Remembering Chip McCormick

From Kimber

Kimber Mfg. has learned of the passing of Chip McCormick, the man renowned for creating industry-leading 1911 magazines and triggers through his company, Chip McCormick Custom. Mr. McCormick, in partnership with Kimber Mfg. owner and CEO Leslie Edelman, also contributed greatly to Kimber’s success in the 1911 market.

Mr. McCormick provided instrumental consulting to Mr. Edelman in creating the firearm industry’s first mass-produced, high-quality 1911 pistols that included custom features. Mr. McCormick’s contributions included a beavertail grip safety, an extended slide stop, and an ambidextrous manual safety. These efforts not only changed the handgun market by adding upgraded features to commercialized top-notch 1911s, but simultaneously revolutionized how firearm-manufacturing companies crafted and assembled the legendary 1911 platform.

“The Kimber family is deeply saddened by the loss of Chip McCormick. He was a great friend and a great business collaborator,” said Kimber owner and CEO, Leslie Edelman. “His impact on this company, as well as the entire firearms industry, is immeasurable. Our condolences go out to Chip’s family and friends. He will be missed greatly.”

Kimber Mfg., Inc. is an American company that designs and manufactures premium firearms for individual, sporting, law enforcement and military markets. Complete information on Kimber firearms, accessories and Less-Lethal products is available at www.kimberamerica.com or by phone from Kimber in-house staff at +1 (888) 243-4522. A detailed product catalog is available upon request. Kimber can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

SilencerCo AR-15 Lower Now Available Through Major Distributors

From SilencerCo

SilencerCo’s AR-15 Lower, previously sold only at exclusive locations, is now available to all firearm retailers through major gun distributors.

The SCO15 Lower Receiver is fully customizable and made from billet 7075-T6 aluminum. It is finished in a type III hardcoat anodize for added durability and corrosion resistance. A variety of unique features set the SCO15 apart from other lowers, including an ambidextrous bolt catch, flared magwell, integrated QD sling cups and an enlarged integral trigger guard, all at an affordable price.

“The SCO15 is a product that combines the highest quality of in-house development with the most coveted features in an AR-15 Lower Receiver,” said Scott Clinger, SilencerCo’s VP of Business Development. “We are excited to make these lowers more widely available for customers at their local retailers. It’s the perfect start for those who want to complete their dream AR-15 build.”

The SCO15 is precision machined for compatibility with any customer’s preferred AR-15 parts. It has an MSRP of $249 and will be available to firearm retailers through the following distributors: RSR Group, Lipsey’s, Camfour, Allen Arms Tactical, Sports South, Bill Hicks, Silencer Shop, Brownell’s and Capitol Armory.

For more information visit https://silencerco.com/silencers/sco15.

SIG SAUER Commemorates U.S. Army’s Birthday

From SIG SAUER

SIG SAUER, Inc. is proud to present a new four-part video series to commemorate the upcoming birthday of the U.S. Army on Monday, June 14th, and honor the prestigious U.S. Army Rangers with an inside look at the 2021 Best Ranger Competition.

“This year SIG SAUER was afforded the incredible opportunity to present custom M17 pistols as the official trophy pistols of the prestigious Best Ranger Competition,” said Jason St. John, Director, Government Products, SIG SAUER, Inc., and Sergeant First Class (Retired), U.S. Army Ranger. “Through this video series we recognize the U.S. Army and the incredible service and sacrifice of the entire U.S. Army Ranger regiment to our country.”

The SIG SAUER Best Ranger Video Series includes the following episodes:

  • Episode 1: Rangers Lead the Way: the already released video review of the history and foundation of the U.S. Army Rangers.
  • Episode 2: Honor: the newly released video reviews the inception of the famed Best Ranger Competition.
  • Episode 3: 2021 Best Ranger Competition: an inside look at the grueling 3-day Best Ranger Competition to be released on the birthday of the U.S. Army, June 14th.
  • Episode 4: Prestige: an interview with the 2021 Best Ranger Competition winners to be released on Friday, June 18th.

The U.S. Army Best Ranger Competition is a grueling competition that identifies the best, two-man U.S. Army Ranger team on a course that is designed to place extreme demand on each team’s physical, mental, technical and tactical skills and was held in Fort Benning, Georgia, April 16-18, 2021.

Walker’s Battle Brown Razor Muffs

From Walker’s

Walker’s, the leader in hearing protection and enhancement for shooters and hunters alike, is excited to announce the upcoming release of a new color series in its line of popular, class-leading Razor electronic muffs.

Since their introduction, the Razor Slim Electronic Muffs by Walker’s have been the go-to hearing protection and enhancement solution for professional shooters and enthusiasts, due to their comfortable, slim design and advanced sound processing technology. Now, the Razor line will expand with three additional models featuring a new Battle Brown color scheme:

Battle Brown Razor Slim Elect Patriot

  • 23 dB NRR
  • Full dynamic range HD speakers
  • Low noise/frequency tuned
  • Audio input jack
  • 0.02-second sound-activated compression reaction time
  • Includes 2 US flag patches
  • Model #GWP-RSEMPAT-BB

Battle Brown Razor XTRM

  • 21 dB NRR
  • Cool mesh headband with comfort gel ear pads
  • Sound-dampening composite housing
  • Sound-activated compression with a 0.02-second sound reaction time
  • Hi-gain omnidirectional microphones
  • Model #GWP-XRSEM-BB

Battle Brown Razor Slim Elect

  • 23 dB NRR
  • Hi-gain omnidirectional microphones
  • Full dynamic range HD speakers
  • Sound-dampening composite housing
  • Low noise/frequency tuned
  • Sound-activated compression with a 0.02-second sound reaction time
  • Model #GWP-RSEM-BB

The new Battle Brown color scheme will join the diverse line of Walker’s Razors offering features that meet shooters’ specific needs, such as Bluetooth compatibility, rechargeable batteries, dual and quad speakers, headband options, multiple color schemes, and more!

To learn more about the full line of Walker’s Razor electronic muffs and other Walker accessories, please visit https://www.walkersgameear.com/.

PROTECT IT OR LOSE IT!

High Speed Gear Launches Navigator Tech Pouch

From High Speed Gear 

High Speed Gear released its new Navigator Tech Pouch June 1 for use with personal navigation and similar navigation devices.

The Navigator is a low-profile admin pouch designed to assist in hands-free navigation through smart phone apps. The pouch unfolds and suspends at a 90-degree angle to give clear visibility to a smart phone or similar device, which it holds securely in an adjustable, hook and loop harness. The harness is designed to accommodate most smart phones, including plus-style phones, with or without cases, as large as 7” x 3.5” x 0.75”. The pouch also features an internal pocket with corner cutouts for notebooks or battery packs, as well as an elastic loop for a map pen or marker and another loop by the pocket for an additional pen or cable management.

“We designed the Navigator at the request of some of our friends in the U.S. Army to offer convenient device access, especially for those using personal devices for navigation,” explained Bill Babboni, HSGI® vice president of sales and marketing. “Not everyone has access to top tier GPS tools, and with public navigation apps becoming more and more sophisticated, the Navigator Tech Pouch helps to bring convenience to your fingertips with the functionality that you know and trust from HSGI.”

You can watch the official product video for the Navigator at https://vimeo.com/highspeedgear/navigator.

Mounting Optics on a Smith & Wesson

I asked Tony Miele, senior director of new product development at Smith & Wesson about mounting optics on a Smith & Wesson pistol recently. He wasn’t very talkative, but explained a little more about the company’s C.O.R.E. system.

GJS—Is the cut on your slides for optics compatible with other systems on the market or do enthusiasts need to purchase your adapter/plate to mount a red dot?

TM—The plates are supplied with the gun.

GJS—If other units can be used, is there anything owners of your optics slides need to watch for or keep in mind (offshore knockoffs, etc.)?

TM—Not that I’m aware of.

GJS—Is there an advantage to your system over others on the market?

TM—Six mounting plates are supplied with the pistol, that accommodates many of the popular optics for sale.

[You can read comments from other experts in the field here.]

—Guy J. Sagi has crafted the words and images that capture the spirit of the outdoor sports and beauty that surrounds them for magazines, websites and marketing materials for more than three decades.

FN Optics-Ready Pistols and Mounts

I recently interviewed Tom Victa, FN America pistol product manager, and asked him about FN optics-ready pistols and mounts.

GJS—Is the cut on your slides for optics compatible with other systems on the market or do enthusiasts need to purchase your adapter/plate to mount a red dot?

TV—FN’s optics-ready FN 509s feature our patented Low-Profile Optics Mounting System, which has everything users need to mount most pistol red dot optics straight out of the box, including a handy reference guide to tell you what MRD insert and screw set go with which optic. Whether you’re new to optics-ready pistols or coming from a different platform and want to upgrade to an FN 509, you have everything you need in the case to transition to your FN setup right away.

GJS—Is there anything owners of your optics-ready slides need to watch for or keep in mind?

TV—We believe there are many great pistol optic options available out on the market and even more coming soon, but they are all a little different.  This is why we developed the patented mounting system, so as the user you can mount up most optics with everything that comes with the pistol regardless of your optic preference.

GJS—Is there an advantage to your system over others on the market?

TV—FN created the first factory red dot pistol almost 15 years ago, so we know a few things about mounting red dots on pistols.  With the FN 509 Tactical and MRD models, we took a fresh approach to mounting an optic to a pistol.  Our patented Low-Profile Optics Mounting System allows the user to direct mount the most popular red dot pistol optics straight to the slide.  The system allows for interchangeable steel recoil bosses and reduces the overall height and weight for optimal performance.  FN lead the way for factory red dot optic ready pistols and continues to drive forward the with FN 509 Tactical and MRD pistols.

GJS—Is there anything you’d like to add to help dispel confusion on plates/adapters/footprints?

TV—We developed our system to do exactly that–dispel any confusion. With our optics-ready pistols and patented optics mount, we eliminate much of the guess work for the customer. Want to mount a Trijicon RMR? No problem, you have what you need in your case. Deltapoint Pro? Same story. As a customer who may be new to pistol optics, we wanted to create a system that was easy to use and flexible to offer the most versatility in optics. Just grab that handy quick setup guide, find your correct plate and screw set, and away to the range you go in just a few minutes.

[You can read comments from other experts in the field here.]

—Guy J. Sagi has crafted the words and images that capture the spirit of the outdoor sports and beauty that surrounds them for magazines, websites and marketing materials for more than three decades.

Leupold Optic Pistol Mounts

I recently interviewed John Snodgrass, Leupold tactical product line manager, about options available to enthusiasts looking for Leupold optic pistol mounts.

GJS—The DeltaPoint Pro has become a huge success for Leupold, but does it ship with the hardware for mounting on a handgun?

JS—The DeltaPoint Pro is not shipped with a mount due to the multitude of differences from pistol manufacturer to pistol manufacturer. This helps keep the cost to the consumer down so they’re not being charged for mounts they wouldn’t necessarily need. Leupold does sell individual mounts to match with specific manufacturers’ firearms that use the rear sight dovetail to mount the DeltaPoint Pro. Most pistol manufacturers that produce “Optics Ready” pistols provide adapter plates with the gun that match the most common red dot sight footprints. The DeltaPoint Pro is compatible with any adapters that specify the J-point (or DP-Pro) footprint.

GJS—What about your micro version?

JS—The newly released DeltaPoint Micro is designed to mount on specific firearm models and therefore does include the necessary mount and hardware to install the sight on those specific models.

GJS—The footprint/adapter/slide cut situation seems slightly confusing to enthusiasts trying to pick and mount an optic. Is there a way enthusiasts can alleviate the confusion, like calling customer service or is there a Leupold resource on the web they can refer to?

JS—This definitely can be confusing as there are several differing footprints depending on manufacturer. As mentioned…most optics-ready pistols are provided with the necessary adapter plates to fit most common footprints. The customer that purchases a DeltaPoint Pro for a non-optics ready pistol can find the appropriate mount through our website under the Mounts category.  https://www.leupold.com/shop/mounts/series/deltapoint?p=2. Should there be any confusion our product experts in the technical services department can be reached by e-mail or phone to assist.

[You can read comments from other experts in the field here.]

—Guy J. Sagi has crafted the words and images that capture the spirit of the outdoor sports and beauty that surrounds them for magazines, websites and marketing materials for more than three decades.

Pistol Optics Mounts Available at Brownells

There’s no lack of confusion when it comes to mounting red dot or reflex sights to a pistol. I recently asked a gunsmith at Brownells about this and pistol optic mounts available at Brownells.

He asked that his name be withheld, a request we’re honoring. For this short piece his answers come after the GS (for gunsmith) letters.

GJS—How many different cuts/footprints are available in slides from Brownells?

GS—Currently we have three different footprints. The RMR, RMRCC, and the Shield RMSC. The RMRCC and RMSC cuts are on the G43 and 48 slides. The RMR on 17, 19, 26, & 34 slides. Leupold Delta point and Burris Fastfire are in the works and should be available second quarter [of 2021].

GJS—Which cut/footprint is the most popular in your opinion?

GS—I’d say the RMR footprint is the most popular from what we see. Big reason is that there are other companies that use that footprint so a person isn’t tied to a specific brand of optic. Also the size makes it pretty easy to custom install on most guns. Not to mention the RMR and Holosun have really good reputations for durability.

GJS—Do you think there’s some confusion when enthusiasts select a slide for mounting optics?

GS—There is. I think a lot of that comes from the optics companies using their own footprint and not really doing a good job of explaining to the customer what it mounts to. Not to mention that every year there seems to be a new optic and new footprint so it becoming more difficult to keep them straight.

[You can read comments from other experts in the field here.]

 —Guy J. Sagi has crafted the words and images that capture the spirit of the outdoor sports and beauty that surrounds them for magazines, websites and marketing materials for more than three decades.

Mounting an Optic on a Glock

I had the opportunity to ask Brandie Collins, public relations and communications manager for Glock, a few quick questions to clear up footprint confusion for readers interested in mounting an optic on a Glock. The company’s Modular Optic System (MOS) addresses much of the frustration in an elegant manner.

GJS— Is the cut on your slides for optics compatible with other systems on the market or do enthusiasts need to purchase your adapter/plate to mount a red dot?

BC—We include an adapter set with every MOS (except Slimline models) that has four different plates to cover the vast majority of pistol optics offered.  If an optic does not fit, then the manufacturer typically provides an adequate plate.

GJS—If other units can be used, is there anything owners of your slides need to watch for or keep in mind?

BC—Not really however, as mentioned, the slimline MOS models vary as they are new on the market.

GJS—Is there an advantage to your system over others on the market?

BC—Glock is the number one selling pistol brand and has given a large focus on MOS (10 commercial models) to the market that it is in the best interest of optic manufacturers to prioritize their products to Glock pistols.

GJS—Is there anything you’d like to add to help dispel confusion on plates/adapters/footprints?

BC—If your optic does not fit using a Glock adapter plate, I recommend reaching out to the optic manufacturer as they will have an adapter plate. Slimline does not come with adapter plates and are specific to some of the new micro dots for narrow profile CCW pistols.

[You can read comments from other experts in the field here.]

—Guy J. Sagi has crafted the words and images that capture the spirit of the outdoor sports and beauty that surrounds them for magazines, websites and marketing materials for more than three decades.

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