3 Oct 01

Notes from the current IALEFI Conference in Reno, NV:

Because of recent events, this year's conference was reduced from last year's. A number of people were unable to get here, and a number of instructors who are reservists have been called up and were not able to come.

Here are my notes:

The standard Paraordinance "LDA" trigger is too light for domestic defensive use, in my opinion. Take up is no more than a pound or two. Break dawn gets it up to about four pounds, but, the link is deep, and, after that running start, I find ADs too likely. They make a heavier version, where the take up is four pounds, but they didn't have one to show us. That is the one I would recommend if one were going with this system. The pistol still has a manual safety.

H&K's new "LEM" (Law Enforcement Module) trigger is a great improvement. We're having one of Vicki's USPs converted over to it. It is a Glock trigger with an exposed hammer. Full stroke for the first shot but a shallow link thereafter. No manual safety and no decocking lever. This is the way to go with the USP!

Among the video simulators, Prisim's shoot-back feature, built in cover, look-back video, and functional weapons all combine to make great training. However, the "air cartridges" are a pain. They have a short shelf life and must be police up

FATS has excellent video resolution. The picture is sharp, but tethered weapons (They have to be connected to a gas bottle) ruin the mood.

Laser Shot, a new vendor is inexpensive and had an impressive set up. Wonderful software and sharp resolution. One can do some great training with this system, and it comes at a fraction of the price of the others.

S&W was there. They tell me that both the Sigma and the P99 still in the catalog, but there were so Sigmas present. I really like their lightweight snubbys!

Old friend, Gary Klugiewicz, was showing off the new Red Man WDS. Quite a set up. It is designed for body blows, baton, and Simunitions training-all at once! Everything can be incorporated into the same training exercise.

FN had their P90 PDW (Personal Defensive Weapon). It fires the 5.7X28 caliber round. The weapon is shoulder fired but only twenty inches long. The 50-round magazines fit on top, and changing them is not as clumsy as I thought it would be, but spares are difficult to carry owing to their long length. The 33-grain bullet at 2350 f/s is limited. This weapon is designed to be halfway between a pistol and a rifle. Personally, I'd rather have a rifle and a pistol.

SIG had their new SG 552.2 rifle there. In 223, with a wonderful folding stock, it is short, and the plastic magazines attach together as they do with H&K's similar rifle. Great little rifle, but it is imported only for law enforcement, and I worry about maintenance and availability of spare parts.

A company called Pepperball makes paintball guns that shoot hard balls, CS balls, and water balls. The CS balls worked particularly well, but the gun itself is delicate and would not survive rough use.

Good friend, Giles Stock, made a wonderful and revealing presentation on 223/5.56 rifle chambers. Rifles can feature NATO or SAMMI specification chambers. As a rule, military rifles have NATO chambers, and recreational rifles have SAMMI chambers, but there is some overlap. For example, Ruger's Mini-14 has been made both ways!

NATO chambers have a long lead. SAMMI chambers are tighter and have a short lead. SAMMI chambers are designed for increased accuracy, but will yield dangerously high pressures in guns using military ammunition and/or which are subject to high volume shooting. Under such high pressures, primers will typically blow out backwards, fall down into the trigger mechanism, and cause the rifle to stop working. I've surely seen this on the range.

Bottom line: SAMMI chambers are for the kiddies. Any serious rifle needs a NATO chamber. Robinson Arms rifles come with NATO chambers, as do most of the others, but one needs to check.

Alex Robinson adds:

"If you use a SAMMI chamber in an autoloading rifle, you may overpressure it and blow it up when shooting rapidly. The tighter, shorter lead slows down the bullet substantially as it is trying to leave the case. When rifles are red hot from rapid shooting, the resultant pressures increase dramatically. In these situations, you need to get the bullet out of the case and down the barrel ASAP. I never suggest using a SAMMI chamber on anything but a bolt action rifle. Anyone who tells you otherwise hasn't shot enough."

He ought to know!

More later.

/John