So you’ve finally got your license or you’ve decided that your trusty blaster isn’t doing much to protect you locked up in the safe. Either way you find yourself making the wise decision to carry the most effective self defence tool available to you, hopefully on an EDC (Every Day Carry) basis. Unfortunately most of us then realise that carrying this thing around can be uncomfortable and annoying, sometimes this leads to the gun going back to its old job of protecting the inside of your safe which is obviously sub optimal.

Like with many things, if you dress the part it makes the whole experience substantially more user friendly. Dropping a mousegun into your pocket may be quick and easy, but in my opinion you are giving up too much ability in your gear in the interest of expedience. My experience is in carrying a full size service pistol all day every day, so that is where this article is going to come from. These procedures will work for you if you go with a compact or sub compact pistol and they will even be ever so slightly easier to carry and conceal.

Personally I always carry on my right side hip (I’m right handed), this means that all the repetition I gain drawing in practise , training and competition translate to my EDC set up. I almost always carry in an IWB (Inside the Waistband) holster as I find it offers me the best concealment over the widest selection of wardrobe. Which particular holster you choose is another article all of its own. For now let me recommend that you don’t skimp on your choice as with most things if you buy quality you only cry once. My current choice and recommendation is the Comp Tac MTAC which is available from hailstormza.com. For me this gives the best compromise between speed and concealment, and because it’s tuckable it will work in almost any dress code.

Your belt is one of the most important, and at the same time, one of the most ignored portions of the EDC wardrobe. A stiff well build belt makes a substantial difference to your comfort while carrying a pistol especially at the end of a long day and concealment is considerably easier with a proper belt. Try it and you will be surprised.

When buying trousers keep a few things in mind. First off make sure that they have belt loops, sorry but your shell suit bottoms ain’t going to work properly if you want to be armed. That solid belt we discussed besides being an aid to comfort and concealment is also your third hand in the event of you needing to manipulate your pistol should one of your hands be wounded and out of the fight.

If you’re carrying IWB you will most likely find that getting your pants one size bigger makes things a whole lot more comfortable. Many gun owners try an IWB holster in a pair of pants that they can just barely fit into as it is, and then complain that IWB is too uncomfortable, if you normally wear a 36” get your next pair as a 38”. All of a sudden that hunk of steel will feel a lot less like it’s trying to become one with your pelvis.

The heavier the material your trousers are constructed from the less noticeable the holster itself will be to a keen observer. Once again hoping you can wedge that pistol into your rugby shorts isn’t going to offer the best of ,or even an average amount of speed ,concealment or security. Darker colours will also make things less noticeable to any observers, either bad guys or work colleagues, who we would rather weren’t aware that we are armed.

Your shirt choice will, like your trousers, be dependent on the environment you find yourself in. In a more formal environment that tuckable function on the holster allows far more versatility as you will be able to take your jacket or other concealing garment off. The baggier the shirt the easier concealment will be, this doesn’t mean you have to dress like a slob but that your shirt does need to be a little looser. This allows you to blouse it out a bit when you tuck it around your pistol, no point having the gun covered but the shirt so tightly over it that anyone standing near you can read the serial number through the shirt. Have a look in the mirror make sure you can’t see the silhouette of the pistol you’re trying to conceal. Move around when you check.

If you can, try choose your shirts in darker colours and/or with stripes or some sort of pattern, these will combine to make the pistol less likely to be noticed if you move in such a way that the shirt is pulled more tightly against it. I have found myself in employment where I had to wear a white dress shirt every day, if this applies to you, try picking slightly thicker shirts preferably with a textured material. Unfortunately as with so much gear the better the quality of the shirts you buy the better they will be at hiding that gun.

In a less formal environment the same rules will apply and being able to leave your shirt untucked will make access a little easier. As I sit here typing this I am wearing a 5.11 short sleeve button up shirt, these work like a bomb if they match the environment. When looking at a button up shirt try to find something that is cut in a similar fashion, it hangs slightly lower than many shirts lessening the chances of the pistols butt hooking on the hem and exposing itself. Also, as with formal shirts, the looser cut helps reduce the chances of the butt of the pistol printing. With Polo shirts and T shirts the same rules apply. A little looser and longer cut combines with a good quality material in a dark colour or with a pattern is going to make life a whole lot easier. Those super tight jobs designed to show off your six pack are also going to ensure that the whole world can see that you’re armed. Unfortunately you will need to decide whether being the height of fashion or being prepared to defend your life against the forces of darkness, is more important to you.

A concealment garment like a jacket or photojournalist style vest can make concealment a bit easier but we need to keep some things in mind. If they have any draw strings or similar at the bottom hem cut them off straight away, a piece of string and a plastic bobble hooked in your trigger guard while trying to reholster can lead to all sorts of unpleasant BANG noises. Be careful that, on a cold day, you can reach the pistol under a jersey, a hoodie and a zipped up jacket. Winter makes concealment easier but access much more difficult. ALWAYS try some test draws from under today’s concealment.
Be aware that a hoodie or sweatshirt with an elasticised bottom hem my ride up during the day and if that is your only layer of concealment for the day you will need to keep a very close eye to ensure your pistol isn’t hanging out for the world to see.

Many users like an open front concealment garment. This can work very well especially if you prefer an Outside the Waistband Holster. Ensure though that it hangs low enough to conceal the pistol and holster when you lean over or lift your arms. The photojournalist style vest is very popular as a concealment garment, they conceal the pistol very well, are more lightweight than a jacket, so many find them usable all year round and they normally have lots of pockets to stow all sorts of gear in. I don’t really find them comfortable and find I get better concealment from a closed front garment but if they work for you they have some distinct advantages. Bear in mind some do worry that like the big black moonbag they do shout “gun” to many. Whenever I see someone wearing one I assume that there is very likely a pistol under there somewhere.

Something to bear in mind is that a surprising number of people will know exactly what the word GLOCK printed on your cap or T shirt means. People will read your “I’d rather be shooting t shirt” so bear in mind that true concealment is more than just having the gun covered.

Far too many people make excuses that they can’t carry a reasonable size fighting pistols because they need to dress well for work. By properly combining your pistol and support gear (holster, mag pouches and belts) and dressing to conceal it is possible to be prepared without compromising on pistol choice or making it obvious that you are armed. For a good few years I worked in an environment where I was not allowed by company policy to carry a firearm. The above assisted me in being armed everyday while being concealed sufficiently to stay employed and not offend the customers.

Obviously I would never recommend that you flout company policy with regards to firearms or signage in any environment you visit. Big boy rules, as always, apply. You make the decision to be armed or not and you live with the consequences either way.

This article was written by BigT, a GunSite SA Forum Member.
Many thanks.

The object of this article is not so much to solicit agreement as to which items you should pack in your bag, but rather to make you start thinking more seriously about the possibility that you may, in fact, need such a bag or backpack, etc. and what you think it should contain for best results for your situation.

In SA today it seems like there are almost daily incidents of service delivery protests, taxi strikes and protests, xenophobic riots, etc. Usually, the Police show up, shoot some rubber, thump some heads, contain the situation and except for those in the immediate area, life proceeds as usual with maybe some inconvenience here and there.

Mob mentality is an ugly thing. People will sometimes commit the most unspeakable acts when caught up in a mob, some because they feel anonymous, others because they get caught up in the frenzy or feel like they, too, will be singled out by the mob if they refuse to participate. Whatever the reason or motivation, to doubt the homicidal potential of a mob is foolish thinking, indeed. With the Cup here, there is also the potential for things like bomb threats, hooliganism, and mass demonstrations…not to mention maybe much worse.

At the stage when you can confirm to your satisfaction that there is, or almost certainly will be soon, trouble on your route, you have two basic choices…stay where you are, or leave and head for your destination, be it work, home, or elsewhere. The natural tendency is to believe that “it won’t be that bad”…and maybe it won’t…or it just might be every bit ‘that bad’ or worse. The point is that you will have to make a judgment call based on what you know at the moment and not on all the information you may have later.

If you make enough judgment calls, sooner or later you will be wrong, but that’s the way of the world and no one has a crystal ball. I don’t know about you, but if my safety and that of my loved ones may be at stake, I prefer to err on the side of caution. Better to use up a sick leave day or just not open the shop, or maybe keep the kids home from school, etc. than to find yourself right in the middle of a huge mess wishing you had.

But as always, there will be those who really do have to go in…emergency workers, farmers with fresh produce loaded and ready for market, some who own their own businesses and will have employees coming in, court personnel, etc. There will also be situations where incidents start and spread into an area that will effect you while you are AT work or away from home or a place of (relative) safety. While it is certainly possible that your home may not be the best place of safety for you and a different choice (‘Bug Out’ location) would be a good idea, that is a subject for another time. For brevity’s sake we will confine this discussion to getting home. Thus the ‘Get Home Bag’ concept.

Don’t allow yourself to be too insulated from what is happening around your area. Check the news now and then, and certainly check before you leave for work or head home. The very last thing you want to do is to drive right up in the middle of a mob intent on taking out its’ frustrations on whoever happens to show up! Stay as up-to-the-hour on what may be happening as you possibly can.

So let us say that you are at work or several miles away from home and a bad situation develops on your route back…what to do? Obviously it is a good thing if you know several ways to get back and forth, so if you don’t, start scouting out alternate routes now, before you need one for real. Find out which side streets you can take, back roads, parallel routes, etc. Maps and / or GPS are good, but verify either before you trust them. Construction zones may have roads blocked or detours, etc. that don’t show up, and we all know someone who has been led astray by their GPS!

Best case scenario is you are able to drive around the trouble area and you get home safely with only minor inconvenience…worst case is that you have to ditch your vehicle for whatever reason (car crash, blocked streets, tyres cut, too much unwanted attention, etc.) and set off on foot. Now is when that Get Home bag will come in handy.

There are all sorts of bags, backpacks and such available at prices from very low to some that will take your breath away. My preference is for a good quality backpack that does not scream ‘tactical’ or ‘well to do yuppie’ etc. Something dark and in a neutral colour (gray, green, brown, etc) with maybe just a little decoration…stripes or such…like you see normal people and school kids carry every day. ‘Low key’ is the word here, and while it needs to be sturdy, it does not need to be so well made that you could drag it through 7 kilometers of thorn bush with no damage. If a friend sees it in the boot of your car and says something like ‘Wow! Cool bag dude!’ it will probably attract the kind of attention you are trying to avoid.

I prefer a backpack simply because you can sling it one armed or you can wear it, and it carries high enough that it won’t be banging your thighs when you walk. Whatever your choice, it is what you pack in it that will help get you home with the least amount of inconvenience. Note that there are some items that simply will not keep well if stored in a hot car boot or inside your SUV, and others that will.

First, you should make a realistic appraisal of how long it would take you to walk all the way from your workplace back home if you had to detour around what you would consider the most likely potential area for trouble. Not how long it would have taken you back when you were in great shape and didn’t smoke…I mean today…now. Add to that another 20% for unforeseen issues and you will have an idea of what items you should be packing.

I like to start with any medications you must have, such as blood pressure meds, etc. and make certain you have enough for a full day away from home. Find out from your doc or research on the web if the meds will stand being stored in your vehicle…many will but not all. I also like to include an extra pair of glasses if you need them to see well…store them in a hard case so they are intact should you need them. I use an older pair that are slightly wrong for my eyes now, but still work lots better than none at all.

Since most will only be looking at a day or less to get home, even on foot, I think that something like a couple of good energy bars (not the candy that masquerades as energy bars in many grocery stores) and 2 liters or so of water should be enough. Those bars go down better with water, and if it is hot weather staying hydrated is good to do. Still, water is heavy, so if you can make do with 1 liter it will lighten your load.

Use a container for your water that won’t break or split easily. Those flimsy plastic bottles you buy bottled water in, in the store, are almost worthless…get something like a few nalgene bottles or similar from a camping store…with these you can also distribute the weight more evenly…you can thank me later.

If you can, wear clothing at work that will blend in and be useful for a hike. You mainly want to be certain you have some decent socks and boots in case you have to negotiate rough ground or glass, etc. on streets. If you wear a suit and tie, pack a change of clothes or you will stand out like a sore thumb. Ditto for women who must dress in office clothes or who usually wear heels, sandals, etc.

While takkies are good for walking on some surfaces, they give you no ankle support and will shred quickly if you have to go through rocks, glass, etc…even worse if they get wet. Your boots should be broken in and not new when the are packed…getting home is not the time to break in new ones.

Some sort of rain gear can be nice to have, and in winter you will probably need a jacket of some sort. Fleece is light but bulky, and does not stop wind or water. Nylon does stop wind and will suffice in a pinch during a light mist or sprinkle, etc. but it does not breathe well.Some of the newer wonder fabrics do very well but the jackets are expensive. I like wool simply because it will still keep you warm when wet, but good wool is both expensive and heavy. If all else fails, a large, heavy duty lawn trash bag can become a makeshift rain jacket with some slits for the head and arms. It will also help you ‘blend’ in some not so nice locations.

I am a ‘550 cord’ fan. It is light, takes up very little space and can be used for all sorts of things, so I always have some in my bag. 50ft should be enough but 100ft is what I carry…use OD or black, etc…not light colours.

Since there is no guarantee that you will only need the bag in day time, I always keep a small, bright LED torch with a set of spare batteries in my bag. I use the Olight 20 I got from Khumba here on the forum but there are several others that are also good for such use. What I really like about the little Olight is that I can select one of several levels of brightness quickly in case I do not need enough light to land a large airplane.

I like to have a couple of spare magazines for my CCW along and a good, sturdy fixed blade knife. If I had to wear dress clothes I would also include a sturdy belt…either a good thick leather trouser belt made to carry a gun with or something like the Wilderness Instructor belt. (Make certain the belt will fit your belt loops) I also like some sort of waterproof container for my cell phone in case it rains…water will kill one quickly. If nothing else, a clear, zip lock bag will work fairly well. On that note, be sure and keep your cell phone charged up as much as possible. SHTF is no time for a dead battery!

Duct Tape (also known as ‘100 mile an hour tape’ or GI tape, etc.) is available at Home Centers and also in OD green / brown at surplus stores. I usually have a meter or two of it wrapped around a writing pen.

Same for toilet paper…take it off the roll and wrap around something flat…drop in zip lock. It takes up much less space that way, stays dry, and it is an essential if you are out for a while. (ask anyone who knows what stress does to your system)

Last but not least I add my IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) which includes a military style ‘blow out’ kit (Israeli Battle Dressing; Quick Clot; Some varied bandages; a tourniquet; adhesive tape; a triangle bandage; a pair of EMT shears and some Nitrile gloves. To that I add a small ‘boo boo’ kit consisting of Ibuprofen, various size plasters, some triple antibiotic ointment, eyewash, hand sanitizer, a cold pack, some moleskin (for shoes / boots) and some burn ointment.

Nothing in this bag is what I would call a ‘large’ item, but weight adds up fast. The lighter you can travel the better, so if you really feel like you can skip something then do so. To recap…after we put on our get home clothes and boots, we will be carrying…

Water (1 to 2 liters)
2 to 4 Energy Bars
Poncho and / or jacket
1 or 2 large yard trash bags
550 cord
Toilet paper
Duct Tape
Spare magazines
Syurdy Fixed blade knife
Blow Out Kit
Boo boo kit

The water is the big item but water is absolutely essential, so I feel it is worth the weight. There are other items you might want to add, such as a small transistor radio, a pair of small binoculars, other food items, etc. but the list above will get you back home if you are not too far away and can manage to skirt trouble.

Variations of this bag can also be made up for spouses and children should they be with you and need to bail out as well. Even a 6 or 7 year old can carry a small pack, although you will obviously have to adjust walking speed for them.

No one wants to think that such a bag will be needed, and I certainly hope I never need mine, but better to have and not need in my opinion than to need and not have.

Good Luck

This article was written by Ikor, a GunSite SA Forum Member.
Many thanks.

After almost a century, the Model 1911 R1 marks the Remington brand’s return to the manufacture of the legendary 1911 handgun.

In 1917, the U.S. Ordnance Department issued an order to Remington-UMC to manufacture 500,000 1911s for our fighting men in the armed services.

The first Remington-UMC produced 1911 pistols were delivered in August of 1918. On November 11, 1918, the Armistice ending WWI was signed and the contract from the Ordnance Department with Remington-UMC was suspended. In all, Remington-UMC produced 21,677 1911s.

THE ALL-NEW REMINGTON® MODEL 1911 R1

The accuracy and reliability that have made the 1911 an American icon now shine brighter than ever. Features include a crisp trigger, dovetailed front and rear sights, precision-machined slide and frame, and available fine-checkered American walnut grips. The new Model 1911 R1 is truly the finest blend of exacting craftsmanship and out-of-box performance available today. Every element is produced with ultra-tight tolerances on equipment representing the height of modern technology. The result is a sweet-shooting advancement of a legendary design we’re more than proud to put our name on.

KEY FEATURES:

• Barrel length 5″
• Flared and lowered ejection port
• Sights, dovetail front and rear, 3 dot
• Double diamond walnut wood grips
• Satin black oxide metal finish
• Weight 38.5 ounces
• Carbon steel frame and slide
• Capacity 7 + 1
• Two 7-shot magazines supplied
• Shipped in custom carrying case

By Mike Wall, INL Communications and Governmental Affairs
The human eye has trouble focusing on both a firearm’s front sight blade and the much more distant target at the same time. Idaho National Laboratory’s innovative gunsight technology, the MicroSight, helps the eye solve this problem. The MicroSight, a disc smaller than a dime, brings both the target and the iron sight into simultaneous focus, giving marksmen a better sight picture. The new sight has national-security applications, as it could improve safety and performance for American soldiers. Millions of target shooters and hunters should also benefit.

“The MicroSight gives you much of the performance you’d get out of a holographic or telescopic sight,” says INL engineer David Crandall, who developed the technology. “But it’s more reliable, much lighter-weight and much cheaper.” The alternating rings on zone plates bring faraway and nearby objects into focus simultaneously.

The Magic of Zone Plates — Concentric Rings Using Diffraction
Crandall is not an optics specialist. Most of his past work tended toward infrastructure engineering, like nuclear projects with INL’s Advanced Test Reactor. But Crandall is a highly accomplished target shooter — he’s a member of the U.S. national long-range rifle team — and he’s come up with several other shooting-related inventions. He patented a rifle-stabilizing shooting sling, and a small, powerful breaching shotgun that could help law-enforcement personnel storm buildings more effectively.

One day, Crandall was leafing through an optics textbook, and he stumbled across a section on “zone plates.” Zone plates are optical devices that resemble lenses. But whereas lenses focus light using refraction — essentially, changing the direction of light waves by changing their speed — zone plates use diffraction. Diffraction describes how waves bend, break up, spread out and interfere with each other as they encounter obstacles. The diffraction of sound waves, for example, explains how you can hear someone’s voice from around a corner.

Zone plates focus light via a set of concentric rings that alternate between transparent and opaque. The transparent sections let some light waves pass through unchanged, focusing objects that are far away (basically, at infinity). But light passing the edges of the opaque rings gets diffracted, which brings nearby objects into focus. The seemingly impossible result: sharp images of distant and near objects, simultaneously.

Zone plates aren’t new. Frenchman Augustin-Jean Fresnel worked out their underlying scientific principles in the early 1800s. [Editor's NOTE: A.J. Fresnel also invented the Fresnel lenses used in light-houses and theatrical spotlights.] But it took Crandall, with his shooter’s eye, to recognize the potential zone plates held for improving gunsights. “Competitive shooters are always looking for an edge, for something better,” Crandall says. “You have to, when you’re going against the best in the world.”

Crandall took his idea to INL’s technology transfer division, which also saw the promise and agreed to fund his research. He eventually found his way to phased zone plates. Phased zone plates replace the opaque rings with transparent glass of varying thickness. This accomplishes the same goal — diffraction — but does so without losing as much light, yielding brighter images. After much tinkering, Crandall came up with the MicroSight. CLICK HERE for giant-sized photo of MicroSight element.

A Smaller, Cheaper, More Robust Sight
Without help from zone plates, the human eye cannot focus on two different planes at the same time. So shooters using only standard-issue iron sights see either a blurry target or a blurry sight. The MicroSight isn’t the only gunsight technology that can overcome this problem, of course. Telescopic sights magnify targets, bringing them into close, crisp focus. And holographic sights project a red dot onto an image of the target, showing clearly where the shot will land.

But telescopic and holographic sights have their drawbacks. For one thing, they tend to be bulky. Both types of sight can add one or two pounds to the weight of a rifle — not a trivial concern for hunters or soldiers who must lug their weapons for miles over rough terrain. Further, both are complex instruments with fragile components. They can break, especially if dropped or banged against a rock or tree. Red-dot sights require batteries, which can die. And neither one is cheap: most red-dot sights cost more than $100, and high-quality telescopic ones can run $1,000 or more.

MicroSight Should Be Versatile and Affordable
The MicroSight, on the other hand, is tiny — its zone plate is thin and only about 1/4″ in diameter — and relatively cheap. Crandall says the sight should cost significantly less than red-dot and telescopic sights when Apollo Optical Systems, which licensed the technology, takes it to market. The company is currently working with gunsight manufacturers to design and develop various MicroSight versions. In the future, some of these versions might add refractive power to the zone plate, achieving some level of target magnification. Crandall foresees other possible applications as well, such as in handguns and night-vision goggles. In any situation that requires taking the long and the short view at the same time, this new INL technology could provide a major advantage.

Article and graphics courtesy Idaho National Laboratory (INL), www.inl.gov.

A little bit about the Fab Defense KPOS

Late 2009 we heard about FAB Defense working on a interesting new PDW System called the KPOS. In Early2010 We attended the Shot Show in the Las Vegas & after we visiting the FAB Booth we were convinced that they were onto something. We placed an initial order & waited. It is hard not to become blasé when you’ve attended a couple International Arms Fares, Shows as we have but occasionally a product really gets your attention as the KPOS did.

The KPOS System with the Stock Delpoyed.

The KPOS Concept

Firstly the Idea of attaching a stock to a pistol may not be a new one. The Fab Defense KPOS certainly makes a strong argument FAB Defense has bided their time building on the strengths of the original Idea. & producing possibly the best example available today. It is sleek, well thought out and solidly constructed.

Let’s take a realistic look at the system & similar systems & what they will do.

Firstly this is a system to attach a stock to a pistol, Secondly the Rails offer additional mounting platforms for accessories which could already be attached to the gun. Although there are a lot more rails so if in the past you were forced to make a choice between accessory A or B, you now can have them all.

What it does offer the shooter is the added benefits of enhanced rifle like stability and pointability from a handgun. The inherent accuracy, operation or ballistic capability of the firearm has been altered in no way. But by securely housing the pistol in air craft grade aluminium KPOS unit. Makes it possible to fire more accurately, faster & over greater distances. Because of the ability to Hold & Aim in amore secure manner

Our friends at FAB Defense are a clever & Industrious bunch & We received our first KPOS Samples a couple of months after the Show & everyone who has seen them have been very excited & with good reason. The system has gained interest & momentum.based on this.

Common Q & A’s
Q: Will it make your handgun more accurate.
A: No.

Q: Will it allow you to fire your Handgun more accurately.
A: I believe the answer is to this question would undoubtedly be Yes.

As you are now have a more stable firing platform as you are able to effectively shoulder the handgun & have your weak had stabilising the front with a foregrip.
The system will allow you to fire more accurately close & longer ranges
The system fire more quickly especially when paired up with a suitable red dot sight.

Q: Will my pistol now be a machine Pistol, Sub Machine gun, Assault Rifle/ Pistol
A: No No No. You still have a Semi auto Pistol with the same barrel “ballistic capability” although it can be fired more accurately & quickly.

Construction.

While Plastics and Polymers have their place I believe there is something especially reassuring about a product like the KPOS. As the body is entirely CNC Machined from aircraft grade aluminium. This gives a Rock Solid Sturdy feel to the unit. It holds the pistol firmly in place by utilising the pistols accessory rail in the front along with a cam type bolt. The rear of the Pistol is also held in place with an aluminium insert holding the beavertail section of the frame. This is intern held in place by a detented steel cross pin in the rear. The aluminium folding stock also feels extremely sturdy & is nicely finished off with a comfortable non slip 1” thick recoil pad.

Inserting the handgun into the system is a simple matter & takes approximately 45 Seconds once you have the hang of it.

Apart from aircraft grade aluminium construction, Certain Parts like the pivoting rear stock knuckle & from cam arm & bolt are constructed from steel. Adding to the quality and overall durability the unit offers.

The Pistols original Sights ” In This Case Warren Tactical Fibre sights” can be used with the system.

Features

As previously mentioned, the aluminium construction features a sturdy folding stock. The Unit is also supplied as standard with a folding foregip for additional stability, A Single Point Sling & cocking aid ‘Racker” is supplied for loading, all of this in a nice lockable plastic case.

Ergonomically the top rail is fairly close to the bore axis which allows for mounting of red dot sights in a fairly low position. There is also a sight channel that allows for the use of the pistols Original Sights.

What can a KPOS fit & what can be fitted to it?

The KPOS System is currently marketed as a Glock accessory & marked for models 19 / 17. The 23 & 22 fall into this category & with the muzzle protector removed the unit would be capable of accepting the longer 34, 35 as well as the discontinued 17L & 24. This being said. More models are in the Pipeline notably for the newer generation Sig P226 & SP2022 Pistols.
The unit endowed with enough high quality aluminium picatiny rail to mount any accessories you may have or that you at a later stage may want to mount. “2 sides 1 bottom top etc. The Top Rail should undoubtedly be used for a red dot or refelex sighting system. A decent Red Dot Sight such as the Aimpoint Micro will enhance the Speed and accuracy of any user. Additional possibilities for the top rail include magnifiers with twist off & flip away mounts, CEU’s etc.

The Bottom rail is occupied by the Fab Folding Foregrip which is supplied as standard & works well. This could easily be removed and be replaced with your personal choice of foregrip, torch or accessory. The 2 side rails could be used for lighting or lasers.

On the accessory front you are limited only by your imagination application and budget.

Uses

Application of the system could be for Sport Shooting, General Range Fun, Plinking, Training, Home Defence when paired up with your dedicated self defence Pistol and for Security, Police & Military use. It goes without saying that users of the system for any of the above applications would find it beneficial being able to shoot faster & more accurately.

The Installation as previously mentioned is fairly quick and removing the pistol is to.
Your handgun can be carried daily in your regular holster & set up with the KPOS as the need arises.

Testing – Range Report

We purchased a second hand Glock 17 for this purpose & after installing the cocking lever adaptor & mounting an Aimpoint Micro sight. It was off to our local indoor shooting range.

We didn’t bother to test fire our “new” second hand Pistol before installing the KPOS, but proceeded to zero the Aimpoint sight. Using PMP 115Gr FMJ we were truly impressed accuracy. Some of the other ammo we had on hand did not fair as well in the accuracy department. The test unit functioned flawlessly & were happy to report that we experienced no reliability Issues at all with the approximately 150 rounds fired. Once We felt a little more familiar we tried a couple of drills shouldering & firing 2 shots as quickly as possible this consistently resulted in 2 A’s on the IPSC Target.
A question we had been asked was that if the pistol was removed & reinserted into the KPOS how would the red dot sight Zero be affected. With the Iron Sights “which are visible while mounted in the system” there was no change & with the red dot, we noticed a slight but hardly significant change.

The picture of the group is rapid fire @ 15 Meters 6 Shots of the 12 fired are touching.

The KPOS Should find favour with a variety of users from Sport Shooters to Security applications.

The KPOS is available from Rescomp Handgun Technolgies Tel: 012 333 4768 or Email: info@rescomp.co.za

GunSite™ South Africa has for sometime been considering the establishment of a “Contingency Fund”
The contingency fund will be used for court cases adverts and the direct promotion of gun rights in SA.

The establishment of the fund has now been made possible by a most generous offer from one of our members.

Bushboy has kindly donated the following to GunSite™, which will be awarded to the winner of a lucky draw.

A two night stay , for two people at the luxury five star Impodimo Game Lodge
This includes, 4 bed nights (that is 2 people for 2 nights) at Impodimo Game Lodge including meals, safari’s and accommodation. It excludes park entrance, beverages and items of a personal nature and of course getting there.
Dates will be valid until the 15th December 2010 and would exclude the period from 10 June to 10 July and any long weekends.
The value is R14 000.00
The lodge is situated in the Madikwegame reserve which is home to the big 5, including both white and black rhino. Wild dog are also present in the park.
This exclusive lodge has a five star rating and is one of the best in the country. It is sure to be an experience of a lifetime.
Do yourselves a favour and take a look. www.impodimo.com

GunSite™ South Africa will throw in the park entrance fees and beverages up to a value of R1000.00
This pushes the total value, to just over R15000.00

So what gets your name in to the lucky draw? A donation of R150 gets you name in once. A donation of R300 gives you two chances and so on. Please note that for legal reasons this is not a raffle but a donation. A separate account has been created for this and all similar initiatives to raise funds. Please note: 100% of all donations will go into this account . There will be no management fees of any sort. The only deductions will be by the bank for account fees.

Closing date for entries: 31 May 2010
GunSite™ South Africa reserves the right to extend the draw date.

Small Print.
From the outset we would like to clarify the position with regards to the mods. The moderators on GunSite™ SouthAfrica are members as you are, they however voluntary donate their time and effort to ensure the continued smooth running of the site for all of our benefit, and for this we are extremely grateful. No moderator has any financial interest in GunSite™ South Africa, nor are they paid by GunSite™ SouthAfrica. As such, both Craig and Frank feel that they will be included in, should the wish to enter, any competitions or draws run by GunSite™ South Africa. Craig and Frank will obviously be excluded.

Banking Details

STANDARD BANK
ACCOUNT NAME             : GUNSITE
BRANCH                            : 052548 POLOKWANE
ACCOUNT NUMBER       : 624058506

Please email your real name, contact number and proof of deposited to admin@gunsite.co.za
You will receive an acknowledgment from us. If you don’t, it means we did not receive your mail and you wont be in the draw!!
Please contact us if you do not receive the acknowledgement, we will not be held liable for names not included.

GUIDELINES: PROCEDURE TO PROCESS A FIREARM LICENCE APPLICATION IN TERMS OF SECTION 139 (AMNESTY) OF THE FIREARMS CONTROL ACT 60 OF 2000

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Minister of Police has by means of a publication in the Government Gazette, declared an Amnesty for a period of 90 (ninety) days commencing from 11 January 2010 to 11 April 2010.

1.2 The Amnesty is to allow any person who is in unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and/or firearm parts the opportunity to surrender such firearms, ammunition and/or firearm parts to the South African Police Service without fear of being prosecuted for the unlawful possession of the firearms, ammunition and/or firearm parts in contravention of the Act.

1.3 It is emphasized that the Amnesty concerns only the unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and/or firearm parts. The amnesty do not apply to any other offence, for example, aggravated robbery committed using the firearm and/or ammunition and the perpetrators of such crimes must still be prosecuted.

1.5 In terms of Section 139 (4) (a) of the Act a person who surrenders an illegal firearm in compliance with the notice published in the Government Gazette may apply in terms of the Act for a licence in respect of that firearm. The person who applies for a firearm licence in terms of this section is subject to complying with the provisions of the Act applicable to the licencing of a firearm.

2. The Act provide for different categories for which a person may possess a firearm as well as the limitation on the number of firearms that a person may legally possess in South Africa.

3. All applications for a firearm licence to possess a firearm is subject to the provision that the applicant must be in possession of a valid competency certificate issued in terms of the Act.

4. A firearm for which a licence is applied for in terms of paragraph 1.5 supra is regarded as a firearm with no legal licence, permit or authorisation issued in terms of the Act or the provisions of the repealed Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969 (Act No. 75 of 1969), as amended.

5. It is required of the person who applies for a firearm licence as mentioned in paragraph 1.5 supra to physically hand the firearm to the Designated Amnesty Officer and lodge an application for the firearm licence within 14 days of the handing in of the firearm. It is important to note that only the person who physically surrendered the firearm to the South African Police Service may apply for a licence to possess the particular firearm. Therefore it is not allowed that a third person apply on behalf of the person who surrendered the firearm.

6. The application for the firearm licence must be submitted to the relevant Designated Firearms Officer responsible for the area wherein the applicant ordinarily reside. The content of national circular 27/5/7 dated 2009-12-17 must be complied with in regards to the procedure applicable to the declared amnesty.

7. All such applicants must comply with the following requirements in addition to the requirements of regulation 14 of the Firearms Control Regulations, 2004:

7.1 Provide a certified copy of her/his competency certificate (if already issued). (Applicant must show her/his original competency certificate to the Designated Firearms Officer).

7.2 Where the applicant do not possess a competency certificate, she/he must apply for a competency certificate in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Such applicant must undergo the prescribed training and practical test regarding the safe and efficient handling of a firearm as well as the prescribed test on the knowledge of the Act.

7.3 Provide a certified copy of the Amnesty form on which the applicant has indicated her/his intention to apply for the specific firearm licence. The application for a firearm licence may only be accepted by the Designated Firearms Officer if it is in compliance with the period of fourteen 14 days as publicized in Government Gazette number 32738 dated 25 November 2009.

7.4 The applicant for amnesty must, when surrendering the firearm or ammunition, notify the relevant Designated Firearms Officer in writing if he/she intends to apply for a licence to possess the firearm or ammunition, as contemplated in section 139 (4) (a) of the Act and lodge the application within fourteen days from the date on which the firearm and ammunition was surrendered.

7.5 Provide a comprehensive motivation (preferably in the form of a statement under oath or affirmation).

7.6 Provide a certified copy of the legal firearm licence, permit or authorisation applicable to the specific firearm (if applicable).

8. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DESIGNATED FIREARMS OFFICER

8.1 The relevant Designated Firearms Officer must:

8.1.1 Process the application which will include the obtaining of a full set of fingerprints of the applicant;

8.1.2 Verify the content of the application form (SAPS 271) as well as the supporting documentation.

8.1.3 Issue an acknowledgement of receipt (SAPS 523) to the applicant if the application is duly completed and accompanied by all the required information and documentation and after the identity of the applicant has been verified.

8.1.4 Clearly mark the first page of the SAPS 271 form and on the top right corner with the words: “AMNESTY 2010″. The endorsement must be made in red ink and acknowledged with a full signature of the Designated Firearms Officer.

8.1.5 Ensure that a copy of the completed Amnesty form is attached to the SAPS 271 form.

8.1.6 Determine the origin of the firearm on function 8.1.2.4. Process the transfer of the firearm to State Department 21 on function 8.4.1.6.

8.1.7 Capture the application (SAPS 271) on the Enhanced Firearms Register System.

8.1.8 Inform the relevant police official of the SAPS 13 store where the firearm has been surrendered that an application for a firearm licence has been received for the particular firearm.

8.1.9 Forward the respective application and supporting documents to the provincial office concerned for further processing and finalization.

9. The above must be construed as general requirements when processing an application to obtain a firearm licence in terms of the Amnesty.

GUIDELINES: PROCEDURE TO APPLY FOR A FIREARM LICENCE FOR A FIREARM WHICH LICENCE HAS NOT BEEN RENEWED IN TERMS OF SCHEDULE 1 (TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS ) OF THE FIREARMS CONTROL ACT, 2000 (ACT NO. 60 OF 2000)

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Minister of Police has by means of a publication in the Government Gazette, declared an Amnesty for a period of 90 (ninety) days commencing from 11 January 2010 and ending on 11 April 2010.

1.2 The declared Amnesty allows any person who is in unlawful possession of firearms, ammunition and/or firearm parts the opportunity to surrender such firearms, ammunition and/or firearm parts to the South African Police Service without fear of being prosecuted for the unlawful possession of the firearms, ammunition and/or firearm parts in contravention of the Act.

1.3 In light of the declared Amnesty, and the closure of the transitional period of the renewal of firearm licences, the Minister of Police has publicly announced that firearm owners with licences, permits or authorisations issued in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969 (Act No. 75 of 1969) who had not applied to renew such firearm licences, permits or authorisations in terms of the Transitional Provisions of the Act, may apply for the licencing of such firearms in terms of the Act during the Amnesty period (ie between 11 January 2010 and 11 April 2010).

2. Such persons must comply with all the provisions of the Act applicable to new firearm licence applications. The Act provide for different categories of firearm possession for which a person may possess a firearm as well as the limitation on the number of firearms that a person may legally possess in South Africa.

3. All applications for a firearm licence to possess a firearm is subject to the provision that the applicant must be in possession of a valid competency certificate issued in terms of the Act.

4. A firearm applied for in terms of paragraph 1.3 supra is regarded as a firearm with a licence, permit or authorisation issued in terms of the provisions of the repealed Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969 (Act No. 75 of 1969).

5. The above applicants will not be required to hand in their firearms at the police station concerned. The firearm licences issued in terms of the repealed Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969 are valid and legal due to an interim order issued by the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria which effectively allow these firearm owners to possess their firearms legally.

6. The applicants must comply with the following requirements in addition to the requirements of regulation 14 of the Firearms Control Regulations, 2004:

6.1 Provide a certified copy of her/his competency certificate (if already issued). (Applicant must show her/his original competency certificate to the Designated Firearms Officer).

6.2 Where the applicant do not possess a competency certificate, she/he must apply for a competency certificate in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Such applicant must undergo the prescribed training and practical test regarding the safe and efficient handling of a firearm as well as the prescribed test on the knowledge of the Act.

6.3 A comprehensive motivation (preferably in the form of a statement under oath or affirmation).

6.4 A certified copy of the legal firearm licence, permit or authorisation applicable to the specific firearm. The applicant must show the original firearm licence, permit or authorisation to the relevant Designated Firearms Officer when lodging the application.

7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DESIGNATED FIREARMS OFFICER

7.1 The relevant Designated Firearms Officer must:

7.1.1 Verify the content of the application form (SAPS 271) as well as the supporting documentation.

7.1.2 Issue an acknowledgement of receipt (SAPS 523) if the application is duly completed and accompanied by all the required information and documentation and after the identity of the applicant has been verified.

7.1.3 Clearly mark the first page of the SAPS 271 form and on the top right corner with the words: “NEW LICENCE: DID NOT RENEW”. The endorsement must be made in red ink and acknowledged with a full signature of the Designated Firearms Officer.

7.1.4 Capture the application (SAPS 271) on the Enhanced Firearms Register System.

7.1.5 Forward the respective application and supporting documents to the provincial office concerned for further processing and finalization.

8. The respective provincial office will be responsible to further process the applications and forward same in the prescribed manner to the Central Firearms Register for finalization.

9. The licencing process applicable in this circular is strictly limited to the period 11 January 2010 to 11 April 2010. No applications under the mentioned circumstances will be received after this period.

10. The above must be construed as general requirements when processing firearm licence applications of persons who did not renew in order to obtain a firearm licence.

The #RONI (pat-pending) provides you a better grip, stability & platform to many accessories. Now you can use your pistol for a greater range, faster aiming, better accuracy.

• No pistol disassembly required - just “drop” it into the shell.
• It is mandatory that the pistol has the integrated below rail.
• 24cm upper flattop rail – allows combinations of sight, magnifier or night vision.
• Three Picatinny rails for additional accessories.
• Optional to add flip-up Backup sights (#FRS / #FFS).
• Accepts silencers – up to 35.5mm diameter.
• Optional to add quick release brass-catcher.
• Including Detachable folding forearm grip.

Coming to SA soon through Bernhard Agencies, watch this space for further details:  http://www.gunsite.co.za/forums/showthread.php?t=6875

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