Military Pictures of the Week

Marine Corps

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 NAVCENT, 5th Fleet AOR, At Sea - An MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 266 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) lands at a forward arming and refueling point during an exercise in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, April 29, 2013. The 26th MEU is currently deployed as part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility. The 26th MEU operates continuously across the globe, providing the president and unified combatant commanders with a forward-deployed, sea-based quick reaction force. The MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael S. Lockett/Released)

Army

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Special Forces Soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group patrol a field in the Gulistan district of Farah, Afghanistan with Afghan National Army commandos from the 207th Kandak, April 12.

Air Force

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Airmen assigned to the 151st Air Refueling Wing conduct air refueling operations with a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Wash., May 9, 2013, over southern Idaho. The 151st ARW supported air operations across the western United States. (Defense Department photo/Staff Sgt. Tim Chacon)

Navy/Coast Guard

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KINGS BAY, Ga. (March 20, 2013) The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay after three months at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Kimber/Released) 

Remington R1 Carry - The Final Word

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The anticipation grew as the target moved closer. It was one of those moments that I couldn’t believe was true, but sure enough, all rounds were accounted for in the “0” zone of the IDPA target. I had a feeling that no matter how fast I shot, this handgun was going to reward me with consistent reliability and exceptional accuracy. This was becoming a reoccurring feeling the more I went to the range with my Remington R1 Carry.

Purchasing the Remington R1 Carry

A few months ago I was in need of a new concealed-carry handgun, and being a 1911 fan, I decided to browse the models within my price range. I was willing to shell out $1500, but like most of us during these trying times, I wanted to keep the price low to offset the cost of ammunition. There were a few manufacturers to consider: one had a model priced over $1400, another manufacturer had one priced right around $1500, and then there was the Remington R1 Carry that was conveniently priced at $1100. I knew that Remington was fairly new to the 1911 scene (after taking a 60+ year break from manufacturing 1911’s), so I was naturally a little hesitant to throw down over one thousand dollars on a relatively unproven handgun. I normally seek advice from industry contacts or through online after-action reports, but none were available. I was in quite the conundrum; do I risk spending this money on a handgun that could ultimately fail me? Or do I spend hundred’s more on proven options?

I decided to take the risk and purchase the Remington for a couple reasons. First, Remington performed very well with the presentation of this handgun. I find this 1911 to be very to attractive; mainly due to the tasteful rollmarks and the eye-pleasing cocobolo grips. The slide-to-frame fit was above par for 1911’s in this price range. Second, the R1 Carry had all the features I was looking for: a functional, 25-LPI checkered front strap, a beavertail safety with a 25-LPI checkered memory bump, an ambidextrous manual safety, a tritium front sight with a blacked-out rear sight, and a dehorned frame and slide. If you ask me, there is a ton of value for a 1911 at that price point with so many features. Finally, I wanted an American-made 1911, and this one was easily the best-priced option for the features I wanted.

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The case is an industry-standard case, which includes a flush magazine and a magazine with a basepad.

 

Initial Backlash

“You got a what?!”

“Whoa, Mr. Bigshot with his Remington…”

“I would have gone with brand X, Y, or Z”

These are all comments I have heard from industry contacts when I purchased my Remington. At first, I will admit, I was concerned with the reaction I received. I worried that maybe the reason I couldn’t find any objective testing on the R1 Carry was because I was the only person foolish enough to purchase the firearm. I wondered if this was going to end up being a $1000 mistake… but I quickly learned that the Remington R1 Carry was one of the best $1000 investments I ever made.

 

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 Under the hood of the Remington R1 Carry

Exceptional Performance

I have heard everything from “you have to spend more than $3000 to get a 1911 worthy of defensive application” to “my $399 gunshow special can outshoot any fandangled semi-custom 1911”. I try to venture away from either extreme with my approach, as I believe a respectable defensive 1911 can be purchased for a moderate sum. The R1 Carry has sustained my view in this regard. In the last couple of months I have fired over 3200 rounds through the R1 Carry, and beyond the breaking-in process with the first 70 rounds, I have had ZERO malfunctions I can attribute to the 1911. Given that many people consider the 1911 to be an outdated design, and most agree that the firearm is not on the same level of reliability as it’s polymer counterparts, I have been absolutely pleased with the reliability of this handgun.

Accuracy has been what one can expect out of a 1911 geared for defensive purposes. The trigger pull averages out around 4.25 lbs; which has provided accurate shooting at logical defensive distances. I am not an IPSC or IDPA professional competitor, but I am a competent shooter who has participated in handgun training with the likes of Larry Vickers and Ron Avery. With that being said, I can consistently hit in the “A” zone of IDPA or “0” zone of IPSC targets at defensive distances in a variety of drills.

 

Final Conclusion

I have owned and worked with several 1911’s in my career, and I can honestly say that this 1911 is one of the best values in the 1911 market. While it is not a perfect handgun, it provides shooters with the opportunity to own a 1911 geared for defensive carry, while at a moderate price point. If you are in the market for a 1911, I recommend you give the R1 Carry some serious consideration. Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts; see you on the range.

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Remington R1 Carry Review

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Shopping for 1911’s can be a harrowing experience, especially if you are new to the venerable pistol. Terms like MIM, cast, forged, full-length guide-rod, and mainspring housing can be confusing and difficult to translate for the new 1911 shooter, and many people pick the wrong 1911 based on looks or internet conjecture.

The first step involved with picking a 1911 is similar to purchasing any new tool, you need to know your PURPOSE with the handgun, and once you decide on a purpose, you can head in the right direction. The topic of this review concerns CCW or defensive purposes of 1911’s.

Today’s 1911’s that are marketed as defensive handguns have a canyon-wide variety of sizes, construction, parts, and prices. Finding out which combination works best for you may take some time and effort, but the end product may end up being one of the best decisions you ever made.

For my needs, I selected to go with a government length 1911 (5” bbl). With my wardrobe of polo shirts or buttoned, short-sleeve shirts, I can conceal the service-size handgun with relative ease. I also prefer the ballistic advantage a government-length 1911 offers. With these standards considered, I recently began looking for a new 1911 for carry purposes. My target budget was in the $1000-$1500 price range. After considering many options, I decided to go with (to my knowledge) a relatively unproven option; the Remington R1 Carry.

The Remington offered me many attractive features, including a moderately checkered front strap, an ambidextrous safety, a plain rear sight,  a tritium front sight, a functional factory dehorning, and a traditional GI plug and guide rod. With these features included at a $1100 price point, I felt that the R1 Carry was an excellent value.

Unfortunately, due to ammo shortages, I have not been able to shoot this 1911 as much as I would like. That being said, I have shot over 1,000 rounds with this handgun in one month, and I have been extremely satisfied thus far. The R1 carry has been exceptionally reliable for me during this time, and I feel comfortable carrying the R1 carry on a daily basis.

Accuracy has been functional for a defensive 1911. The R1 is not a full-fledged race gun, and I am not a nationally-acclaimed USPSA competitor. I’m accustomed to shooting silhouette targets with an eight inch ring signifying critical organs of a human torso. Following are some pictures of accuracy results from various distances.

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 Seven Yard line - 30 Rounds of 230gr RWS

 

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 15 Yard Line - 33 rounds of RWS 230gr (note: the two fliers were of my doing, I knew immediately as soon as I pressed the trigger)

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 Seven Yard line - 20 rounds of RWS 230gr - Timed (3 seconds) controlled pairs

My final assesment is that I am very comfortable carrying this 1911 for defensive purposes. I currently use Speer Gold Dot 230gr loads for defensive purposes, all loaded in either Wilson or Tripp magazines. You can find the R1 Carry at SGC for $1099.99.

Thank you for taking a moment of your time to read my thoughts, and please feel free to post comments or questions in the section below.

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 The R1 Carry used in this review

New Ammunition Policy

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***Attention Customers***

Information Regarding Ammunition Policies

In December, 2012, the firearms industry experienced an unprecedented spike in demand for firearms, magazines, and ammunition. The industry is still in this high-demand market, and an unfortunate product of this demand is nation-wide ammunition shortages. We at the Scottsdale Gun Club have striven hard to maintain some level of ammunition for all our customers and members.  As a result we have had to implement new, and hopefully short lived, ammunition policies.

First, we want to inform customers that we do have ammunition available for customers who are not using our range. The selection varies daily in the supply and calibers of ammunition but includes defensive ammo and shotgun shells. 

Target ammunition (for what we are working to make a short period of time) is restricted to individuals using our range, members, customers purchasing firearms, and for Machine Gun Adventures™.

We appreciate the patience and support from our customers and members during these difficult times. We also appreciate those who help clarify our policies to individuals who are ill-informed or have our policies misconstrued.

***Thank you! Scottsdale Gun Club Management Team***

 

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How to Sustain Your Defensive Posture in the Face of Shortages

If you are a member of the minority, the people who planned and prepared for national shortages and potential bans, you probably won’t need to read much of this because you likely understand. If, however, you are new to the firearms and defensive realm, you are probably experiencing difficulty elevating or sustaining your defensive posture because:

Buying ammo in bulk- probably not gonna happen for months, maybe even longer.

Wanting to buy an AR-15? AK? AUG? SCAR? FAL? FSC? M1A? You’re gonna either pay a hefty premium or have to wait, and that is banking on no potential bans.

So what can you do to maintain your defensive capabilities during these trying times? Some would say little, but we disagree. Heck, most of the military trains extensively without firearms, so you can too. Let’s look into some options that will help you keep your defensive edge, while not needing large amounts of ammunition and days at the range.

1) Fitness and Diet

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Easily the most overlooked facet of self-defense. Proper fitness and a good diet  is the backbone to defensive capability, and if you think you can bank all of your defensive ability on the act of pulling a trigger, you may need to reorganize your priorities and look into another hobby.

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Unless you have one of these.  If you do, enjoy your cheeseburgers and ignore the rest of this section. Photo from ENDO Gun Blog.

If you are not fit, yet you are looking to increase your capabilities in defensive situations, there are a host of options can consider to develop yourself into a better fighter. Crossfit, which has become a national fitness craze, comes to mind. There are countless options for Crossfit in the valley and across the states. If you are one who thinks that Crossfit is a fad, there are still more options, to include traditional weightlifting and cross-training. Be proactive and find out what works best for you. As always, thanks to the modern American legal system, consult with your physician before attempting a new (or any) physical training regimen.

You shouldn’t stop at a new fitness regimen. You should also incorporate the fitness requirements of fighting (hand-to-hand and weapons) into your fitness regimen. Go to any carbine course and you will understand this concept. An example is when you see an individual, who may have the largest biceps you have ever seen, grow tired after just an hour of shouldering their rifle on the line. If defense is your priority, don’t focus on looking pretty for the opposite sex. Focus on what works when the moment counts.

Drills-

The drills that we become accustomed to do not necessarily require ammunition. For example, if you have attended formal carbine training, you have likely performed a modified navy qual drill as an evaluation. If you have not, you can see what the drill consists of by going to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv5epCk5KRY. An individual can easily practice this drill without ammunition. You can develop a consistent movement between the positions, consistent eye relief, cheek weld, magazine reloads, and other fundamentals of shooting while running the drill.

There are a multitude of drills that you can run in the confines of your home. For example, you (with the help of a partner) can run dime drills to work on properly pressing the trigger. You can also practice speed reloads and tactical reloads. As always, make sure to properly observe safety rules while practicing anywhere, especially while at home.

Make a Plan, and Practice your Plan (Repeatedly)

We cannot tell you how many times we meet people who own firearms yet have no plan on how to use them in a defensive situation. For example, do you know where in your abode you will have a defensive advantage or disadvantage? Have you practiced moving around in your home with light deprivation? Have you communicated with your loved ones on what to do in a home invasion? These are all critical points that many, if not most, ignore. You need to work on an adaptive plan to defend your home. Look around and see where people could forcibly enter your abode. Practice on methods to react to situations and make performance notes. This all sounds like a lot of work, but if you unfortunately experience a home invasion, it could mean the difference between survival and victimization.

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You shouldn’t stop planning with just your home. If you carry concealed or in a vehicle, you need to plan on how you would defend yourself in these situations. Always communicate new or evolved reactionary methods with your loved ones so they stay out of the fight and know what to do.

Conclusion-

Times are tough in this industry right now. While we may not have the means to practice defensive measures the way we want, there are still a few options that we have to ensure we can practice our natural right to protect our lives and defend our loved ones and property. Thank you for taking the time to read this entry, and as always, feel free to add comments and thoughts in the comment section below. Stay vigilant, train safely, and we hope to see you on the range soon!

End of the World Sale! Starting this Friday and Running Through December 24th, 2012.

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Christmas is coming and we have a sale coming too! Sale starts on Friday, December 14th and runs through Christmas Eve! Look forward to updates before and throughout the sale.

Black Friday is Here! Come on in and check out some of our great prices!

Which includes the Colt LE6920 MOE black, which is priced too low to advertise.

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Our Very Own Rangemaster Joe Bridgman has won the Area 2 USPSA Championship in the Open Class! Make Sure to Congratulate Him if You Get a Chance!

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Sionics AR15 Armorer Course

On the November 10 &11 we will be hosting a Sionics AR15 Armorer course. Make sure to sign up if you want to learn about AR15’s on a technical level. Spots are limited! You can sign up at : http://scottsdalegunclub.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93&Itemid=131

Video Showing Detailed View of the US PALM Draco Pack

A continuation of US PALM products includes a video showing a detailed view of the new Draco pack.