S.W.A.T. Magazine

17/08/2022

Stacking up—entering a room to conduct close-quarters battle (CQB)—is one of the most dangerous tasks a Soldier or law enforcement officer may have to face

Stacking up—entering a room to conduct close-quarters battle (CQB)—is one of the most dangerous tasks a Soldier or law enforcement officer may have to face.

16/08/2022

There are drills that can help a shooter gain some yardage with the handgun. Let’s talk about a few.

As you look at the news and recent attacks, you can see a clear trend of bad guys clueing in to the effectiveness of long guns. Whether the attack is on a

15/08/2022

Those who proclaim a firearm must have a “sporting purpose” have no clue as to what the Constitution says, nor why we as Americans can possess those weapons.

Learning occurs in many ways and at different rates. It is an individual endeavor, and most are able to crack the code once they put their mind to it.

14/08/2022

Many of you will recognize the name “Lofty Wiseman” as the author of Survive Anywhere Safely, although for some reason when the book was first published in the U.S., the title was changed to Survive Safely Anywhere by some moronic editor who appears not to have recognized that the initials “SAS” refer to the Special Air Service.

Many of you will recognize the name “Lofty Wiseman” as the author of Survive Anywhere Safely, although for some reason when the book was first published in

13/08/2022

Born of warriors’ experiences is how Winkler Knives can best be described. One look at the line of knives offered by bladesmith Daniel Winkler and it is obvious that his passion and roots derive from early 18th century woodsmen

Born of warriors’ experiences is how Winkler Knives can best be described. One look at the line of knives offered by bladesmith Daniel Winkler and it is

12/08/2022

Rapid opening is important, as are the ability to deploy the knife quickly and open it one handed. I have no preference on blade locks, but the lock must be robust and pass a stress test

WHEN I choose tactical gear, I pay close attention to every detail. I train for the worst, hope for the best, and leave little to chance. Every piece is a

11/08/2022

Coaxing me to a precision rifle/sniper/police sniper class is about as easy as getting me to the dentist. But Rifle Dynamics Urban Precision Rifle Course was different...

Coaxing me to a precision rifle/sniper/police sniper class is about as easy as getting me to the dentist.

10/08/2022

Yamaha assembled a group of ATV writers and gun writers at Gunsite to introduce the company’s newest Tactical ATVs. R***r supplied all hands with the new generation of modern sporting rifles and defensive handguns.

There was a clever commercial many years back where a guy with a chocolate bar accidentally collides with a guy carrying a jar of peanut butter. The peanut

09/08/2022

Defense against a home invasion will likely be a very short duration affair. You won’t have time to grab hearing protection, and firing multiple rounds out of a serious handgun (much less a rifle, but that’s a different topic) inside an enclosed dwelling can lead to permanent hearing damage

Outfitting your home-defense gun with a sound suppressor is an approach worthy of serious consideration. Defense against a home invasion will likely be a very

08/08/2022

Everybody has some form of “tell” when they have something up their sleeve. Being able to read their tell during an aggressive encounter could be vital to successful defensive measures.

Everybody has some form of “tell” when they have something up their sleeve. Being able to read their tell during an aggressive encounter could be vital to

07/08/2022

Poor lubrication was a leading cause of stoppages at every military shooting school where I’ve worked. It is far too common to see a poor understanding of proper lubrication among even good shooters.

A reader recently wrote in to request an article detailing lubrication tips in different environments and across different platforms. This is a great question

06/08/2022

George took us through the importance of mindset, preparedness, and the need for a pre-established plan of action so we can respond as needed, when needed. He made it clear that situational awareness is a never-ending requirement, and how it is incumbent upon us all to stay alert and aware of potential problems and how to avoid or minimize them

Sometimes in life, things get a little spooky.

05/08/2022

Explosive breaching has been the TEES trademark training course. In the early 1990s, that method of entry was in its infancy. A few elite military and law enforcement units had explosive entry capabilities, but it was virtually unheard of within civilian law enforcement.

THE evolution of Tactical Energetic Entry Systems (TEES) could be summed up as the quintessential American success story. A young man immigrates to the United

04/08/2022

Prone is a very stable position, but only if you are low to the ground. Having body armor, magazines on your chest, or the big curse of American society—a food blister—can make it difficult to get into a viable prone position.

Prone is the most stable firing position. The closer we are to the ground, the more of our body is in contact with the ground.

03/08/2022

We live in an age of increasing terrorism and criminal activity. Hostage taking and kidnapping have dramatically increased. No country is totally safe. Although the chances of being kidnapped or taken hostage are small, would you know what to do if it happened? Are you prepared? You can follow a few proven strategies to increase your chances of survival.

We live in an age of increasing terrorism and criminal activity. Hostage taking and kidnapping have dramatically increased. No country is totally safe.

02/08/2022

Pistol ready positions and reload positions are an ongoing topic of debate. We’ve undoubtedly come a long way since the cupand- saucer grip or emptying brass into the support hand during revolver reloads.

Pistol ready positions and reload positions are an ongoing topic of debate. We’ve undoubtedly come a long way since the cupand- saucer grip or emptying brass

01/08/2022

The state of the art of white lights and mounts has come a long way since the Maglites and hose clamps of not that long ago, but the bottom line is still the same. However, now we can do it more efficiently, and with smaller, brighter, and better illumination tools.

Having a white light on a carbine may be necessary, useful or useless, depending on your point of view, frame of reference, MOS, job title, or vocation. For

31/07/2022

First off, we need to understand that a carbine is (by one of many definitions) a weapon with a shorter stock and barrel than the rifle, but firing the same cartridge as the rifle. Thus the U.S. Carbine, Caliber 5.56mm M4/M4A1 is shorter than the U.S. Rifle, Caliber 5.56mm, M16A2/A3/A4. Clearly the U.S. Carbine, Caliber .30 M1 (M1A1, M2 and M3) was an exception to this.

As time marches inexorably on, we see more and more of the same problems cropping up in class. Or as the great Yogi Berra once said, “It’s déjà vu all over

30/07/2022

Professionals understand that training is a neverending quest. They start out with initial training and follow that with sustainment training. Additional training is required as new procedures come into play, and that’s followed by still more sustainment training.

Professionals understand that training is a neverending quest. They start out with initial training and follow that with sustainment training. Additional

29/07/2022

We did several drills using a light in as much darkness as the outdoors would allow. This was a low-light situation where you could see and locate the target and engage without a light, but after three shots the flash of the shot made it hard to see the target, let alone identify a threat.

Recently I had the honor to attend Law Enforcement Fi****ms Instructor training taught by Ken Hackathorn.

28/07/2022

The Combat Arts Seminar evolved from that single day experience and has become a favorite event of military, law enforcement, and private sector clientele over the past two and a half decades.

When a tactical training entity endures for 25 years in the industry, it is a remarkable feat. That is exactly the legacy of Direct Action Group based in

27/07/2022

U.S. law enforcement agencies adopted NFDDs from the military. The Los Angeles Police Department D Platoon (SWAT) was one of the first U.S. law enforcement tactical teams to employ NFDDs.

The noise flash diversionary device (NFDD), also commonly referred to as a flash sound diversionary device (FSDD), diversionary device, Distraction Device®,

26/07/2022

Current training trends rightly emphasize more common close-in fighting distances, but the capability to hit reliably from standoff distance is very much a worthy one. The Par 4 and 5 will help. Check them out.

As you look at the news and recent attacks, you can see a clear trend of bad guys clueing in to the effectiveness of long guns. Whether the attack is on a

25/07/2022

Learning occurs in many ways and at different rates. It is an individual endeavor, and most are able to crack the code once they put their mind to it.

24/07/2022

The Weaver stance is well-known, acknowledged as revolutionary, and quick to draw sidelong glances from more than a few people on the firing line lately. In fact, a surefire way to start a heated argument is to debate the merits of the Weaver versus the “Isosceles” or other shooting positions.

23/07/2022

Historically, as fi****ms began to mature, CD was the preferred method of handgun carry, and the 1861 Army Manual of Arms for Sharps Rifle, C**t Revolver and Swords, specified that the “pistol” should be worn on the left side in front of the saber-hook.

Crossdraw (CD) or support-side carry was verboten in the FBI and, when a CD student showed up at a private-sector shooting course, he was eyed with suspicion

19/07/2022

We received the carbine in late 2008 and put #14 into service shortly thereafter. At Brady, Texas in March 2009, it suffered a malfunction, which was reduced with Immediate Action. The bolt was wiped down at 6,450 rounds.

The M16 was first promoted as a gun that needed no maintenance. While that statement proved false, a number of factors, including propellant powder and a lack