American Silencer Association lobbyist Todd Rathner was in Oklahoma today working on SB1743 The Landowner’s Hunting Freedom Act sponsored By Senator Steve Russell and Representative Leslie Osborn, which would legalize the use of suppressors for hunting on private land in Oklahoma.

After working closely with NRA lobbyist, Ashley Varner, Todd reports that SB1743 passed out of the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 20 -0 . This is a great turn of events for suppressor owners and gun owners in general, however it’s far from over SB1743 must still pass the Oklahoma house , and be signed by Governor Fallin.

If you live in Oklahoma or you travel there for business or pleasure, please email and call your House member today and politely ask them to vote YES on SB1743 when it comes to the floor.

You can find your House member here:
http://www.okhouse.gov/Members/Default.aspx

Your state Representative, Jon Burns (R-157), serves as Chairman of the House Game, Fish and Parks Committee. Please contact him TODAY and respectfully urge him to schedule a hearing for and support SB 301 before time runs out! All Georgians are counting on your immediate action. Contact information for Chairman Burns can be found below.

Representative Jon G. Burns (R-157), Chairman
PH: 404-656-5099 EM: jon.burns@house.ga.gov

Noise complaints are being used more frequently as an excuse to close shooting ranges, informal shooting areas, and hunting lands throughout the country. Increased use of suppressors will help to eliminate many of these complaints and protect hunting and shooting areas well into the future. For more information on firearms and suppressors, click here.

Currently, more than half of the states across this country allow hunters to use suppressors while hunting and three other states (Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas) are currently considering similar legislation or changing their hunting regulations to allow their use. It’s time that hunters in Georgia are able to enjoy the same opportunities available to residents in more than half of the country.

In order to acquire a suppressor, a purchaser must submit the appropriate paperwork to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives where long wait times for approval are unfortunately common (four to six months), undergo a background check by the FBI, find a licensed dealer authorized to conduct the transaction and pay a one-time $200 tax for each device. While suppressors do not eliminate the sound of a firearm, they do reduce the muzzle report in a manner similar to the way that a muffler reduces exhaust noise from a vehicle. The benefits associated with suppressor use include increased accuracy due to reduced recoil and muzzle blast, protection from hearing damage and reduced noise pollution.

Make your voice heard. Contact Representative Burns today!

The video starts at 1 hour 46 minutes, and goes for about 15 minutes through the process.

Unanimous House Approval of Suppressor Bill

American Silencer Association lobbyist Todd Rathner was in Oklahoma today working on SB1743 The Landowner’s Hunting Freedom Act sponsored By Senator Steve Russell, which would legalize the use of suppressors for hunting on private land in Oklahoma. The same measure failed in committee last week for lack of a “second”.

After working closely with NRA Manager of Hunting Policy, Darren LaSorte Todd reports that SB1743 passed out of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee 10 – 1 with the lone dissenting vote being Senator Charles Wyrick.

This is a great turn of events for suppressor owners and gun owners in general, however it’s far from over SB1743 must still pass the full senate, then the Oklahoma house, and be signed by Governor Fallin.

It is critical to do two things right now, first call or email the senators who voted yes in committee today and THANK them! Then call your senator and ask him or her to vote YES on SB1743, and vote YES to “restore the title” of SB1743, when the bill comes to the senate floor in the coming days.

If you live in Oklahoma or you travel there for business or pleasure, please email and call these senators today to say THANK YOU for voting YES on SB1743:

Senator Eddie Fields (R-10), Chairman
(405) 521-5581
efields@oksenate.gov

Senator Ron Justice (R-23), Vice Chairman
(405) 521-5537
justice@oksenate.gov

Senator Mark Allen (R-4)
(405) 521-5576
allen@oksenate.gov

Senator Patrick Anderson (R-19)
(405) 521-5630
anderson@oksenate.gov

Senator Don Barrington (R-31)
(405) 521-5563
barrington@oksenate.gov

Senator Randy Bass (D-32)
(405) 521-5567
bass@oksenate.gov

Senator Jerry Ellis (D-5)
(405) 521-5614
ellis@oksenate.gov

Senator Ivester (D-26)
(405) 521-5545
ivester@oksenate.gov

Senator Frank Simpson (R-14)|
(405) 521-5607
simpson@oksenate.gov

Senator Anthony Sykes (R-24)
(405) 521-5569
lewis@oksenate.gov

7th Grader, Will, from Longfellow Middle School in Virginia

Operation Hawkeye is an emerging, nationwide mission started by a 7th grader, Will, from Virginia, to raise funds in support of the families of the Special Operations team who suffered this loss. Will is shooting hoops to raise money to help the families, and even if basketball isn’t your forte, this is a great way to show your support. Working alongside with the Navy SEAL Foundation, Operation Hawkeye has seen a fair share of national publication and support, but we need to continue to spread the word.

Since its beginning on Labor Day 2011, Operation Hawkeye has raised $45,000 for the families, and gained support from CNN, the NBA, as well as recent favor from Arc’teryx LEAF, ATS Tactical, Benchmade, Cammenga, DriFire, GLOCK, Haley Strategic, ITS Tactical, Tactical Distributors, and US Patriot Tactical. This initiative will continue until Labor Day of 2012.

This is a great way to show your support of our troops, fallen soldiers and bring aid to the families who are suffering this loss most of all.

Even if you aren’t able to offer financial support, your voice and affirmation of this initiative is greatly appreciated.

To donate, click here: http://www.nswfoundation.org/hoopsforseals.htm
Here is the Facebook Page with more info on how to be involved: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Operation-Hawkeye/167099963368075
And the Mission Breifing: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.228881163856621.55714.167099963368075&type=3.

Below are links for more information on Operation Hawkeye:

Television

CNN (story ran on national feed hourly the day after Labor Day 2011)

HLN

CNN Student News 

WUSA9 (DC CBS Affiliate)

WRC (DC NBC Affiliate)

Internet Blogs

NBA.com

Complex

Mclean Patch

USNavySEALs.com

NavySeals.net

Publications

Mclean Sun Gazette

Mclean Connection

Arlington Catholic Herald

The most common problem that leads to suppressor failure in high power rifle silencers is the abrasion from gunpowder that hits the baffles at a high rate of speed. After the silencer heats up over 1000 degrees this abrasion becomes far more problematic. The R&D team at Silencerco wanted to hit this issue head on and prove a way to minimize the pitting and degradation caused by this abrasive gunpowder. We felt like improving the durability in this regard would directly translate to increasing the life of the silencer.

Part of the solution is in deflection. Silencerco proved that the surfaces which were perpendicular to the direction of the projectile were the most effected by the abrasive debris. Much like the deflective armor on an armored vehicle or a tank, the Hoplon baffle deflects the abrasive debris and slows it down enough to where the next surface the debris comes in contact with is at a much slower rate of speed and thus greatly reduces the pitting and degradation of the steel. Because of the carefully chosen angles of the Hoplon baffle, there is approximately 90% less pitting and degradation of the Hoplon baffle than there is on standard blast baffles. There is also far less degradation and pitting on following baffles as well. Our studies have shown that the baffles following the Hoplon baffles have approximately 60% less degradation and pitting.

The first set of pictures shown are of a blast baffle and the baffle following the blast baffle. This is without Hoplon technology. The material was heat treated 17-4 PH stainless steel. Notice the substantial pitting and degradation of the steel. The entire baffle is starting to deform. Notice that all the surfaces, even the port notch, that are perpendicular to the direction of the projectile are heavily damaged.

Click to view full size image

The next set of pictures shown are the Hoplon Baffle, which replaces the blast baffle, and the next baffle following the Hoplon baffle. It was also made from the same heat treated 17-4 PH stainless steel. Notice how there is almost no pitting and degradation of the Hoplon baffle. The edges are still sharp and there is literally no deformation of the baffle. The next baffle shows far less pitting and degradation as well. Notice the port notch has very minimal wear. This shows just how important Hoplon baffle technology is in a rifle silencer.

Click to view full size image

It is important to note here that all comparison tests are performed with same gun, ammo, and shooting schedule.

Silencerco Proprietary High Temperature Steel Alloy

After Silencerco proved the Hoplon Baffle concept the next natural step for improving longevity and durability of the Saker is finding a material that out performs what is available in the suppressor industry.  Lets just say that Inconel 718 is not the end all be all. In fact, with relatively little research we found a few options that out performed Inconel. Surprisingly the greatest challenge was not finding a superior material to Inconel, what was challenging was finding the best material in a world of many high tech alloys. After months of research, Silencerco found the alloy that fit the bill. As you can see in the next set of pictures we made flat washer style baffles, which is the harshest environment for the material because the entire baffle is perpendicular to the direction of the projectile.  This means that the baffles capture all of the debris and will show the most pitting and degradation.  It is also important to note that each material had the same surface finish to start. Notice the Inconel 718 has substantial pitting and degradation. The edges of the bore are starting to break off and roll over, opening up the bore diameter. In the picture noted “Silencerco Alloy” notice there is almost no pitting at all. The bore edges are still sharp and there is no degradation of the material.  The best part about this material, its stronger than Inconel in high temperatures.

Click to view full size image

Together, the Silencerco proprietary alloy and Hoplon baffle technology has revolutionized the rifle silencer. The Saker’s durability is now unmatched. Whether you are a civilian silencer owner or a professional, Silencerco is making sure we do everything we can to protect your investment.

There is no question in our mind that AAC under the tutelage and leadership of Kevin has contributed greatly to the expansion of not just the silencer market but all NFA in general. AAC, under Kevin’s direction, created the first mass market, successful marketing campaign in our industry and changed the game and how it is played. These were the first bold, modern steps toward the “Normalization” of Suppressors in the larger American shooting scene. This has benefited every single manufacturer and the end use customers. You can argue methodology…. and we all do, but you cannot argue with end results. Massive market expansion, accepted civilian use, technological innovation and greater awareness. All of these things occurred at AAC and in the industry as a whole, we believe largely due to the efforts of AAC under Kevin.

We are capitalists. We believe in the free market. As such, the competition required to maintain a healthy free market is absolutely critical. There are many fine manufacturers involved in the suppressor industry. Many of whom we have had excellent relationships with. We’ve always considered AAC under Kevin to be an extremely worthy competitor, whose aggressive marketing, unique style, fantastic products and forward thinking helped Silencerco to be a better company. Competition spurs innovation and the fine line of products and service from AAC and Kevin meant that the industry as a whole had to step up or wither and die.

It has been said that the highest compliments can only be paid by an enemy or competitor. We have always strived to stay out of the traditional industry infighting that occurs in the industry. We like to think we have been largely successful at it. We have never considered AAC under Kevin an enemy, only a fierce, innovative competitor. Mr. Brittingham, you helped change the industry as we know it. Brought it out of the basements and into retail gunshops. Out of the movies and spy novels, onto the battlefield and into the mainstream. Despite our occasional differences, your contributions have not gone unnoticed at Silencerco and we wish you all the best. I suspect we have not seen the last of Mr. Brittingham. In fact, it is our sincerest hope that we have not.

There are many methods for cleaning your 22Sparrow.  People like to talk about “The Dip” and other methods.  Let’s take a quick look at this and some alternatives.

Click to see full size image.

Field Cleaning

If you want to show your buddies just how easily it is to take apart the 22Sparrow after feeding a couple of bricks through it, now is a good time to scratch out some of the buildup on the half tubes and along the outside of the baffle core.  A small knife, screw driver, or even the mouth of a spent rifle case can safely gouge out some good gunk—especially on the nice open half tubes.  This is always wise since some gunk-chunks may have dislodged from disassembly and will cause some tightness of the components upon reassembly.  Remember that it’s OK to have a thin layer of leftover gunk in there as it actually helps the silencer function better.

Soda or Bead Blasting

For deep cleaning, this is arguably the best all around method.  It involves blasting that nasty buildup off with a fine glass bead or baking soda under air pressure.  Start low with the air pressure and work your way up.  If you have a 1^st generation aluminum 22Sparrow core, start really low and use a very “soft” abrasive, otherwise you’ll remove some of the anodization.  Here’s the catch…don’t breathe it in, and properly dispose of it like the toxic waste that it is.

The “Dip” (50/50 Vinegar/Hydrogen Peroxide)

OK, let’s really stop and think about this.  You are about to make a compound that you’ve never heard of—Peracetic Acid (or Peroxyacetic acid and PAA for short).  In fact, let’s look at some of the terms we’ll dealing with here to impress on you just how serious this stuff is.  We’re talking about… acid, oxides, glacialacetic acid (diluted in vinegar), peracetic acid, hydrogen (the sun uses this stuff, and it blew up a blimp), oh, and did I mention ACID?

Now, when you think of acid, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?  That’s right, Aliens and those inner-mouth-grabby-thingies.  But we’re not actually going there, as fun as that would be.  OK, let me rephrase.  What comes to an engineer’s mind when thinking of acid?  Well, I’ll tell you—it’s corrosion.  Fan-freakin-tastic corrosion.  While corrosion gets a bad rap, you can also use its powers for good.  We’ll have a look at how we use it to our advantage in a moment.  But first, some facts…

PAA is a relatively weak acid that will aggressively oxidize certain metals, especially soft ones. Now, I’m not going to get into the details of how oxidation works, but suffice it to say that the hydrogen peroxide you mixed in with that vinegar brought a lot of oxygenated fun to the party.  Let’s look at what it attacks and what laughs it off:

Click to see full size image.

So what’s the difference between these?  Primarily it’s that stainless steel and titanium can have a much stronger protective layer.  And what forms this protective layer?  Corrosion!  But just a little bit… let’s not get too carried away here.    After fabrication of the metal, a thin layer of an oxide film forms on the surface and serves as a barrier for the material below it.  In the case of Stainless Steel, it’s that extra chromium mixed in there that forms chromium oxide.  With it in place, all the iron atoms below it remain warm and cuddly, protected from the storm.

Now this is the part where I deploy the use of my Caps Lock key:  DON’T SOAK THE TUBE!

Here’s what could happen:

Click to see full size image.

Here are the reasons why:

1. The original tube of the 2^nd generation 22Sparrow was actually made of high strength alloy steel.  It was an engineering decision because it provided better strength and a nice, tough parkerized finish.  Plain steel is primarily made of –you guessed it—iron.  Because of this, plain old steel falls into our “thumbs down” list above because it doesn’t form that nice chromium oxide layer like our good friend stainless steel does.  The good news is that we massively over-engineered the 22Sparrow.  We found that we could spec a stainless steel tube that backs off a bit on the overall tensile strength and still maintain its 5.7mm rating while providing extra corrosion resistance.  How do you know which you have?  The original is more of a grey finish like a good old M1 Garand.  While it’s a really tough coating, keep it oiled to help prevent any corrosion.  The stainless steel tubes will have a darker, blacker, finish. Rub on a really light coat of lube on this as well and here’s why…
   .
2. Even stainless steel will discolor and corrode under the right conditions.  After all, it’s often called “corrosion-resistant” steel.  Here’s the issue.  When the tube is laser engraved, it blasts off that black oxide coating and removes enough base metal to reveal nice, fresh, virgin stainless steel with no oxide layer.  If you were to take this stainless tube and throw it right into a batch of PAA the engraving would actually rust.  Crazy, right?  So remember my friend.  A little bit of lube will always do you right.
   .
3. It doesn’t need it.  That’s right. Remember those cool half-tubes?  They kept the tube from even getting dirty.  So just give it a quick wipe down with the same stuff you cleaned your weapon with (like Break Free or Slip 2000) and you’re good to go.  If you really want to clean something so badly, go do your laundry.

Join us for our next installment when we’ll go into more details on actually using the “The Dip”.  Even though we don’t really recommend it like every other manufacturer out there because it involves dissolving lead into a toxic solution.  Yes, we’ve got lawyers too.

By Wes Doss

Back in the early 1990’s, HK brought those of us in the military one of the finest built purpose driven handguns in history, the MK 23. This heavy large-framed pistol was the single most extensively tested handgun ever introduced to the Special Operations community, and represented a level of accuracy and reliability generally reserved for custom made weapons. However, its sheer size and weight limited it to be  a special use piece of equipment. It wasn’t really practical for all sizes of shooters or for regular carry on the hip. In fact, because of the MK 23’s size and weight they frequently spent more time in armories than in the field. The work done to produce the MK 23 did propel HK forward with new ideas and designs, and with all the developments put into the MK 23, blended with the mixed emotions of those it was issued to, HK was prompted to go back to the drawing board. They needed to develop a pistol with all the features and capabilities of the MK 23, but with a smaller profile and lower weight. What came about was a greatly enhanced version of the USP: the USP Tactical. The USP, in its various configurations, had already seen considerable use in the hands of law enforcement in the U.S. and around the world. Its extreme durability and reliability have made it the handgun of choice for many law enforcement agencies and special operations units.

The HK USP Tactical followed in the footprint MK 23 by adding an extended threaded barrel with a rubber O-ring, adjustable trigger, HK distinctive polygonal bore profile and large, easy to see,  adjustable target-type sights. Now, beyond the obvious virtues of the HK Tactical and its lineage from the MK 23, the pistols tight tolerances, long service life and very typical HK fit, function and ergonomics make it a perfect choice for pairing with a suppressor, particularly the Silencerco Osprey.  The Osprey’s uniquely eccentric design not only sets it apart from other suppressors/silencers in esthetics, but the box shape of the Osprey has the internal baffles running below the barrel of the handgun and brings the top of the suppressor so low that it easily clears factory sights on most handguns. This is a feat that is still problematic for manufactures of round suppressors, largely because a suppressor must have sufficient internal volume, thus external mass, to effectively suppress sound. The more space inside a suppressor for energy to occupy, the greater the sound suppression. And of course the easy answer is to simply make a bigger tube diameter, but this ends up blocking the sights of the weapon. The Osprey’s characteristic eccentric design literally eliminates this problem. Now while this is good, it’s not great especially given that there are so many configurations of sights on factory guns and lighting conditions where those guns are used, but team it up with a tight fitting handgun like the USP Tactical and its low profile slide and high profile target sights and you have a combination that nearly impossible to beat.  In fact the USP Tactical and the Osprey work so well together in all aspects, whether this was an intentional design plan or not, but the body of the Osprey is built with a distinctive tombstone shape that so closely resembles the contours of the HK USP Tactical slide that two appear to be built for one another.

Click to see full size image.

An additional benefit of mating the USP Tactical with the Osprey is convenience and manageability. While suppressors are generally special use pieces of equipment, there are times when the weapon, specifically a handgun, needs to be secured or holstered with the suppressor attached after being used. Under the austere conditions of a real-world engagement this needs to be done smoothly, without consuming too much time, compromising safety, or risking the loss of a piece of equipment. This has been a regular problem with standard suppressor designs when the diameter of the suppressor exceeds the outside dimensions of the handgun it is attached to. Additionally, it means that unless you’re carrying your handgun in a loose, sloppy, universal fit rig, you’re not likely going to be able to holster your weapon with the suppressor attached; potentially causing further complications in your already complicated situation. The unique flat-sided box shape of the Osprey, with its baffles running below the barrel of the weapon, allows it to maintain a much smaller profile than other suppressors, while actually reducing more noise. The general dimensions of the USP Tactical slide and frame allow for a smooth fit in-and-out of most holsters. Even more, the Osprey design compliments this so well with the HK USP Tactical; allowing for unobstructed application of lights and lasers that can be mounted to the pistols accessory rails. The Osprey handles like a true actual extension of the USP Tactical.

Click to see full size image.

About the Author:

Wes is an internationally recognized firearms, tactics, and use of force instructor with over 20 years of military & civilian criminal justice experience, as well as significant operational time with both military and law enforcement, tactical operations and protective service organizations. Wes holds specialized instructor certifications from the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, Arizona POST, the Smith & Wesson Academy, the Sigarms Academy, the NRA LEAD, and FEMA.

Wes has studied adult education and human performance extensively, and has a broad background in the martial arts, with over 25 years of training, teaching, and full contact fighting experience. Wes is the Founder, President, & General Operating Manager of Khyber Interactive Associates, LLC as well as the 1 Inch to 100 Yards Warrior Conference. Wes holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration and an upper level Doctorate in Psychology. Wes is a member of a number of professional associations, including: The International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI), The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), The National Rifle Association (NRA), The National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), The Military Police Regimental Association  (MPRA), and the International Association of Counter Terrorism and Security Professionals (IACTSP).

Wes is also a published author, with numerous articles in various publications such as: SWAT magazine, ASLET “The Trainer”, and The NTOA “Tactical Edge”. Wes authored the  bestselling books “Train to Win”, and “Condition to Win” both training psychology/philosophy books focused on law enforcement and military trainers and professionals.  Wes’s third book “Inside the Gap” a psychological look at the close quarter’s environment is due out in late 2012.

Company Website:

www.khybertraining.com

www.warrior-conference.com