Words By: Wally F.     Photos By: Wally F.

……….My friends across the pond and through the desert over at Zahal sent over a fantastic little gem for me to play around with. The Fab Defense KPOS Scout.

……….I spent a good and long time with this kit and I had a lot of fun with it. The KPOS Scout is the next iteration of Fab Defense’s KPOS line of Pistol Calibre to Carbine upgrade kits. Having used the original KPOS G2 with an IWI Jericho 941 I was actually not a big fan of it at all several years ago. The original KPOS G2 was mostly aluminum with a lot of tension locks to hold the pistol inside the frame. To me it was a pain to install the pistol and take it out of the G2 for maintenance.

……….The new KPOS Scout has pretty much rectified all the issues I had with the KPOS G2 and added quite a few new features for ease of use and fast deployment. The front hand grip with integrated trigger guard is the same from the KPOS G2 and it was a good call on Fab Defense’s part to keep it. It’s an innovative design feature and has good practical purpose of covering the pistols trigger from accidental snags which could lead to a possible negligent discharge especially if you are concealing your KPOS Scout.

……….The installation of my Glock 17 into the KPOS Scout was beyond easy and literally took 5 seconds. Line up the back of the Glock with the shoulder stock when it’s extended to the rear, make sure the barrels lines up with the front and push the shoulder stock forward until you hear it click into place. There’s no installation from the front at an angle and then jiggling the pistol into place so you can spin the tightening lever to lock it into place.  That being said at least you don’t need to install add-on charging handle to the pistol before installing into the kit like you would with the CAA RONI.

 ……….As with the G2 the Scout also has a folding shoulder stock. The Scouts folding stock is polymer unlike the originals aluminum one and very reminiscent of Fab Defense’s GL-Core AR-15 butt stock, it definitely has taken design cues from it. While both stocks are easily deployed with just a grab and swing into place with a satisfying click the Scout has a nice big and beefy texture button on the left side to press when you want to fold the stock along it’s right side. In contrast to the KPOS G2 where you have to press up on the bottom of the hinge point where a key ring styled loop is to fold the stock back to the right side the new Scout is much more user friendly.

……….Speaking of the key ring swivel on the G2, it has now been replaced with a QD slot which is much more useful in the type of slings and attachments that you want to use with the Scout. That being said, the the single point sling the comes with the KPOS Scout works pretty well and never found a need to switch out with anything else.

……….A great update to the design is the elimination of full side rails to just a four slot pictinny rail on each side with a textured thumb rest. The thumb rest lines up nicely with the front hand grip and forces you to hold the KPOS properly so you don’t accidentally flag you support hand in front of the short muzzle, after all you are essentially still shooting a pistol.

……….I shot the KPOS Scout with iron sights as well with a Vortex Sparc mounted. As long as you keep in mind that your height over bore is pretty high, in my case almost three inches. As long you factor offset especially if you’re shooting in a CQB environment you are good to go.

……….Firing at the 7, 10, and 25 metre distances the KPOS Scout definitely helped dial in my groupings on the Glock. The red dot helped with fast sight acquisition and recoil pretty much disappeared when shouldering the Scout. While I had fun diagnosing my shots on an indoor range and plinking at the outdoor range, I always like to watch other shooters work the gear as well. I brought the KPOS Scout out on an invitation only executive protection course with military and LEOs and had one of the candidates try out the KPOS Scout on the government leased range with a 50 round drum and extended stick magazines. The candidate ran the Scout like a champ and was slaying steel with speed easily all the way out to 25+ metres without dropping shots. His comments were “You really can’t miss with this thing.”

……….On top of an aesthetically pleasing upgrade to the overall design and improvements on the install of the pistol, the folding shoulder stock, QD swivel mount, thumb rest on the shortened side picatinny rails, and a larger charging handle, the KPOS replaced much of the aluminum all round build with high impact polymer to save weight, but left the main receiver and rails metal as it should be.

……….I had a tremendous amount of fun using the KPOS Scout. It’s easy to install a pistol into, setup and deploy right away. If you could add a Lone Wolf 6 or 9 inch barrel to your Glock along with a KPOS Scout kit and RDS you’d have a nice lean and mean PCC package that is compact and low profile. The KPOS Scout can breathe some new life into your pistol if you’ve been bored shooting your secondary, and the cost for getting into one is significantly less than say a CZ Scorpion EVO3 or a Sig Sauer MPX. Overall I am very pleased with Fab Defense has done with this latest version of the KPOS, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with down the line.  Be sure to hit up Fab Defense or Zahal‘s websites if you want to pick up a KPOS Scout for yourself to try out!

For your regular cravings in the firearms world in Canada and beyond be sure to follow TV-PressPass on Facebook and myself Wally F. on Instagram.

Reporting for TV-PressPass

Wally F.

Words by: Wally F.          Photos by: Winchester, Various Internet Sources

……….Hot on the heels of last falls .40 S&W contract for the F.B.I., again I thought the Feds were wholesale switching to 9mm especially after their last ballistics report on 9mm ammunition, The Loadout Room giving a great break down HERE.  Looks like Winchester has snagged the 9mm deal as well.

……….Winchester Ammunition was recently awarded a contract from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for its Duty and Frangible training 9MM pistol ammunition. Winchester also received a contract from the FBI as the primary source for .40 S&W pistol ammunition in fall, 2017.

……….The 147 gr. bonded jacketed hollow point (JHP) duty cartridge selected by the FBI is designed with patented technology that utilizes a reverse-jacketed, bonded bullet that can penetrate a wide variety of intermediate barriers while maintaining very consistent target penetration and reliable expansion. The nickel-plated cartridge prevents corrosion and ensures smooth feeding and extraction. Flash suppressed powder is used in this cartridge to maintain an agent’s night vision and meet the FBI’s stringent darkened range evaluation.

……….Winchester has been supplying the FBI with service and training ammunition for many years and is honored to be awarded this recent contract and continue to support our nation’s premier law enforcement agency,” said Matt Campbell, vice president of sales and marketing for Winchester Ammunition.

……….Winchester has a distinguished 150-year history of innovation in hunting, recreation, law enforcement and military ammunition products. In the field, on the range or in defense of freedom around the globe, Winchester has the right product for any ammunition need. Winchester is The American Legend, a brand built on integrity, hard work and a deep focus on its loyal customers. Learn more about the history of Winchester by visiting Winchester.com or connect with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterOfficial.

For more information on Winchester Ammunition for Law Enforcement visit WinchesterLE.com.

……….While when you traditional think of Winchester you don’t immediately think ammunition they have come a long way in a very short time to reinvent what their company can produce and deliver.  Securing this second contract with the U.S. government shows us that that maybe this old dog of a company still a few new tricks up it’s sleeve.

For your regular cravings in the firearms world in Canada and beyond be sure to follow TV-PressPass on Facebook and myself Wally F. on Instagram.

Reporting for TV-PressPass

Wally F.

Words by: Wally F.          Photos by: Lockhart Tactical

……….So probably not the best kept secret from this west coast veteran owned company, but Lockhart Tacitcal has got a little something for firearms enthusiasts to look forward to.

……….In Canada I’m sure Hunters, 3-Gun, IPSC, IDPA, Trap, and Clay shooters have noticed the subtle, or not so subtle and steady rise in ammunition prices lately.  For those that frequently hit the range to train and practice the price of ammo can sting the pocket books.  Enter the Lockhart Tactical Raven 9.  An all Canadian made 9mm semi-automatic pistol calibre carbine.

The Raven is the most ergonomic, advanced pistol calibre carbine (PCC) on the market today.

Precision machined, and packed with operator friendly features, this carbine is ready to crush the competition.

This Canadian designed, and built carbine is made by shooters, for shooters. The team at Lockhart has pulled off the near impossible task of blending form, function, lightweightness and value.

The heart of The Raven is it’s target smashing barrel. It’s match grade 18.6 inches of perfection is crafted from 416R stainless steel which is then 5R button rifled to squeeze every available milliradian of accuracy out of every round.

Our barrel is concealed by our proprietary aluminum hand guard. Understanding that one design doesn’t work for everyone, we have incorporated four (4) built in QD sling studs, and offer a dual picatinny mounting solution. Use either MLOK, or the threaded holes to attach additional rails on the 3, 6, or 9 o’clock position. To further aid in cleaning, compact transportation or storagey, our hand guard is 100% tool-less detachable; just like the rest of the Raven. No other PCC comes close to the Raven’s modularity and ergonomics.

Features
1) Dual ambidextrous charging handles. (side, top AR style, or both)
2) Ambidextrous safety (AR style)
3) Ambidextrous, symmetrical magazine release
4) Automatic last round bolt hold open
5) Ergonomic AR style bolt release
6) Tool-less receiver take down for easy cleaning
7) Tool-less hand guard removal
8) Tool-less barrel removal for compact transport, storage, and cleaning
9) Match grade 416R stainless steel, 5R button rifled barrel that is threaded, and includes thread protector. Muzzle brake is available.
10) Lifetime warranty on barrel!
11) 2 year warranty on firearm
12) Featherweight 5.5 lbs unloaded
13) Uses Glock 9mm magazines
14) Accepts any AR15 pistol grip
15) Accepts any AR15 buttstock
16) Compact. OAL is 37” with buttstock fully extended, 33” with buttstock fully collapsed. Packs down to 19” long X 7” tall X 2” wide
17) Stainless steel hardware enhances durability by resisting corrosion.
18) Billet 7075 aluminum upper receiver
19) Billet aluminum lower receiver
20) Made in Canada eh!

……….With a release date and classification pending the Raven 9 should be retailing at $1250 cdn.  If you’re looking to get a good looking pistol carbine that’s also made in Canada, go and check out Lockhart Tactical.

For your regular cravings in the firearms world in Canada and beyond be sure to follow TV-PressPass on Facebook and myself Wally F. on Instagram.

Reporting for TV-PressPass

Wally F.

Words by: Wally F.          Photos by: Various Internet Sources

……….The Federal Bureau of Investigation today announced that Winchester Ammunition won a contract to supply .40 S&W ammo to their agency.  So after their exhaustive studies and tests advocating 9mm to be a better service round over .40 S&W and .45 ACP,  Winchester sent this release out today.

EAST ALTON, Ill., January 4, 2018– The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has completed an extensive evaluation process and Winchester has been chosen as its primary source for .40 S&W pistol ammunition. This includes a bonded jacketed hollow point (JHP) service cartridge as well as full metal jacket (FMJ) and frangible training loads. Winchester has been supplying the FBI with service and training ammunition for many years and is honored to be awarded the most recent contract and continue to support our nation’s premier law enforcement agency.

The 180 gr. bonded jacketed hollow point (JHP) cartridge selected by the FBI is designed with patented technology that utilizes a reverse-jacketed, bonded bullet that can penetrate a wide variety of intermediate barriers while maintaining very consistent target penetration and reliable expansion. The nickel-plated cartridge prevents corrosion and ensures smooth feeding and extraction. Flash suppressed powder is used in this cartridge to maintain an agent’s night vision and meet the FBI’s stringent darkened range evaluation.

“The FBI uses one of the most rigorous ammunition tests ever developed and we are very proud that Winchester has been identified as having the best product performance.” said Matt Campbell, vice president of marketing and sales for Winchester.

About Winchester
Winchester has a distinguished 150-year history of innovation in hunting, recreation, law enforcement and military ammunition products. In the field, on the range or in defense of freedom around the globe, Winchester has the right product for any ammunition need. Winchester is The American Legend, a brand built on integrity, hard work and a deep focus on its loyal customers. Learn more about the history of Winchester by visiting Winchester.com or connect with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterOfficial.

For more information on Winchester Ammunition for Law Enforcement visit WinchesterLE.com.

……….This press release from Winchester seems to fly in the face of what the FBI has stated about switching over to 9mm.  Perhaps this is an interim contract until all .40 S&W service pistols are phased out of the Bureau.  What are your thoughts on this ammo contract with the FBI?  Let us know what think on our Facebook page or chime in here!

For your regular cravings in the firearms world in Canada and beyond be sure to follow TV-PressPass on Facebook and myself Wally F. on Instagram.

Reporting for TV-PressPass

Wally F.

This platform from the 1970s has been adapted into many variants with specific weapons for military and police use. They cover every base: large 7.62×51 designated marksman rifles, solid 5.56 assault rifles, short barrelled paratrooper carbines, 9mm sub-machine guns, snub-nosed personal defense weapons, and even police-specific options chambered for the World War II .30 carbine round.

Some of the semi-auto variants are exported to Canada, where they find a welcome home in the gun-starved north.

You see, during the 1990s Canadian Parliament banned a number of scary-looking assault rifles outright. Essentially anything used in an action movie during the 1980s became prohibited. All kalashnikov variants? Gone. The FN-FAL? Gone! MP5s, G3s, and almost all those other popular military rifles were banned outright. Even the AR-15 was relegated to a restricted status, meaning that they must be transported under lock and key, and can only be fired at a range approved by the government. There is no bush plinking or varminting up north with America’s favourite firearm.

So Canadians often look for “the next best thing.” We shoot Vz58s instead of Aks, Tavors instead of Augs, and specialty guns like the XCR and ACR become “hunting-AR15s.”

Firearms that managed to avoid our politicians narrow-minded fear are always a reason to get excited. The FAMAE SAF Mini becomes the MP5K I will never own.

The SAF Mini that I’m best acquainted with has a 4.5” barrel, a saw-style rear grip, the classic H&K style foregrip, a folding stock, diopter sights, an ambidexterous safety and magazine release, plus a picatinny rail add-on for optics.

They are a great PDW that is ready to go right out of the box. These guns really are a beauty to behold.

The SAF uses polymer double-stack magazines that come from Chile in 20 or 30 round sizes. Of course they end up being pinned to 5 to comply with Canadian law, but interestingly the 30 round magazines can be snapped together redi-mag style. This modular magazine system is something carried over from the Swiss Arms 550 rifles, and in theory you can stack as many as you feel comfortable with.

But: FAMAE is not Sig Sauer. These aren’t Swiss machinist-made, these are stamped steel. Some of the welds aren’t as nice at the sights and grips. Parts have to come up from Chile, and proprietary magazines are expensive. But considering a SAF is right at the $2000 mark, and a Swiss Arms rifle can push up past $3600, you would expect to see differences.

The next big thing to come from FAMAE into Canada will be the SG542. This .308 battle rifle features an 18.5″ barrel, and is a unique option for anyone looking for a semi-auto in this caliber.

Non-restricted .308 black rifles are a rarity in Canada. Your options are: M-14, Robinson Arms XCR-M, or Kel Tec RFB. That’s all there is.

So the arrival of a Swiss-designed, South American-made rifle is a welcome addition. I’ve had a limited hands-on with one, but having put a few rounds down-range I am seriously considering it as a DMR role rifle.

It uses an integral bipod, with a pinned flashhider and bayonet lug. Once again, these use a proprietary rock-in magazine, not dissimilar from FAL or M14 magazines. They have an adjustable gas system with settings for “clean” “fouled” and “rifle-grenade.” The SG542 is substantially lighter than the XCR, and does not have the optics mounting issues associated with an M14.

The SG542 is slated to arrive on Canadian shores en masse this fall, and hopefully we will see more imports from Chile’s manufacturer in the coming year.