold in open air pistol to contribute to his teams dominance.
Competing in the Warrior Games for him is a huge honor, and
something that is simply, hard to put into words.
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CAPT CHRI S MCCLEI NNAI SS
Competing in both archery and airgun help McCleinnaiss overcome
balance issues by forcing him to focus on a stationary target. This year,
he captured the silver medal in recurve.

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HM1 J AMI E DOC SCLATER
A Navy hospital corpsman, Sclater was most of the way through the
screening process to join a Special Ops group when he injured his spinal
cord and was unable to continue. This year is his first time attending the
Warrior Games, which he describes as humbling and a huge honor.
While he cannot run anymore, he competed in nine swimming races,
earning four individual medals. Sclater says shooting helps his swimming
abilities through development of visualization skills. He won a bronze
medal in prone rifle.
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SSGT PHI LLI P SHOCKLEY
Hit in 2011 with an IED blast, Shockley suffers from
traumatic brain injury and has issues with vision, which
affect how he focuses on the target. Last year, he won
a gold medal in pistol, then backed it up this year by
winning the bronze.
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SGT J ENAE PI PER
Her first time attending the Warrior Games, Piper is a quick learner.
This year her family and team cheered her on to a silver medal in
standing rifle and a bronze in pistol. Besides her supporters, she relies
heavily on visualization and other mental techniques to deliver a solid
performance. While Piper wouldnt qualify as a Paralympic athlete, she
is considering pursuing pistol as an Olympic event.
GYSGT P. ERNESTO AQUI NO
For not even knowing what an air rifle was
before Marine Corps trials last year, Aquino
has proven himself exceptional. After only
about seven months of training, in the 2013
Warrior Games he was tied for the gold
medal in air rifle after both qualification
and finals. He shot a near-perfect 10.7 to
clinch the gold medal. This year he won a
gold medal in standing rifle and took silver in
prone rifle.
Injured in Iraq in 2004, Aquino is looking
forward to reaching the 20-year mark in his
service career next June.
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CPL RI CHARD SHAKY J AKE STALDER
When Stalder first picked up a rifle, he could not stop
shaking as he pointed at the target (hence the nickname
Shaky Jake). But as his technique came along, amazingly
the shakiness began decreasing with every shot. This year,
Stalder won the gold medal in prone rifle and the silver in
standing rifle.
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SGT DEVI N KI MBALL
A native of Florida, Kimball competed in both
shooting and sitting volleyball this year.
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HEAD COACH J OHN SCHWENT
Maj Schwent has seen countless times the
enormous therapeutic value of shooting.
Sometimes its not even about aiming, its
just being able to pull the trigger, he says.
ASSI STANT COACH BRAD ROYAL
The only civilian coach at the competition this year,
Royal recently began assistant coaching at Camp
Lejeune for Battalion East.
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ASSI STANT COACH
DI ONI SI OS NI CHOLAS
A former medalist and excellent
shooter, Nick is a testament to
the healing power of competitive
shooting. Sometimes you just get
lonely, he says. But being on this
team has given him back the sense
of family and support he used to
have while on active duty.
ASSI STANT COACH
PAUL L. DAVI S
Coach Paul says his true
passion is coaching Marines.
I dont know about other
services, but I know about
Marines, he explains.
100 percent means
100 percent. To him,
a coach is simply a tool
to help change lives.
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PHOTO BY: THE VENETIAN | THE PALAZZO
WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E /////
| A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R | A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R | A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R | A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R | A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R | A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R | A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R | A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R | A ME R I C A N WA R R I O R
B/G Winn just before
his last flight in a
military aircraft,
an F-16B. He pulled
9+ Gs at age 66.
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WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E ///// WA R R I O R F E AT U R E /////
THE
LITTLE
COUNTY
THAT
COULD
Quiet, modest Haralson County, Ga., may
only have a population of 28,000, but it honors
our veterans like few places of any size.
T H E L I T T L E C O U NT Y T HAT C O U L D
In or out of the service,
B/Gen Winn took every
opportunity to fly.
Here, after a hop in a
Northrop T-38 Talon
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e dont often get to tell you a story
with a timescale or complexity quite
like this one. Depending on how
you count, the tale could start in
1923, 1951 or any of a dozen other
candidate years. Weaving forward, the
threads are many.
The first begins during the Cold War with a Department
of the Air Force requirement for a high-speed, low-altitude
fighter-bomber. Such an aircraft would theoretically streak
under enemy radar to pull up sharply, tossing a tactical
nuclear weapon in a ballistic arc toward Warsaw Pact tank
formations on the North German plain or massed in the
Fulda/Alsfeld Gap.
Republic Aircraft (later Fairchild Hiller) responded in 1953
with the F-105 Thunderchief. Nicknamed the Thud for obscure
reasons, the F-105 was a large, powerful fighter-bomber able
to handily exceed the speed of sound right on the deck, and
even loaded with nearly 15,000 pounds of bombs show a
clean pair of heels to anything else in the Air Force inventory.
This remains an impressive feat, even by todays standards.
Despite initial problems, the Air Force eventually ordered
833, even briefly operating the F-105 in Thunderbird flight
demonstration team livery.
The F-105 was repurposed to deliver conventional
munitions in Vietnam. The D model was the workhorse,
and could deliver considerably more ordnance than the
four piston-engined heavy bombers (like the B-17 Flying
B Y F R A N K W I N N
Fortress or B-24 Liberator) of World War II fame. The
airframe was particularly stable at low altitude, which
made it both a good gunnery and bombing platform. In 20,000-plus sorties,
the Thunderchief claimed 27.5 air-to-air victories over smaller, nimbler North
Vietnamese MIGs, nearly 40 percent of all Vietnam air-to-air kills.
High-speed penetration was crucial in the air war: Russian-provided
anti-aircraft technology made the skies over North Vietnam the most
heavily defended in any conflict, ever.
Correspondingly, losses were heavy: In all,
382 of the planes were lost. In his book
Thud Ridge, noted F-105 pilot Col. Jack
Broughton said, The Thud has justified
herself, and the name that was originally
spoken with a sneer has become one of
utmost respect through the air fraternity,
but also that there was simply no room
for error, especially when operating close
to Hanoi.
The F-105 carried out such a large
percentage of critical missions into North
Vietnam that a mountainous ridge north
and west of Hanoi that U.S. pilots hugged
to evade air defenses was christened Thud
Ridge. Two F-105 pilots were awarded
Medals of Honor: Col. Leo K. Thorsness (then Captain) and Col. Merlyn
H. Dethlefsen (then Captain).
A second thread to our story starts more than four decades
earlier. David William Winn was born in Austin, Minn.,
in 1923. From a young age4 or 5, as he told
ithe knew he wanted to fly. His young life was
The F-105 carried out
such a large percentage
of critical missions into
North Vietnam that a
mountainous ridge north
and west of Hanoi that
U.S. pilots hugged to
evade air defenses was
christened Thud Ridge.
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1/48 scale model of B/G Winns
F-105 Thunderchief as it was on
his last mission (Aug. 9, 1968).
The Tallapoosa static display is
based on this representation.
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unremarkable in most other respects, though the Depression brought the Winns
many privations: He lost a brother and infant sister to illness, and father John
often brought home only IOUs from the hardware firm where he worked. The
son of well-educated parents, good schoolwork was a priority. He left home for
college in the autumn of 1941.
As it did for so many others, the events of Dec. 7 that year changed many
plans. By February 1943, Winn was a new 2nd Lieutenant bound for the
European theater of operations. Flying out of Sardinia and Italy, he survived
67 missions (mostly in Martin B-26 Marauders and P-38/F-5s) and earned a
Distinguished Flying Cross.
First Lt. Winn returned to the United States in late 1944 and was assigned
to Williams Army Airfield in Arizona. As part of the Fighter Gunnery Research
Squadron at Willy, he was a very
early jet pilot, flying the Air Corps
first two operational Lockheed
P-80sthe Shooting Star. This
airplane and the P-51 and P-47
kept him flying for three years after
World War II and earned him a
regular Air Force commission when
it split from the Army to become a
separate service in 1947.
But as he would later write:
I could not have chosen, or
designed, a life more fulfilling.
I made $331 a month and my
morale was dangerously high until
it finally occurred to me that there
must be something in life aside
from flying the best airplanes with the best people every day and chasing girls
every night. I was 25 when I finally got serious.
He returned to Minnesota with a Reserve Air Force commission and Air
National Guard assignment to finish college, only to be recalled to active duty at
the start of the Korean War. Ten years later he returned to finish his Journalism
degree, along the way having acquired wife Mary (and two sons) and spending
three years in Germany playing, as he called it, grab-ass with the Russians.
LEFT: A 6-footer and normally 180 to 185 pounds,
David Winn as a new B/Gen. and partially
recovered to ~160 lbs (May, 1973). In 1969, he
believed he weighed about 115: His legs could be
circled above the ankle with thumb and finger.
INSET LEFT: Back to Grassland,
San Severo, Italy, on or about Winns
21st birthday after a long lonely photo
mission. Aircraft is the Lockheed P-38/
F5 Lightning.
Ten years later he returned
to finish that Journalism
Degree, along the way
having acquired wife Mary
(and two sons) and spending
three years in Germany
playing, as he called it,
grab-ass with the Russians.
In the relative peace of the following decade, he flew
many types of aircraft, but primarily F-86, F-102, F-104
and F-106s all over North American with NORAD. He added
the British Hawker Hunter and Electric Lightning while
serving on exchange with the Royal Air Force. A stint at
the Pentagon and National War College followed, as did a
graduate degree in International Affairs.
Now a Colonel, Winn watched
as loss rates in Vietnam climbed.
This led to a decision to request
assignment to Southeast Asia.
McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kan., was briefly
home while learning to fly the F-105, and then Takhli Royal
Thai Air Force Base in Thailand with the 355th Tactical
Fighter Wing. Mary, three sons and a daughter remained
behind with family in Minnesota.
The harsh realities of air combat were nothing new to
Col. Winn, but found him very personally in April 1968. He
was hit by 37 mm anti-aircraft fire near Dong Hoi, North
Vietnam. The badly afire but valuable two-seat F model
(with a backseat-full of special electronics) couldnt be
nursed to Da Nang, and he had to punch out over the
South China Sea. He was rescued by helicopter.
Full-fledged disaster, however, waited for Col. Winns
final (100th) mission. On Aug. 9, 1968, he was hit
just as he began his bomb run on an anti-aircraft gun
emplacement. He finished his run and again headed
for the ocean, but his D was mortally stricken. The
comparative safety of the sea proved barely out of reach.
Three weeks past his 45th birthday, he became a POW.
Forty days later, he arrived at Hanois infamous Hoa
Lo Prison (the Hanoi Hilton), where the torture and
interrogations that had begun on the trek north continued.
Twenty-two months of solitary and 55 months of total
captivity would follow. His family did not know his fate for
nearly three and a half years, and then he was allowed to
write them only six times.
As with all senior officers, his Communist captors
considered Col. Winn something of a prize. This was an
advantage and disadvantage. When his interrogators
sought technical information that could endanger other
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Dave
Winn at 5
(shorter child,
already in
flying cap).

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Dave Winn at 10.

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Again at 16 with another
life-long passion: dogs.
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Here as new
Lieutenant at 20.

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2nd Louie bars to
Generals stars.

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He was proudest of the
Command Pilot wings, but
only wore all his ribbons when
regulations required that he
do so. They remind me only of
times I was lucky, and others
often friendswere not.
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A FAC (Forward Air Controller)
has requested additional ordnance
on a difficult gun emplacement.
Col. Winn and his wingman are done
with their assigned mission, but
have bombs remaining and cycle in.
Target is a 37 mm anti-aircraft gun.
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Path of 4292 as it rolls in on
the target, bomb run dive begins.
3
Dive toward the target renders
4292 stationary in the sky relative
to the gun; explosive 37 mm cannon
shell caves in the right side of the
engine.
4
Despite control problems,
Col. Winn continues the run,
maintains dive angle ~80 degrees
(ball in refers to no bank on the
aircraft, ideal for bomb release).
Engine fire warning light comes on.
5
Pull-out initiated, turns toward
the water, trys to gain altitude for
a ballistic arc to the sea if engine
quits altogether; aircraft burning.
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Nose angle now too far down
to reach the water. Time to punch
out. Aircraft almost completely
engulfed in flames.
7
Good chute, but not enough
wind. 55 months as a POW begin.
H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >>
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H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >> H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y >> >>
THE L I TTL E C OUNTY THAT C OUL D
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M A R C H 2 2 , 1 9 7 3 / / /
M A R C H 2 2 , 1 9 7 3 / / /
pilots, they were brutally skeptical of
his assertion, This is my second war;
I only learn what I need to know to do my job. When they
theorized how valuable a broken USAF Colonel might be for
propaganda purposes, they were also compelled to realize that
evidence of essentially unlimited physical coercion could not
be disguised. The balance was an incredibly vicious, prolonged
and precarious cycle. At least 114 Americans who were known
to be captive at one time or another did not emerge during
the repatriations of March and April 1973.
Soon-to-be Brigadier General Winn was among the
fortunate 591 to return home. He served his country for five
more years, and retired from the Air Force in 1978.
In retirement he wrote and spoke a great deal about his
Vietnam experiences, and was elected to the Board of Regents
of the University of Colorado in 1988. He served as President
of that Board from 1992 to 1994. He retired for good then,
mostly to read, see the West from the back of a horse and
relax with his beloved Mary.
The third thread in our tale arrives in the form of Airman
2nd Class Thomas Jerry Jackson. Airman Jackson had
already served more than two years in the USAF when he
arrived in Thailand in early January 1968 as an F-105 crew
At least 114 Americans who were
known to be captive at one time or
another did not emerge during the
repatriations of March and April 1973.
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TAIL NUMBER 61-0127: Brig. Gen. Winn is by no means the only pilot or serviceman honored in
the Tallapoosa F-105 display. The aircraft on the pylon, tail number 61-0127, is placed in honor
of Haralson County native Colonel Wayne Dewey Waddell. Col. Waddell (then Major) was shot
down by anti-aircraft fire on his 48th mission in August 1967. His bombing target was the Cao
Nung railroad bridge about 50 miles northeast of Hanoi. He was captured and spent 2,070 days
as a POW. Click here for more of his story, including propaganda footage taken at the time of
his capture and later film from his return to the since-demolished Hanoi Hilton in 1994.
Col. Waddell and his wife Barbara were present at the dedication and still reside in Georgia.
Sergeant Thomas Jerry Jackson, one of the prime movers behind the Haralson County
effort, is also honored on 61-0127. Jackson and his wife Linda live nearby, and he has poured
many hundreds of hours into the project.
Tail Number 62-4292: In addition to Gen. Winn, then-Captain James Benton West is honored
on tail number 62-4292. Captain West was forced to eject twice in one harrowing week while
flying D-model Thunderchiefs in Vietnam. The first was due to gun damage while on a strike
H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y
O T H E R H O N O R E E S
C O L O N E L
WAYNE DEWEY WADDELL
S E R G E A N T
GENE WILLIAM WILK
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mission 25 miles north of Haiphong harbor (T/N 58-1163), the second to affect his escape
from the F-105 after it was damaged in a mid-air collision with another Thunderchief
(during midair refueling, T/N 61-0139). Following his USAF service, West became an
airline pilot. He died in 2002. His wife Sonja lives in Haralson County.
Sgt. Gene William Wilk will also be honored on 62-4292. Sgts. Wilk and Jackson
served together as Crew Chiefs at Takhli prior to Wilks untimely death in an accident.
Brig. Gen Winn and his wife Mary were unfortunately never able to see the
display come to fruition, though they knew of early plans. Mary died in April 2009,
and Dave in September.
The Helton Howland Memorial Park display in Tallapoosa is by no means complete.
Donations can be made to HCVA (a 501(c)(3) non-profit) and earmarked for the
F-105 exhibits.
H A R A L S O N C O U N T Y
S E R G E A N T
THOMAS JERRY JACKSON
C A P T A I N
JAMES BENTON WEST
chief. He provedover and over againthat the confidence the Air Force and flight
officers placed in him was well deserved. Thunderchiefs entrusted to him were
mission-ready for hundreds of successful sorties before he left Tahkli in December.
Jerry left the Air Force in 1970 as a Sergeant, but he never forgot the F-105,
nor the pilots who flew them. By the spring of 2009, this recollection had festered.
In conjunction with the Haralson County Veterans Association
and association President Sam Robinson, he set out to do
something about it. Tallapoosa, Ga., was already the site of a
nice Veterans Memorial, with displays of a U.S. Army Iroquois
helicopter (the Huey to many), several tracked vehicles and artillery pieces. It
seemed like a good fit.
That was the easy part.
It was a year before they found an airframe at Lackland Air Force Base in
San Antonio, Texas. One of nine, it was part of a Flight Line Security training facility
that was no longer in use. All they had to do, said the Air Force, was come and get it.
So beginning in 2010, thats precisely what happened. A small army of
volunteersarmed with old tech orders and room
and board sponsored by donorsdescended
on their bird. Somewhere along the line, they
doubled down: The Air Force offered a second
airframe, and HCVA promptly said yes.
If that sounds like a big production, it was.
But several trips, many donations, a tremendous
Email the Editor Visit NRA Life of Duty Network
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BELOW LEFT: Together
again for the first
time in more than five
years. A C141 Starlifter
never taxied as slowly
before, nor since.
BELOW: Unpleasant
to remember, but
dangerous to forget:
the detritus of the
Hanoi Hilton.
number of volunteer hours and two years later, both airplanes,
albeit in pieces, arrived in Tallapoosas Helton Howland
Memorial Park, courtesy of donated transport from a local
trucking company.
Reassembly of the airframes began in February 2013. Once
again, Jerry Jackson and the HCVA rallied some remarkable
assets to make their vision a reality. With two airframes to
work with, they decided to put one on a pylon. Given the site,
this seemed an obvious notion as well as a dramatic one (as
if the U.S. Army M-60 tank main gun tube pointing practically
through your car window wasnt dramatic enough as you cruise
down US Highway 78). But it presented numerous technical
problems as, even stripped of engine, armor, armaments and
avionics, the airframe still weighs many thousands of pounds.
Suffice it to say that one volunteer engineer, several yards
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RIGHT: Most cities
dont have any, and
need at least one.
We have the distinct
impression Tallapoosa
and Haralson County
are just getting
started with two.
BELOW RIGHT:
Sonja West and the
dedication plaque
honoring B/Gen Winn
and her husband,
Capt. West.
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of concrete, donated labor, a steel pylon and one custom bomb
bay mount later, tail number 61-0127 flew again, slightly
more than 30 feet off the ground. It looks ready to pass through
your vehicle as you drive by. The second airframe (tail number
62-4292) is on the ground below and behind the pylonless
dramatic from a distance, but what a thrill to be able to walk up
and touch it, knowing what it symbolizes.
Theres a fourth thread to be considered, though he finds
himself in this remarkable story only by profound and grateful
accident. As perhaps youve already deduced, Im that thread:
Brig. Gen. Dave Winn was my father, Jerry Jackson his much-
appreciated crew chief, and 62-4292 their bird.
By the time I joined the story, Jerry Jackson, Sam Robinson
and HCVAs work had already borne much of its marvelous fruit.
Col. Waddell and Sgt.
Jacksons 0127 looks
ready to leap of the
pylon; well worth
going (slightly) out of
your way to see on the
road from Atlanta to
Birmingham. The twin
like-aircraft display
may be unique.
I came on the scene to share undeservedly in a beautiful Independence Day,
July 4, 2014, celebration of their incredibly touching and generous efforts to honor
Col. Waddell, Captain West, Sgts. Wilk and Jackson, and my father.
Unfortunately, we find ourselves living in a time when many wont know how to
think about whats been accomplished in Haralson County. It seems like it must
be about fame, bravery or victory, and certainly that argument can be made: In
some measure those things happened. But something else made them possible,
something deeper that is disconnected from self, and perhaps thats the link
between the memorial and memorialized:
Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wing. Those who cheer
today may curse tomorrow. Only one thing endurescharacter. (Horace Greeley
1811-1872)
At least in this corner of Georgia, it takes some to know some.
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A Case For Equipping
Those Who Serve
IF YOU WERE
A COP,
WHAT WOULD
YOU
DRIVE?
PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRIOT3
Concern,
outrage, protests
and conspiratorial
warnings not
withstanding,
the complexities
surrounding this
issue are far less
cut and dried than
many might think. This front-page topic is not a right or left issue any more
than it is a liberal or conservative one. Folks from polar opposite sides of the
political landscape can be in agreement for entirely different reasons.
The militarization of law enforcement is not an irresponsible conversation
for people to engage in, especially in its relationship to liberty, privacy,
balance of power and the law. What is irresponsible is the way so-called
mainstream media, the anti-everything crowd and others have approached
this issue with such one-sided zeal.
The way media and others have taken a few examples of abuse, misuse
T
here has been a lot of
talk lately regarding the
militarization of law
enforcement, with the assertion that the thin blue line of
public safety may have been crossed by an overzealous
law enforcement community. Law enforcement uniforms,
equipment, hardware, weaponry, vehicles and even
tactics sometimes take on an appearance so similar
to that of the military that it is difficult for the casual
observer to tell them apart.
B Y R I C K S T E WA RT
NRALIFEOFDUTY.TV EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
A Case For Equipping
Those Who Serve
BATTLES
and error on the part of law enforcement and attempted to paint
every member of law enforcement with the same broad brush is
what has been patently unfair. Of course, mistakes and abuses have occurred. These
errors and abuses are miniscule compared to the vast majority of tactical call outs that
go without incident, yet some have used them to damn the good name and ethical
character of law enforcement officers in general.
We all have a vested interest in making sure that the need for public safety is
measured against the potential for the abuse of power. In 2012, author Rob Olive
penned a powerful thriller, Essential Liberty, about a rogue ATF leader run amuck after
the government began a mandatory weapons confiscation campaign. The book touched
a nerve with many because its fictional content hit too close to home.
Fact is, for many there is a certain Orwellian level of mistrust in government and
law enforcement. Even the framers of the Constitution had a healthy distrust for
government, and wrote about how abuse of power can inevitably destroy our freedom.
We live in a world with evil people.
Those who project evil abroad meet an
American military like no otherbut one
that respects life, the rule of law and the
innocent caught in the crosshairs. Those
who project evil at home encounter the
worlds finest law enforcement agencies
that protect and serve under protocols,
the law and the Constitution.
Simply put, those who protect and
serve their communities in uniform deserve an equal to if not better than capability
for the threats they face. But we also expect those entrusted with such power to be
held to an extremely high standard of responsibility. When things go to hell in a hand
basket, we need, want and deserve an armed, trained and capable law enforcement
contingency that can effectively protect our communities. Yet the tactics, weapons and
reasons we deploy them should always be open for informed debate.
Over the past few years, many law enforcement agencies have been blessed with
the surplus of military equipment and enhanced training by the influx of highly trained
operators leaving the military. What could be better for law enforcement than the
synergistic exchange of information, experience and equipment between uniformed
BATTLES
FACT IS, FOR MANY THERE
IS A CERTAIN ORWELLIAN
LEVEL OF MISTRUST IN
GOVERNMENT AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
IF YOU WERE A COP, WHAT WOULD YOU DRIVE?
heroes tasked with the protection of
those they serve?
Yet, many are not excited about the
close parallels between military and law
enforcement, fearing that the lines of responsibilities might get perilously crossed.
Recent events have fanned the flames of public outcry from those who believe
that law enforcement officersbe they federal, state, county or municipalities
increasingly exceed and abuse the authority granted to them by the law. When
citizens examine law enforcement on issues related to levels of defense, use of
force and civil liberties, it should be done with a thorough understanding of the
subject and the proper use of terminology associated with it. We cant allow words
to take on meaning and context that dont apply. And we must be careful that as
we put our foot down hard in the protection of one liberty or principle, we dont
inadvertently shoot ourselves in the other.
Thats why I fear a free press that hides behind the First Amendment while
irresponsibly neglecting all the others. It seems many reporters have embraced the
words of Texas folklorist Delbert Trew: I never let the truth stand in the way of a
good story.
In this age of 24-hour news channels, the viewing public is often fed
information rather than provided information and facts, then being allowed to
decipher the truth for themselves. And nobody seems to be more targeted these
days than those who serve in law enforcement.
The media however, is not the only guilty party. In some cases, the very people
who are outraged by the medias use of words to incite or promote their
agenda regarding the gun debatewords like assault rifle and automatic
weaponsseem to overlook the same tactics being used by the media to
demonize law enforcement.
Far too often words like armor, automatic and assault vehicles are
improperly used to falsely suggest a capability that simply isnt true. As an example,
there has been a lot of talk lately about up-armored vehicles being purchased
by SWAT teams or donated from military surpluses. In 1990, the 101st Congress
passed the National Defense Authorization Act. Section 1208 of the NDAA allowed
the Secretary of Defense the ability to transfer, without charge, excess equipment to
states and qualified law enforcement agencies. When the Act was renewed in 1996,
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WE CANT ALLOW
WORDS TO TAKE ON
MEANING AND CONTEXT
THAT DONT APPLY.
Section 1208 was replaced with 1033, which has become known
to many as the 1033 Program. This program allows (qualifying)
law enforcement agencies the ability to acquire weapons, vehicles, aircraft, boats, night
vision and a host of other equipment.
The program is not evil; it is responsible. Rather than being a financial burden
on the country, it has saved states, counties and city governments a significant
amount of money.
When the media speaks of HUMVEE, MRAP and BEARCAT type vehicles, they
often refer to them in the same vein as a tank. Thats an ignorant comparison at best.
At worst, its a blatant attempt to misinform the public.
When a SWAT team shows up in an up-armored vehicle to protect themselves from
the various threats they encounter, these are merely armored vehicles that protect
occupants from harm. U.S. citizens have no problem with security companies driving
armored vehicles to protect our money. We have no beef with using them to protect
presidents or dignitaries. Why, then, is it considered unacceptable to use armored
vehicles to protect law enforcement officers? Why should SWAT teams be forced to
deploy in a glorified bread truck?
The use of these vehicles is for the protection of officers being sent into
high-threat situations. When, however, such vehicles are used in seemingly
inappropriate ways, it is reasonable to discuss, question and debate such
applications. That said, law enforcement SWAT teams have successfully used
their vehicles to pull away doors, open walls and deploy tear gas to save the lives
of people held by armed hostage takers.
People would be surprised to know how many times we have used our armored
vehicle to provide cover and transport for victims and innocent civilians caught in
the line of fire from an armed assailant, one law enforcement officer with a major
metropolitan department told me.
Sgt. Jack Rosenthal, of the Spokane County (Wash.) Sheriffs Office and SWAT team,
shared an example of a recent call that is relevant to this discussion. Rosenthal and his
team knew a barricaded suspect had told everyone he was not going to surrenderthat
he would rather die fighting than return to prison.
We were all expecting a gun fight, so we rolled the MRAP right up into the yard to
provide protection for our SWAT officers as we announced our presence and told the
suspect to come out of the house, Rosenthal said. To our surprise, he called out, raised
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his hands and walked right out of the house. What could have been a horrible
situation was resolved peacefully.
The deputy taking the suspect into custody said that once the guy was in his
patrol car, he said, Do you see how big that f-#%ing thing is? referring to the
MRAP. The guy never even noticed our team. He became so fixated on the vehicle
and its presence that he surrendered immediately without a fight. Dont tell me
that these vehicles, used solely for the safety of our officers, dont also have a
great intimidation factor for those wanting to fight. If that helps end things without
anyone getting hurt and with no shots fired, thats a good deal.
Many people also question law enforcements wearing of tactical gear and
military-like camo. Many major
metropolitan SWAT teams
wear multicam BDUs. These
departments can answer for
themselves as to why, but suffice
to say that not every call-out they
make is to a city address. And
some, like snipers, need the ability
to remain hidden.
For those who serve in rural
areas or have other missions, it makes even more sense. In Pinal County, Ariz.,
SWAT team members and others on their states multi-jurisdictional task force
serve on the frontline of illegal activity along our southern border. These officers
have every reason to conceal themselves from armed cartel members and drug
traffickers. This is done for tactical advantage, plain and simple.
Further, the suggestion that officers should show up in their everyday duty
uniforms to quell extremely dangerous situations is not only unreasonable, it is
unconscionable. In many riot-type events, there are those in the crowd inclined
to hurl rocks, bottles, Molotov cocktails or worse. Even if the vast majority of
protesters are non-violent, officers must be prepared for those who arent. They
deserve the ability to protect themselves.
In the long run, we dont need a knee-jerk reaction to every use of force
situation caught on camera. There is nothing wrong with accountability or
discipline when law enforcement officers abuse their authority. Law enforcement
WHY SHOULD SWAT
TEAMS BE FORCED TO
DEPLOY IN A GLORIFIED
BREAD TRUCK?
should be one area where we expect the highest standard
of discipline, professionalism and ethical behavior. But since
we demand so much from these officers under difficult, dangerous conditions,
we should take care to gather all the facts before judging those risking their lives
to protect and serve.
Law enforcement officers should be the first in line to condemn inappropriate
actions of other officers or departments if they cross ethical, legal or
constitutional boundaries. Every black eye for one who fails to uphold the
highest standards of behavior is a black eye to all.
I spend a great deal of time
with the men and women who
serve this country in uniform.
Ive seen far more ethical,
responsible and dedicated
examples of professionalism
amongst their ranks than I
have the bad pennies.
Im not advocating for
people to turn a blind eye to
incompetence, corruption and
abuse by those responsible
for enforcing the law. Rather, I am calling for a responsible and restrained
discussion about law enforcement and its use of forcea discussion led
by those who understand the complexities of the various threats we face
as a nation.
If we err, lets err on the side of those who risk much. If we can afford
reasonable doubt to those who do the most unreasonable things, then we
should be able to provide a little bit of restrained judgment on the part of those
who serve and protect us until all the facts are known.
IN THE LONG RUN, WE
DONT NEED A KNEE-JERK
REACTION TO EVERY USE OF
FORCE SITUATION CAUGHT
ON CAMERA.
BATTLES
Rick Stewart is the host and executive producer of
NRA Life of Dutys Patriot Profile series and a contributor
and senior military adviser for NRA American Warrior
magazine. Rick is a former USAF SERE Specialist and
founder of a survival corporation that provided training
and equipment for military, law enforcement and other
elite agencies for 20 years.
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PHOTO BY MICHAEL IVES
Walking the Thin Blue Line
Making the case for properly equipping law enforcement
The battle
for your
firearm
freedoms
rages
every day.
Heres
how to
enlist in
the fight:
HOW TO GET IN THE FIGHT ON THE
HOME FRONT
NRANews.com offers live daily programming
featuring the latest Second Amendment news, as well
as a bevy of new, young
commentators who offer a
unique take on the right
to keep and bear arms.
Find the latest from
Cam Edwards,
Ginny Simone, and
NRA commentators
Colion Noir, Dom Raso,
Natalie Foster and
Billy Johnson at
NRANews.com.
NRAs Institute for Legislative Action can keep
you updated on the fight for freedom here at home, no matter
where duty takes you. Visit
the NRA-ILA website to
register to vote, write
your lawmakers or
to sign up for email
alerts detailing timely
political and legislative
information. And come
back oftentheres always
new information of interest.
BATTLES
FIGHT ON THE
HOME FRONT
n old saying contends that there are two things certain in lifedeath
and taxes.
If you were to add a third certainty, it would likely be that
Robert Vadasz of the U.S. Border Patrol will always shoot an
outstanding match at the NRA National Police Shooting Championships.
At the recent NPSC in Albuquerque, N.M., Vadasz won his fifth
consecutive championshipan incredible feat considering the high quality of
competitors gathered from law enforcement agencies throughout the country
and around the world.
Vadaszs 1495 bested the nearest competitor, Sean Foote of the
Los Angeles Police Department, by seven points.
FIFTH STRAIGHT NPSC
VADASZ DOMINATES
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Email the Editor
Robert Vadasz focuses
down the Aristocrat sight rib
on his 6-inch-barrelled
9 mm 1911, custom-built by
the famed John Nowlin, Sr.
I think the first day in this sport, its important to jump out ahead, Vadasz
said after the match. It lets other shooters know whats going on once you get out
there with a big score.
This is a hard range to shoot, so if you can stay in the mid-(14)90s then its
very intimidating for other competitors. Theyve already decided that someone else
is going to win.
Despite the multiple wins, Vadasz doesnt seem to be planning to slow down
anytime soon. Hes already setting his sights on the 2015 championships.
I want to get out there, I want to shoot a big score, and I want everyone else
to think about catching up while I think about shooting, he said.
THIS IS A HARD RANGE TO SHOOT, SO IF YOU CAN
STAY IN THE MID-(14)90S THEN ITS VERY INTIMIDATING
FOR OTHER COMPETITORS. THEYVE ALREADY
DECIDED THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO WIN.
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FIFTH STRAIGHT NPSC
VADASZ DOMINATES
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^ Earl Davis
PVT. 1ST CLASS EARL DAVIS...COMPANY C 39TH INFANTRY...PVT. 1ST CLASS EARL DAVIS...COMPANY C 39TH INFANTRY...PVT. 1ST CLASS EARL DAVIS...
REPLACEMENTS
THE
RICK STEWART
REPLACEMENTS
ABOVE: USA NATIONAL ARCHIVES, MAP: U.S. ARMY, BELOW:WEINTRAUB, U.S. ARMY
Men like Earl Davis, a
replacement soldier at Utah
Beach, are fading fastand
theyre irreplaceable.
By RICK STEWART
On March 24, 194422 days after D-DayEarl Anthony Davis waded ashore
on Utah Beach as a replacement. Davis and his fellow soldiers didnt have to
guess who they were replacing and why. The only thing they had to figure out
was how to stay alive so nobody would be replacing them.
The militarys use of D-Day, the date an operation is set to start, and H-Hour,
the hour in which that operation is planned to commence, mark a moment in
history with a big yellow highlighter. As D-Days go, none equal the Normandy
landings of Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Point du Hoc and other landing spots
on the H-Hour of June 6, 1944.
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Earl Davis was only 17 years old.
News wasnt exactly swift in those days, but Earl understood that Hitler needed
to be stopped and that Japannow poking the giantwas about to get more
than they bargained for. When Japan bombed America directly, everyone knew
we could no longer sit on the sideline.
ome job descriptions are all
in the name. In fact, some
can make a man wonder
what the hell he has gotten
himself into. Just ask the
replacements of Normandy.
Email the Editor
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+ + +
+ + +
+ + +
+ + +
+ + +
Earl Davis upon his
enlistment in the U.S.
Army in 1942.
Top: Supplies and
reinforcements land on
Omaha Beach in the days
following D-Day.
Bottom: Brothers to
War: Earl Davis with his
younger brother George.
REPLACEMENTS
THE

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Davis and his family lived in a three-room shack on a small farm in
rural Oklahoma. His childhood and teenage years fell smack dab in the
middle of the Great Depression, so tough times and hard living were
nothing new to him.
Born March 29, 1924, Davis said that he and his family were luckier
than most.
We didnt have electricity, running water or a telephone, he said.
But living on a farm meant we always had food, and during the Great
Depression food was a great bargaining tool. If we needed something we
didnt have, we could normally trade for it with
eggs and milk.
Living on the farm taught him how to get by
and make do by the sweat of his brow. Hard
work was an everyday fact of life, yet it produced
uncommon character and tenacity in Davis and
his friends.
Earl remembers the day his mother loaded a
dozen eggs into a syrup bucket and sent him off
to the grocery store to trade them for cornflakes.
Her instructions he said, were to hurry there
and back. Those instructions were not lost on him.
Davis was moving along at a brisk pace when the
toe of his shoe caught a hole in the bottom of his
trousers. He tumbled head first, breaking all the eggs.
I ran all the way home crying, because I knew that my carelessness
had hurt our family, he remembered. Eggs were maybe 10 cents a
dozen. But in those days, a man was lucky if he could find work paying
more than 50 cents a day.
After Pearl Harbor, Davis and his buddies knew that being drafted was
only a matter of time. They werent frightenedeveryone from the farmer
THE GREATEST
GENERATION
WAS ABOUT
TO EARN ITS
PLACE IN
HISTORY; THEY
JUST DIDNT
KNOW IT YET.
World War II
replacement Earl Davis,
89 years young.
Top: Earl on family
farm in Wann, Okla.
Middle: Earl and
classmates at their
one-room school house.
Bottom: Childhood home.

REPLACEMENTS
THE

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Earls mother kept every
letter, picture or piece of art
he ever sent her. Above is
a card to his mother and a
letter he sent her from Camp
Polk on July 25, 1943.
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to the factory worker was doing his part. The Greatest Generation was
about to earn its place in history; they just didnt know it yet.
So when we started to see the handwriting on the wallthat we
were going to be called to fightwe quit school and focused on jobs for
supporting our families until it happened, he said.
Near the end of his 10th grade year, Earl quit high school and got a
job at a local grain mill. One afternoon after a long day of work at the
mill, Davis and a few of his buddies decided
to take measures into their own hands and
headed for the enlistment office.
We were 18 years old and had decided
that, as men, we wanted to sign up on our
own terms, he said. A couple of his buddies
left that same day for induction, but Earl
was told to go home and that he would be
contacted shortly. When he got home, however,
a letter was already waiting, telling him that he
had been drafted into the Army and to report
immediately. He had beat the Army to the
punch by only one day.
Outside of being a water boy on a
threshing crew at the age of nine, Earl had never been away from
home before joining the military. He went to Leavenworth, Kan., for his
induction and boot camp, then shipped off by train to North Camp Polk,
La., for specialty school as a tank operator. Camp Polk was a massive
training site during World War II. Davis loved the hum and buzz of all the
exercises and training, and he loved being a tank operator because of
its power and projection of force. But shortly after Davis completed the
school, the Army decided it had enough tank operators and made him
an infantry rifleman.
One day I was riding in a tank, he said, and the next day I was
following them on foot.
Like many young men eligible for the draft, he thought that by the time
he was called-up and trained the war would be over. Yet suddenly, aboard
ship waiting to go ashore, there was zero doubt that he was in the fight.
Davis said so many replacements were going ashore at Utah Beach
that they had to do it in waves. He went back to his bunk and waited for
instructions to report. The opportunity for a little shuteye not lost on him,
Davis grabbed a nap. He awoke to a strange silence.
It was eerily quiet, he said. I woke up and didnt see anyone around
DAVIS SAID
SO MANY
REPLACEMENTS
WERE GOING
ASHORE AT UTAH
BEACH THAT THEY
HAD TO DO IT IN
WAVES.
so I went to the deck only to find out that
everyone had left and I had missed the
boat. Eventually they got a craft to come
and get me, but they werent exactly happy
with me either.
During World War II, the Fighting
Falcons of the 39th Infantry Regiment
fought as part of the 9th Infantry Division.
The Fighting Falcons were a tough and rugged
bunch that cut their teeth on the foreign soil when they stormed the
beaches of Algiers in 1942. These troops were the first soldiers deployed
by the United States for combat.
Earl Davis became a Fighting Falcon, joining a seasoned group of
American combat veterans already fighting in France when he and other
replacements landed on Utah Beach.
The 39th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Division started landing
reinforcements on Utah Beach D+4, or 4 days after June 6, 1944.
Earls wave wouldnt come ashore until D+22, June 28. Utah Beach
was the code name for the right flank and westernmost landing point
for allied troops during Operation Overlord. Earl Davis and the rest of
Charlie Company had been spared the initial landing, which claimed the
lives of more than 4,000 Americans the first day. The exact number of
American soldiers killed on June 6 is not exactly known, and it is said that
construction workers still unearth the remains of soldiers to this day.
All that me and the rest of the replacements knew, Earl said. Was
that it was a lot.
They also knew that while they might not meet enemy resistance
coming ashore, they were heading to the front lines where the German
guns were pounding American forces. Once ashore, Earl made his
way inland to join his company as they advanced through the French
countryside toward the front lines.
The Germans had those big 88s, Davis recalled. They seemed so
much more powerful than the firepower Americans possessed. We knew
we had more guns and air support, so even though their big guns were
bigger and shook us up a bunch, we always felt like we would win.
Email the Editor
ARMY SIGNAL CORPS COLLECTION IN THE U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES
... so even though their big
guns were bigger and shook us
up a bunch, we always felt like
we would win.
WEINTRAUB, U.S. ARMY
REPLACEMENTS
THE
Troops approaching Omaha
Beach just before going
ashore. June 6, 1944.
U.S. troops exiting an LCVP
landing craft onto Omaha
Beach. June 6, 1944.
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Carrying full equipment,
American troops move onto
Utah Beach. June 6, 1944.
Troops of the 3rd Battalion,
16th Infantry Regiment, 1st
U.S. Infantry Division on
Omaha Beach.
TAYLOR, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Soldiers of the 8th Infantry
Regiment, 4th Infantry
Division move over a seawall
on Utah Beach.
MAP - MICHAEL STEINBECK-REEVES, U.S. GOV./BOTTOM PHOTO - U.S. NAVY
Davis said every soldier felt that survival was one part luck, one part
skill and a big helping of Gods will. I felt the luck part was working in my
favor, Earl said. I had my fair share of close calls that skill had nothing to
do with.
For example, one day a huge piece of shrapnel fell from the sky after
an explosion and struck Davis on the top of his head, denting his helmet.
It knocked him to the ground and stunned him for a moment, but caused
no other damage. I felt very lucky, he said. And saw my helmet as my
new best friend. I wish I could have brought it home with me.
That was just the beginning of his close calls.
One of the first nights we got to the front line, shells were landing
all around us and everyone was jumpy, he recalled. A fellow soldier
sleeping near me jumped up, kind
of sleepwalking, and fired his rifle at
me. The sound of the rifle woke him
up, and he asked me, Are you hit?
I wasnt hit and I dont know how he
missed me, being that close. But I
can tell you, it scared the stuffing out
of me.
My job as a scout was to sneak
out and find the enemy so we could
report back their position to the
command, he continued. We would
get as close as we could until they
started shooting at us, then we would crawl back as quick as we could,
then hightail it back to our unit. We spent a lot of time on our bellies in the
mud, and at some point I got pneumonia. The Corpsmen put me in a Jeep
and took me back to the beach, where a medical transport ship took me to
England. Within a month I was back to full heath. This time I came ashore
at Omaha Beach and caught a ride back to the front to rejoin my company.
There, Davis continued his role as an advance scout. In spite of the
danger, he liked the duty since it got him away and out into the countryside.
I liked the freedom and the opportunities it presented, he said.
Davis said every
soldier felt that
survival was one
part luck, one part
skill and a big
helping of Gods will.

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There was this one little garden near
a house I used to pass while out
scouting, that I would sneak into
and steal a radish or two. One day a
pig wandered into the garden, and a
shot rang out killing the pig. I figured
whoever was watching that garden
was pretty serious about protecting
those radishes. If they would shoot a
pig, they would probably shoot me, so
that ended my garden looting days.
As Davis and his fellow soldiers
advanced forward, the fight occurred
among the hedgerows they travelled.
The farms had these bushes that
acted as property lines, fences and
snow drift barriers for their fields, he said. They had little breaks
along them that we could pass through. Of course, they were not
the only ones using these paths of least resistancethe enemy
often followed the same path.
Davis said that often when the soldiers passed through towns,
local residents would greet them along the road with flowers
and wine. The girls hugged them, and the men and older people
applauded them with support.
At each stop, Davis and the others would dig slit trenches or
fox holes to protect themselves from enemy fire. Davis said that
everyone wanted to get lower than ground level to avoid being shot
or hit by shrapnel.
One night word trickled down that General Patton wanted us
mobile and swift, he said. He told those over us that digging a fox
hole was a waste of time; that digging a fox hole saved the enemy
time in digging your grave. The guys had a lot of respect for General
Patton, whom we lovingly referred to as Blood and Guts. The inside
joke among the guys was that it was our blood and his guts!
Conditions were extremely harsh for Davis and the other troops.
In fact, the winter of 1944 was the coldest winter on record across
that part of Europe.
The guys had a
lot of respect for
General Patton,
whom we lovingly
referred to as Blood
and Guts. The
inside joke among
the guys was that it
was our blood and
his guts!

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The Replacements: Earl Davis
A member of the greatest generation, in his own words.
REPLACEMENTS
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American military forces
move inland from Utah Beach
after landing in June 1944.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES CANADA

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Below his certificate of Honorable
Discharge, Earl displays his war
woundsthe arm and hand he was
lucky to have saved.
RICK STEWART
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It was freezing cold, Earl said. And guys were really struggling with
trench foot and frostbite.
One night Davis was battling severe trench foot as they advanced to
the front lines. Cold, wet and tired, he had scouted earlier in the day and
reported back to his leadership the close proximity of the Germans position.
That night, inside an old farmhouse, he was dead
on his feet pulling guard duty for another soldier
(replacement) when a German artillery shell
landed a couple of blocks away. Within minutes,
more rounds began to fall around them, including
some from American forces.
One round landed just outside the house,
and a piece of shrapnel came through the
window and hit me in the arm, he said, showing
me the visible scar on his left arm below the
elbow. The scar itself is as long as his forearm,
and it is clear just how lucky he was not to lose
the arm.
On Dec. 13, just three days before American
and allied troops launched the Battle of the
Bulge, Davis was loaded into a Jeep for the
nearest aid station and his ticket home from the
war. He was taken to Liege Belgium, where he
was scheduled to catch a flight to England. But
days of endless fog settled in, so on Christmas Day he was loaded on a
train and moved to a French port. There he was loaded on a boat to cross
the English Channel for England.
Stabilized and bandaged, Earl was loaded onto yet another boat to
New York City. He remembers coming into the harbor he had never seen,
with skyscrapers on one side and the Statue of Liberty on the other,
welcoming them home.
We didnt get to enjoy things much, he said. I was put on a train for
California because one of the leading nerve repair doctors in the country
was in Modesto at Hammond U.S. Army Hospital.
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One round
landed just
outside the
house, and
a piece of
shrapnel came
through the
window and hit
me in the arm.
REPLACEMENTS
THE
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After surgery, Davis was finally granted
a little furlough and went home to see his
family. He used that time, even in a cast,
to help his father on the family farm. He
learned on those visits that his mother
had kept all the letters he had written. He
couldnt express to his parents and family
how lucky he was to have so many writing
to him overseas, and how those letters
sustained him during his darkest days.
If you had a big family you were really
lucky because you got more letters than the
other guys, he said.
Like most of the men, Earl had the
Army deduct a portion of his pay and send
it home to his family for support. With so
many mouths to feed at home, Earl knew
that every penny he could afford to send
home mattered. After deductions, he said,
his pay was about $15 a month.
Davis came home and was discharged on Dec. 7, 1945the
anniversary date of Americas worst attack at that time. A few
months later, Davis received a $75 check in the mail. He thought
it was his final discharge money from the Army, but to his surprise,
those disability checks kept coming and never stopped.
Upon returning home, Davis got married and raised a family. The
oldest of 10 children himself, he kept the tradition of a big Catholic
family going by having 10 children of his own. He moved to Oregon
in 1949 just to make his wife happy, promising they would stay at
least a year. They have lived there ever since.
He couldnt
express to his
parents and
family how
lucky he was to
have so many
writing to him
overseas, and
how those
letters sustained
him during his
darkest days.

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Top: The Davis family in 1968: Earl and
Theresa with Tom, Mike, Beth, Beverly, Ginger,
Mary, Karol, David, Myrna and Joe. Bottom:
Earls Purple Heart, dog tags and P-38 can
opener from his World War II rations.
RICK STEWART
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While we were filming the story of Earl Davis for NRA Life of Duty,
his health took a turn for the worse. When he passed on a short
time later, his family invited our crew to attend the funeral and be a
part of that special day.
Earl Davis was beloved by so many that the church was packed
with family and friends he had made during 35 years working
for Weyerhaeuser. Members of the Patriot Guard escorted the
procession to Davis final resting place, where he was buried with
full military honors.
The Greatest Generation is fading fast. The heroes of our finest
moments are leaving us with the hope that the generations to follow
are worthy of being called their replacements.
Those are big shoes to fill, brother Earl. I just hope and pray that
we are up to the task.
PVT. 1ST CLASS EARL DAVIS...COMPANY C 39TH INFANTRY...PVT. 1ST CLASS EARL DAVIS...COMPANY C 39TH INFANTRY...PVT. 1ST CLASS EARL DAVIS...COMPANY C 39TH INFANTRY...
EARL A. DAVI S
P R I V A T E F I R S T C L A S S
19 2 4 - 2 014
RICK STEWART
PVT. 1ST CLASS EARL DAVIS...COMPANY C 39TH INFANTRY...PVT. 1ST CLASS EARL DAVIS...COMPANY C 39TH INFANTRY...PVT. 1ST CLASS EARL DAVIS...COMPANY C 39TH INFANTRY...
Earl Davis in his favorite
hat. He is survived by his wife,
10 children, 24 grandchildren
and 25 great-grandchildren.
RICK STEWART
S L E E P
The trigger pin had snapped in two, and one side had worked
itself out. He was able to get a few shots out of the gun before
abandoning it and transitioning to his shotgun to complete the
stage. The result was numerous un-hit targets, a boatload of penalty
time added to his raw stage time and a finish out of the top 10.
That was a rough way to start the 2014 season, but a
rareindeed mighty rareone for Craig Calkins, who is accustomed
to being at the top of the leaderboard at most matches.
A Colorado Springs Police Department officer, Calkins has
come a long way in many senses of the phrase. He started
his law enforcement career in 1990, working for a small
Sheriffs Department in McLean County, N.D. After a few years
there he moved to the Mandan (N.D.) Police Department,
then on to the Bismarck P.D.
T
he 2014 shooting season started on a down note
for World Champion Law Enforcement 3-gun shooter
Craig Calkins. On day two of the Superstition Mystery
Mountain 3-Gun Match in Mesa, Ariz., Calkins AR-15 suffered a
huge trigger problem.
By Tom Freeman
Photos By Allison Earnest
When Colorado Springs police officer Craig Calkins goes off duty, he
picks up his other job: being a world champion 3-gun competitor.
At Bismarck, Calkins worked in Patrol and in the
Traffic Unit until heading west for Colorado Springs
in 2001.
Calkins grew up shooting and hunting with his
father, but didnt begin competitive shooting until
the mid 90s. There was no on-duty, near-death
experience that caused him to want to become more
proficient with a handgun. His in-laws just happened
to be avid competitive shooters, so he figured hed
give it a try. At the time, his duty sidearm was a
semi-automatic pistol, but all the shooters at the local
matches were using revolvers. When in Rome, he
figured, and grabbed a revolver.
Calkins home range in North Dakota was set
up around Bianchi Cup matches, which place an
emphasis on accuracy. Back then, gunsmiths were
still figuring out how to make a semi-auto like a 1911
accurate enough to compete with a tuned revolver,
but this wasnt a problem for Calkins. He excelled
at Bianchi events with a six-shot wheel gun. The first
big match he attended was the 1997 International
Revolver Championship in Montrose, Colo. It wasnt
a Bianchi match, but Craigs underlying skills allowed
him to do well for a first-time IRC shooter.
While there, he got his first exposure to the advancing
revolver technology of the timemoon clips versus speed
loaders, and seven- and eight-shot revolvers. It wasnt
long before Craig had a then newly introduced 8-shot
Smith & Wesson 627 chambered in .38 Special. Shortly
after the 1997 IRC, his home range began to transition
away from Bianchi to faster-paced Steel Challenge-type
matches. The hook, shall we say, was set.
E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G C A L K I N S E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G C A L K I N S E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G C A L K I N S
E A T
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S L E E P
S H O O T
E A T
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S L E E P
S H O O T
Back then, gunsmiths were still trying to figure out how to make a semi-auto like a 1911
accurate enough to compete with a tuned revolver, but this wasnt a problem for Calkins.
E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G C A L K I N S E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G C A L K I N S E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G C A L K I N S
E A T
W O R K
S L E E P
S H O O T
E A T
W O R K
S L E E P
S H O O T
Back then, gunsmiths were still trying to figure out how to make a semi-auto like a 1911
accurate enough to compete with a tuned revolver, but this wasnt a problem for Calkins.
Not much call for Calkins
duty gear in 3-gun, where
flashlight, cuffs, radio and
taser are replaced with AR
and pistol magazines and
shotgun speed-load tubes.
His Smith & Wesson M&P,
however, is a close match.
In Colorado Springs, Calkins worked Patrol until late 2002, when he moved to the
Traffic Crash Unit. He served there for five years, did another short stint in Patrol and
then moved on to the DUI Enforcement Unit, where he has been assigned since.
Nowadays on the competitive front Calkins focuses on 3-gun matches.
Colorado has a very active 3-gun and practical shooting community, so
during a typical month he might attend several local 3-gun matches, three
or four weekday afternoon Steel Challenge matches and a local USPSA/IPSC
match or two. In 2013, Burris Optics hired Calkins for its Pro Staff. In 2014,
R&R Targets was added to his sponsor list.
This summer, the World 3-Gun Championship was held close to home
for Calkins at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, N.M. After five days of
shooting on stages at over 6,000 feet elevation, he finished as the No. 1
cop in the world, and took second place in the Open Division right behind
shooting legend Jerry Miculek.
E A T
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W O R K
S L E E P
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Ready
to rock:
13+1+1 in
the gun,
and 30 to
35 more
on his belt.
E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G C A L K I N S E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G C A L K I N S E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G C A L K I N S E A T W O R K S L E E P S H O O T C R A I G
For 3-gun, Calkins regularly shoots in the Open Division,
pretty much a hot rod, anything goes game when it comes to
firearm selection and modifications. As long as it is safe and
meets a few guidelines (no full auto, for instance), a competitor
can run the gear he or she sees fit.
Calkins shotgun is a Benelli M2 with an extended
magazine tube that holds 15 shells. To feed his shotgun he
uses homemade tube loaders that hold four to six rounds. His
shotgun also fields a compact Burris Fastfire II red dot.
He (Calkins) is the most aggressive and fastest shotgun
shooter I have ever seen, a top level 3-gunner told me at a
match earlier this year. And I have been playing the game for
more than 20 years.
Calkins enjoys 3-gun more than other competitive shooting
disciplines because of the variety of challenges it presents.
Competitors can find themselves shooting a rifle from 5 yards to
400 yards, or a shotgun out past 75 to 100 yards. Most pistol
shots in 3-gun matches range from point blank out to 40 or
50 yards.
Just this summer, Calkins transitioned to shooting a 16-inch JP Enterprises
rifle. The low-mass operating system is designed to further reduce recoil when
shooting fast. For optics, he uses a Burris XTR 1-4 for distance, with a Fastfire
III mounted forward and canted off to the side for close-up targets.
Calkins also changed pistols this year, moving to a Smith & Wesson M&P CORE,
again with a Burris Fastfire III on top. This is a non-trivial advantage, as he carries
an M&P on duty. Also, on a stage where a firearm must abandoned in a dump box,
theres no safety to apply on the striker-fired Smithanother advantage.
E A T
W O R K
S L E E P
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S H O O T
He is the most aggressive and fastest shotgun
shooter I have ever seen.
Of course, Calkins still shoots a revolver now and then.
Most of his revolvers are set up for double action only and have
Apex Tactical hammers.
Craig does the trigger work for these pistols himself.
Recently he and I pulled a barrel off one of his
S&W 627s. I asked him how many rounds he had
through it, as the rifling had clearly seen better days. His guess was
somewhere around 125,000 rounds. Knowing that he has two almost
identical 627s that he uses equally, thats a lot of shooting!
During the summer months Calkins shoots lots of Steel Challenge
matches with all types of firearms. He uses everything from a
Ruger 10/22 rifle, to a Ruger MK III pistol, to a Smith and Wesson
M&P-15/22, to his M&P CORE. All of them have some sort of optic
on them, allowing him to use these matches as cross training for his
3-gun endeavors.
Calkins said shooting lots of different competitions benefits him
as a cop in many ways. One of the biggest benefits comes from being
able to take a short look at a situation (match stage) and quickly
come up with a plan to negotiate it.
Its problem solving 101, he said. Theres no mystery to how
this helps on the job, where long looks may be a tactical impossibility.
Things such as shooting off rooftops, under cars and around
barricades can do nothing but help me out on the street if the need
to use deadly force should arise.
Calkins added that another benefit of competitive shooting is the
ability to deal with the stress of equipment malfunctions.
In the line of duty, if a firearm was to go down, my familiarity
allows me to clear it or decisively transition to another, he said.
Sometimes while at the PD range, other officers will ask me
about how to shoot faster or be more accurate, he continued.
Oftentimes, I end up talking to them about the different matches
and how they can help develop skills that normal officers are
not exposed to during firearm qualification training. Its about shooting more,
but also in more varied situations. Competition provides that.
I asked him how many rounds he had through it, as the rifling had clearly seen
better days. His guess was somewhere around 125,000 rounds.
E A T
W O R K
S L E E P
S H O O T
E A T
W O R K
S L E E P
S H O O T
Natural stages are becoming more and more
common in 3-gun. Here, Calkins is about to load his
JP rifle and get to work at his favorite pastime.
I asked him how many rounds he had through it, as the rifling had clearly seen
better days. His guess was somewhere around 125,000 rounds.
A few weeks after Calkins so-so finish at the SMM3G match in March,
he went to the USPSA 3-Gun National Matches and finished 11th. A couple
of months later, he had a solid second-place finish at the Rocky Mountain
3-Gun World Match. Then just a few weeks later, he solidly won the Area 2
USPSA 3-Gun Championship.
Of course, all that successful competition comes at a price. In an average
month, Calkins might shoot 600 rounds of shotgun,
800 rounds of rifle and more than 1,000 rounds of pistol
ammo. Some of that is in matches butno surprisea lot
is in practice. He spends his time off reloading ammo, cleaning guns, fixing guns
or shooting. Somewhere in there he remembers to eat and sleep.
Two of his favorite matchescompetitions he seldom missesare the
International Revolver Championship (IRC) and the Rocky Mountain 3-Gun
(RM3G). The IRC is a very laid-back match where everyone is shooting the
same gun, resulting in a true apples-to-apples test of revolver skill. The
community is pretty small, so its a competition largely among old friends.
RM3G is a more complex affairan open terrain match held at the NRA
Whittington Center. Run around those hills, shoot all three guns well and
quickly. The variety of shooting challenges that can be set up there is pretty
much endless.
Five years from now Craig still sees himself with CSPD and working
hard to dominate 3-gun competitions. I have no doubt he will always do
well at both.
Calkins advice to anyone wanting to get into competitive shooting is
to go to a match and check it out. However, he advises new competitive
shooters to not spend a ton of money without talking to guys that have
already been around the block. Theyll have some good advice on equipment.
And remember, everyone had a first matchcomplete with nerves,
mistakes and all the other first-match foibles. The biggest thing is to just get
out there and give it a shot.
A 20-plus-year veteran of the
United States Air Force as a
C-130 flight crew member,
Tom Hoser Freeman
started competitive shooting,
hunting and reloading when
he was 11 years old. He is an
NRA Firearms Instructor and
has numerous top-3 finishes
at state, regional and national
championships.
Calkins 3-gun gear,
combined with hours
of practice, helps
him compete as
a world-champion
shooter when not
on patrol for the
Colorado Springs P. D.
Benelli M2
E A T
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S H O O T

S
m
i
t
h

&

W
e
s
s
o
n

M
&
P

C
O
R
E
JP Enterprises AR-15
Smith & Wesson 627
GL OC K S P OR T S S H OOT I NG F OU NDAT I ON
A U NI QU E , C OMP E T I T I V E V E NU E
by FRANK WI NN, GUNS & GEAR EDI TOR
photos by CHRI S HAMI LTON
GLOCKS ,
GUNNY,
&
GLORY
If you didnt
attend this year,
theres always
next year.
G L O C K S P O R T S S H O O T I N G F O U N DA T I O N
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n the alphabet soup
that comprises American
competitive and recreational
shooting, we generally find
small mention of GSSF.
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Train hard, win easy.
This is an odd bit of unintentional tyranny: The venue is neither new
(1991), nor small (their latest annual match boasted nearly 1,350
entries), takes place all over the country (about 50 matches each year),
and boasts the best prize pool for the widest range of contestants by a
margin thats, well, pretty much out of sight.
Then, theres The Gunny. Not a gunny, but the gunny:
R. Lee Ermey (USMC), long-time Glock spokesperson. If Full Metal
Jackets GySgt Hartman cant light up your shooting venue, youve got
more PR trouble than a striker-red, polymer frame pistol in a
single-action, all steel world.
Why then, have so few shooters heard of the Glock Sports Shooting
Foundation, much less competed in a GSSF match?
ANSWE R E D
The biggest chunk of the answer is obvious: Bring a Glock or sit and
watch. As The Glock Report says, The goal was to introduce new
Glock shooters to sport shooting, and the use of stock Glock rearms.
Your 1911, or revolver or other semi-auto may be a ne handgun, but it
cant come out to play; hence the G in GSSF.
Wed concede a second reason kept us away too, for a while.
But it doesnt take longafter a jaunt through the whys and
whereforesto see the genius that underpins the GSSF formula.
One hears laments of unvarnished commercialism. Of course its
commercial, but with a twist that is forwarding and protecting shooting
(remember that Second Amendment thingy?) in a decidedly insightful
and absolutely unarguable way: The kit burden you need to shoot GSSF
is lighterfar lighterthan anything else. It gets people out to the range
and interested in a shooting sport.
The third part of the answer is an extension of the second, but the
most important in the long run. Upon rst inspection, the courses of re
look pedestrian and the handling rules over-anxious. But after shooting
a matchand even more so after watching a new shooter take partthe
method in their madness (the Bard will forgive our paraphrase)
becomes clear: The GSSF regime is a brilliantly crafted introduction to safe
and accurate shooting, and with any luck at all, for a whole life long.
MATC H ARC H I TE C TU R E
GSSF does a great job of keeping it simple. Set stages are the best example,
with a match consisting of three basic courses of re. There are eight variations
This aint no cake walk
men. This is GSSF.
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On the buzzer,
rock your Glock.
Man-on-man
start in the Gunny
Challenge. Boxes
are for safe
abandonment
after the switch
from the G41 to
the G42.
of Five to Glock, which presents ve NRA D Tombstone
cardboard targets at ranges between 5 and 25 yards. The
Glock M stage has six variations composed of four NRA D
targets and three steel poppers, with nothing beyond 15 yards
(though steel is always at 11 yards or more for safety). The last course of re, Glock the
Plates, features six 8-inch diameter falling plates on a standard plate rack at 11 yards.
Running the stages is straightforward. On the Five to Glock, for instance, you
approach the line with a boxed, cased or holstered, slide-locked Glock, magazines
loaded (11 rounds max, but variable by division). You load/chamber as directed by the
RO, and then wait (in either Low or Contact ready position) for the start signal.
On the buzzer, you engage with two shots per target (no stacking), and your time is
recorded. Do it again, and again. Running the M and the plates is much the same,
though the latter is repeated four times. Best six per target on paper count, steel must
fall, then time for the three (or four) strings is summed, plus any penalties.
The penalties are the clever bit: The NRA D is a four-zone target with an embossed
4-inch diameter A, 8-inch B, and 12-inch C. The remainder of the 30-by-18 inch
expanse is the D. A and B hits are zeroes (a good thing), each C adds a second to
your time/score, each D adds three seconds, and each miss 10.
Did we mention no make-ups on Five to, only one per string on steel in the M?
Go ahead and empty out if you must, but youll pay in time. A clean match is 81 rounds
(Five to = 30, M = 27 and plates = 24), and it doesnt happen very often. (For instance,
the Master Stock divisionarguably the toughestrecorded only 23 in all the matches
between 2000 and 2009 when such stats were kept.)
Another major difference in the conduct of a GSSF match is squadding. Essentially,
you dont. This doesnt mean you cant shoot with your friends, quite the contrary. With
the exception of the ROs who run the clock and record scoring just as they do in other
disciplines, you shoot only with a self-selected group, or even no group at all.
When you sign in at the match location you receive a set of labels for your score
sheets. You then go sign in on the three stages, and pick the one on which you want to
start. When the shooters in front of youif anynish their strings, youre up. If a stage
is busy, you can go to one that is less so, and larger matches feature multiple copies
of the three courses of re. In the middle of the day, youll generally move through the
match a little more slowly, but for the most part, you show up and shoot when you wish,
no hard-and-fast times. While its unusual, weve shot three divisions (a total of nine
stages) in slightly over an hour on a couple of occasions.
WHO SHOOTS AGAI NST WHOM
The competitive division strategy is another well-conceived feature of GSSF, and it
keeps people coming back. Simply, this means that there are plenty of opportunities
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Anybody can shoot. But only
if theyre shooting a Glock.
to shootmultiple entries are permitted, even encouragedbut
participants can ne-tune their choices to meet the types of
Glocks they own without having to change their strategy. In every
division, fast and accurate is always the name of the game.
Civilian is the largest pool of competitors, and is limited to
amateurs. If youre master or above in any other discipline
(or a member of any organized shooting team, for instance), youre ineligible for this division.
Guardian is a stock pistol division too, open only to LE, military and closely allied
professions. Guardians may cross over and shoot in Civilian division, but not in both.
In 2014, GSSF added the Glock Girls Side Match to every meeting. A particularly
rich prize pool highlights this division: Any woman may compete for the performance
prize ($100), but for every 10 participants, a Glock pistol certicate is given away by
drawing. Think this might get your signicant female other to the range?
There are seven other divisions in a GSSF match, mostly divided by pistol type.
The popular Competition division allows for virtually any Glock model to be elded,
including factory-compensated and long-slide competition models. Others like the
Subcompact/Subcompact (.380) and Major Subcompact divisions acknowledge
round type/count, or pistol conguration differences to keep things fair. In most of these,
Masters and Amateurs compete side-by-side, but in different prize pools.
Unlimited means what Open means in most other disciplines. Like USPSA or Steel
Challenge, these no-holds-barred pistols are impressive to watch, handled by the best.
Competitors compete in one prize pool.
Master Stock is where the big dogs, so to speak, howl. While any shooter can sign up for
the division and enters the same prize pool, the top rank of GSSF lives here. Most competitors
here have won three (or more) divisions at previous matches and are hence classed as GSSF
Masters. Most overall match-winning scores get shot here, and pistols are stock-only.
A High Overall match score (the lowest combined time plus penalties in any full
round-count, stock division) earns you the title of Matchmeister.
Which brings us to the Conyers, Ga., match.
C ONY E RS AND TH E G U NNY C HALLE NG E
The association of the Gunny Challenge with the Conyers GSSF Annual Shoot isnt
exactly a straight line. Glocks 2005 introduction of the .45 GAP cartridge and pistol (G37)
were aligned with a new Glock spokespersonactor and retired United States Marine
R. Lee Gunny Ermey. The goal was to combine the Gunnys showmanship with the latest
Glock product, and demonstrate what it could do in the hands of skilled shooters. Those
shooters would self-select from the ranks of existing Matchmeisters and could theoretically
come from any walk of life.
Steel target versions of the GSSF courses of re were devised, liberal prize money added,
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R E F LE C TI ONS
We doubt our opinions of the Glock Sports
Shooting Foundation are any mystery at this
point. More importantly, we hope why is clear.
Competitive shooting didntand doesnt
need another USPSA, IDPA, IMHSA, PPC,
Bianchi, SCSA, SASS, etc. These organizations
are all doing a ne job safely promoting their
venues. We have talked about several of
them in the pages of AW, shoot many of them
ourselves and will continue to do so.
What GSSF brings, however, lls a yawning
gap. One of our local Glock dealers described
it with marvelous precision.
Its the only competitive program I know of
where you could walk into the shop, pick out
a pistol, clear the background check, and just
drive to the match, he said. A Gen4ll have
everything you need to get started for about
$550. If you understand basic rearm safety
and watch a few people rst, the ROs and
uncomplicated stages take care of the rest.
Even if youre already good with a handgun,
there will be shooters there wholl challenge
you. But if youre relatively new to pistol
shooting and especially to competition,
youll still have fun, and learn a lot, too.
Weve nothing to add to that.
and the Gunny Challenge born. Early Gunny
Challenges were somewhat migratory and
variablesome on paper, some on steel and
timed. The match was rst held in conjunction
with the SHOT Show, and later at Ft. Benning.
In 2009, the Gunny Challenge settled into
South River Gun Club in Conyers, and became a
Matchmeister-on-Matchmeister, all-steel event.
The combination of the Annual Match and
the Gunny Challenge has been an astonishing
success: The 2013 match had more than
1,000 entries (arguably the largest action
shooting event ever held, anywhere, at that
time) and in 2014 was eclipsed by 22 percent.
Not including the Gunny Challenge, prizes
totaled over $16,000 and more than
50 Glock pistols.
The Gunny Challenge course of re still
changes from year to year. Butch Barton (see
our sidebar) won for the fth time on a course
that used both of Glocks new models:
the .45 ACP G41 and .380 ACP G42.
The Challenge stage this year was shot
using poppers and a plate rack. Starting with a
Glock-provided G41, competitors had to knock
down one popper, and then clean the plate rack
with the rounds in the G41 (only 7). Then, youd
switch to the G42 to pick up any misses, and
drop a crossover popper, where the popper
that falls on top, loses. Best two-out-of-three, up
to the semis; best three-out-of-ve to the end.
As Barton observed, even the Gunny
Challenge course had an undeniable hint of
realism. Kinda like switching to a backup gun,
he said.
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PRI Z ES GALORE
Prizes are a huge part of the appeal of GSSF shooting. Generally, awards fall
into two groupsperformance and random. Overall match registrations drive the
number of random prizes, and each shooter in each division counts. These prizes
range from Glock eld knives to cash and pistol certicates. While the formula
seems complicated, the implications are obvious here, and theyre pretty good. A
medium-sized match can easily have ve randomly awarded pistols and several
dozen $50 cash and other awards.
Performance awards are just what the name implies: They usually reward
rst place with a pistol, and second and third places with money or non-pistol
Glock hardware.
There are also Special Category awards in the Civilian and Guardian divisions.
These are generally cash, and go to the High Challenged, High Super Senior,
High Senior, High Junior Male, High Junior Female, High Adult Female and
High Guardian Female.
If you go here and pick a match result PDF, youll see that roughly 1-in-4
contestants go home with something.
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The new G42 in
.380ACP has a
division all its own.
B UTC H BARTON
GUNNY CHALLENGE DOMINATION
A
ll competitive disciplines have their
top guns, and in terms of the Gunny
Challenge, Butch Barton has pretty much
worn out all comers. His rst win was in
2008, with repeats in 2010, 2011, 2012
and again this September to claim the top
prize of $3,000.
Barton is a congenial Midwesterner, and
27-year veteran of the Rochester, Minn.,
Police Department. Now retired from the
department, hes a private security
consultant and regular at GSSF matches
throughout the country.
In talking with Barton, we were particularly
struck by his perspectives on GSSF
competition as a former SWAT team member
and LE rearms instructor: Its not tactical
training, of course, but it is rearm training.
It pushes you to shoot fast, but you have
to get your hits: Shoot accurately as fast
as you can.
You always hope there wont be a gun
ght, but when it happens, remember how
many there are where nobody gets hit and
the bad guy gets away to potentially hurt
someone else, he added. This kind of
shooting (competition) doesnt help you with
tactics, but the stress and adrenaline effects
are realthe dry mouth, the sweaty palms,
ngers that dont want to work right. I still
experience them. But being able to perform
with your rearm anyway is whatll help you
do your job and keep you alive.
And, quite apparently, in the winners circle.
Butch always brings
his A game, and then
some. Especially to the
Gunny Challenge.
A
nother top gun in GSSFmaybe the top
gun for regular matchesis Bryan Dover.
Bryans a regular guy from Missouri, and
ubiquitous at GSSF matches all over the country.
Maybe we should check the regular guy
business too: Theres nothing regular about his
97 Matchmeister titles, including this year, where
he entered and won every available division at
the Conyers match (seven all told, and not the
rst time hes done it). Considering the regional
nature of GSSF competitions, this may be a
record without peer in handgunning. Bryan is no
stranger to the Gunny Challenge either: He has
won it once and been second four times. Note
hes no isolated, narrow-discipline specialist, but
a three division USPSA Master with multiple
top-20 nishes in national level matches.
Bryan came to GSSF by a different routean
off-hand suggestion by a shooting buddy in
2005. He was enticed by the idea that amateurs
could win consequential prizesread pistols
so really began to focus on GSSF in 2011.
I like the idea that you have to be both fast
and accurate he told us. It doesnt put such a
high premium on ne-tuning an expensive gun,
or on small details of stage planning. I can also
get in a lot more shooting in a relatively short
period of time. Multiple divisions usually take
me between two and four hours, and thats
500 to 600 rounds. Cant do that anywhere else.
Plus, the Share the Wealth prize rules mean that
a good performance is unlikely to get shut out of
the worthwhile prizes. Its more fun and more fair
for everybody.
BRYAN DOVER

97
MATCHMEISTER
TITLES
Bryan needs a division
all his own.were sick of
him clobbering us!
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A LOOK BACK
AT SOME OF THE
UNSUNG
HEROES
OF THE
WAR ON
TERROR
b y C H U C K H O L T O N
In times of war and not
before, God and the soldier
we adore. But in times of
peace and all things righted,
God is forgotten and the
soldier slighted."
-RUDYARD KIPLING
PHOTO BY JUSTIN MORRIS
Erik Prince is pictured
with his mother, Elsa,
and father, Edgar, at the
U.S. Naval Academy,
which he attended for
three semesters.

While a student at
Hillsdale College in
Michigan, Prince
was a member of the
local fire department.
SAY YES FIRST,
IRON OUT THE
DETAILS LATER.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIK PRINCE
ar is terribly expensive. But when
the manure hits the rotary airow
facilitator, the cost of not being
ready is always higher than the price of
preparation. Americas history is replete
with examples of politicians gutting the
military whenever there is no direct threat
on the horizon.
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This was the case leading up to the horric events of Sept. 11, 2001.
The moment planes started slamming into buildings, Americas military
and intelligence services were at a low ebb of funding and capabilities.
In short, we were caught at-footed. In the 1990s, the number crunchers
in Washington decided that replacing the CIAs thorny human intelligence
capability with signals intelligence was a real cost-savera high-tech
solution that made for fantastic PowerPoint presentations on Capitol Hill.
Who could have imagined that the biggest threat to America came from
a bunch of cave-dwelling Wahhabis living in a place that could boast more
goats than cell phones?
On 9/11, America had exactly zero intelligence operatives inside
Afghanistan. When it became apparent that our attackers originated from
there, the government began a monumental game of catch-up. In the
previous Gulf War in 1991, there were 60 U.S. troops for every contractor in
the war zone. But 10 years later, outsourcing was much more of a necessity,
and the ratio of contractors to military personnel was more like 1:1.
Help arrived in the form of a scrappy startup in rural Moyock, N.C.,
owned by Erik Princea veteran Navy SEAL whose name would become
a lightning rod for controversy years later. Princes Navy career was cut
short by the untimely death of his father, a successful businessman from
Michigan. Prince then put his inheritance to work by starting Blackwater USA,
a rearm training company that eventually grew into a multibillion-dollar
private military contractor providing the U.S. government with capabilities it
desperately needed.
If Prince had known at the beginning how the politicians would throw his
company under the bus the second it became politically expedient to do so,
he might have chosen a different line of work.
The rst time I met Erik Prince was on an airplane. LtCol Oliver North and
I were headed to Afghanistan reporting for the NRA Life of Duty Network,
happy to have scored upgrades to business class. We were just settling in
when Prince walked onto the plane. To our surprise, he wasnt traveling up
fronthe was in row 37.
Why would a man worth almost a billion dollars ride in steerage? Heck,
he could probably write a check for the
whole airplane if he felt like it. Why would he
choose to endure a 14-hour ight in the back
of the plane?
Prince just shrugged when I posed the
question. It gets you there just as fast, he
replied. Besides, I prefer a low prole.
In Afghanistan, Prince kept that low prole
by traveling incognito in a beat-up taxi rather
than by armored vehicle. That particular
mix of humility and toughness has served him well; through the
untimely death of his father, then his rst wife. He poured his
heart into Blackwater USA by carving a training facility out of the
North Carolina swamp. He nurtured the edgling company with
a Say yes rst, iron out the details later attitude when the U.S.
government came hat-in-hand to beg for help. He kept that can-do
attitude later when that same government played political football
with Blackwater, deciding it would make the perfect scapegoat for a
war that had become hugely unpopular.
NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
Blackwater wasnt the biggest private military contractor by a long
shotcompanies like DynCorp International and Triple Canopy had
larger government contracts. But Princes men maintained one of the
best track records in the business: Over 10 years and thousands of
missions, not one of the principals Blackwater protected was ever
injured, much less killed. This sterling record was bought with the
blood of 41 dead Blackwater operatives, with many more injured.
And because the death of a contractor doesnt carry the heavy
political price of a dead soldier, sailor, airman or marine, the very
politicians being protected in the war zone by Prince and his men
felt no aversion whatsoever to lambasting the company publicly
when it suited their political ends.
Claims of impropriety by those on Capitol Hill led to years of
lawsuits, which ultimately came to very little. But, as Prince puts it,
Shifting political tectonic plates crushed my company as an act of
partisan theatrics. Anyone who understands the deep divisions in
our country should not be surprised.
When you arent allowed to discuss your successes, your
failures are all anyone will see. Because Blackwaters contracts
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Part of the Blackwater
Baghdad State Department
personal security team.

Blackwaters North Carolina
training center.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIK PRINCE

Al Clark (left) and Erik Prince,
members of the original
Blackwater team.
For their first security
contract, Blackwaters
men safeguard Paul
Bremer, who served
as Presidential Envoy
to Iraq until the
handover of power to
the Iraqis in 2004.
SHIFTING
POLITICAL
TECTONIC PLATES
CRUSHED MY
COMPANY AS AN
ACT OF PARTISAN
THEATRICS.
specically forbade
them from answering
their critics in the media
and government, many
people have a skewed
understanding of what
Blackwater actually did for
Americas war effort. Sufce it to say that their
operators regularly put themselves at risk in
the war zone to go to the rescue of American
troops in contact, even when they werent being
paid to do so.
Blackwater became so vital to the CIAs
ability to do its job that the company became
a de facto extension of that agency for a time.
The world may never know the full extent of the
assistance Erik Prince and Blackwater provided
America, often for free and at great personal risk.
In the end, his and Blackwaters legal troubles
are less an excoriation of the company and their
business methods, and more a sad commentary
on the toxic political environment in America.
For his part, Erik Prince is done with that.
He sold all of his interests in Blackwater and
its successors and subsidiaries, and has
taken a position as CEO of Hong Kong-based
Frontier Resource Group, a company that
invests in emerging technologies and provides
logistics in non-permissive regions of the world,
mostly in Africa.
Prince recently wrote his side of the story in
a book titled, Civilian Warriors: The Inside Story
of Blackwater and the Unsung Heroes of the War
on Terror. He calls it, The story of men taking
bullets to protect the men who take all the
credit. A tale of patriots whose names became
known only when lawyers and politicians needed
to blame somebody for something.
The book is a very interesting read about a
side of the War on Terror we seldom hear about.
Heres an excerpt:
A
t 11 p.m., 18 cars, watched
overhead by U.S. Army Apache
and Kiowa Warrior helicopters,
as well as by a pair of Blackwater
helicopters, known as Little Birds, stormed
out of the Green Zone. They turned onto a
pockmarked roadway, drove past scorched
trafc barriers and burned-out remains of
vehicles once used for suicide bombings,
and sped toward Baghdad International
Airport. A motorcade escorting a head of
state and the U.S. secretary of defense
doesnt travel light. Especially not on the
Highway of Death.
That multilane stretch of asphalt
connects Iraqs largest international
airport with the coalition-occupied Green
Zone. For years, insurgents had effectively
owned the ve or so miles, ambushing
convoys, diplomats and American troops
roughly once a day. So dangerous was
the road that the State Department would
ultimately outlaw its personnel from using
it at all. And even before that, no one took
that road without a plan.
But sometimes Paul Bremer wouldnt
take no for an answer.
Shortly before 11 p.m., Bremer, the
United States presidential envoy and
administrator in Iraq, had nished a
meeting with Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld outside the Green Zone. To
the surprise of his Blackwater security
detail, Bremer insisted he would see the
secretary off at the airport.
Frank Gallagher, the barrel-chested
head of the detail charged with keeping
Bremer alive, quickly recalibrated travel
plans. Needless to say, some of the
radio trafc back to me expressed grave
concern about doing the mission and
questioned my sanity, Gallagher later
remembered. But I could see the look in
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[Bremers] eyes that this was not open
for debate.
The trip out was uneventful, but Gallagher
sensed the worst was yet to come. The
show of force had certainly tipped off the
insurgents that something unusual was going
on at the airport. And Bremers Blackwater
motorcade would have to travel back to the
Green Zone without the Pentagon detail that
had accompanied Rumsfeld.
Once Bremer had said his good-byes
to the secretary, the Coalition Provisional
Authority leader and his right-hand man,
Brian McCormack, climbed into the back
of an up-armored Chevy Suburban SUV.
Gallagher gathered his Blackwater team.
I explained that getting back to the Green
Zone was going to be an adventure, and
made sure that everyone was aware of the
dangers, he said. We promised to have a
cup of mead in Valhalla later that evening.
Contractor humor.
Around 11:20 p.m., Bremers pared-down
convoy pulled away from the airport. The
nimble Blackwater helicopters darted out
front, providing top cover and scanning the
roadway for threats. Gallagher, in the front
passenger seat, wrapped his ngers around
his matte black M4 carbine and stared
out into the darkness that enveloped the
roadway. Bremer and McCormack chatted
about meeting schedules for the next day.
Suddenly, a call from a Blackwater bird
above: Be alerta vehicle ahead is backing
down an on-ramp onto the road. The driver
of Bremers SUV pulled into the far left lane,
closest to the highway median. The lead and
follow armored cars maneuvered to ank
Bremer on the right.
There was a jarring crack against the
bulletproof window on Gallaghers doorwhat
he later learned had been a AK-47 round
that had marked him for death. And then,
with a horrible ash of light, an improvised
explosive device (IED) rocked the armored
Humvee behind Bremers SUV, destroying the
Humvees axle with a deafening blast.
Bremers driver swerved and battled to
keep all four tires of the SUV on the ground.
From the darkness, insurgents opened re
with AK-47s, rattling machine-gun re off
the right side of the car. There was nowhere
to hide; ames and headlights provided just
enough light to grasp what was unfolding.
Wed been ambushed, a highly organized,
skillfully executed assassination attempt,
Bremer later wrote. I swung around and
looked back. The Suburbans armored-glass
rear window had been blown out by the IED.
And now AK rounds were whipping through
the open rectangle.
Tuna! Tuna! Tuna! shouted the voice
from the radio in Bremers SUV. It was
Blackwaters shift leader, limping along in
the battered armored vehicle, calling out
the code for the SUVs to drive through the
ambush: Leave the Humvees, he was saying;
get Bremer out of there now.
Contractors in the two helicopters above
unloaded enough ammunition to repel the
attack, their feet hot from the heat of the
blast, and stomped on the gas through
the fog of smoke on the roadway. One of
the trailing Suburbans pulled immediately
alongside Bremers car, shielding it while
speeding down the Highway of Death so
close together that the cars side view
mirrors touched. I asked for a casualty
report and learned that two of our four
vehicles were damaged, but limping along,
Gallagher said.
The stench of explosives lingered in the
ambassadors vehicle as they made it to the
Green Zone. And soon, the Humvees and
helicopters made it back as well.
Miraculously, no one was injured.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN MORRIS
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