SpecialOperations.com

Gerber SHORT STACK AR TOOL

I have spent many hours cleaning, taking apart and replacing parts on M4 and AR15 rifles and if there is one thing I can say is “I would love to have a single tool that could take care of all aspects of maintaining said weapon platforms.

When I first received the Gerber Short Stack AR Tool my first impression was “wow, this is a pretty cool looking tool”. It is versatile tool and does fit all of the different parts, areas and able to function together with other maintenance tools and AR accessories as advertised. Taking this tool apart and setting it up for each use is difficult at first because of the magnets that hold it together. I had to walk away from it, after my first 6 futile but successful attempts at separating the pieces of this tool (ha ha ha…arrgghhh). Once I stumbled upon the magical way to separate the three pieces, it is quite simple. It is easier to show with a video then it is to describe, so here it is.

Once you get it apart, it is very easy to set it up for each use as described in the IKEA style instructions. I am still trying to wrap my brain around who actually tested this tool within the Gerber company? After watching the video, I realized that they did test it as advertised, but only to show that it fit properly. I had to figure these questions out, so I decided to look it up on Google and found Gerber Gear , where this tool has a video that, showing the different functions of the tool, but do not actually show it doing the actual job. Some of the functions that it does are true and take practice. Would I use this tool for most of the functions that it says it can do? Probably not. It is not that I am stuck with my quote-unquote “old school ways” I just know what works for me and just not a huge fan of this particular tool.

The tools that I use in the field are:

A fixed blade knife with hard rubber handle or metal handle (usually the old school UDT-Kbar) for banging, prying or hammering. I usually used a cold steel tanto.
I used a Gerber Multi tool for field problems, or taking my M4 (when I was still in the SEAL’s) or AR15 (what I own now as a civilian) apart to clean or inspect/repair.
A bore brush worked great where the chamber meets the upper receiver.
The tooth brush that comes with the cleaning kit is great for cleaning all the other areas of the AR platform that it will “FIT” in.
Back in the day, we would screw three rods together with a 556 brush on the end, push the rod down through the barrel from the front and pull it back out (repeat one or two more times depending on severity of shooting). The gauze square would get used next with a little bit of oil and run back and forth to lubricate and pick up any leftover residue from shooting.
1. These days I just use a bore snake, which accomplishes the task in about a 1/4 of the time. I am not going to go into detail on this one, because I am sure that most readers know what it is.
Last but not least a red lens flashlight (tactical, during exercises and operations), white lens flashlight (admin situations) and a long flat head screwdriver in case you have to pry a jammed round out of the chamber.
I have used the short stack tool on everything. What I will say, it does most of the jobs as described and fits all areas as advertised.

What it does not do by itself is loosen the flash hider. I have found that it actually marks and damages nut portion of the Flash Hider. It is not as snug a fit as it should be and the handle digs into your palm. I give this portion of the GSST an “F”.

gerber-sstack-3 — Gerber SST Flash Hider Wrench

The buffer tube lock nut wrench is a good solid fit, but the handle digs into your palm once again. I give this portion of the GSST an “F” as well.

gerber-sstack-4 — Gerber SST Buffer Tuber Locking Nut

I tried using it on flash hider and buffer tube lock nut, but was unable to loosen either one of them with just my hand and the tool itself. The GSST does not have the necessary leverage to do the job by itself. You would have to do one of two things, I was not willing to do on my own rifle.

Use something to increase the leverage length and torque of the SST. I don’t know if it is designed to handle this kind of pressure. I have tried this already on my own AR and was unable to loosen either the flash hider or the buffer tube locking nut.
I used a wrench to bang on the GSST to loosen the parts, but was unsuccessful. I did not push this tool, because I did not want to damage my AR.

Given my constructive criticism of this tool and the abilities and inabilities of each part of the tool as a whole, I will say that some may purchase this tool out of plain curiosity and just to have it on hand, because it is compact and there may be only one or two things on the tool that you really need. Some may purchase it to test how tough it is and if they can use it with extra leverage or banging on it as I have described above. Others may just pass up on the whole idea of testing it and stick with what they know to work without any doubt in their mind.

I can say that I will not be using this tool, because I have other means of maintaining my AR an servicing/repairing it.

Good luck with this tool if you decide to buy it and I hope that the information that I have provided here, assists you in the functionality of the GERBER SST or another option.

When I am provided the opportunity to review, test and evaluate each item that is sent to me, I give it a “no-bullshit” review and opinion. After all, this is what everyone is looking for and all of you are entrusting in the LOR writers to do exactly that.

Now, I know that there are going to be some haters or people that don’t agree with what I have to say. That is your choice and right.

There will be others that will take the advice, out of appreciate of our honesty and run with it or discard it as a true professional would.

I have learned very valuable lessons as a special operator in the military. the most important lesson is, test your gear and see if it has any breaking points or limitations, without exceptions. PERIOD.

(featured image courtesy of ar15news.com)

– Duncan for LoadoutRoom.com

SOFREP Mini Crate Club | August

The SOFREP Mini Crate Club operates a little differently than most other subscription based gear clubs. The question we get asked a-lot is ‘what type of gear do you get each month?’ We have done a previous article highlighting what has been sent out in the first quarter this year to give you an idea of the type of gear. Each month is a surprise as to what you’re going to get. All you need to know is that the gear guys behind the scenes are working to get you the best piece of gear for what you pay each month.

For the month of August the item is a folding knife by Gerber. More specifically the Gerber Evo. The Gerber Evo is a lightweight folder that disappears in your pocket. The knife does have a deep carry pocket clip, but I personally prefer to just drop it in my pocket. By carrying a concealed fixed blade and then dropping the Evo into my pocket gives me a great low-vis option. Due to the extreme lightweight of the Evo and it’s slim design, it sits nice inside the pocket.

The blade has a nice clean profile and should be easy to hone and sharpen. There is some confusion with the type of steel used, so I’m not going to get into that debate here. From what I can tell it’s a teflon coated stainless steel blade. I will tell you this; I carried a Gerber folding knife during my active duty days in the Marine Corps and never had an issue with the integrity of the blade steel or keeping it sharp. The bottom line is, if you take care of your gear it will take care of you.

mini-aug-3 — Gerber Evo Clip Point Blade

What I like best about this knife is the handle. The handle is an anodized aluminum with cut-outs that honestly give you a decent grip on the handle. Over time the aluminum will start to wear giving the knife a used/distressed look (kinda cool in my opinion).

In a pinch you could use this knife as a self defense weapon due to the blade length and handle design. I would not consider this knife a hard-use folder for tactical use, but if you want a reliable everyday carry knife for utility tasks that is easy to carry, the Evo may be the answer for you.

Specifications courtesy of gerbergear.com

Overall Length: 7.95″
Blade Length: 3.43″
Closed Length: 4.61″
Weight: 2.8 oz.

– Scott Witner for LoadoutRoom.com

Army Ranger attends Marksmanship Training Center

So you think you have what it takes to be a sniper, eh? Even before my time in 2nd Ranger Battalion, I’ve been fascinated by the notion of shooting targets at great distances. The word Sniper alone had enough mystique and sex appeal to attract a horde of Rangerettes. The Ranger sniper section was a mysterious sub culture that existed within the shadows of our compound walls. A small group of NCO’s that no one ever questioned about training agendas or participating in ridiculous duties that the conventional platoons had to. Maybe because deep down, we knew that the snipers were our best chance of survival in an engagement and therefore someone you kept happy. A good friend of mine in Battalion, Scott M, attended Army Sniper School and returned with honor graduate credentials. Through several late night discussions over a cocktail, I quickly realized that there was a lot more to the job of snipers than just shooting an accurate rifle well.

Now that I’ve transitioned from military to civilian life in Northern Michigan, I recently had the opportunity to rekindle that love affair. Fortunately for me, there is a long range shooting facility less than an hour away from my home. Marksmanship Training Center (MTC), located just north of Lake City, MI is a diamond in the rough with world class potential. The facility includes both 1000 Yd unknown distance and known distance ranges, a 100 Yd multi-purpose range and a 25 Yd pistol range. MTC is currently in a growth phase due to increasing demand and making further improvements to the facility as you read this. MTC plans to add a 200 yd rimfire range and several improvements to the 1000 Yd range including a permanent pavilion for shooters and spectators. Marksmanship Training Center offers not only precision rifle courses, but carbine, pistol and several other related blocks of instruction. They also host an annual Wolverine 5k competition that will challenge participants fitness, shooting ability, land navigation and many other critical skills.

Despite the reclusiveness of the long range community, I felt welcomed by the staff at MTC which consists of a collaboration of 8 former military veterans (USMC MSG, USMC FAST Co Designated Marksman, US Army Special Forces Sniper, and USMC Scout Snipers). All with a passion for their profession and a refreshing diversity of training and teaching personalities. This group of instructors all have recent operational experience in the private sector as members of ERT and PSS teams under contract with DoS Diplomatic Security Services and OGA force protection. What I’m saying is that they are current and up to speed with the latest techniques that have been working oversees keeping our guys safe.

Marksmanship Training Center: Long Range 1

The first step in this journey was to attend the 1-day Long Range 1 course. A prerequisite course dedicated to learning firearms safety, the fundamentals of shooting, range estimation, external ballistics, nomenclature and the equipment necessary for achieving our personal shooting goals. Due to long range shooting becoming more main stream, there exists a myriad of equipment flooding the market. The instructors helped the students navigate through the various rifles, scopes and hardware, demonstrating what to look for when selecting gear. With their guidance, my decision was made to run the budget friendly Ruger Precision Rifle which allowed me to splurge on the Sig Optics Tango 6 rifle scope, a decision I didn’t regret at all. Despite the absence of range time in LR1, it provided the necessary foundation and fundamentals for continuing on to Long Range 2

Marksmanship Training Center: Long Range 2

Long Range 2 is designed to improve and hone precision shooting skills for all experience levels. This 2 day course covered firearms safety, supported shooting positions, marksmanship fundamentals, familiarization of your rifle, internal, external, and terminal ballistics, data book familiarization, spotter responsibilities, range estimation techniques and scope theory. To the relief of myself and other LR1 graduates, LR2 was mostly spent on the range despite a few ballistic lessons that were better taught indoors. Day 1 consisted of practicing various drills on the 100 Yd range as well as achieving a precision zero which is important as you start stretching out to greater distances. The fundamentals of shooting were constantly reinforced as well as building your shooting position and achieving a good natural point of aim.

LR2 day 2 operations started with a recorded cold bore shot and reconfirming our zero from the previous day. We then moved over to the 1000 yard range and continued with some scope drills which were more difficult than anticipated. While in the prone and looking through our zeroed scope, the instructor (Clare W) would yell, “Up 3/Right 4….Up 2/Left 2…Down 5/Right 3″…and so on. Without looking at the scope turrets, we had to make the windage and elevation adjustments in quick order to keep up with his calls. At the end of the drill, we were told to look at our turrets. If your scope wasn’t back to it’s original starting point of zero, you effed up somewhere. This was a helpful drill as I found out later in the day as the spotter was making quick wind calls in the variable conditions. Up next were mid-range shooting drills, range estimation, shooter/spotter team responsibilities and use of our new data books. The amount of data that you can collect from a single shot is astounding and pays huge dividends down the road when you experience similar shooting conditions. Winds were variable and blowing 20-25 mph all day which frustrated some students in the challenging conditions. I enjoyed these real world conditions and it further reinforced the importance of my shooting fundamentals and confidence as I was able to hit silhouettes out to 998 yards.

Marksmanship Training Center: Ballistic Data

The 1 day Ballistic Data course was another invaluable lesson that really dug into ballistic software and the internal/external ballistics that effect a shot. I found myself back on the 100 yard range recording more cold bore shots and how they may differ from a group of shots. For a sniper and a hunter alike, the cold bore shot is where the money is made. In real world situations, a sniper or hunter patiently awaits the target to present itself. You may only get one shot and it will inevitably be through a cold bore. Every rifle and ammunition combination can present a different cold bore deviation so knowing were that first cold bore shot will impact is paramount to the success of the mission. Once we recorded our cold bore deviation, the students measured muzzle velocity with both doppler radar and a magneto speed chronograph. This data become more relevant when we started plugging these numbers into our ballistic software on our smartphones. I’m not a hand-loader but had consistent results with Hornady ELD Factory Match Ammunition. In fact, the deviation of this factory ammunition was on point with the guys who hand loaded their ammo.

After our obligatory food coma inducing pizza lunch, we dragged our tired asses up to the long range shoot hill for the remainder of the course. Here the students utilized Kestrel weather meters and ballistic software to plot solutions for our shots. This exercise was the culmination of the earlier ballistic data collection, zeroing, range estimation and wind reading. As we paired up and worked in shooter/spotter teams, we were quickly rewarded with several successful shots. One memorable shot was while I was spotting for another student. I chose a target in the 600-700 yard range and gave him the elevation and windage for the shot. He relayed to me that the target was almost completely obscured from his position by another silhouette in his line of sight…except for a small part of the head. Knowing that the trajectory of the bullet will clear the obstructing target enroute to its destination, we agreed to attempt a blind head shot. Once my shooter had his crosshairs where he imagined the target was, he sent a perfect shot downrange. I watched through my scope as his bullet trail passed over the obstructing target and impacted the designated target right in the center of the face making us both laugh like idiots.

It became very clear that the instruction at Marksmanship Training Center has made me a much better shooter in all disciplines. I’m fortunate to have access to a private 100 yd range nearby and expend a fair amount of time and effort trying to staying sharp with my Mk-18 and handguns. What I’ve noticed is that some of my core fundamentals had deteriorated over the years and needed reinforcement through professional training. Although I consider myself fairly well versed in the use of both carbine and pistol, what I learned in the long range precision shooting courses made me a more deliberate and intelligent shooter with any firearm. Long Range 1 & 2 were just the tip of the iceberg with relation to what our military snipers go through. What these courses did offer made me a practical and confident long range shooter. My future plans include becoming a member at Marksmanship Training Center and attending the advanced 3-Day Long Range 3 course next season.

Marksmanship Training Center offers more than world class instruction, they also host the Michigan FT-R and USA Rifle teams along with Michigan National Guard Snipers, various law enforcement entities and a solid membership base. Students travel far and wide to attend training at MTC so if you’re located anywhere in the midwest, consider making the trip up to Lake City, MI. And if you served in the 75th, you’re welcome to crash at my house less than an hour away…as long as you bring the beer and stories. Special thanks to my instructors at Marksmanship Training Center; Clare W, Greg O, Bob C, Dan “Ginger” and Rob M for allowing me to attend the courses mentioned above. You guys did an amazing job and I hope to see you on the firing line soon.

– Erik Meisner for LoadoutRoom.com

Zero Tolerance 0909 Folding Knife

The ZT-0909 folding knife was and not an easy knife to review, as I am a definite Benchmade snob. I am really impressed with the rugged and sturdy feeling that it gives when gripping and manipulating it. It has taken me literally a couple of months to get used to the functionality of how it opens and closes. When I first picked it up, I was not impressed with how it opens and closes. Overtime, I began to realize why they set it up this way. When you are opening it, you have three different ways of doing so.

Using your index finger to put backward pressure on the “nub” that is on the back of the blade. This is very much the same movement that your “trigger finger” makes when shooting. I found this to be the most efficient way in opening it and is my preferred method.
Using two hands to open it. This is a no-brainer and requires no explanation.
“Flicking” it open. Be careful with this one and make sure you have a good grip on the knife. I actually launched my ZT once down my hallway and another time across the floor of my kitchen. Needless to say, it was funnier then shit ( not sure how funny shit is for you concrete thinkers) at the time that it happened. I definitely wont be showing my future wife the scratches on the hallway floor or the chipped tile on the kitchen floor. She would just shake her head and say something like “and you couldn’t have done that OUTSIDE?”

There are two closing options to this knife and the both require the first same step. If your hands are greasy or cold then this may require a bit more effort, so ….. PAY ATTENTION GRASSHOPPER!

Using two hands (yes, you will have to make the decision which of your hands does what), I found using my thumb to be the best digit to depress the locking mechanism towards the outside of the blade handle and using the other hand to close it.
Using one hand is still safe. same first step with your thumb, but then I used either the side of my leg or a surface I didn’t care about and push on the back of the blade to start the closing process. Now, you may think “oh shit”, I’m gonna cut my finger you jackass. Not so, because as it closes, the company has situated the safety lock in the perfect spot, to allow the “base” of the sharp side of the blade (if your sharpening it and taking care of it) to “bump” into your thumb. This is signal to move you digit and finish the closing process now that blade is unlocked and the knife is ready to be stored.

I tested in water and the dirt when I was manipulating it and must say that I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to maintain a solid grip on it. I thought for sure that it would slip out of my hand, but that wasn’t the case.

Cleaning it off was quick and easy as well. Shake it off, wipe off and blow out the crap in the handle.

I also noticed through internet and website research that some of the knife forums out there, which shall remain nameless, seem to ping negatively the

There are no questions in my mind about ruggedness (if that’s grammatically correct) of this knife. I think that my Benchmade will be taking a backseat to the ZT 0909.

I have yet to sharpen this knife and have been using it for several months now. I think the only downside to this knife, is there is no stud on the side of the blade that would allow you to open it with your thumb as well.

Other then that, I am 100% impressed with this knife and will use it more and more.

– Dirtfrog for LoadoutRoom.com

Axelson Tactical AXE 19 | Range Report

Axelson Tactical now has a line of customized firearms to commemorate the life of Matthew Axelson (Killed on Operation Red Wings). One of the newer platforms now available is the AXE 19. This is a customized Glock 19. In a previous article we took a closer look at the customizations of the gun itself.

I recently took the Axelson Tactical AXE 19 to my local range to run some ammo through it to see how it performs. Out of the gate this pistol feels great in the hands. The front cocking serrations are aggressive and good for either racking the slide or doing a quick press check.

The pistol really shoots well. I burned through about 150 rounds without a single failure. The gun maintained its accuracy from the 1^st round to the final round. The only thing I noticed after shooting for a prolonged period of time is my support hand thumb started to get a blister. This was due to the front cocking serrations rubbing against the thumb during shooting (not that big of a deal). I typically grip high, so that is just something I have to deal with. Suck it up and move on.

Benefits of the AXE 19 upgrades:

The sights are crisp and clear (easy to pick up quickly), thus assisting with your shot-to-shot accuracy.

The Ghost Trigger that comes installed is a very smooth trigger. It is a tad bit lighter than the Glock OEM trigger which you’ll notice right off the bat (If you’re a Glock shooter).
The grip reduction on the frame is a welcome improvement over the stock frame. I’m able to get a higher grip in the beaver tail area as well as below the trigger guard. The grip reduction is a very subtle difference, but gives you a higher grip which put the bore at a lower axis, giving you greater control over the weapon.

axelson-5 — AXE19 Customized Grip and Stippling

The ammunition I used for this range session was the Team Never Quit Training Ammo. The ammunition fed into the weapon consistently and I was never presented with a failure of any type. If you shoot steel for practice and training I recommend getting a box of Team Never Quit ammunition to try.

I’m going to continue running ammunition through this gun to see how far we can take it before it starts producing failures and needs cleaned. Stay tuned….

– Scott Witner for LoadoutRoom.com

Emerson Super Karambit | The Lethal Edge

The Emerson Super Karambit is one hell of a weapon. This blade design is vastly different from your everyday carry blade. Although you can use the karambit for some utility tasks, it’s not meant to be. It’s true calling is as a defensive edged weapon. Due to the ring on the end of the handle, the karambit can also be used as a non-lethal impact weapon. For a demonstration of karambit work by a Kali edged weapons expert go HERE.

The beauty of this design is that it allows you to escalate force, starting with the non-lethal impacts. By holding the karambit (closed) with your index finger in the ring, you can strike your opponent with more of an impact or use the ‘dusting’ technique on your opponents forearms. If the non-lethal impacts are not enough, then you have the option of escalating to lethal force, by utilizing the wave opening feature to deploy the blade from either your clothing or your opponents clothing.

I have been carrying the Emerson Super Karambit in both my strong side pants pocket and inside the waistband. The karambit is easily deployed from either, but it does require some practice to become proficient in deploying the blade from inside the waistband. Check out the following video of me demonstrating how fast the karambit can be deployed from both positions.

I recommend that you get a karambit training blade to practice the draw strokes and different strikes. Another piece of training gear that I have recently started using for blade training is the shot timer. By setting a par time on the shot timer you can practice quickly deploying your blade under a time constraint. By practicing with your blade regularly you will develop muscle memory making the deployment automatic if you ever have to draw it on another person under stress in defense of your life.

Emerson Super Karambit specs (courtesy of emersonknives.com)

Handles	Black G-10 epoxy / glass laminate
Lock	Aerospace grade Titanium
Blade	154 CM
Finish	Black or Satin
Grind	Chisel Grind

Overall Length	8.0 in.
Blade Length	3 in.
Blade Thickness	.125 in.
Hardness	57-59 RC
Finger Hole Diameter	.94″

– Scott Witner for LoadoutRoom.com

Hornady Precision Hunter Ammunition: First Look

With the uptick in popularity of long-range shooting and advancements in long-range rifles, there are numerous match grade cartridges to choose from. But are any of them suitable or designed for hunting at longer ranges? Hornady, a 60+ year old company famous for match grade ammunition, has filled that void with their new Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X ammunition. ELD-X stands for Extremely Low Drag-eXpanding. Through extensive testing, Hornady discovered that conventional bullet tips will melt and deform at higher velocities which adversely affected the ballistic coefficient thus decreasing accuracy at extended ranges.

Hornady found a heat resistant polymer and in turn, developed the Heat Shield tip. This tip will keep it’s shape throughout the bullets supersonic flight maintaining an extremely efficient BC of .315 (G7) or .625 (G1) for those keeping score at home. The Heat Shield tip also serves a purpose when impacting a target. Beyond 400 yards, the tip drives back into the nose cavity which initiates the expansion with devastating results throughout the wound cavity.

I had the pleasure of attending some long-range shooting classes at the Marksmanship Training Center and was able to test the performance of this new hunting cartridge alone side several purpose-built hand loaded match grade cartridges. I own a Ruger Precision Rifle chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor and utilized both the 140 grain ELD Match as well as the new 143 grain ELD-X Precision Hunter from Hornady. Both rounds exceeded expectations in the challenging wind conditions we were experiencing. In the video, you might hear one of the instructors over the wind marvel in how much more efficient the Hornady ammunition was shooting compared to an identical rifle with a competitors 140 grain bullet. Almost .5Mil more efficient to be exact

The quality of the Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X and ELD cartridges really became apparent when we started to compile ballistic data. Using a MagnetoSpeed Chronometer, we collected several 5 shot groups from both cartridges and found that the largest standard deviation was 9.2 or 23 feet per second which is comparable to hand loaded ammunition. This over the counter Match Grade and Precision Hunter Ammunition just saved me the expensive and time-consuming task of learning how to hand load cartridges. Nothing against those that hand load, I just need another hobby like I need a hole in my head.

Initial zeroing of our rifles proved right away that .5 MOA accuracy was achievable with the stock barrel and Hornady factory match ammunition. Not that it matters, but I was probably the limiting factor in not achieving an even tighter shot group. However, my plan from the beginning of this long range mission was to be a practical long range shooter, not an F Class competitor or someone going oversees to give members of ISIS a dirt nap.

Throughout the training at MTC, we experienced winds in the 20-30 MPH range and from all directions. One day was a direct headwind and didn’t affect the left to right wind holds but put the bullets ballistic coefficient to the test. Other days we had a crosswind that required some aggressive wind holds. The predictability of the Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X and ELD Match rounds were achieved through the meticulous construction of each and every load as proven by the chronometer data we collected. We hit steel silhouettes out to 989 yards with predictable and repeatable elevation and wind holds which was a real confidence booster for me. Several students with much more hard earned cash into their custom rifles and shooting hand loaded ammunition were struggling to keep up with my RPR shooting factory Hornady ammunition.

Final thoughts: If you’re looking at getting into long range shooting for sport or hunting, no need to worry about purchasing all the tools needed for hand loading. Hornady Precision Hunter and ELD Match ammunition is more than sufficient for practical shooting out to 1000 yards and beyond. At about $1.75 per cartridge, you can buy a lot of ammunition before hand loading would be worth looking into. This winter I plan to join some friends that hunt deer in Iowa. I’ve heard them speak of the coyote they see at ranges that are unreachable. I plan to redefine for them whats reachable with the Ruger Precision Rifle and Hornady Precision Hunter cartridges. Happy shooting!

– Erik Meisner for LoadoutRoom.com

Loadout: Kyle Defoor Pistol Course

I recently attended a 2 day pistol course taught by Kyle Defoor of Defoor Proformance. When you initially sign up for the class you are provided with a basic gear list of what’s required for the course. The following is a break down of the loadout I took with me. There are a few things I would do differently next time which I will also discuss.

Here is the official packing list from the website.

eye and ear pro
med kit
med kit trainer (optional)
800 rounds of ammo
Serviceable pistol with at least 3 magazines per
holster that covers trigger guard, NO SERPAS
hand held light or weapon mounted light
weapon cleaning/maintenance kit
appropriate weather/seasonal items
food/water as needed by individual

We’ll go in order of the above list to cover what I packed.

Eye and ear pro – The glasses I used for my eye protection were the Gatorz Magnum shades. These did an outstanding job at blocking the sun, giving me crisp clear sight picture and target acquisition, and providing the needed protection.

kd-pistol-1 — Gatorz Polarized Magnum sunglasses

The ear pro used were the Impact sport electronic earmuffs. These worked as expected, no issues. I brought spare batteries, but after two days of constant use they were still going strong.

kd-pistol-2 — Impact Sport electronic ear pro

Med kit – I brought a very basic med kit with me which included a CAT tourniquet, hemostatic gauze, and other first aid items. As part of the course, Kyle covers medical kits, what to include in them, and how to use those items.

kd-pistol-3 — Basic med kit with the essentials

Med kit trainer – I did not bring a med kit trainer nor did I even have one to bring. After attending the course now I will be putting a training kit together to, if nothing else, give myself something to practice with every so often. These skills are perishable, so you need to have a way to practice and train without using your ‘go kit’ as Kyle calls it.

800 rounds of ammo – I brought a full 1000 rounds in a Blackhawk 50 cal ammo bag. The ammunition I used was 115 grain FMJ produced by Minuteman Munitions.

kd-pistol-4 — 9mm 115gr Minuteman Munitions

Serviceable pistol with at least 3 mags – I used my Glock 17, since that is the gun I run with most often. I brought 3 mags (1 in the gun and 2 on my belt). For my Glock, having the 3 mags worked out really well. If you run a 1911 or any other gun that is a single stack, then make sure you bring a shit ton of mags.

kd-pistol-5 — Glock 17 with 3 magazines and LAG holster & mag pouches

Holster that covers the trigger guard – I ran the course with an outside the waistband setup, since this wasn’t really advertised as a concealed carry course. Although we did have a few guys roll with their IWB setups. The holster I used was The Defender by LAG Tactical as were both magazine pouches. Both the holster and mag pouches by LAG Tactical worked flawlessly. Stay tuned for a separate review on them.

Hand held light – I brought the light that I carry on a daily basis and that is the Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA. We didn’t do any low light work in this course giving it was summer and the sun doesn’t go down until 9pm.

kd-pistol-6 — Streamlight ProTac Flashlights – ProTac 1AA (bottom), ProTac 1L-1AA (Top)

Weapon Cleaning Kit – I brought my basic cleaning kit contained in a surplus M16 cleaning pouch. I purposely did not clean my pistol for the duration of the course just to prove to myself how resilient the Glock platform is. Not once did I have any issues. Once I was back home from the course I field stripped the gun and gave it a quick cleaning.

Seasonal items – Although the forecast called for sunny at 90 both days I still packed a lightweight rain jacket from Frog Togs. It never rained so I didn’t have to break that out. The only other item I brought knowing that it was going to be hot and sunny was sun screen for the back of my neck. Due to the heat I brought a 36oz water bottle made by Yeti which kept my water cold despite the heat. I ended up drinking all my water by early afternoon and there was no way to refill at the range. Next time I will have a case of water in my trunk for myself and any other guys that need it. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. I also stopped at the local gas station to pick up a few Cliff bars for energy throughout the day.

kd-pistol-8 — Frogg Toggs lightweight rain jacket

Now that I had all my gear selected I needed to carry it in something. The bag I carry everyday ended up being the bag I took to the course and kept on the range with me. That bag was the GR-1 by GO Ruck.

– Scott Witner for LoadoutRoom.com

Blackhawk! Go Box 50 Ammo Bag: Quick Review

The Go Box 50 Ammo Bag by BLACKHAWK! is a great alternative to the classic 50 caliber ammo cans. Don’t get me wrong, the old school ammo cans have their place (I have several of them). The ammo bag is a unique design and works really well. I’ve only had the bag for a short period of time. I’ve taken it to my local range a few times just to get a feel for it and really like it. I plan on using the Go Box 50 Ammo Bag on my upcoming 2 day pistol shooting course I will be attending. After the course I will follow up with a field review of how the bag performed in a two day outdoor shooting event. The following video will give you a good look at the design and capacity of the bag.

Features (courtesy of blackhawk.com):

• Same volume as a single .50 cal ammo can (22GB02)
• Roll-up/down lid for easy access and secure transport
• Full wraparound carry handles for superior weight support
• Heavy-duty D-rings for shoulder strap attachment
• External utility pouch for mag loaders or other small items
• Loop patch to attach content identifiers

– Scott Witner for LoadoutRoom.com

Oregon Trail Defense Stippling Kit

The Oregon Trail Defense Stippling Kit is a high quality all in one stippling kit that allows a user the ability to quickly and easily make permanent modifications to any piece of plastic. I’m a fan of stippling plastic, its a great way to make your weapons and gear work for you. There were several problems with my early attempts at stippling that I came across, problems that this kit helps reduced if not remove completely. If you are interested in stippling even the least bit, read this article completely before you purchase any gear

Oregon Trail Defense is located in rural northeastern Oregon and offers it’s clients a wide array of services. They offer firearms instruction covering basic pistol, carbine, and long-range marksmanship fundamentals. The also have branched into producing the Oregon Trail Defense Stippling kit as well as custom modifications and accessories for Safariland brand holsters. Micah the lead instructor and brains behind the OTD Stippling kit graduated with Honors from the U.S. Marine Corps Scout/Sniper Course and also graduated from the U.S. Marine Corps Advanced Scout Sniper Course. He later got his post-graduate degree from the University of Fallujah serving as a Scout Sniper Element Leader while supporting other Marine Infantry Elements.

To put it mildly he knows what works when it comes to weapons customization and what doesn’t. This intense knowledge of weapons fundamentals was not doubt invaluable in his creation of the OTD kit. In the military simple things work well, and if those simple things come in hard sided case that is hard to break, they work even better. So lets take a closer look at what makes the OTD Stippling kit a must have for anyone looking to get into stippling their gear.

stip-3 — Look at few of the tips including the waffle pattern

Product: Oregon Trail Defense Stippling Kit

What you get:

Electric soldering iron rated for 950*F (6 3/4″ long minus cord)
Hard sided case
OTD Waffle Tip 20 lines per inch 1/4″ wide
OTD Rectangular tip
Small round tip 1/16th” diameter
Large round tip 1/8″ diameter
Optional OTD Waffle tip 12 lines per inch 5/16″ wide
Clear storage tube for tips
Stand for iron

Case Dimensions:

Length : 8 1/8″ Long
Width: 5 1/4″ Wide
Depth: 2 1/4″ Deep

Cost: $48.95 MSRP

Initial Impressions

My first impression of the OTD Stippling kit was “I wish I had seen this earlier”. The kit is such an improvement over the set up I was using that I was aggravated at myself for not checking around more on the internet to find this kit instead of my Lowe’s kit. Opening the kit is straight forward and easy with the polymer tab and clasp on the side of the kit. Once I opened the kit I did the normal inventory of parts, soldering iron, check, stand, check, tips, check. Nothing out of the ordinary here so far.

There are several little things that OTD did extremely well on this kit, first use of a hard case was vastly superior to any other flimsy case I had seen for soldering irons in the big box stores. The next thing they did is small but it makes a huge difference, a clear tube that holds the soldering iron tips. It may not seem like a big deal until you drop a bit, or can’t find a place to put them when you are done with them. The storage tube also has a spot inside the hard case, keeping this nice and neat all in one central location.

What did I notice while using the OTD kit ?

I said there were major advantages this kit has over my current box store variety kit and one of those advantages is heat. The smaller box store kit I had been using was rated generously at around 600*F, the OTD kit clearly states it will reach temperatures of 950*F. I wasn’t sure if that was going to be accurate until I plugged the OTD iron in and it warmed up to operating temperature much faster than my older model. My old unit would need some rest if I was running it quickly and got into a rhythm with my stippling, it would noticeably loose penetration power. Using the OTD kit and the 12 lines per inch pattern waffle I was able to quickly completely stipple a Magpul PMAG in under 5 minutes, and that was going slow.

The difference in the two units is remarkable, the OTD unit did have some quirks though, notice I didn’t say problems. The OTD kit gets very hot and during that process tends to allow plastic to attach itself to the brass tip. This eventually did sizzle and produce a bit of smoke, ventilation is a must with the OTD kit. A simple household fan will be sufficient. After staring at the smoldering black goo on the tip I had an idea and how to clean it off, I used a 1/2″ diameter metal bristled pipe cleaning brush and the remnants of the PMAG easily came off. If would advise getting a small mental bristled toothbrush sized brush for housekeeping purposes.

The 12 and the 20 line per inch waffle pattern tips are designed to not over penetrate the polymer surface you will be working on, that said OTD advises buyers that these two tips are items that will wear out due to their construction. Each of the waffle tips should allow you to stipple two or three complete polymer pistols before they should be replaced. Additional waffle tips are available at the OTD web store for a price of $8.95 for the 20 LPI version and $9.95 for the 12 LPI model. If you find that these waffle patterns agree with your method and style of stippling I would stock up.

stip-6 — side by side of both waffle patterns

Overall Evaluation:

My overall evaluation is that the Oregon Trail Defense Stippling Kit is the only kit you should buy if you want to get into stippling your polymer guns or gear. It’s a no nonsense, no fluff kit that performs amazingly better than my old set up did. It’s more compact, easier to store and uses a wider array of tips than my old kit. It provides you with the basics and leaves you some room to explore and hone your craft. I would expect nothing less from a kit devised by a decorated Combat Veteran who knows what it takes to get a weapon or gear to perform at its maximum potential. Be sure to check out their site and store at www.oregontraildefense.com

Thanks for stopping by The Load Out Room, be sure to check back often as fresh content and new writers will be coming on board in the near future. As always if you have any questions or comments you can drop them in the comments section below or send in a FRAGO and someone will get back with you and help solve your questions.

– Rick Dembroski for LoadoutRoom.com