Ammo Ban? How We Get Facts Wrong on M855

I’m about to make a bunch of my friends really uncomfortable. Those of us who believe strongly in Second Amendment rights have to stand united in our opposition to the proposed reclassification of M855 (or Green-Tip) ammo. We cannot fight this ban by misreading regulations or engaging in wishful thinking. I’m about to pick apart some of the most vocal arguments I’ve heard in the last week. I want to make it clear–I’m doing this in support of this fight. We will not win by butchering facts.
And yes, we do have a lot more at stake in this argument than M855. Read on. Read carefully. This is about to get complicated. There are two key things to know now:

1. M855 ammunition does have a steel core. Keep your finger off the comment button until you’ve read why.
2. There’s a lot more at stake than just M855.

The proposed ban of M855 (SS109)

Let’s begin with the basics. The BATFE has announced that it intends to revoke the exemption previously granted to M855, more commonly known as Green-Tip, .223. More specifically, they’re looking for a working guide for classifying ammunition as armor piercing.
DOJ spokesman Patrick Rosenbush said in a statement:

“Under the Gun Control Act [of 1968], Congress acted to protect law enforcement from armor piercing ammunition that can be fired from a handgun. The law explicitly authorizes the Attorney General to exempt ammunition ‘primarily intended for sporting purposes.’ No action has been taken –ATF is simply proposing, and requesting public comment on, a framework to enforce the law that Congress passed and provide guidance for the industry through a transparent process for making exemption decisions.”

Let’s look closely at the BATFE’s rationale. The M855 round is armor piercing. No thinking human being can dispute this. M855 is easily capable of penetrating Type I, IIA, II, and IIIA. Even when fired from most AR pistols, the M855 can penetrate some types of armor. It is pointless (and counter productive) to argue that–because it can be stopped by Type IV armor–it isn’t armor piercing (an argument I’ve heard more than once this week). Most police officers wear IIIA vests, at most,–and it is their safety that is (dubiously) in question.
Interestingly, the original Gun Control Act referenced above contained a provision that allowed some “armor piercing” rounds escape the ban. The GCA took into account intent. If a round was intended to be fired from a rifle, it was exempt from the handgun provision. There were few rifle caliber pistols at that time. Not anymore. The incredible popularity of the AR pistol has (the ATF argues) increased the chance that LEOs will face criminals with more easily concealed rifle caliber pistols capable of shooting through their inadequate vests.

Enter in the LEOPA of 1985

Concerned that the GCA of 1968 left ambiguity in this question of intent, lawmakers revisited the issue in the 1980s. The Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act removed the question of intended use and replaced it with this articulate definition.

Excerpt from the LEOPA now being used to judge M855’s status.

The M855’s bullet is comprised of three main components: the jacket, the lead core, and the steel core.

M855 on left, M855A1 on the right.

Yes. You read correctly. The M855 has a steel core. Green tip. Steel core. I’ve listened to a lot of conflated nomenclature in the last week that wishfully combines the two into steel-tip, in an attempt to skirt the “core” definition. It doesn’t help that M855A1 does have a steel tip–but that’s a different essay.
I can’t tell you how many people I’ve argued with in the last week about this very issue. All of the arguments go something like this: “The M855 has a lead core with a steel tip.” Too many of us want to simply ignore what the statement above says about projectiles and cores. Instead, we read what we want to read. And if you look at the image on the right, you will see that the M855 actually has a tip comprised of its jacket. No steel.
Consider this well intentioned letter:

To Whom It May Concern:

I oppose reclassifying M855 ammunition as “armor piercing.” Because of the high lead-content of its bullet, M855 does not meet the BATFE’s own definition of armor piercing ammunition.

The  “high lead-content” has absolutely nothing do with anything.

Or worse, this one:

To Whom it May Concern:I am writing to comment on the proposed determination regarding SS109/M855 .223/5.56 ammunition.Based on the language used within 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(17)(B), I believe that this ammunition is, in the first place, improperly classified as armor piercing:[…]First, as can be seen in Figure 1, the core is NOT constructed ENTIRELY of any of the listed materials, but instead consists of a two-part core comprised of lead and steel.

The mistake is more subtle. “…the core….” But honestly: “I believe”? This part of the argument isn’t about opinion.

Here’s the crux of the biscuit:

“a projectile or projectile core….”

You will note the omission of the indefinite article “a” between the words “or projectile core.” Had there had been a limiting constraint put on the word core, like “one” core, or “the” core, we might be able to argue against the existence of a steel core. But we can’t. No matter how you cut up that single description, the M855’s projectile fits the bill.
There is no article preceding the noun “core.” Nor is there a indefinite article. Instead, we’re looking at a a grammatical absence known as the “zero article,” which essentially means that the noun lacks an identifier. The noun, then, becomes indefinite. This is not about just one core. The projectile in this equation can be made up of multiple cores.
While I agree with the “one core” wishful thinking from a philosophical perspective, it doesn’t change the fact that the component parts of the M855 projectile have a long paper trail that includes actual names for these parts.
Semantics. Grammar. Syntax. They matter. I know I’m the editor of a blog, and I play fast and loose with language–but I’m pulling rank in this argument. On behalf of all of us who love M855, I want to advise against anyone using the one-core line of attack. We can’t fight lawyers and politicians by making up our own terms for items that have already been named.

M855/SS109

I’m having difficulty putting my hands on the patent drawings for the original SS109 projectile, which would later be designated the M855. But there are numerous patents that include descriptions of bullets based on the bullet. Here’s one (emphasis added):

Examples of jacketed, boat-tailed bullets can be found in small caliber, 0.5 inch and under, penetrator projectiles used by military forces worldwide. For example, the United States and NATO military forces use vast quantities of M855 cartridges containing 62 grain penetrator bullets, one of which is depicted generally at 10 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the M855 bullet 10 has two aligned cores12 and 14 enveloped by a brass jacket 16. A steel core12 is located in a nose section 18 of the bullet 10 and a 32 grain lead core 14 is swaged into a rear section 20. The bullet 10 has a heel that is tapered to form a boat-tail 22, which provides the bullet 10 with ballistic stability and improved aerodynamic performance. In this case, the boat-tail 22 extends from a bearing surface 24 of the bullet 10 to a base 26 of the bullet 10. At a total weight of 62 grains, the M855 bullet 10 has the kinetic energy required to penetrate a 10 gage steel plate when fired from a distance of 600 meters.

If you’re keeping score at home, note the inclusion of these phrases: “the M855 has two aligned cores”, “steel core”, “lead core.” In other places, you’ll find phrases like “front core,” too. We will not win an argument–any argument–by attempting to redefine the word core, or by attempting to limit the number of cores a single bullet can contain. Case in point:

Cutting through our own bullshit

Here’s a subtle lie that’s being perpetuated on  FoxNews.com:

“The law, which was passed in 1986, gives the agency authority to ban bullets that are ‘constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper or depleted uranium.’”

The article’s author, Maxim Lott, is guilty of a very serious infraction. The law does cover “bullets that are ‘constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper or depleted uranium,” but that isn’t the M855. That is in no way the M855. M855 isn’t “constructed entirely” of any one thing. Those bullets exist, but are not M855. And pretending, in print, that this is what we’re fighting about makes it harder for us to win this fight.
Follow me through this people. Mr. Lott, in constructing his argument for Fox News, has chosen to leave out the part of the ruling that does define M855. The question of the steel core. I can understand why Lott and the editors of FoxNews.com screwed up. This is complicated. This is way more complicated than most Americans, firearms enthusiasts or not, are capable of understanding.
Even our long-time friend and ally, Alan Gottlieb–arguably one of the most ardent defenders of freedom I could name–seems confused about the issue. Here’s his contribution to FoxNews.com’s fair-and-balanced article:

“Almost any hunting rifle bullet will go through body armor, so you could prohibit almost any rifle bullet with this. This is the administration redefining the law on its own.”

On the surface, Gottlieb appears mistaken about the language of the ban. We’re talking about pistol rounds, not rifle rounds. The M855 began its life as a rifle round, but now can be fired from an AR pistol. Still, I give Gottlieb more credit than I do most mainstream journalists. And I think I see a more worrying message hidden in Gottlieb’s statement. At the risk of attempting to speak for Gottlieb, which I would never presume to do, I will explain what his quote may imply.
“Almost any hunting rifle bullet [capable of being fired from a pistol platform] will go through [type II soft] body armor, so you could [if we were to ignore the component classification of core design and jacket weights] prohibit almost any rifle bullet [capable of being fired from a pistol platform]. ” What he’s saying is that M855 is on the chopping block, and if we were to use the ability to puncture type II soft body armor as a rule, than all 5.56 and .223 would disappear.
In other words, we do have something to actually fear. The BATFE’s attempt to choke off the supply of available M855, using the LEOPA’s language, is nothing. There could be far worse to come.
Consider this. If the M855 ban passes muster this time, based on the skewed logic that these bullets pose an extraordinary risk to LEOs, than that decision could be used as precedent to widen the ban and ban all rifle bullets that could be fired from pistols. Goodbye .223, 7.62×39, 5.56, .30 Carbine, .308, 5.45…. How long is this list?

So what do we do?

We continue to fight. We protest the reclassification of M855, if it indeed gets passed. We plan our arguments more effectively. If we attack the logic of this ban based on our own wishful thinking, we deserve what we get.
If you would like to contact the various powers-that-be, use an argument that will withstand basic tests of logic. This is one of the best letters I’ve seen to date, and it addresses the real issue: banning M855 in the name of officer safety simply makes no sense.
Allow your voice to be heard clearly. Don’t give in. Never give in. Stand. Fight. But for our sake, make sure you know what the hell you are talking about.

Top 5 Handguns for Bugging Out

You have only a few minutes to gather the family, grab what you can carry and get out. You don’t know when you’ll be back. You have to rely on what you can carry on your body – no guarantee that you’ll even make it far in your vehicle. The classic bugout scenario. SHTF. Sound farfetched? Maybe, if you’re thinking about the zombie apocalypse or invaders from Mars. But what about a natural disaster, a man-made disaster, or large scale loss of civil structure? All of these things have happened on various scales in the past, and all will almost certainly happen again… on some scale. You have room for only one handgun and some ammo. What do you take?
I am presenting this list in countdown order, so we’re going to start from the bottom. With one exception, they are all 9mm’s. While you might beat your chest about how that .357 magnum or 10mm is far superior, good luck finding ammo. I want the odds of any ammo I find fitting my gun to be high, and with 9mm they will be. And I love .45 ACP as much as anyone, but it’s heavy and bulky in addition to less available. Simple cost/benefit decision. No, for survival in the unknown it needs to be 9mm.

#5 – SIG Sauer P226

Elite military and law enforcement proven reliability. Personal experience – I can’t make one jam. With standard 15 round magazines for the 9mm, it is has adequate capacity. This gun will serve you day and night without fail. So why in the world is it sitting at the bottom of the list at #5? Mainly because of its complexity. The SIG has numerous controls that unfamiliar shooters might struggle with. And if you need to perform any maintenance beyond a field-strip, you’re in deep trouble. So, the P226 might be the most beautiful lady on the list, but she’s high maintenance.

#4 – Springfield Armory XD-40

This is the only gun on the list that is not a 9mm. I gave in to my own desire to have something more potent in the mix, and .40 S&W is popular enough with civilians and LE alike that there should be ammo supply. Why the XD-40 over many other good options? Federal LE and others have begun to note that the Glocks chambered in .40, particularly the G23, show accelerated wear and tear from the pressures of the round. The size of the XD-40 puts it very close to the G23 even though it carries one round less, but it has always felt more substantial to me. It’s a natural shooter, handles the recoil very well, and has minimal external controls. It is also a dependable duty-proven design. If I’m packing a .40 S&W it’s going to be the XD-40.

#3 – Smith & Wesson M&P 9*

The modern M&P line is well proven as a duty gun, and is hugely popular in the civilian market. The ergonomics, minimal controls, and excellent reliability make this pistol a great choice for a bug-out handgun. Add the bonus of ambidextrous slide-stop control (and reversible mag catch) and thin feeling grip, and you have a flat shooting pistol that most anyone can handle well. Because remember – unless you’re bugging out alone, you may have others in the family or group that will need to be able to use this gun if the wolf comes to the door. I’m talking full-sized with a standard 17 round magazine and 4 ¼” barrel. There is a good chance of finding parts in the wild – the M&P 9 will get it done.
*Caveat: I am referring to the M&P without an external manual safety and without the magazine disconnect safety. Add either of those, and this gun comes off the list.

#2 – Glock 19

Hugely popular is not always a guarantee of quality, but in the case of the Glock 19 it certainly is. The G19 is the quintessential carry pistol and the one by which all others are still judged. With a combination of a 15 round magazine, thin and light frame, simplicity and reliability – the G19 rightfully earned its spot as the go/no-go gauge for concealed handguns. The drawbacks to the G19 as a sole survival gun though, are some of those very qualities. Smaller and lighter means a little bit more recoil, and if other family members need to “take the watch”, it might be more intimidating for them. Less capacity with standard magazines is also a consideration. Spare parts should be available in the wild, given the number of G19’s out there, and it’s a Glock – which means simple controls and easy maintenance. This gun was nearly in a tie with the #1 choice, but a decision had to be made…

#1 – Glock 17

There are a lot of handguns that are prettier, ones that chamber more powerful rounds, and models that bear brand names you might like better. But the Glock 17 is the best choice, and here’s why: It’s durable and reliable. The Glock 17 is the AK-47 of handguns. In unknown conditions for extended time, I want a gun that will run no matter what. It is also the single most popular (and therefore most plentiful) handgun ever made. This means that there will be lots more of them out there for parts, extra magazines, holsters, you name it. Whether Gen4 or previous, you should be able to scrounge parts. You can disassemble the entire gun with just a paperclip. Simplicity – there are two controls on a Glock, the slide stop and the trigger. Unless you’ve been on another planet you know what each does and where it is. Anyone in “the group” that needs to use it will be able to. Why did the G17 edge out the G19, you ask? Mostly because of the spare parts consideration, but also because the slightly longer barrel will give you a wee bit more velocity and energy and a longer sight radius. You might need to hunt small game with your handgun and the size and capacity advantages of the G17 are worth its slightly larger size. I don’t think deep concealment is going to be the biggest consideration in a survival situation, and the Glock 17 can still be tucked away pretty well.

Top 5 US Military Scatter Guns

When we (and I mean we as I include myself in this statement) think of US Military small arms, we do not usually include shotguns.  When we think of the great American fighting arms of the past, we have visions of the 1911, M1 Garand, M-16, 1903 Springfield and maybe even a Bazooka before we picture the lowly scatter gun.  So lets take a quick look through history and into the present at the shotguns that have served our men and women in uniform.

 The Smoothbore Musket

A Springfield 1819 musket.

I am going to lump these together: The Brown Bess, Charleville, 1816 and 1842 Springfields are the main smooth bore muskets used in American history. Technically this is a musket and not a shotgun, but that is a pretty fine line. They both have a smooth bore and can fire multiple projectiles so it works for my definition of a shotgun for this article.  The shotgun type load mostly associated with the musket is buck and ball.  It is just like the name sounds.  A ball, usually around .69 caliber, with 2 or 3 pieces of buck shot with it.  The musket is not an accurate weapon.  The idea of adding the buck shot was to increase the number of hits on enemy troops when firing volleys.  It worked too.  George Washington was a supporter of its use during the Revolution and its use continued until the Civil War when the Mini Ball changed the game.   The concept is not dead either.  Winchester has a modern buck and ball type shot shell in its Defender line.
Buy one on Guns America: http://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=musket

Winchester 97 Trench Gun

Winchester M97 Trench gun with bayonet.

It is hard to make a list of US Military arms and not have a John Browning design show up.  The 97 Winchester is the one for this list. The trench gun version of the 97 had a 20 inch barrel and added a heat shield around the barrel.  It also included a bayonet lug and, like the civilian version, had an exposed hammer.  The 97 was the primary shotgun used by the Dough Boys in WWI.  It was at home in the muddy trenches of that war.  The short barrel and the 00 buck shot loads were devastating on German and other Central Power troops.  The Germans even tried to have it outlawed during the war under the protest that it caused unnecessary suffering.  The 97 was updated in 1912 and was given the trench gun treatment.  The 1912 was the primary shotgun used during the 2nd World War.
Buy one on Guns America: http://www.gunsamerica.com/winchester1897shotgun

Ithaca 37

Two Ithaca Model 37s. The one on top is in the military configuration. You can see why the shot spreader got the duck bill nickname.

Whoops.  Another John Browning design slipped in.  The Ithaca 37 is a cool shotgun. I have held the thought that it might be the best combat shotgun design ever for one simple reason: It loads and ejects from the bottom.  Gravity is helping the spent cases get clear of the action and the open bottom allows for the dirt, mud and other muck, that will find its way into a combat firearm, to fall free. The Ithaca saw use during WWII and into Vietnam.  During Vietnam the early Navy Seal teams used the 37 with a duck bill shot spreader and an extended magazine tube.  Like the two Winchester shotguns above, the old Ithaca 37s will slam fire.  This means, if you hold down the trigger, every time you rack the action and load a shell it will go bang.  A slam fire shotgun in the hands of a practiced shooter can give an autoloader a run for its money. Ithaca is still around and making the 37 today.
Buy one on Guns America: http://www.gunsamerica.com/ithaca37

Remington 870

The current version of the M870.

When you think of a pump-action shotgun the Remington 870 is always one of the first that comes to mind.  It has been in production since 1951 and is the best selling shotgun ever made with over 10,000,000 produced.  That says a lot for the design, and the design is a strong, reliable and robust one.  All of which make it a great candidate for a military arm. The M870 has been in service for so long and with so many variants there really isn’t a distinctive model.  It is still in use today, even.  It is a work horse of a shotgun. It is not just used by our military either.  Tons of Law Enforcement agencies use the 870 as their issue shotgun. I was issued one when I was an LE National Park Ranger.  And like many of you reading this article, there is one in my safe.  Or is it loaded and in the closet? That is a good place for an 870 too.
Buy one on Guns America: http://www.gunsamerica.com/remington870

Benelli M1014

The Benelli M1014.

That brings us to the most modern and the only autoloader on the list, the Benelli M1014. The M1014, the civilian version is called the M4, was designed for test trials for a new semi automatic combat shotgun for the US Military.  The trials were held in 1999 and the Benelli won.  The M1014 was actually the first gas operated shotgun that Benelli designed.  It uses a rotating bolt as well.  The military version sports a 14.5 inch barrel and has a collapsible butt stock.
Buy one on Guns America: http://www.gunsamerica.com/benellim4
So there are 5 scatter guns used by the US Military.  There are plenty of other that have seen use, the Mossberg 500 is a notable example as well.  Any of these would also make a great home defense shotgun.  Well maybe not a smoothbore musket.  They are awfully long for one thing.  The single shot is another issue.  Although the amount of smoke from firing a black powder musket inside your house would probably act as a smoke screen while you grabbed a trench gun.

Why You NEED an AR-15 with a 30 Round Magazine!

Gun control advocates consistently try to paint gun owners into a corner by framing one’s right to keep and bear arms in terms of “needs.” A perfect example: “Why does any American need one of these AR-15s? What possible protection can that kind of thing offer them? It’s a military rifle,” said former CNN host Piers Morgan back in 2012 — when he was still on television. Aside from being wrong, an AR-15 is not a “military rifle,” Morgan simply doesn’t understand that not every self-defense situation is created equally. There is no “normal scenario” when it comes to protecting oneself from the criminal element. In the video above, a Georgia resident had to protect his home from two armed home invaders who kicked own his door. During the encounter, an eyewitness said as many as “30 to 40 shots” were fired. Here’s a play by play courtesy of a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous. “He said a lady knocked first,” said the neighbor, who spoke to the homeowner shortly after the incident. “Then after he didn’t go to the door, they kicked the door in,” she said. “They came in his house.” That neighbor told WSB-TV that she was trying to take a nap when she heard the shots. “As soon as I laid down, I heard about 30 to 40 shots,” she said. While it’s not clear what type of gun the resident used to repel the attack, I believe that the firearm I would need to survive that encounter is a semiautomatic rifle capable of accepting a magazine with a capacity of at least 30 rounds of ammunition. Allow me to explain. As I mentioned, not all self-defense situations are the same. Just like not all shooters are the same. At the tranquil setting of indoor gun range, I’m not a great shot with a handgun. I can only imagine how much worse I’d be under the extreme duress of a home invasion that quickly escalates to an all out gunfight. So, a handgun wouldn’t suffice. What about a pump-action shotgun or a bolt-action rifle? I’m a much better shot with both. But I believe that the slower rate of fire, the limited capacity and the time it takes to reload either gun makes me vulnerable. Continuing to go by the example in the video, it’s already two against one; I’m outgunned as it is. I need a weapon that will come close to leveling the playing field. So, for me, the only firearm that I would feel confident shooting during a home invasion scenario with multiple attackers would be an AR-15 with a 30 round mag. Could I get by with another gun? Maybe. Maybe not. I say that because along with preparedness, confidence is key. And with my life on the line, I want to be as confident as I can possibly be. In short, I need an AR-15. I accept that there are different strokes for different folks. Not everyone agrees with me because not everyone shoots like me. Some gun owners need handguns, others shotguns or larger caliber rifles for home defense. Thankfully, we have a Second Amendment that protects our right to keep and bear arms for traditionally lawful purposes like self-defense within the home. Implicit in that right is the freedom to choose which firearm fits our needs. I need and AR-15 for home defense. But even if I didn’t need an AR-15, it’s still my right via the Constitution to own one.

Daniel Defense M4A1 Mil-Spec+

Daniel Defense M4A1: https://danieldefense.com/M4A1
Buy now at GunsAmerica: http://www.gunsamerica.com/M4A1
The Daniel Defense rifles have been out in the field, slowly building up the company’s reputation. Their take on the ubiquitous black rifle is seen by many as the benchmark for legitimate quality and value. Their M4A1 is no exception. Designed from the ground up with mil-spec components, the M4A1 is solid. The newest version, the M4A1 Mil-Spec+, has been coated in the new Daniel Defense Mil Spec+ Cerakote, which puts the finish well above military specifications.
Before we go any further, I’d like to comment on this industry’s love affair with military-specifications.” MIL-SPEC. Mil-Spec. MIL-STD. MilSpecs. The new Daniel Defense Cerakote paint job has been named Mil-Spec+. Occasionally, you’ll see something referenced as mil-spec, and it is a bad thing (usually a trigger). It is likely to get a bit confusing. What makes a rifle meet the military’s specifications? Is it an expected performance level? Is it s a budgetary concern that governs contract fulfillment? When it comes to Daniel Defense, the term is used in at least two distinct ways. Many of the M4A1’s rock solid components are listed as Mil-Spec (meaning meeting the standards of service rifles). And then you’ll see Mil-Spec+ paired with Cerakote, the name of the gun’s new finish.

Features

• LOWER RECEIVER: Mil-Spec with Enhanced Flared Magazine Well and Rear Receiver QD Swivel Attachment Point. CNC Machined of 7075-T6 Aluminum, Type III Hard Coat Anodized
• UPPER RECEIVER: Mil-Spec with Indexing Marks and M4 Feed Ramps. CNC Machined of 7075-T6 Aluminum, Type III Hard Coat Anodized
• BARREL: Chrome Moly Vanadium Steel, Cold Hammer Forged, 1:7 twist, 14.5″ M4 Profile, Chrome Lined, MP tested, and Mil-Spec Heavy Phosphate Coated
• GAS SYSTEM: Pinned Low Profile Gas Block CNC Machined of 4140 hardened steel with Mil-Spec Heavy Phosphate Coating, Carbine Length, Direct Impingement
• MUZZLE DEVICE: Pinned and Welded Daniel Defense Flash Suppressor, Extended, 17-4 PH Stainless Steel, Salt Bath Nitride Finished
• BOLT CARRIER GROUP: M16 Profile, Mil-Spec MP Tested, Chrome Lined, Properly Staked Gas Key
• HANDGUARD: Daniel Defense M4A1 Rail Interface System (RIS) II, CNC Machined of 6061-T6 Aluminum
• RECEIVER EXTENSION: 6 Position Mil-Spec 7075-T6 Aluminum
• BUTTSTOCK: Daniel Defense Buttstock, Glass Filled Polymer with Soft Touch Overmolding
• PISTOL GRIP: Daniel Defense Pistol Grip, Glass Filled Polymer with Soft Touch Overmolding
• RAIL PANELS: Daniel Defense Rail Panels made from Santoprene, heat resistant to 300° F.
• FINISH: Daniel Defense Mil Spec+ Cerakote
• Made in the USA!

Design

The M4A1 is a rifle that is as small as legal restrictions allow and as light as functionally possible. The gun features a M4 profile 14.5 inch cold hammer forged barrel with an elongated A2 style pinned flash hider. The gun comes in weighing 6.7 pounds empty, but settles down around 8 pounds loaded. Beyond its mild weight and short overall length of 31.5 inches, the M4A1 has some other tricks up its sleeve that are anything but standard on your typical carbine.

• The free floated RIS II Quad-Rail that is SOCOM approved and was adopted by the SOPMOD II program.
• The flared magwell is cut into the 7075-T6 aluminum lower receiver.
• The M16 profile bolt carrier has a staked gas key.
• The M4 style cut and polished feed ramps.

The stock is light, but substantial. And it has the Santoprene overmolding and QD sling mounts.

All of these features make this rifle into an optimal and reliable tool. They’re subtle enhancements, though, and this rifle isn’t subtle. The first thing that you will notice when you see the new rifle is its beautifully rugged paint job. The M4A1 is coated from head to toe the Mil-Spec + Dark Earth Cerakote. This ceramic finish is tougher than nails. It improves abrasion resistance, impact resistance, and is corrosion resistant. The color is an added bonus, really, and is a very dark tan.
The rifles also come with Daniel Defense furniture, which is so much better than Mil-Spec. The grip is easy on the hand and the stock is easy on the face. While we’re throwing around the Mil-Spec term, we should talk about the trigger. The Daniel Defense trigger is solid. There are much better options available on the market, but this is a great place to start. It breaks right at 6 pounds. There is a minimal amount of creep. The reset is fast. Mil-Spec, when we’re referring to triggers, is typically a bad thing. But in this case, the stock trigger is actually a cut above what most would expect from a Mil-Spec trigger. You could go a long time with this trigger and never feel like you are settling for second best.

Shooting the M4A1

In addition to the work I did for this review, I’ve used the M4A1 for a number of different projects. To date, I’ve got close to 2,000 rounds through it. Out of all the rounds fired during the (rather long) evaluation period, I didn’t experience one single issue. I haven’t been cleaning obsessively, I haven’t added any lubrication, and no special ammunition was used. I ran the gun in blistering heat, freezing rain, and mud as deep as my ankles and it chugged along. I’d expect nothing less from a gun with the Mil-Spec philosophy.

The accuracy you can achieve with the M4A1 is much better than you’d expect from anything Mil-Spec.

In the stock configuration (less all of my tactical doodads) the rifle is balanced well. If anything, it is a little on the light side up front. The gun draws on to target with ease, popping up from low ready with speed and precision. The 14.5-inch barrel swings left and right with little to no effort. Engaging multiple targets is easily mastered and becomes more of a game than a work out.
Accuracy of the M4A1 is somewhat staggering. Outfitted with a Nightforce 2.5-10×32 scope, I was able to repeatedly make sub moa groups at 100 meters. With a Primary Arms Micro Dot on top, I was able to produce a 5 shot group from 100 meters that was less than 3.5 inches. Before you start saying “well big whoop plenty of rifles are able to shoot groups like this,” let me add that the M4A1 ships with a “Mil-Spec” trigger, and the Micro Dot has a 3 moa dot. Let that sink in a bit… As far as accuracy goes the M4A1 is a rock star!
http://nightforceoptics.com/nxs/2-5-10×32
http://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_Micro_Dot_With_Removable_Base_p/md-06.htm

The Nightforce XXX.

The reticle of the Nightforce on a silhouette at 100 yards.

Ergonomics

The M4A1 is a rifle built with ergonomics in mind. Starting at the front, the rifle is equipped with a full-length free-float handguard. Low profile and deburred, the quad rail gives you optimal space for mounting whatever grips, lights, or tactical crap you see fitting. For the minimalist, the gun also comes with three rail panels that add texture to the front and make that high C grip just a bit more comfortable.

The pinned and welded muzzle device will prevent you from attaching a supressor, but it keep the overall length down. And it can be replaced.

The receiver offers a flared magwell, and a QD attachment point at the rear. Other than those two features, this guns has those standard Ar-15 ergonomics we are all so accustomed to. The gun doesn’t offer any ambidextrous controls, nor does it have any fancy 45-degree safety levers. Do you really needs them anyhow? If you do, you have your first stepping off point for customization.

The Standing Question

Is the M4A1 Mil-Spec + worth it? The MSRP on the M4A1 Mil-Spec+ is $1,949. Without the Mil-Spec+ finish, the gun comes in at $1,819.
Most AR afficiandos buy multiple guns, adding on pieces incrementally, in search of the perfect combination of parts. The irony is that most of us end up buying rifles that are clearly not what we want. Most carbines feel like they were built on an assembly line where random plastic placeholders were fitted onto a receiver. We start stripping them and replacing pieces until we end up with something that really works. Yet, by the time we get one rifle really finished, we’ve found something else that we want more and we start all over.

One of the benefits of the compact package is that it breaks down into manageable parts that are very easy to conceal.

So is the M4A1 Mil-Spec+ worth it? If you are only going to own one AR-15, this could be it! This rifle is a home wrecker. The M4A1 Mil-Spec + is one rifle that could convince you that is okay to ditch your other AR’s.  It is certainly a cohesive package that feels intentionally designed.
In all honesty, I think it is worth the price. With this kind of unfailing reliability, and the inherent abilities of the gun itself, why not? And you get the benefit of the Cerakote, too. I’ve seen a lot less being sold for a lot more. Just sayin’.
Daniel Defense M4A1: https://danieldefense.com/M4A1
Buy now at GunsAmerica: http://www.gunsamerica.com/M4A1

If you are looking for a rifle that is ready, right out of the box, the M4A1 isn’t going to disappoint.

Groups with the Primary Arms Micro Dot are surprisingly tight.

The Nightforce brings out the best in the M4A1. Sub MOA from a 14.5″ barrel.

The M4A1 doesn’t come with iron sights, but Daniel Defense’s fixed sights are a great option.

Field Cameras Catch Deer Eating Birds

Deer aren't the slim, graceful vegans we thought they were. Scientists using field cameras have caught deer preying on nestling song birds. And it's not just deer. Herbivores the world over may be supplementing their diets.

When researchers in North Dakota set up "nest cams" over the nests of song birds, they expected to see a lot of nestlings and eggs get taken by ground squirrels, foxes, and badgers. Squirrels hit thirteen nests, but other meat-eaters made a poor showing. Foxes and weasels only took one nest each. Know what fearsome animal out-did either of those two sleek, resourceful predators?

White-tailed deer.

These supposed herbivores placidly ate living nestlings right out of the nest. And if you're thinking that it must be a mistake, that the deer were chewing their way through some vegetation and happened to get a mouthful of bird, think again. Up in Canada, a group of ornithologists were studying adult birds. In order to examine them closely, the researchers used "mist-nets." These nets, usually draped between trees, are designed to trap birds or bats gently so they could be collected, studied, and released. When a herd of deer came by, they deer walked up to the struggling birds and ate them alive, right out of the nets.

This behavior is not limited to one species or one continent. Last year, a farmer in India made a video of a cow eating a recently-hatched chick. Some scientists speculate that herbivores turn to meat when they're not getting enough nutrients in their diet. It's possible. A biologist in Scotland documented red deer eating seabird chicks, and concluded it was how they got the dietary boost necessary to grow their antlers. The same researcher also documented sheep eating the heads and legs off of seabird chicks. And then there's another cow in India, which reportedly ate fifty chickens. There may be a specific need that drives herbivores to occasionally eat meat. It's also possible, experts say, that eating meat, when it can't run away from them, is just something supposed "herbivores" do, and we're finally getting wise to it.

The famous line from The Simpsons might be accurate - If a cow ever got the chance, he'd eat you and everyone you ever cared about.

Image: Craig Lewis; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters

[Sources: Herbivores Busted Preying on Birds Nests, Scottish Deer are Culprits in Bird Killings.]

Top 5 Popular but Non-Optimal Guns for SHTF Scenario

Rick Grimes loves his trusty Colt Python. But I’m not so sure It’s the perfect gun to get the job done. (Photo: AMC)

I love list articles. They’re typically brief, somewhat informative and always a good conversation starter. Yet, I feel that they’re a little binary in their approach in that they always seem to skew toward what is the best, most useful firearm for a certain application or what is the worst, most useless firearm for a certain application. Rarely, if ever, do list articles generated by the firearms community focus on firearms that are somewhat in between, meaning firearms that would be able to get the job done but would be less than optimal.
It’s in this vein that I’m revealing my most popular but also non-ideal guns for a sh*t hits the fan scenario. So, below is a list of five. As always, feel free criticize, commend or contribute to the list.
Revolver: Sorry Rick Grimes (of The Walking Dead), but if all hell breaks loose I’d prefer not to have a Colt Python or insert your favorite revolver. Yes, wheel guns are cool, durable and they’ll almost certainly take down an undead brain eater. However, they’re also heavy, bulky (to a degree, depending on barrel length) and are typically limited to six rounds. Plus, reloading a wheel gun without the help of a speedloader takes fine motor movement and time, two luxuries one may not have when confronting marauding hordes.
1911: I know, John Moses Browning is rolling over in his grave. Hear me out, though. Like my beef with revolvers, my beef with the 1911 is (a) its limited capacity 7+1 or 8+1 and (b) its weight relative to polymer pistols. It’s not a huge difference, but it’s not negligible either and might be even more noticeable if you’re constantly on the move. I guess you can get a polymer 1911, but still you’re stuck with a limited capacity sidearm.
M1 Garand: Battle tested? Yes. Iconic? Yes. A Classic? Certainly. Ideal for the end times? Not really. Why? One word: clips! Clips are outdated. Magazines are easier to load, safer to load (no Garand thumb) and more widely available. Of course, there’s also the issue of modern amenities (silencers, certain optics, lights, etc.) that just won’t affix neatly to an M1.

Joe Biden’s lessons on self-defense are about as good as OJ Simpson’s marital advice. Either one is likely to get you or someone you love killed. (NBC: News)

50 Cal: Plinking zombies from over a mile away with a Barrett model 82A1 would be a lot of fun, don’t get me wrong. But where on God’s green earth I’m I going to get the ammo to feed this beast? As it stands right now, .50 cal ammo is prohibitively expensive. Assuming that during the apocalypse it becomes even more scarce and hard to come by, what then? What will it cost to get more ammo?
Double-Barreled Shotgun: Despite what vice president Joe Biden tells you, firing two blasts from a double-barreled shotgun into the air is not going to scare away dystopian predators. On the contrary, it’ll likely give away your position and invite more trouble. Not good. If you’re going to carry a scattergun, go with a pump-action or semi-auto. While they don’t have the vice presidential endorsement, they do have more versatility and can carry more rounds.
Conclusion
By now you’ve probably picked up on one of the major themes of this piece, which is mainly that when the stuff hits the fan I want a gun that is light, easy to maneuver, durable, somewhat ubiquitous — so parts, ammo and accessories are easy to find — and that is capable of holding (or accepting a magazine with) a high number of rounds.
What comes to mind? For me, it’s two specific firearms: The AK-47 and the Glock 19. Those are the gold standard for zombie guns, in my humble opinion.