Build Blowback Better: Aero Precision EPC 9mm AR Pistol Review

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The concept of a 9mm AR is nothing new. In the early 1980s, Colt began developing 9mm prototypes based on this platform, the earliest of which was an open-bolt submachine gun that fed from a modified Uzi magazine. In subsequent prototypes, the design switched to a closed-bolt direct blowback system — this would carry through to Colt’s first production version, the 10.5-inch-barreled R0635 SMG. Since then, direct blowback has become the industry standard for 9mm ARs, with a few notable exceptions (for example, the radial-delayed CMMG Banshee featured in Concealment Issue 16 and the roller-delayed JP-5 we reviewed in RECOIL Issue 57). If we’re being generous, we’ll just call direct blowback simple. Otherwise, we might call it downright crude. Either way, rather than relying on a mechanical delay mechanism to slow down the bolt, it relies on the mass of the bolt and buffer system. This translates to a recoil impulse that can feel a bit jarring despite the pistol caliber — it’s noticeably more harsh than a 5.56mm AR. Thankfully, there are ways to mitigate this. We built a 9mm AR pistol using components from the Aero Precision EPC (Enhanced Pistol Caliber) line, and then modified it using aftermarket parts. The end result is a smooth-shooting, compact weapon that can be used for a variety of tasks, from competition to defense.

Above: With the brace compressed and the JK Armament suppressor removed, this EPC-9 can fit into a small backpack with ease.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 29 of our sister publication Concealment magazine. | Photos by Nate Gerhart and Patrick McCarthy

Aero Precision EPC-9 Review

The EPC line is Aero Precision’s take on an optimized pistol-caliber AR and it consists of mix-and-match uppers, lowers, and builder kits, rather than complete carbines or pistols. At time of publication, it’s only available in 9mm/.40S&W, but a 10mm/.45ACP variant is in the works. Yes, both versions accept Glock mags.

Much like Aero’s popular M4E1 rifle-caliber receivers, the EPC receivers are machined from 7075-T6 forged aluminum, with an enlarged trigger guard and flared magwell. A last-round bolt hold-open mechanism — a feature many 9mm ARs lack — is built-in. The bolt catch and takedown pin channel are both threaded for ease of assembly, and there’s a tensioning set screw to ensure a tight fit between the upper and lower. An extended mag release is also pre-installed.

Above: Aero Precision sells EPC-9 lowers with various stocks and braces, and uppers ranging from 5.5 to 16 inches with several handguard styles. We ordered an EPC-9 pistol lower and complete upper, then added this black nitride BCG and charging handle to finish it off.

We started our build with an EPC-9 complete pistol lower with SBA3 brace. This includes a Mil-spec trigger and selector, Magpul MOE grip, EPC 7.7-ounce buffer, and Aero M5 .308 carbine spring. Aero notes that special hardened trigger pins are installed to withstand the “high demands of blowback AR platforms.” We paired it with an EPC-9 8.3-inch complete upper equipped with Aero’s Atlas R-ONE 7.3-inch M-LOK handguard. To complete the setup, we picked up a nitride-finished 9mm bolt carrier group and a Breach ambidextrous charging handle, both from Aero. Total MSRP for these items was $1,095, and they were assembled into a functional AR pistol seconds after unboxing.

Initial Impressions

To test the EPC-9 pistol in standard form we loaded up some 30-round Glock mags from GunMag Warehouse, mounted a Primary Arms MD-20 SLx red dot on an Arisaka Defense riser, and headed to the range. Aero’s modifications to the 9mm blowback AR formula — namely the heavier 7.7-ounce buffer and stronger .308 buffer spring — create a weapon that’s definitely softer-shooting than an old-school 9mm carbine with 5.5-ounce buffer. The 8.3-inch barrel makes this pistol light and easy to maneuver, and it’s small enough to fit into a backpack. Reloads were fluid thanks to the bolt hold-open feature, easy-to-reach mag release, and flared magwell.

However, as is often the case with these projects, we began wondering if there were more improvements to be had with aftermarket parts. Before long, we were shopping around, and down the rabbit hole we went.

Modifications

Above: When the Arbor Arms sling isn’t in use, the excess slack can be stowed neatly against the brace using this magnetic Haley Strategic Sentry Strap.

The first focal point was reduction of felt recoil, since the Aero EPC buffer system helps but doesn’t completely overcome the punchy direct-blowback recoil. For this, we turned to a buffer system we’ve used in many of our rifle-caliber ARs over the years: the VLTOR A5. The A5 uses a buffer and tube that’s ¾-inch longer than a standard carbine system, as well as a rifle-length spring. It allows the buffer — and therefore the heavy 9mm BCG — to slow down more gradually. The A5 SP-PCC kit we picked up is designed specifically for pistol-caliber applications. In addition to the extra travel, its A5SH2 stainless buffer is slightly heavier than the EPC buffer at 8 ounces. Shooters who want to fine-tune the recoil impulse more can try an A5SH3 (8.8 ounces) or A5SH4 (9.6 ounces).

While we were at it, we swapped the nitride BCG to a RedMohawk 3.0 Copperhead 9mm BCG from Iron City Rifleworks. It’s coated in a slick copper PVD finish with an extremely low coefficient of friction for easier cleaning, and it uses a standard AR-15 extractor. If copper isn’t your style, variants of this BCG are also offered in black, tungsten gray, and gold finishes.

Above: It’s not hard to see why Iron City Rifleworks calls this BCG the RedMohawk. On this Copperhead edition, the carrier is finished in a high-gloss, copper-colored PVD coating.

We replaced the Mil-spec trigger with a RISE Armament Blitz drop-in unit, which features a 3-pound pull, crisp break, and fast reset. It uses springs rather than set screws for tension against the included anti-walk pins and is suitable for PCC applications (Aero Precision even sells it directly as an EPC upgrade). We also installed a Strike Industries 60-degree selector switch and more-upright 15-degree pistol grip on the lower.

Above: The RISE Armament Blitz trigger blade has a faint curvature and chamfered edges we found to be very comfortable. It’s also lightning-fast with a short reset.

As for the upper, the handguard is clad in textured M-LOK rail covers from Strike Industries and a Magpul hand stop. We stuck with the optic setup and charging handle mentioned previously but added a compact Streamlight TLR-VIR II unit that toggles from a white light to an infrared laser and illuminator for shooting under night vision. It also features a prototype TLR-1 Paddle Shifter switch from Emissary Development. When we installed a sling loop into the built-in front QD socket, we noticed it interfered with a full grip around the handguard, so we opted to attach our Arbor Arms Dual-Adjust sling to the top rail via a Strike Industries Ambush sling mount. The other end of the sling is attached to a PWS Ratchet Lock end plate, which also eliminates the need to stake a castle nut after installing the A5 buffer tube.

The final element of this build is a JK Armament suppressor built with five baffles and a “strainer” compensator endcap. It threads onto a War Eagle 9mm comp/flash hider, attached to the 1/2×28 threads on the Aero Precision barrel.

On the Range

With all these parts installed, we returned to the range to check the results. The A5 buffer system provided a noticeable improvement to felt recoil, changing the impulse from an abrupt thwack to a softer push. Granted, this direct blowback recoil is still nowhere near the buttery smoothness of a gas-operated gun like a SIG MPX, and no amount of aftermarket parts is going to change that. However, it’s close enough to shoot quickly and comfortably. Plus, it maintains the familiar manual of arms and accessory compatibility of an AR-pattern firearm. The Blitz drop-in trigger is also quite good, with none of the slack and vagueness that’s present in many 9mm SMGs and PDWs. This is a big advantage of a 9mm AR — trigger options are plentiful, easy to install, and well-suited to semi-auto precision.

The reduced-angle pistol grip and handguard add-ons provide improved control, and of course, the suppressor makes shooting much more enjoyable all-around. With the suppressor removed, the War Eagle comp doesn’t make much difference in felt recoil — 9mm muzzle devices rarely do — but it dissipates muzzle flash and acts as a convenient mount for the suppressor. Combined with the tall optic mount and IR light/laser, this EPC-9 build is excellent for active or passive aiming under night vision as well.

Above: We previously used the EPC as a test bench for our review of the Phantom Hill Design CTF-1 infrared laser/illuminator.

Aero Precision EPC Build Sheet

Aero Precision EPC-9 Pistol Complete Lower with SBA3 Brace $430
Aero Precision EPC-9 8.3-inch Complete Upper with Atlas R-ONE 7.30-inch Handguard $415
Aero Precision BREACH Ambi Charging Handle $80
Iron City Rifleworks RedMohawk 3.0 Copperhead BCG $280
JK Armament War Eagle 9mm Comp and 155 Suppressor $962
RISE Armament Blitz Trigger $199
VLTOR Weapon Systems SP-PCC A5 Buffer Kit and RE-A5 Receiver Extension $127
Primary Weapons Systems Ratchet Lock Castle Nut and Endplate $40
Strike Industries AR Enhanced Pistol Grip, Flip Switch, Ambush Sling Mount, QD Sling Loops, and M-LOK Covers $153
Magpul M-LOK Hand Stop $25
Primary Arms SLx MD-20 Gen II Red Dot Sight $150
Arisaka Defense 1.93-inch Aimpoint Micro Mount $109
Streamlight TLR-VIR II $600
Arbor Arms Dual-Adjust Carbine Sling $60
Haley Strategic / NeoMag Sentry Strap $40
ETS Gen 2 32rd Glock Mag $22
As Shown $3,692

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Situational Awareness Evaluation: Part 2 – Threat Identification

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The first part of this series discussed how your brain can affect you in times of threat and moved our “mindset shot group” closer to the bull’s-eye. This article will cover specific behaviors or environmental cues that might indicate impending danger. Just as there are stressors that trigger fear and anxiety within us, so too do bad guys show signs when they’re about ready for violence (though not always). When these “fearful” moments arise just remember: You have enough time during those precious seconds before something terrible happens to enact a plan and get to safety. Even a bad plan put into motion is much better than a perfect plan that never makes it out of the gate. To get an idea of what to look for, we’ll first need to understand the difference between overt and covert threat identification. Overt threats are those where the bad guy isn’t trying to conceal his or her intentions. Covert threats are when someone is trying to remain concealed, and their actions might be harder to spot. Both types of threat have different visual indicators you can use to help identify them.

Overt Threat Identification

Overt threats are when the ne’er-do-well is openly exhibiting hostile behavior with the intention of causing harm — for example, openly brandishing a weapon in a threatening manner.

Above: Have you thought through how you’d deal with a threat as overt as being confronted by an armed assailant?

Hostile Behavior
Hostile behavior is often accompanied by certain physical indicators that you can’t fake. If you’ve ever narrowly avoided a car wreck or other severe injury, your heart probably went racing for a few minutes while you recovered. The veins in your jugular or forehead might pop out visibly. Your breathing might become rapid enough to the point where your chest is visibly heaving, or your nostrils start flaring like a bull about to rush. All these observable indicators can appear immediately and can take time to abate as your body works the chemicals through your system.

If you see someone exhibiting these behaviors, you can’t say with 100-percent confidence that they’re about to become violent, but you can confirm that the person you’re observing is having a high-level stress response. Not just “oh man, I’m late for work” stress, but at a survival level. Something has triggered their brain into a fight or flight response — if this is happening near me, I want to know why.

There are obviously other things that can cause these responses like illness, dehydration, or a panic attack, but on a scale of threats, I only really care if they’re about to become violent or cause harm. Once you analyze the situation and realize they may be experiencing a medical emergency, you can render aid, but this should only be considered after you’ve established your own safety.

Other Physical Indicators of a Flight-or-Fight Response:

  • Blanching or whitening of the face (blood is pooling in preparation for a threat)
  • Profuse sweating (especially if in cool or temperate weather)
  • Shaking (caused by an adrenaline dump)
  • Whitening of the knuckles and clenched fists (often done unconsciously)

Above: Profuse sweating isn’t solely related to ambient temperature. Many times it’s related to what’s going on inside an individual’s head.

Openly Carrying a Weapon or Within Easy Reach
In America, the Second Amendment protects our right to keep and bear arms, and I applaud our forefathers for acknowledging this important right in our Constitution. It gives “We the People” teeth to protect ourselves against tyranny or violations of our human rights. I say this to make it clear that not everyone openly carrying a weapon is a threat, no matter how much the media tries to claim that’s the case.

Unfortunately, a small population of criminals and generally bad people use weapons for evil. If I observe the above openly hostile behaviors and notice that the person is also carrying a gun or knife, the stakes just got much higher. I might not know the intention of the person, but if they’re about to conduct violence, they have the means to kill or hurt multiple people rapidly.

When I trained a member of the LAPD’s famed Gang Squad, he explained that many local thugs or drug dealers don’t carry their weapons physically on their person. If they were on a corner selling dope, they would stash the weapon nearby in the wheelwell a car that didn’t belong to them. If an officer were to detain them, they would have to prove some type of material possession to make the weapon charge stick. Pretty savvy on their side! So, when you scan the person for a weapon, don’t forget to scan the area near them.

Impediments to Movement or Escape
Most people think of kidnapping as a crime involving the forcible abduction of a person, usually a child, with the intent to hold them for ransom. However, the legal definition of kidnapping is much broader. According to U.S. law, the criminal offense of kidnapping consists of the unlawful taking and carrying away of a person by force or fraud or the unlawful seizure and detention of a person against their will.

Above: Once an individual is kidnapped, the severity of the situation increases with every passing hour, so there’s a limited window in which escape is truly possible.

In other words, if you unlawfully take someone and move them even a short distance without their consent, you can be charged with kidnapping. The same is true if you detain someone against their will, even if you don’t physically move them.

If you’re ever in a situation where someone is blocking your exit and preventing you from leaving, it’s a clear-cut case of hostility. Even when there’s zero visible hostile behaviors or weapons present, if somebody is keeping you from escaping, that’s an act of hostility. It could be as innocuous as somebody standing in a doorway and looking intimidating or communicating to you in some subtle way that there would be bad consequences if you left the area.

Whether you whip out your verbal kung fu or grab the closest thing that you can use as a weapon, you need to start executing a plan immediately to get to safety. Get loud and proud and tell the person that you’re leaving right now and any action they take to stop you will be considered a direct threat. If this is not the intention of the person, then this loud statement should make them understand where your head is at and clear up any “misconceptions.” In these cases, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and assume the worst. So, don’t hesitate to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure your safety and get out of the situation as quickly as possible.

Covert Threat Identification

Covert threats can take many forms, but there are some behaviors that are commonly associated with malicious intent. These are often an attempt to blend in with their surroundings and avoid attracting attention. This may involve wearing clothing that’s inappropriate for the weather conditions or positioning themselves near an exit. While not all covert threat indicators show malicious intent, it’s important to be aware of these behaviors so that you can identify potential risks.

Above: Take a moment to think about how to assess whether physical contact is an innocuous gesture or potentially threatening one. 

Smuggling Behavior
If someone is illegally or maliciously carrying a concealed weapon, they will often unknowingly give off tells. The consequences of the weapon being observed by a citizen or police officer are very high, and this knowledge often leads to indicators that can help you single them out from the crowd.

Patting, checking, or touching a certain part of their body (especially the right hip or waistline) tells me there is something there that they really care about. Just this observation itself can’t tell me if the person is carrying a weapon, but if I had to pay attention to one person in the room, congrats, friend, you have my full attention.

  • The average pistol weighs about 1.5 pounds. If you’ve ever carried concealed, you know that it can move around and get uncomfortable after a while. So, you occasionally re-adjust it or tighten your belt. Street criminals often won’t spend the time and money to obtain comfortable, high-quality holsters and belts — if they use a holster or belt at all — so these effects may be amplified.
  • If you’ve ever had to run or go upstairs with a holstered weapon, you probably put your hand on it to stabilize it and stop it from moving around.
  • When carrying concealed you probably had to make certain decisions regarding apparel to keep it concealed, like oversized shirts or multiple layers of clothing even when it’s hot outside.
  • If you had to reach for something high on the shelf in a grocery store, you wouldn’t want it to pop out and scare all the normies, so you might hold down that side of your clothes to keep it concealed.

These are all signs and indicators that someone could be carrying a weapon. It’s important to remember that not all people exhibiting these behaviors are threats. There may be other explanations for their behavior. For example, someone who is carrying a gun might just be exercising their Second Amendment rights. But if you add in some hostile behavior cues, along with furtive movements and smuggling cues, you aren’t just guessing. You’re making a much more informed decision about your safety rather than observing just one cue.

Above: Someone who’s concealing a firearm may unknowingly exhibit various physical indicators that reveal the presence of a weapon.

Other Smuggling Cues:

  • “Dead Arm.” When you walk normally, you swing your arms back and forth in a balanced fashion. Someone walking with one arm pinned to the side maybe concealing a long-gun or baseball bat.
  • The weapon “printing” or bulging awkwardly on one side.
  • The person “protects” a specific part of their body by maintaining distance or angles.

Attention Focus
We’ve all probably been in a situation where you walk into a bar or restaurant and your entrance is noticed by everyone inside. A bell might’ve chimed, or the door slammed behind you, and all of a sudden, everyone is staring at you like you’re a pink elephant. This is an awkward moment, but usually passes quickly as everyone acknowledges your presence and goes back to what they’re doing. The person or people you want to watch out for are the ones whose attention or gaze remains a little too long on you. Unless there’s an overt reason for you to be stared at — like you’re rocking a feather boa — most people should be uninterested in you unless something more sinister is happening.

Police officers see this in the field when questioning individuals in an initial investigation. If the person has bad intentions, they might start “target glancing” at their next move. If a police officer is asking questions and the person is looking to the left and right multiple times, they’re probably about to run. Worse yet, if the person being questioned starts target glancing the officer’s weapon, that’s a big problem. An innocuous explanation could be they are scared of guns and are nervous, but it’s also possible they are mentally walking through the steps of going for the officer’s gun in an attempt to kill them. Always err on the side of caution and at least start creating distance.

Above: You don’t necessarily have to have eyes in the back of your head to assess a threat. There are certain key giveaways that, if you know what to look for, may help you plan an effective response strategy. 

Don’t Jump the Shark

We all like to think that we see the world clearly and make judgments based on objective facts. But the truth is, we all have biases that can distort our view of the world. Our biases come from our personal backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs. Someone who comes from a background of violence will be more likely to see violence in others, while someone who has never experienced violence might have a harder time recognizing it. It’s important to be aware of your own biases so you can take them into account when evaluating potential threats. Otherwise, you might find yourself making decisions based on your fears instead of the reality of the situation.

In the next and last installment of this series, we’ll cover more covert threats along with asking the question of “What else?” Once you’ve established there are no threats around, what extra information can we squeeze out of the scenario?

Paying attention to your surroundings and being aware of potential threats can help you stay safe in both overt and covert situations. Keep an eye out for visual indicators and observable behaviors that might signal an impending threat. And always remember, even a bad plan executed now is better than a great plan too late.

About the Author

Yousef Badou is the owner and founder of Emergence, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) providing behavioral awareness training to Fortune 500 companies, military, and other government agencies. Yousef began his journey into security training after multiple deployments with the United States Marine Corps. He’s an Arabic speaker and former infantryman, along with being the longest-standing member of the USMC Combat Hunter Training Program. With so many threats on the horizon, Yousef believes the best way to disrupt these threats is through education on pre-event indicators and behaviors of violence. www.emergencedisrupt.com

New: Streamlight ProTac 2.0 with USB-C Charging

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A bright, reliable flashlight is certainly one of the most valuable items you can carry on a daily basis. I use my EDC light at least once a day, and that's under normal circumstances — in many emergency scenarios, a flashlight is worth its weight in gold. The Streamlight ProTac series has been one of the industry's most popular choices for more than a decade, thanks to its durability, affordable price, and useful features. The company recently announced version 2.0 of this flashlight, now with much higher output, longer run time, and a USB-C charge port built into the housing. Read on as we take a look at some of the new features and variants of the Streamlight ProTac 2.0.

The first major change to the ProTac 2.0 is a transition to a new, proprietary SL-B50 battery pack. But before you groan at the prospect of a proprietary battery, listen to what it offers. It's a 4900mAh 3.6V cell, meaning it offers more than 50% larger capacity compared to Streamlight's universal 2600mAh 18650 batteries. This battery can also be charged directly via an included USB-C cable, either outside the light or inside it through a retractable collar. A built-in charge status LED turns green when the battery is fully charged:

Thanks to the extra capacity, the Streamlight ProTac 2.0 can output more lumens without compromising run time. It offers three brightness modes plus a strobe setting:

  • High – 2,000 lumens, 2.5 hour run time
  • Medium – 570 lumens, 4.5 hour run time
  • Low – 100 lumens, 25 hour run time
  • Strobe – 2,000 lumens, 4 hour 25 minute run time

These settings can be accessed in one of three programmable sequences via the TEN-TAP switch:

  1. High-Strobe-Low (default)
  2. High only
  3. Low-Medium-High

The ProTac 2.0 is 6 inches long, weighs 8.25 ounces with battery, and its aluminum housing is IP67 rated dustproof and waterproof. It comes with the SL-B50 battery, removable metal pocket clip, belt holster, and a USB-C charging cable.

There's also a weapon rail-mounted version of the light called the ProTac 2.0 RM. It includes an integrated picatinny rail mount, and is available in a complete kit with pressure switch and attachment/wire-routing accessories.

MSRP for the new ProTac 2.0 is $195, although street prices should be roughly $100 based on Streamlight's historical pricing. The RM version will be slightly more, although we don't have an exact price for that at the moment. For more information on these lights, go to Streamlight.com.

Forgotten Weapons: The World’s Smallest Pistol

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For those of us who carry concealed handguns on a daily basis, it's often a necessity to “dress around the gun” by wearing slightly roomier and less-form-fitting clothes. Of course, carrying a smaller pistol makes this less of a challenge — but how small should you go? Most will settle on a subcompact, while a few will consider pocket pistols with even smaller frames. At the most extreme end of this spectrum is the 2.7mm Kolibri, the smallest centerfire pistol that was ever mass-produced. In a classic Forgotten Weapons episode from back in 2014, Ian McCollum gets his hand (singular) on one of the few remaining examples of the world's smallest pistol.

The Kolibri, which means “hummingbird” in German, was developed by an Austrian watchmaker named Franz Pfannl and released in 1914. It fires a 3-grain bullet. No, that's not a typo — three grains. For a quick comparison, that's 7.5% of the weight of a 40-grain .22LR projectile, or less than 3% of the weight of a common 115-grain 9mm.

This 2.7mm round delivers 3 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, which was reportedly enough to penetrate about an inch into a pine wood board. It was also said to be quite inaccurate, since early-1900s machining technology made it difficult to add rifling to the tiny barrel. Understandably, it seems that this weapon was not well-received as a practical tool for self-defense.

Unlike the simple derringers that are a mainstay of this ultra-compact pistol category, the Kolibri uses a semi-auto blowback mechanism with a reciprocating slide. It even has a removable magazine that holds six rounds. About 1,000 of these pistols were produced before they were discontinued in 1938.

For a closer look at the world's smallest pistol and some more interesting details, check out the Forgotten Weapons episode below. We agree with McCollum's conclusion: “It may be insanely impractical, but it's a great piece of mechanical art.”

Ringbrothers’ 1,200-Horsepower “Bully” K5 Blazer Unveiled at SEMA

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For many years, Ringbrothers has made a name for itself by building some of the most intricate classic cars and trucks ever seen at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. In the past, they've displayed vehicles ranging from a 1948 Cadillac to a 1971 DeTomaso Pantera, but this year the shop decided to build a 4×4 — specifically a 1972 Chevy K5 Blazer known as “Bully.” With a 1,200-horsepower supercharged V8 engine, a custom Roadster Shop chassis, Currie Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles, dual Warn winches, and a one-of-a-kind leather interior, this Blazer build didn't leave a single nut or bolt unchanged.

At the heart of the Ringbrothers Bully Blazer is a 6.8L LS3 V8 engine built by Wegner Motorsports, topped with a 2.9L Whipple supercharger. The combination sends a whopping 1,200 horsepower through a Bowler Tru-Street 4L80E automatic transmission into the Currie axles. The truck's body sits on a Roadster Shop custom chassis with a triangulated four-link and two Fox 2.5 Race Series coilovers per corner.

Above: Opening the hood reveals a series of custom-fabricated metal trim panels and a custom intake that draws cold air from grilles on each side of the hood.

This K5 rides on 18×12-inch custom-designed HRE wheels wrapped in 325/65R18 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro mud tires. Six-piston Baer disc brakes on all four corners provide stopping power.

Ringbrothers painted the body a custom-mixed color they call Bashful Blue, and it contrasts nicely with gold exterior accents and rich brown leather interior upholstery. In the bed, there's a bright red jerrycan with a Ringbrothers billet cap, as well as a Warn Zeon 10-S winch that passes through a unique floating fairlead cut out of the tailgate. A second Warn winch sits beneath the custom Ringbrothers front bumper.

With an estimated 8,500 hours invested in this project, Ringbrothers used it as a test bench for a variety of one-off machined and 3D-printed parts. One element that immediately caught our eye is the use of picatinny rails to attach modular tie-down points along the bed sides:

As with previous Ringbrothers builds, the “Bully” K5 Blazer is definitely more of a show piece than a workhorse; we don't imagine it'll receive many paint scratches on tight off-road trails or mud baths while fording rivers. Some will surely decry it as a trailer queen for this reason — a common criticism of most SEMA projects. However, when you view it as a proof of concept and a test bed for the numerous small parts Ringbrothers offers for the K5 Blazer and Chevy C10 platforms, it makes a lot of sense. And with four-wheel-drive, a four-figure horsepower output, and an open-air cab, we have no doubt it'd be a ton of fun on- or off-road.

Symtac Shotgun Class Review: Don’t Fear the Recoil

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Shotguns are based on a lineage that stretches back more than 500 years. Henry VIII, King of England, was known to possess more than 40 of what were then referred to as “haile shotte peics” (sic) which blasted chunks of lead down a smoothbore barrel. Ironically, Henry’s successor Edward VI signed an act in 1548 banning weapons that fired “hayle shot or any more pellotts than one at a time,” claiming they were too powerful to be used for hunting. (Of course, Lords of Parliament and other nobility were exempt from the law. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?) Regardless of the simplicity and potency of the shotgun, quite a few modern-day shooters still struggle with mastering it. Some believe “grin and bear it” is the only way to deal with a shotgun’s recoil, and others assume the spread of the pellets will overcome their total lack of training — both of these are myths.

Above: Rob Haught has spent decades teaching shotgun skills to many prominent agencies and units, including the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT).

Training with Symtac

To learn how to make the most of my pump shotgun, I took a two-day Shotgun Skills class from Symtac Consulting, run by father-son duo Rob and Matt Haught. I previously trained under Matt at a local shotgun event, which I wrote about in Issue 21 of Concealment magazine; Rob has worked in law enforcement for more than 34 years, and travels the country teaching shotgun skills to military units and federal agencies. The Haughts are some of the most renowned and experienced shotgun instructors in the country.

Symtac’s curriculum is founded on the push-pull technique. Rather than leaning into the recoil and pulling the gun hard into the shoulder, students were instructed to apply opposing tension to the gun, pushing forward with the support hand and pulling back with the dominant hand, much like drawing a bow. The buttstock rests lightly on the shoulder, and the push-pull tension is applied just before pressing the trigger. Cycling the action on a pump shotgun naturally sets up the next push-pull. It’s shocking how much this reduces felt recoil — students quickly went from staggering onto their heels with each shot to effortlessly firing multiple shots from a rock-solid stance.

Above: While demonstrating the push-pull technique, Matt Haught kept his Vang Comp modified Remington 870 stable during multiple rapid-fire shots.

Of course, there’s much more to running a shotgun than recoil management. Reloading is another inherent challenge, so we practiced loading from loose rounds in a pocket and from sidesaddle carriers. It’s advised to load the chamber directly first — holding the shell laterally between the index and pinky fingers, rather than pinching with thumb and index — and then top off the mag. We learned how to stage our ammo in a sidesaddle for faster reloads, placing two shells brass-up for over-the-receiver chamber loads and the rest brass-down for the mag tube. After many reps, loading became second nature, and students were replacing each spent round without hesitation.

Above: Each student patterned their shotgun and ammunition at various ranges to determine the spread pattern that should be expected. In a defensive shooting, the impact of every bullet must be justified in front of law enforcement officers and/or a jury, and pellets are no different.

On day two, we discussed “zones of employment” (i.e. engagement distances) for a shotgun, as well as ammo selection. “Bird shot is for birds, not people,” Rob explained succinctly. Buckshot shines in the 5-to-15-yard range, but some loads (e.g. Federal FliteControl) are still effective far beyond 25 yards. It’s critical to examine the shot pattern of various loads in your gun, since each performs differently, and too much spread can cause collateral damage. Slugs are situational — have a few on hand, but use them cautiously and be mindful of over-penetration. Never alternate loads inside the mag tube; consciously choose the right load for the situation.

Many drills were covered, incorporating turns, movement, multiple targets, and even shotgun-to-pistol transitions, but the “Shoot, Scoot, and Load Boogie” was especially memorable. Each student walked towards a target, fired on command, and then began walking backward. The goal was to be able to walk back and forth continuously, listen for commands, and load during down time to keep the gun from ever going empty. This challenged our dexterity and simulated the stress of reloading during a real fight.

Above: At the end of day two, students competed against each other to test our shooting, reloading, and recoil management skills under stress.

Closing Thoughts

After two full days on the range and more than 500 shells fired — many of which were full-power buckshot and slugs — I was pleasantly surprised to find my shoulder wasn’t sore or bruised at all. The Symtac push-pull method works wonders, making my 12-gauge feel more effective and more fun. Beyond that, I learned a ton about loading methods, ammo selection, and other intricacies of shotguns. Although the underlying smoothbore formula is ancient, it’s still extremely effective in the 21st century. For more information on Symtac Consulting shotgun classes throughout the U.S., go to sym-tac.com.

Infographic: The World’s Deadliest Structural Collapses

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As young children, many of us were reminded to be thankful for health, food on the table, and a roof over our heads. It's all too easy to take these fundamental aspects of safety for granted until one of them is ripped away. Structural collapses can demolish that roof or the ground beneath our feet, often with little to no warning. However, as with other types of disaster, studying the past can help us prepare for the future. The following infographic from Forney Vault gives a quick overview of the location, death toll, and cause(s) of the 30 deadliest structural collapses in recorded history.

The oldest of these disasters occurred nearly 2,000 years ago, but four of them occurred within the last decade. They affected a variety of countries, and caused loss of life in both urban and rural areas. Some were triggered by natural disasters or terrorist attacks that weakened the structure, leading to a collapse that increased death toll exponentially. Others were simple failures of engineering that weren't noticed until it was too late.

So, what can we learn from these examples? Here are a few quick takeaways:

  • Be extremely cautious of large structures during (or immediately after) severe weather events. Heavy rainfall, flooding, and erosion played a part in many of these structural failures.
  • If you live near a large dam, study the potential flow path of its contents if the dam fails. Establish an escape plan, and take immediate action in the event of a major earthquake or storm.
  • Overcrowding due to sporting events, festivals, or even rush hour traffic can push structures to their breaking point. Try to avoid getting caught up in these crowds.
  • Make mental notes about escape routes of any large structure you enter. If a structural-failure-inducing event happens with no warning, such as an earthquake or explosion, these details can buy you precious seconds to escape before the building crumbles.

New: HitchFire Ledge Swing-Out for Tailgating and Camping

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Whether you're heading up to the mountains for a weekend of camping or tailgating with friends before a football game, clutter-free “counter” space is usually at a premium. A regular truck tailgate can get overcrowded quickly once you set up a stove, cooler, cookware, utensils, plates, a cutting board, water jug, and so on. The new HitchFire Ledge provides a flat, working-height platform that attaches directly to a standard trailer hitch and swings into position to allow access to the vehicle's hatch or tailgate. It's sized for a two-burner propane stove plus fuel canister, and also accommodates an optional cutting board side table for food prep.

Metal rails and a raised back panel ensure your stove and other gear won't go flying if you bump the platform, and there are slots for mounting hardware, bungee cords, or ratchet straps. When you're driving to your destination, the HitchFire Ledge serves as a hitch basket for storing boxes or crates, and when you arrive, it swings out to serve as a work/cooking space. The company says it also works well for holding a smoker or even a laptop.

The HitchFire Ledge platform is available at an MSRP of $325, and the Cutting Board Side Table add-on is available separately for $190. The system can also be purchased as an Adventure Bundle along with a 52-liter Roam Adventure Co. hard case and two straps for $500:

For more information on the new HitchFire Ledge, as well as the company's other grills and accessories, go to HitchFire.com.

Bag Drop: 5.11 Tactical RUSH72 Search and Rescue Pack

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You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it?” — C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

Every time I leave my house for a search-and-rescue mission, clutching gear which I’m about to stake my life on, I think about that quote from Lewis. Sometimes it’s a battery-operated rescue beacon to ride shotgun with me for a flight across the Gulf of Mexico, in search of high adventure on Florida’s Lost Coast. Next time, it’ll be my fancy new lightweight Team Wendy helmet, as I’m deployed by the State of Florida’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force in the pursuit of saving lives.

5.11 Tactical RUSH72 Backpack

Make and Model
5.11 Tactical RUSH72 2.0 Backpack 55L

MSRP
$185

URL
www.511tactical.com

The 5.11 RUSH72 bag is one such piece of gear I’ve come to depend on. I’m now working with my second generation of these bags, having started out with an original RUSH72 about 10 years ago. I counted on it to hike rim-to-rim through the Grand Canyon, carrying about 30 pounds too much of cushy luxuries like a heavy air mattress and clothing. Better yet, I was foolishly navigating using a park brochure instead of the detailed topographical maps, which I had accidentally left sitting in the car at the top of the trailhead.

The irony of a search-and-rescue professional getting lost or even dying inside the Grand Canyon wasn’t lost on me, but thankfully both me and the bag made it out to the North Rim. The RUSH72 has also accompanied me on four search-and-rescue deployments for major hurricanes, as well as the recent Champlain Towers (Surfside) building collapse.

These days, I mostly have transitioned to a Tactical Tailor Cerberus 72-hour medic pack for hiking, and I keep the 5.11 RUSH72 bag on standby exclusively for search-and-rescue missions. The RUSH72 isn’t a small bag. If it’s fully loaded, it gets overweight fast. I learned this the hard way more times than I’d like to admit — even after the Grand Canyon — after turning what should’ve been easy outings into grimace-inducing treks.

For this reason, I have a smaller 5.11 RUSH12 that I normally carry full-time. But because of the RUSH72’s cavernous size, I keep it inside a vehicle if possible, except for the rare occasion I’m out in the field and away from basecamp overnight when I wear it full-time.

Pack Contents

Here is what I normally keep inside:

Sleeping

  • ENO ProFly Rain Tarp
  • ENO DoubleNest Hammock
  • Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs
  • MZOO Sleep Mask

I think as I’ve gotten older, I’m increasingly fed up with sleeping on the ground. I have a Coleman ComfortSmart Deluxe Cot — the closest thing you can get to a portable bed — for when I have a vehicle to stash my gear. Otherwise, I’m bringing this hammock and its rain fly.

The MZOO sleep mask is only $18 on Amazon. I buy them four at a time, stashing them in my house and in all of my potential travel bags. They’re the best I’ve found and really make a big difference if you’re sleeping odd hours during daylight or under fluorescent lights. Combine them with the Mack’s earplugs and you’ll stand a better chance of getting the rest you need and being able to perform when it counts.

Hygiene

  • Duke Cannon Cold Shower Field Towels
  • Sea to Summit Trek and Travel Wilderness Bath Wipes

During my deployment to the Surfside building collapse, we technically had access to showers. Sure, they were cold showers, but they were good clean water. The problem was, after leaving our 18-hour shifts we’d then have to debrief our own team and then brief the oncoming shift for what had happened during our shift. It was … a lot of unnecessary meetings. By the time I got done, I was so smoked I just didn’t have the energy to undress and dig out clean clothes from my bag.

I remember sort of stumbling into this command room next door to the rubble pile, and on the counter next to a box of Dunkin’ Donuts there sat a box of Firewipes. These are sort of like fancy baby wipes that we use to wipe contaminants like soot, smoke, and other carcinogens from our skin. That night, I took a little Firewipe shower, and it was more than enough. Since then, I bring wipes everywhere, although I prefer the Duke Cannon brand.

Safety and Well-Being

  • ResQLink View 406 MHz Emergency Beacon from ACR
  • Steve’s Paleo MRE PaleoKit

In addition to my Garmin InReach Explorer+ GPS and satellite texting device, I like to carry a 406 MHz emergency beacon from ACR as a backup. It’s stupid simple — flip the antenna up and smash that power button. I see this as a plus in a true emergency situation where you might not be thinking as clearly as you’d like.

For nutrition, I can’t say that I really care about a keto diet, but I’ve found that my body just generally runs better on gluten-free foods. These paleo kits from Steve’s are lightweight, high-quality fuel that taste a heck of a lot better than a military MRE and aren’t loaded with salt.

Besides power banks and charging cables, B-con (bleeding control) med kit, and garbage bags to store wet gear, I’ll also stash a good paperback book. Those who have served in the military will remember the hurry-up-and-wait game, and the same holds true for any search-and-rescue deployment. You may get some downtime whether you want it or not, and it’s nice to have a little escape for your brain close at hand. Normally, I try to bring a book that I’ve read before and would love to read again, which hopefully has nothing at all to do with my current mission. I’ve alternated between Mario Puzo’s The Godfather and Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels about the Battle of Gettysburg. In a bad situation, it’s always nice to read about someone who had it worse than you do.

About the Author

Andrew Schrader is a commercial pilot and Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Structures Specialist attached to the State of Florida’s US&R Task Force. Reach out on Instagram or Facebook via @reconresponse or andy@reconresponse.com.

Lessons Learned from Tiga Tactics’ Knife Defense Seminar

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When most people think of knife fighting, their first thought likely goes to a Hollywood action movie. Sweaty, muscular men lunging and slashing at each other with large blades may be the cinematic depiction, but knife attacks are rarely so overt in nature. A blade often isn’t noticed in a fight until it has been used repeatedly — many victims of stabbings report that they believed they were being punched until they saw blood. Patrick Vuong and Dr. Conrad Bui have worked hard to teach students how to defend against attacks like these in their Tiga Tactics Knife Defense2 seminar (read as Knife Defense Squared). The instructor duo boasts over 60 combined years of martial arts experience, and formed their company to provide real-world self-defense training.

Knife Defense2 is a two-day seminar covering self-defense bare-handed against an attacker, as well as self-defense using a blade. The course brought in students with diverse ages, backgrounds, and martial arts experience levels. Despite these differences, the curriculum was simple enough for beginners and an excellent skills refresher for those with extensive martial arts backgrounds. But before any hands-on skills were taught, the first lesson provided was on defensive mindset.

Above: The co-founders of Tiga Tactics, Patrick Vuong (pictured here) and Conrad Bui, are both active contributors to Offgrid magazine and our sister publications Recoil and Concealment. Vuong and Bui have decades of experience with a variety of martial arts and edged weapons.

Tiga Tactics teaches defensive mindset in 3 parts: stay alert, stay humble, and stay kind. This involves avoiding fights rather than being drawn into them. When it comes to actual fighting, Tiga Tactics’ motto is simple: “Run if you can, destroy if you must.” Fights should be avoided at all costs but may be difficult to avoid at times. Students were shown footage of real-life knife attacks to reinforce how quick and deadly an attack with a knife can be. Basic empty-hand attacks of palm-strikes and eye-gouges, as well as elbow and knee strikes, were taught as simple combative techniques appropriate for all levels.

Above: A palm strike is a simple technique that can be devastating and disorienting when used effectively against an attacker.

Next, the lesson moved into knife defense. Tiga Tactics knife defense relies on concepts summarized by the acronym PRO: Protect, Reposition, and Offense. The purpose of this defense is to close the distance while blocking the attack, gain control of the knife, and deal damage in an appropriate manner. The Tiga Tactics team taught students how to defend against what they deemed to be the two most common knife attack movements. These are the overhand, downward angled “Psycho” stab (named after the classic 1960s horror film), and the upward thrust. When attempting to stab, attackers often repeatedly thrust at their victims in a sewing machine manner. After the initial block, the idea is to close distance as the attacker retracts the knife to stab again. This allows the would-be victim to gain more control over the encounter.

Above: The upward thrust is one of the most common knife attack techniques used by criminals. Tiga Tactics teaches a crossed-arm block to intercept this type of attack, as demonstrated here by Vuong.

On the second day, the lesson went into carrying knives and using them for self-defense. As with handguns, the location the blade is carried on the body matters. For the sake of speed and ambidextrous drawing, carrying a knife in the appendix position is an excellent option.

Although the Tiga Tactics team made it clear that fixed-blade knives were ideal for fighting, local laws and convenience leads many people to choose a folding knife as their daily carry. The downside of folders is the slower draw and less secure mechanism for fighting. With knife fighting, the tactics are nearly the opposite of an empty-handed defense. Space from the attacker is needed to allow for the knife to be deployed. Acquiring solid purchase on the knife while pushing the adversary’s face away provides for a better draw, and reduces the risk of the attacker snatching the blade during the draw stroke.

Above: Tiga Tactics' Protect, Reposition, and Offense (PRO) sequence teaches students how to spot and guard against an initial attack, reposition to gain control of a weapon, and finally deal damage to end the threat.

The class spent over an hour learning and practicing the knife draw from a pocket. Many students found the draw to be inconsistent at best with a folding knife. As they progressed, a shot timer was introduced to challenge and encourage students to draw faster. To build on blade combatives, a variation of Filipino Martial Arts angled cuts was introduced and practiced. The final exercise had students defend and counterattack against each other in rapid succession. Afterwards, there was an open discussion on use of force and the legality of using a weapon in a fight.

Although edged weapon combatives is a subject that can take years or even decades of constant practice to truly master, this class provided a great introduction to the basics of this complex skill set. We certainly hope we never find ourselves facing a knife attack, but if we do, we’ll feel a little more confident after learning a few of Tiga Tactics’ methods to escape, block, or even counter the attacker. For more information on future Tiga Tactics classes and seminars, go to TigaTactics.com.