Are You OnPoint?

As ammunition prices continue to soar while supply dwindles, many shooters are in need of a cost-effective means to stay proficient with their AR15s.  Well, the answer has arrived and it’s from a name you trust: Colt.  That’s right.  Colt has partnered with Umarex to produce M4 Carbines and M16 rifles in .22lr!

The Colt .22 Tactical Rimfire Series of rifles is scheduled to be officially introduced at Shot Show 2009 in Orlando, FL.  On Point Firearms has learned that they will start shipping as early as April.  Dealer cost will start out just over $500.
This Colt M4 Carbine in .22lr has been a long time coming.  Colt decided to partner with Umarex to produce these rifles, so we’re very enthusiastic about getting our hands on these and doing a complete product review in the near future.  They have full metal bodies and all the features you’d find on a real Colt M4.  The manual of arms is the same, so users will be able to supplement their AR15 training with these carbines and inexpensive 22lr ammo.

Right now, there are several different units available:  The base model is the Colt M4 Carbine (mfg# 2245050).  These should be just over $500 dealer cost and feature a 16in barrel, M4 collapsible stock, A4 flat top upper receiver with detachable carry handle, CAR handguards, A2 flash hider, A2 pistol grip, and 30rd magazine.  The unit weighs 5.95lbs– just like the real deal Colt M4 carbine. The upgraded Colt M4 OPS model (mfg# 2245051) has a back up rear sight and a high-grade aluminum free-float picatinny rail handguard.  A classic Colt M16 version (mfg# 2245055) is also available with a 20in barrel.  The M16 SPR version (mfg# 2245056) of the .22 Tactical Rimfire series from Colt features a rail interface system like the one found on the OPS model, plus flip-up front and rear sights.  Best of all, a complete line of accessories is available.  Everything from faux sound suppressors, sights/scopes, flashlights/lasers, and extra mags are available.

I can’t wait to hold these at Shot Show and will report back with my findings.  Stay tuned to our site in 2009 for upcoming reviews of exciting new products.  We’ll be adding the Colt M4 & M16 .22 Tactical Rimfire Series to the website soon.  After pricing information and a delivery time is confirmed, we’ll start taking pre-orders.  Thanks again for your support and God bless.

– Evan

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Project M14 started simple enough.  First, we took a standard Springfield Armory M1A with synthetic stock, added a Harris bipod and adapter, Nikon Monarch 3.3-10×44 glass, Warne tactical rings, scope covers, and an A.R.M.S. mount/base. Next, we sent her off to Predator Custom Shop in Knoxville, TN for a unified gas system, trigger job, stock bedding, and paint job.  It came back shooting sub-2MOA, but the Flat Dark Earth looked more like Flat Dark Pudding.  Something wasn’t right with the color scheme.  It needed something else.

So, last weekend the boys and I got some Mission Specific Duracoat from Lauer Custom Weaponry and decided to “get creative.”  With Flat Dark Earth as our base, we first applied some Woodland Brown to create contrast.  I used some banana plant leaves from the backyard to create naturally smooth lines.  The leaves were placed about 1-2 inches from the surface of the rifle and I sprayed from another 6 inches back.  The technique worked well with a fast sweeping motion.

After letting that cook in the backyard for an hour, I came back and applied Woodland Tan as an accent.  The results speak for themselves.  It was a quick, easy, and inexpensive upgrade.  Best of all: if the project had become a train wreck, Mission Specific paint can easily be removed without damaging the base coat.  So, start with a traditional Duracoat base and go crazy with Mission Specific paint.  It worked for us.

Have a good one.
– Evan

On Saturday morning, I took a short trip to the Wyoming Antelope Club to test fire my HK USP-CT with its new Evolution silencer from Advanced Armament.  After setting up two targets at a modest 10 yards, I put a few 5-round groups down range, unsuppressed, just to verify my zero.  Then, I screwed on the EVO 45 and took a deep breath.  The first group was a little to the right, but that was just my nerves kicking in.  So, I took another deep breath and tried to relax.  Subsequent groups were tight and dead center, but after 25-rounds, the can was really starting to cook.  It was time for a cold range and a break from the action.

The Evolution series from AAC are feature rich silencers.  They’re really a breed apart from everything else on the market.  A unique piston system called A.S.A.P. allows semi-automatic pistols to cycle with impressive reliability.  If you install the included spacer into the system, the silencer can also be used on fixed-barrel applications like the Heckler & Koch P7, UMP, or MP5.

If for some reason I was off zero after installing the can, I could have utilized the Evolution’s unique adjustable zero feature.  Using it, you can make adjustments to the point of impact simply by varying the orientation of the can in 36 degree increments.  The process is quick and easy.  With the unit installed, just pull the silencer body away from the host firearm about a quarter of an inch, then rotate 1/10 turn clockwise or counterclockwise.  Release the silencer and it will snap back into place, resulting in a new orientation and zero.  Luckily, I didn’t even need to do this.  It was good to go, right out of the box.

For a .45acp, the Evolution is exceptionally quiet.  The report resembles a Black Cat firecracker, or a .22 short cartridge.  However, if you really want to go silent, the AAC allows you to run wet.  The Evolution’s design retains 5cc of water for improved sound reduction.  So, I took a sip from my bottle of Zephyrhills and poured the rest into the rear of the EVO.  Shake out the excess and you’re good to go.  People on the firing line may give you a funny look and ask a few questions, but that’s what Class 3 is all about, right?  Boy does water make a difference!  I don’t know the exact dB reduction, but it’s night and day.  Totally hearing safe and what a wonderful sound.  It’s music to any shooter’s ears and quickly drew a crowd.  So, run your EVO wet for best results.  An added benefit is that it keeps the can relatively cool.  So, when you’re done shooting you don’t have to sit around for 20 minutes waiting for your silencer to cool.

If you’re in the market for a pistol silencer, try the Evolution series from AAC.  Now that I’ve shot the 9mm and .45acp versions, believe me, they won’t disappoint you.

Have a good one.
– Evan

Owning a civilian legal silencer is easy:  get a trust, buy a silencer, fill out some BATFE forms, pay the government $200, and pass go.  In fact, the most difficult part of the process may be setting up your host weapon for the task.  As a result, many clients find themselves on a wild goose chase for threaded barrels.  Thus, a cottage industry has emerged.  Firms like Storm Lake, Jarvis, Lone Wolf, EFK Fire Dragon, and Bar-Sto provide clients with threaded barrels for Glocks, Sigs, HKs, XDs, M&Ps, and 1911s. But, these barrels can reach upwards of $250– a costly necessity that many users do not initially figure into the overall cost of the solution.

Thankfully, companies like Heckler & Koch, Sig Sauer, and Smith & Wesson are ahead of the curve.  They currently offer models with threaded barrels as standard features. This is one of the reasons I purchased a USP Compact Tactical a few years ago.  Eventually, I would want to suppress a weapon and wouldn’t want to spend an extra $200 for a barrel.

The latest in this family of out-of-the-box tactical pistols is the brand new Sig Sauer P239 Tactical.  It’s a 9mm compact featuring Sig’s awesome short reset trigger system (SRT), factory night sights, and three (3) 8-round magazines.  It’s everything you need to go silent– save for the silencer, of course.  It also has new forward cocking serrations on the slide, that are both functional and esthetically pleasing.

They’re brand new, in stock, and only $725.34.  If you’re thinking about getting into the world of class 3 weaponry now, or in the near future– take a look at the Sig P239 Tactical.  It’s a great solution in my opinion.

Have a good one.

– Evan

I’ve been collecting knives since childhood.  Pocket, boot, dive, tanto, bowie, Swiss Army, throwing, and Rambo… I’ve got ‘em all.  As a boy, Smokey Mountain Knife Works and US Cavalry catalogs encouraged me to save my pennies.  After the obligatory Swiss Army pocketknife, the first “real” addition to the collection was a Command I by Gerber (pictured below).  It was the quintessential boot knife, and if I recall correctly, cost me over $60– an exorbitant amount for a sixth-grader to spend on anything, let alone a knife!

Since then, my collection has grown, and memories of Gerber knives have been fond.  “Legendary Blades” has always been their tag-line.  In recent years, I’ve strayed to trendier nameplates: Benchmade, SOG, Microtech, and Piranha among others.  But, I’ve finally come full circle and returned to familiar territory.  Let me introduce you to my new Gerber: the model 06 Automatic.

I say without hyperbole that this is my favorite knife… EVER.  For many months, I’ve been searching for a knife featuring the elusive S30V steel blade.  The Gerber 06 Automatic is that blade.  To be honest, I didn’t find it on my own.  One of my buddies with a Ranger tab came into the shop last week to return a rifle I loaned him (months ago) and showed me his 06 Auto.  Immediately, I was impressed with its feature-rich design.  The “skull crusher” lanyard loop is menacing.  The safety selector is reminiscent of a style you would find on a pistol.  The aluminum handle is ergonomic, rugged, and solid.  The pocket clip is the perfect size– securing the knife in place, yet displaying just the right amount of handle for watchful eyes to see.  The drop point blade is an elegant, classic design– and partially-serrated.  It’s also available in a Tanto-style.  The finish is stealth-like: operator black.

Perhaps it’s the October chill in the air, the strange mix of euphoria and depression that aging another year brings, the 24% year-to-date loss my 401k has taken, the end of triathlon season, the Rays race for the World Series, or the return of college football.  For some reason, this Gerber brings me back to a simple time in my life.  It reminds me of that day long ago, when a package from Smokey Mountain Knife Works arrived at my mom’s house with a shiny new Gerber Command I inside.  Just in time for my birthday, not unlike this new knife.

Have a good one and God bless.
– Evan