2011 Army Aviation Roll Call

I know a few of you have seen this video, but it hadn't made it's way onto the blog. I'm not sure why, but here it is. God bless those men and women who gave their lives for freedom throughout the year. They gave everything and asked for nothing in return. I hope this small video that I made honors those brave souls in some way. Our deepest condolences to the families affected by their sacrifices; they were all true warriors.

To my Cavalry brothers and sisters...I'll see you on The Green.

Very respectfully,
Brad

The .300 AAC BLK: The Facts in Blackout and White

Top: .300 AAC BLK (7.62 x 35mm) 220 gr. Bottom: Standard NATO Green Tip M855 (5.56 x 45mm) 62 gr.

 
I've gotten alot of questions lately about the 300 AAC Blackout cartridge. I had read a good deal about it and had found some good resources on the web, but I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. I have, however, shot comparable 7.62 cartridges. After doing more research and scouring for more info, I wanted to post some of the better findings for you guys to use as future reference if you wanted to make the jump to the 300. Here's what I found:

• The system was developed to launch 30 caliber projectiles from the AR platform without a reduction in magazine capacity and compatible with the standard bolt.

• It's full power [115-125 grain] ammunition matches the ballistics of the 7.62x39mm AK, and eclipses 5.56mm with much higher-mass projectiles for a more dramatic effect on the target. This enables the shooter to choose subsonic cartridges for optimal use with a sound suppressor i.e. 220 grain Sierra OTM (open-tip match) bullets vastly outperforms a 9mm MP5-SD in penetration and long range accuracy.

• Ammo and brass prices are low - Remington 115 grain UMC ammo is $12.99 a box MSRP and it's not bare bones. It has waterproofed primers, crimped and cannelured open-tip match bullets, and a low-drag design.

• At 300 meters, the 300 BLK has 16.7% more energy than 7.62x39mm. Max effective range, using M4 military standards for hit probability, is 440 meters for a 9 inch barrel, and 460 meters for a 16 inch barrel. The 300 BLK from a 9 inch barrel has the same energy at the muzzle as a 14.5 inch barrel M4, and about 5% more energy at 440 meters [even though the barrel is much shorter].

• For hunting - think of it as like a 30-30 but from an AR. After you are done, you can remove your 5-round magazine and put in a 30 for plinking or home defense. For ammo, Remington has you covered with the Premiere AccuTip 125 grain.

• Want industry-wide support? Over 60 companies have already announced or sell products for the 300 AAC Blackout.

• Also, due to the high efficiency of the cartridge, less powder is used than 5.56mm, which results in a rifle that is a comfortable to shoot [even with a short barrel]. 

Here's a great link to a PDF version of an overview of the 300 ACC Blackout development, comparisons to other common ammunition, ballistics info, and host weapon system comparisons: 300 AAC Blackout Facts Sheet

I hope this answers some of the questions out there about the 300 AAC Blackout cartridge. Hopefully you'll learn a little bit more about ammo and ballistics from reading this...I know I did.

Cheers,
Brad

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us here at MADCAT Aviator | Operator.

F.A.S.T. Inc. Advanced Firearms and Tactical Training

I had the pleasure of meeting an individual last month at LaRue Tactical's Range Day. We met via Facebook, made contact and met up at the range. I quickly realized that he and I shared the same views and interests [on a lot of things] such as training, tactics and doing business. I want to share his website with you guys because he's not only a very experienced and professional instructor, he's just an all around good dude.

F.A.S.T Inc. or Field Advisory Services and Training, centrally located in Wellborn, TX, specializes in custom training courses that are tailored to the specific needs of the end user. They provide standard training classes to basic and advanced shooters looking to train in a group enabling the customer to view various types of guns and gear further enabling the ability to compare and compete against other shooters in a safe, controlled and enjoyable environment. F.A.S.T. Inc. is owned and operated by a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Sergeant Major who served as an assaulter, sniper and combat leader in the Army's highest priority Special Mission Unit. With over 25 years of experience in a variety of weapons and training and combat in Central and South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan, F.A.S.T. is the only logical choice for quality weapons training from a well-qualified team.

You can contact F.A.S.T. by:

•  Checking out their website at www.fast762.com for schedules and information about their services.
•  Calling their office at (979) 224-3779
•  Contacting them by email at fast762@hotmail.com

Tell them MADCAT Aviator | Operator sent you. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. 

Cheers,
Brad

13 Pounds of Awareness

I read an article today and had to write about it. The article involves NYPD officials asking police officers to stop carrying the Kahr K9 pistol as an off-duty sidearm due to the number of accidental discharges it had produced. This 9mm pistol has led to over a dozen of these "ADs" with the numbers increasing. The NYPD have purchased thousands of these weapons for their officers since 1997 and has since modified the pistols to increase the trigger weight pull from 7 1/2 pounds to 13 pounds. 13 pounds!!...really? The article goes on to talk about this increase making it more difficult, etc.

Here's where I lose my mind on this one: the article says that Police departments generally require a heavier pull because they want officers to realize the serious nature of opening fire.

REALLY??? If you cannot grasp the concept of pointing a weapon and knowing that, when you pull that trigger, that bullet is going to destroy whatever it steps in its path, you should not be carrying a weapon...period. Police officers and law enforcement officials [I would assume] understand the gravity of a situation where a drawn gun is needed. I've seen plenty of accidental discharges in the military, mainly due to lack of training or personal disregard for safety. I've seen a soldier in Balad, Iraq attempt to clear his weapon into a clearing barrel outside of a chow hall and inadvertently discharge a round. This individual was immediately scolded publicly by a senior Non-Commissioned Officer. Not one minute later, the same senior NCO, who was next in line to clear his weapon, drew his Beretta M9 and burned a round right into the barrel before the last guy's ball round had even cooled. I think his astonishment and utter embarrassment in front of the others in line was enough that he silently crept into the chow hall never to be seen again. But I digress. It is ludicrous to think that an entire law enforcement agency would alter the sidearms of their officers to allow them "more time" to think about the situation. Accidental discharges or negligent discharges or whatever you want to call them should never happen...especially by professionals who carry firearms every day. The truth is that they do occur. The point here is that increasing a trigger's pull is not going to fix the problem. The problem lies in training and discipline. Fix that and you fix your discharges. Plain and simple.

Here's the link to the article: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/nypd-brass-cops-stop-kahr-k-9-semi-automatic-pistol-off-duty-gun-article-1.990037

Cheers,
Brad

Costa Ludus

Chris Costa, former president of Magpul Dynamics, has started his own venture with Costa Ludus. They offer handgun, carbine and shotgun training and a vast array of other weapon classes.

Chris Costa spent the last 4 years as the President of Magpul Dynamics. Before founding Magpul Dynamics, Costa spent 7 years in the private sector at Applied Marine Technologies Inc. on assignment with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Risk Management Division (RMD). At AMTI, Costa specialized in teaching Police Tactical Assault Operations for both Maritime and Critical Infrastructure take-back. Costa also provided Red Team Vulnerability Assessments on critical infrastructures for the US Government. Prior to this, Costa spent 12 years with the United States Coast Guard, conducting counter-drug operations and special missions in Europe, the Middle East, and South America with such units as; the International Training Division (ITD), Maritime Law Enforcement Academy, Plank-Owner of Port Security Unit 302 and the Taclet Law Enforcement Team North.

Check out their new site at www.costaludus.com.

Cheers,
Brad

Fight and Flight Tactical's Proioxis K-9 Collar

Dave over at Fight and Flight Tactical is continuing to push the innovative envelope with his gear. Now he's expanded his K-9 line with the Proioxis Collars. Proioxis was the spirit of onrush and battlefield pursuit in Greek mythology. I can't think of a better name for what they do over at F&F.

The base of the collar is 1.5" stiff scuba webbing, overlaid with 1.5" mil-spec 17337 webbing for adjustment. Sewn securely to the base layers is 1" tubular nylon webbing, which has a 1" parachute-grade cast V-ring, 5" of loop fastener for a nametape, and a 1" welded loop for attaching tags. The collar secures with a contoured 1.5" side-release buckle.

Sizes:

Medium - Fits necks from 14"-17"

Large - Fits necks from 18"-21"

Extra Large - Fits necks from 22"-25"

Cheers,
Brad

1st Air Cav in Afghanistan OEF 11-12

The Boys from Banshee Troop

This is a video from Bravo Troop "Banshees", 2nd Squadron 17th Cavalry Regiment from Ft. Campbell, KY in Afghanistan 2008. This is my old unit doing what we did best. I was with these guys for 5 years, and they truly are the finest air cavalry squadron in the Army. Out Front!!!

Cheers,
Brad

Army-Navy Game 2011

The Army-Navy game is one of the oldest and most traditional rivalries in all of college football. The Black Knights and Midshipmen first met on The Plain at West Point on November 29th, 1890. Both schools, rich in tradition and heritage, faced off and began a 120 year bout; each slugging it out every year earning the winning contender bragging rights for the following year. The Navy Midshipmen currently remain the leader in the series with 55 wins, 49 losses and 7 ties. I'm obviously an Army guy, but anytime two great teams such as these meet on a gridiron, steeped in historic precedence, the outcome  matters not. The important aspect to remember here is that these men are future leaders of our military that come together once a year to battle one another and keep military tradition alive. A good portion of these traditions are being lost or overlooked, and this is one that will [hopefully] carry on for years to come. God bless the men playing for their respective services on Saturday, and keep them safe so that they may lead others onto the field of battle and wield the sword of victory over the enemies of our nation.

The Army Black Knights (3-7) and the Navy Midshipmen (4-8) will meet for the 112th time this Saturday, December 10th at 2:30 p.m. EST on CBS. This year's meeting, sponsored by USAA, will be held at FedEx field in Washington D.C. 

For all the news, updates and media on this year's Army-Navy game, log on to armynavygame.com.


Cheers,
Brad

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Here's the video for Army's new uniforms for this year's game:

Lastly, here's an aweseome video from the guys at Action Figure Therapy about the game:

4x4 Hybrid Patch Panel Photos

New Kryptek L.E.A.F. Camouflage

Here's the new line of Kryptek's L.E.A.F./CAMO patterns give a new take on modern camouflage.  With their geometrical patterns, cross-blending and contrasting dark and light hues, L.E.A.F. is starting to really turn some heads. They have developed their products through research from Iraq and Afghanistan to birth a new breed of camo that provides a new level of concealment from the brush to the battlefield.

The Kryptek Highlander camo pattern is designed for the elite Soldier in transitional terrain with the purpose of improving stealth and enhancing survivability, ultimately increasing the lethality of the user. Kryptek camo patterns provide a tactical advantage to the Operator by reducing visual acquisition through the combination of proven camouflage concepts, scientific principles and field testing. The Kryptek designs incorporate proven principles of visual deception based on mimicry of foliage, animal, marine and geographic visual qualities. These principles have been combined with evolutionary concepts and fused with state of the art technology to offer the utmost in effective concealment in differing environments. Kryptek utilizes a multi-directional design to effectively conceal in a multitude of terrains that have either a lateral or vertical flow. The bi-level layering of the patterns incorporate background transitional shading and sharp random geometrical foregrounds to create a three dimensional effect that ensures the utmost in concealment at both close and long ranges. These components combined with colorations selected and matched based on input from testing and observations from Operators in the field make Kryptek Camo the ultimate in passive battlefield deception.

 Here's the full line, from desert to urban camo blends:

You can check out their entire line at www.kryptek.com.

Cheers,

Brad

4x4 Hybrid Patch Panel - Fight and Flight Tactical

4x4 Hybrid Patch Panel by Fight and Flight Tactical

• Made in the U.S.A
• All Mil-Spec Materials
• 4"H x 6"W
• 4 rows and 4 columns of PALS on both sides (loop-covered PALS on front side)
• Colors: Coyote, Multicam, Foliage or Black
• 2 short MALICE clips included
• Can carry anything from pistol mags to medical kit to a small gps
• Completely reversible for even more versatility
• Removable shock cord retainers
• Can also be worn on a belt for daily use

Remembering Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor. 

Most people would instantly think of ships sinking among billowing black clouds of chaos, Japanese Zeros dropping air-to-sea torpedoes or the iconic images of the USS Arizona or USS Shaw. Younger generations nowadays, when asked about Pearl Harbor, would probably say, "It was that movie with Ben Affleck chasing nurses and flying old planes". Wrong answer.

I, for one, can hear President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech churning in the background while trying to fathom being awoken on a Sunday morning to the sounds of over 300 airplanes wreaking havoc on a nearby ship fleet sleeping along side it's proud sailors. On December 7th, 1941, our nation was attacked by a force that, although in negotiation, wanted to neutralize our pacific fleet to prevent any naval interference from the U.S with Japan's eastern conquests. Essentially, what it did was open up a serious can of American worms that the rest of the world would never anticipate. Without question or hesitation, FDR declared war on Japan. Without getting into an even longer history lesson, there's a couple of points that I want to make here:

• It's not just history...it's YOUR history. Although utterly tragic, December 7th, 1941 is easily one of the most historic days of our country's existence. Remember it. Honor it. Teach younger generations about it. They need to know how their country overcame adversity, and how it did so with honor.

• Analyze who you are and what you're truly made of. I know that's kinda deep, but here's why: The WWII generation will always and forever be "The Greatest Generation" in my eyes. The brave men of that era could not wait to serve their country. They lied about their age, forged documents and did everything in their power to enlist into a service. Those, albeit [in a sense], wrong, were the lengths that those men were willing to go through. Does it happen today? Maybe, but I doubt it is ever with a sense of honor and duty that was felt by those back then. Next time you see an old timer with one of those navy blue or black hats with the yellow "WWII Veteran" lettering on the front and pins all over it, follow the footsteps of FDR and, without question or hesitation, extend your hand, speak loudly and render a firm shake to thank a man that has endured the unimaginable to secure the freedoms that most take for granted every day.

In conclusion...

"December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy". - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Today, listen to his speech, remember that tragic day and take a silent moment to honor those who perished 70 years ago. That day, in part, helped shape this country into what it is today. You simply cannot have the U.S. without Pearl Harbor. I am proud to be an American, serving honorably and humbly in the ghosted footprints of those before me. Thank you to all veterans out there today, wherever you are. And God bless those who encountered suffering and hardships only portrayed in films and written in books...God bless.


With never-ending gratitude,
Brad

Welcome...

Hey everyone, welcome to the MADCAT Aviator | Operator gear review and discussion blog. Most of you probably already know us from Facebook or from our old webstore-powered website. We've made some new changes and will be focusing our efforts on locating and highlighting gear that we think is new and innovative. There are tons of gear choices out there and tons of blogs and tons of gear reviewers...we get it. We're not here to compete with those guys. We're here to give you a different perspective on the type of gear being reviewed and discussed. For now, this forum is what we think we're best suited for. We will still be offering our stickers, and we'll be adding our own products, such as shirts and patches, in the future. We are also starting to develop our own products with gear makers, so stay tuned for that. Feel free to spread the word about us and the site. Share whatever you want from our blog; be it videos, articles or just general ramblings posted by us. Our email is always open to questions or comments from you guys and for purchasing. As always, you can keep track of our movements on Facebook.

We want to take a moment to thank everyone out there for their continued support for us. From friends and family to trade professionals and folks we've met here and there, we thank you all. Anybody that knows us will tell you that we're honest, honorable and integrity-minded. We're veteran owned and operated. Our sights are set on providing the best gear and gear details and specifications to afford the end user the ability to make a sound decision on the kit he takes into battle.

If you know of a new product from any spectrum [aviation to ground ops], shoot us an email and tell us about it. If we think it's relevant to our blog and interesting to our readers, then we'll do some research and post an article on the blog about it. Any input is always greatly appreciated.


Cheers,
Brad