Anger management—Blackhawk style
Posted by GuySagi, Aug 26 2010, 12:33 AM
Here's a pair of writers at the Blackhawk seminar breaching a simulated door using the company's Speical Operations Entry Ram. The 30-pound unit, which is 25 inches long, can also be used by a single person. The shock-absorbing handles take a lot of the pain away....but check out the grimace in the second photo.
Three blows later and the door is open (take a look at all the splinters flying). I'm glad this item can only be purchased by law enforcement and EMS personnel or departments.
Full-body or just a shoulder mount?
Posted by GuySagi, Aug 25 2010, 10:46 PM
A South African taxidermist shot and killed two robbers earlier this week.
Oregon sheriff refuses to give CCW list to newspaper
Posted by GuySagi, Aug 25 2010, 10:41 PM
That's the good news.
The bad news is the newspaper sued, won, and now the sheriff's department must give the newspaper $43,500 in legal fees.
Here's the story.
Measure to register ammunition in California in Senate Committee
Posted by GuySagi, Aug 25 2010, 10:36 PMHere's the California Rifle & Pistol Association alert.
Cafeteria at Blackhawk headquarters
Posted by GuySagi, Aug 25 2010, 04:27 AM
Here's a look one hour before lunch at the cafeteria at Blackhawk headquarters, where the 100 or so employees at the facility can enjoy a healthy lunch in keeping with the company's approach to everything. I'm so glad I had this last-minute assignment. This place is the real deal and in the cafeteria you won't find a cholesterol burger (I wanted one, take my word for it).
Not everyone here is a former SEAL or member of the military, but the company's geniune concern that whether you're going in harm's way, or working Blackhawk's stateside 9-5 job, you have the best things available shows. The company let me prowl the building at will to bring you images like this and I'm a reporter at heart, so I roamed unescorted during breaks.
The pride in what they produce shows on one wall, where the company's gear worn by the man who crawled into the hole Saadam Hussein was hiding to drag him out is hanging. Just as importantly the folks I've met so far in Norfolk were friendly, but there's a palpable excitement in every employee in this building.
Oh, and I'm required by the Feds to disclose anything I've received to sway my opinion because I'm a "blogger." Well, I got this big ol' bag, with some cool gear I haven't mentioned yet, including a SERPA holster that doesn't fit my handgun (I'm hoping to swap it out), a pair of really cool boots I haven't mentioned, a knife I haven't mentioned, a bitchin' laptop bag I may not mention ever because I don't want folks to know it also carries a properly retained and oriented handgun and a polo shirt no one may ever see me in or mention (there's other stuff I haven't dug out but I'll give a full Omabasclosure when I review them). When I get around to mentioning the Tactical Handbag I purchased for my lovely bride or the concealed carry belts I purchased, I won't disclose a thing because I have receipts for my purchase in the pro shop (that's how impressed I am with the company's products).
My trip here is coming out of my travel budget, so there's nothing to report there, but as long as we're being honest, try this on for size. Blackhawk and its employees are the real deal and they genuinely care.
SERPA practice at Blackhawk
Posted by GuySagi, Aug 24 2010, 11:23 AM
Part of yesterday was spent drawing and firing a SIG from Blackhawk's SERPA holster. We were using the SERPA with two levels of retention and the system is very intuitive, fast and easy. If, as you should be, you always draw with your trigger finger to the side of the slide so there's no chance of the gun going off (until you want it to), you can be just as fast drawing from the SERPA as you are a holster with only one level of retention. It's a great system that doesn't cost you speed or comfort.
Below one of the participants is being videotaped yesterday. It might be hard to see in these thumbnails, but I caught brass in the air, slightly to the back of the slide. 
New marker system for reality-based tactical training
Posted by GuySagi, Aug 23 2010, 10:26 PM
I just got back from today's Blackhawk seminars and I got to see a brand new marking system that can be used by law enforcement, military and self-defense trainers. It's being marketed by Speer under its Law Enforcement label and from what I saw it may make the other (I won't mention its name here because the last time I did I got a cease and decist order from the corporate attorney) system obsolete.
The new system, that actually wants me to tell people about it, is called Force on Force.
Among the big advantages is the fact that there is no gunpower at all. The 9 mm polymer projectile is launched at 370 fps by a lead-free primer. That's right, no lead involved, so if you're worried about keeping lead levels down on your range, but still want officers or students to practice adrenaline-dumping force-on-force encounters, this is the answer. Oh, and if you're worried about purchasing all new gear, this ammo runs in its competitor's "handguns," so you can switch over pretty inexpensively.
Marking colors can be green, white, blue, red and yellow. Get this, unlike what everyone else is using today, the "paint" is glycerine based, so it's easily cleaned up with baby wipes (yup, saw it done today) and according to the company doesn't dry. So you can wait a long time to clean up protective gear and even the range.
I'm heading down to tonight's dinner so this post seems incomplete, but expect me to post photos of the upset paint bullets," which show the polymer is obturating so it's accurate. I'll also post one of the cartridges later on this week (someone took off with my cartridge, and it has a unique design that enables the slide to reciprocate, without gunpowder in the aluminum casing). The paint "bullet" itself is an unusual design, with a post in the middle to help stabilize the liquid better as it starts rotating in the rifling, and something akin to a plunger or wad at its base to eject the non-staining dye on impact.
Ever ordered from Blackhawk?
Posted by GuySagi, Aug 23 2010, 03:03 AM
Here's the room where the capable customer service folks from Blackhawk take your order or answer your questions.
Stay tuned for more photos from Blackhawk headquarters, while I'm on assignment here through Thursday.
Look at Blackhawk headquarters
Posted by GuySagi, Aug 23 2010, 02:55 AM
I'm at a writer's seminar hosted by Blackhawk and got a brief look at the company's headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, tonight.
All this week I'll have more info and photos, but the company has a pretty big workout room for the 100 or so employees at the four-floor facility. Staying physically active and fit isn't just a message for customers, the company invests so its employees can live that healthy lifestyle as well.
on Sam Adams' gun proposal