Ballistic Vol.8 №4 2022

CEH SE The Mecanik M02 red-dot sight offered a relatively wide field-of-view and enabled the author to make quick and precise transitions between targets. PERFORMANCE CANIK SFx RIVAL VELOCITY ACCURACY LOAD ›› Hornady 115 Critical Defense 1,186 1.14 Sig Sauer 124 Elite V-Crown 1,128 1.24 The best five- Federal Premium 124 +P HST 1,254 1.32 shot group at 25 Federal Premium 135 Hydra Shok Deep 1,105 0.76 yards measured just 0.76 inches Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in feet per second (fps) by chro- and was shot nograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 25 yards. with Federal’s 135-grain Hydra Shok Deep. As for the complete package, both models review pistol (not part of the retail kit). I’ll just negative I could find with the trigger was with include the small toolkit, a cleaning rod, say right up front that everyone was absolutely the take-up—and it’s not really a negative. cleaning brush, two mags, two aluminum impressed with how it performed. baseplates, an aluminum magwell, a punch There are a few millimeters of extra-clean tool for disassembly and the three backstraps. As far as the shooting experience itself pre-travel before you hit the first wall. Then The package also includes a fairly nice holster goes, the Rival offered a fairly flat and relatively there’s about a quarter-inch of further travel that can be adjusted for different cants soft recoil impulse. Part of that was because through slightly increased resistance before and belt sizes. When you consider that the of the lightened slide, and the rest was due to the second wall. After that, there’s a satisfyingly MSRP for everything mentioned above is just the great ergos with the high grip purchase crisp break for the shot. This is nitpicking on $680—and likely to sell for well under that and grippy texturing for solid control. Handling my part since I don’t want to come across like price—the new SFx Rival is a phenomenal was fantastic with the customizable mag I’m gushing over this pistol. But if there was a value on paper. The next step was to see how release for quick and confident engagement way to reduce the pre-travel, that would be the it actually did on the firing line. and the ambi controls like the slide stop for one thing that could improve the trigger pull. left-handed shooters. TRIAL BY FIRE Just like everything else, the accuracy of the For a striker-fired pistol, the Rival’s trigger SFx Rival was outstanding. I had two bench With the assistance of a couple of range bud- borders on phenomenal with its only compe- sessions at 25 yards with the Rival—once with dies, the SFx was given a thorough workout tition being Walther’s Dynamic Performance iron sights and once with the Mecanik M02 on three different occasions. The first time was trigger. And it’s this superb trigger, with its red-dot. As usual, I was able to squeeze out without an optic and the other two were with exquisitely short reset, that allowed for excel- a few tighter groups once the red-dot was the Mecanik M02 red-dot supplied with the lent offhand accuracy as well as extremely installed. With the irons, I was able to get quick (and accurate) follow-up shots. The only groups in the 1.5- to the 1.75-inch range at 25 140 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 Ballisticmag.com

Across all premium ammo tried, (L, Hornady, R, Sig), the Rival averaged between 1.5 and 1.75 inches at 25 yards. up until now. They just run hard and fast and never break their stride. yards, but things got more interesting after that. In the end, whether it’s for defense or use Using the red-dot, I tried a few different in competitions, a pistol has to be absolutely FINAL THOUGHTS reliable. That’s not a problem for the SFx Rival. premium loads from Federal, Sig Sauer and During three different range sessions and When the smoke cleared and after having Hornady, and average group sizes for most with almost 900 rounds fired, there was not a cataloged all of the SFx Rival’s specs, features loads measured between 1.28 to 1.46 inches. single malfunction of any kind. This is typical and performance metrics, it’s tough to come While my METE SFx loves Hornady’s 115- of my experiences with several Canik pistols up with anything negative about the pistol. If grain Critical Defense load, the SFx Rival was I absolutely had to nitpick, I would prefer a crazy over Federal’s 135-grain Hydra-Shok better friction fit when the magwell is slid onto Deep offering. the frame. The fit was just a hair loose and I felt the set screw was doing a bit more work than Average groups with it were just 1.10 it should have been doing. Even so, I haven’t inches with the best group, believe it or not, of noticed a problem yet, and as I say, that’s 0.76 inches at 25 yards. That group might have really nitpicking. been just an accident, but an average of 1.10 inches is better than what most custom smiths When it comes down to it, the SFx Rival is a guarantee for high-end, ultra-pricey pistols. The superb pistol—and not just for the money. Yes, trick is just surveying ammunition that’s on the it’s an outstanding value, but I would still call market and finding what your pistol likes. it a superb pistol even at a much higher price. It’s just that good. If you’re looking to make a Speaking of the red-dot, the Mecanik M02 splash into competitive shooting and are look- red-dot offered strong performance as well. ing for a GOAT-tier, polymer-framed pistol at a Matching the Vortex Venom footprint, it has a reasonable price, the SFx Rival is the answer fairly wide field-of-view without resulting in an to the question and is now the one to beat. For overly exaggerated height. It features a 3-MOA more information, visit canikusa.com. dot that is powered by one 2032 battery that offers a life of 65,000 hours at the lowest setting. The M02 includes buttons for manual adjustments of the dot brightness and dials to adjust both elevation and windage one MOA at a time. The Mecanik M02 is billed as having both waterproof and shockproof housing. Without long-term testing, it’s hard to know how durable it is; only time will tell. But for me, as good as it is or isn’t, the M02 would only see recreational use because it shuts off automatically after four hours. That’s a deal-breaker for me with a red-dot that’s used on a defensive pistol. Ballisticmag.com BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 141



143

SILVE CELE TI Since its launch, Henry Repeating Arms to both consumers and its network of Henry Ben Avery Shooting range in Phoenix, Arizona. has sold more than 1 million of the H001 dealers. In fact, their dedication to customer Together with the NRA, Henry organized these rifles. To celebrate that momentous event, service earned them the prestigious Customer shooters into a line spanning a mile and a half Henry auctioned off their one-millionth H001 Service Department of the Year award at the long. The shooters simultaneously fired two Classic Lever-Action. This one-millionth American Business Awards. shots from a commemorative Henry Golden H001 was even more special with a gor- Boy Silver 1,000 Man Edition .22 rifle. Henry geous exhibition-grade walnut stock and One of the judges remarked, “Henry donated the custom engraved rifles, and all highly detailed hand engraving completed by Repeating Arms’ commitment to the full proceeds to support various NRA initiatives. Baron Technologies. customer service experience is extraordinary Anthony Imperato commented on the event, and their approach is unusual in these times.” “The Henry 1,000 Man Shoot was all that I had During the auction at the annual SHOT The lineup at Henry has grown significantly hoped it would be and more. Looking out at Show, the gun sold for an incredible $55,025. over the years. The company now produces a sea of 1,000 participants, their families and Henry donated the money to the Hunting a broad range of lever-action rifles in both 400 volunteers was very emotional. There was Heritage Trust. This was the largest amount rimfire and centerfire calibers, in a variety a tremendous sense of patriotism and I’ll never ever achieved at the SHOT Show Auction for a of finishes, including alloy, steel, hardened forget it.” I am honored to say that I was in rimfire firearm. Henry rifles are in a class of guns brass, hardened silver, color case-hardened attendance that day, and it was as impressive that are seen as both collectible and useable. and all-weather. Some of their highlights as it sounds. Rare is any company that can are the Henry Big Boy, which is a centerfire organize and pull off such a challenging event, CONTEMPORARY DAYS lever-action that is ideal for brush hunting, but it went off smoothly. home-defense and Cowboy Action Shooting. Today, Anthony Imperato acts as Henry’s CEO They have also resurrected the original Henry PHILANTHROPIC COMPANY and is the company’s principal owner. Henry rifle, and today it is offered in calibers .44-40 is completely a family-owned business, and and .45 Colt in a variety of finishes. From the While obviously a successful business, Henry the company motto is “Made in America, or beginning with one rifle, they now offer 207 is also a role model for charity. Through a Not Made at All.” The roll mark on every barrel different products as well as 55 other exclu- charitable branch of the company called Guns says “Made in the USA.” The company’s sive-to-Henry partners. Henry also produces headquarters is based in Rice Lake, Wis- some exceptional lever-action and single-shot consin, and a second manufacturing facility shotguns in a variety of configurations. is in Bayonne, New Jersey. Henry has more than 500 employees and builds more than Henry Repeating Arms was also the 300,000 Henry firearms annually. Besides its catalyst and driver of one of the most impres- strong Made-in-America reputation, Henry is sive Second Amendment events in modern known for industry-leading and award-winning history. On Monday, November 14, 2016, extraordinary customer service that it provides 1,000 shooters from 16 states gathered at the Henry Repeating Arms founder and CEO Anthony Imperato had a vision for the company and in short order made it into a worldwide success. 144 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 Ballisticmag.com

›› The Henry rifle has company was built on a solid foundation of become a part of talent and sheer determination, and while we The company now American culture have come a long way, it still feels like we are produces a broad with many having just getting started. Henry fans and customers range of lever-action fond memories of it have a lot to look forward to this year and rifles in both rimfire being their first rifle. beyond.” Throughout the year, Henry Repeat- and centerfire calibers ing Arms will be celebrating 25 years with suitable for a variety the release of several limited-edition models, of shooting purposes. including the Golden Boy “Silver Anniversary” Edition, a special edition of the New Original Ballisticmag.com Henry, a 25th-anniversary edition of the H001 Classic Lever Action .22 and more. Owning a Henry is a must for most serious gun owners. While modern technology and high magazine capacity have their place, there is something ultimately epic about running a lever gun. In the hands of an experienced shooter, lever-actions can be almost as fast as a semi-automatic rifle. If you want to see a lever gun run at blinding speed, I suggest you go watch a Cowboy Action Shooting compe- tition. Lever guns—Henrys in particular—have become popular as personal-defense rifles in localities with anti-black-rifle ideology. Of course, Henrys are right at home on the hunt. From small game to elk and bear, Henry has a rifle to fit your needs. THE BRIGHT FUTURE One personal affinity I have for these classic rifles goes back to the H001. This .22 LR is simply a blast to run. In many ways, I consider it a gateway gun. I have taken countless new shooters to the range and let them spend time on this rifle. In every case, these people went on to buy their own guns and become part of our 2A family. One of the most unique points about this company is its unmatched lifetime warranty. Anthony Imperato shared, “Henry owners have my personal guarantee to make certain they are 100-percent satisfied with their purchase of our firearms. If you are going to spend your money on a Henry, I can assure you that we will do whatever it takes to make sure that you are happy you bought a Henry.” Henry Repeating Arms is more than just a gun company. They are a part of American culture. They have taken the exceptional Henry rifle and launched a humble empire. Rare is the company that gives back so much to the community that helps drive their success. I have no doubt that we will be celebrating many more quarter-century moments in the future. For more information, visit henryusa.com. BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 145

wi d KITCHEN Chef Albert explain- ing meat groups on a whitetail deer and what cooking methods each is best suited for. DEAD (And delicious) Experience a field-to-table adventure that’s perfect for the pending food crisis 146 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 Ballisticmag.com

→ Sitting on a bluff overlooking the upper As I can truly only imagine the ghost of thou- Brazos River, I could feel the presence sands of bison moving across the Brazos valley of a band of Comanche Indians. It was before me, I couldn’t help but think about how far we have come in just a mere 150 or so years. In around 4 p.m. on this mild early winter the early 1800s, there were an estimated 50 to 70 million bison roaming the plains of the United day. I knew the time by the position of the sun. The States. By the end of the century, there were only an estimated 375 bison left. That’s over the time breeze was lightly on my left, which told me another of roughly one generation! In the next 100 or so years, we have gone from self-sustaining to almost northern would sweep across the plains in the next completely dependent. day or two. That would explain the movement of the As I sat in the stand with my rifle at the ready and thinking about our ancestors, I kept asking myself enormous herds of buffalo and the handful of white- what happened to us as a society. We have gone from self-supportive and self-sustaining to almost tails that my Indian friends and I had been survey- totally dependent on corporate grocery store chains and box stores in about 150 years. Have the days ing. I suspect they knew the cold front was coming of providing for oneself been lost? Up until this trip, I hadn’t put a lot of deep thought into that question. in also, and that is why it was more important to I took for granted that I had been taught from an early age how to hunt and fish, to provide! them to hunt for food than to attack and kill me. We both had the same goal—to eat. The problem for the Comanches is that they had more mouths to feed. I only had myself. I did not need an animal as big as a buffalo, they needed many. At this point, I was more interested in a whitetail. It would be all I needed, and what I didn’t eat in the next few days I would dry for jerky. LIFELINE OF THE LAND The Brazos is the lifeline for all living things in this part of Northwest Texas. Not far from here is a bluff where Comanches would run herds of bison off the ledge so they could harvest enough to survive. What they had leftover would be traded for other necessities. This area of the Republic of Texas was extremely harsh. Winters were brutally cold, and The author geting in some range time at a distance of 1,000 yards with the Bog Death Grip tripod before his hunt. BY SCOTT BAXTER Ballisticmag.com

wi d KITCHEN FIELD-TO-TABLE EXPERIENCE Dry aging whitetail deer after the initial process- As we began to disassemble the animal ing. The author has found that dry aging the under the instruction of Chef Albert, I began The purpose of this trip was to go from field carcasses at 35 to 45 degrees for a period of to realize how much I didn’t know. It’s amazing to table, which is broken down into three five to seven days results in the best meat. what a little professional instruction will get phases—the hunt, processing and the meal. you. He introduced us to a whole new world in As we all began to arrive at the T Diamond/ me that evening. I chose to gamble and wait the fine art of venison muscle groups and what Guitar Ranch, the excitement began to build. another day. they are best suited for. A good rule of thumb is Congregating in the lodge, we proceeded with to keep it simple. The tender cuts get high-heat the meet-and-greet formalities. There were a Hunting morning and afternoon for two dry cooking methods and are served rare to handful of writers, videographers and media days proved fruitful for our team of hunters. medium-rare. The tougher cuts get a low and folks, reps for sponsoring companies, and It would have been relatively easy to limit out. slow wet cooking method to allow them to chefs from across the country and Canada. By day three we had all harvested as much become tender. It is also important to age the We came from all walks of life, but we had one as we needed and were ready to start the meat. I have found that dry aging the meat in thing in common—we were all hunters. processing phase. a temp of 35-45 degrees Fahrenheit for five to seven days works best. There are obviously After the introductions and some socializing, PROCESSING POINTERS other methods but after years of experimenting the first stop was the range to zero our Crim- and Chef Albert’s advice, I truly like the dry-age son-Trace-glassed Weatherby Mark V Hunter As the walk-in fridge began to fill up with game, method. One of the most notable differences rifles. The Weatherby guys brought a couple of it was time for Chef Albert to start taking us with the dry-aging process is that the meat is different calibers—6.5 RPM and the 6.5-300 through step two—the processing phase. Pro- much easier to work with. When properly aged, Weatherby Magnum. I ended up with the latter. cessing can be broken down into two phases, the sinew will peel off like paper. Wet-aged The 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum proved to be the separation into different meat groups off meat can become quite slippery and unwieldy extremely flat shooting and accurate. of the animal and then making different foods when trying to process it. from the meat such as sausage, pate, scrapple, That afternoon we were provided a guide etc. The fact is, most of us hunters go to the Once the cuts of meat had been separated, that would get us to a pre-determined spot. lease, hunt with our buddies, harvest our deer it was time to move to the second phase of We were allowed one mature buck (possibly and then we are off to the processor. A few processing with the help of folks from Meat! a trophy), a doe and two hogs. On the first weeks later, we pick up a few sticks of jalapeno and their extraordinary processing equipment. day, we hit the ground running, and it did not summer sausage, a handful of roasts, butter- Chef Albert led our team in the fine art of disappoint. Sitting atop the bluff overlooking flied backstrap and ground meat. making things from meat. With a handful of the Brazos River and the valley below me, I spices and some expert instruction, within found myself daydreaming of another day and no time we were making breakfast sausage, time where missing a shot could mean the dif- brats, pate, scrapple and a few other things. ference between starving and surviving. There The Meat! grinders, stuffers, mixers and other was no doubt that I was in a good spot. Game processing equipment made carrying out the was plentiful. A handful of younger bucks, 8 to 10 does and some nice-size hogs blessed 148 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 Ballisticmag.com

EOTECH® Holographic Weapon Sights (HWS), Vudu riflescopes, E F L X™ EFLX mini reflex sights, and magnifiers offer amazing speed to target, unparalleled quality, and durability second to none. There is only one clear choice — EOTECH. GAIN YOUR ADVANTAGE NOW. Scan for more eotechinc.com EFLX information. ©Copyright 2022 EOTECH, LLC. All rights reserved. EOTECH®, Vudu®, HWS® and EFLX™ are registered trademarks of EOTECH, LLC.

wi d KITCHEN field-to-table concept enjoyable and almost Idea Ranch for pulling this extraordinary group you supply yourself and your family with your effortless. Let’s face it, who hasn’t questioned of people together. own food? In my professional opinion, it takes what actually happens to your venison or hog around three days off the grid in urban environ- after it’s dropped off at the processor? Do you SKILLS FOR LIFE ments for people to start becoming desperate get your meat back or are you getting someone if they are not prepared. As they say, desperate else’s roadkill? In the infamous words of Chuck From the time I started writing this article, people do desperate things! Skinner of Meat!, “You only want to put your we have seen additional interruptions in our own meat in your mouth!” supply chain, grids hacked, bank accounts I was blessed and honored to spend the frozen in the name of peaceful protests, civil week with this great group of professionals. After a couple of days of processing out unrest, record inflation and war breaking out. Taking wild game from field to table not only everyone’s venison and hog, we vacuum Did I forget record fuel prices? All are capable was an incredible experience, but it was also sealed what we were not going to use for our of interrupting our food sources. Some say a great opportunity to learn and grow. It adds final night’s feast. Meat! also provided us with times will get worse before they get better. confidence to the tool shed so that when some amazing vacuum sealers—a standard Regardless of what is going to happen, can things get tough, we know that we can feed vacuum sealer and a chamber vacuum sealer. Both worked flawlessly. Chef Micheal Hunter and contributor Scott Baxter THE MEAL with the grand finale, a delicious bacon-wrapped Did I mention the final feast? We were teamed venison filet! up with chefs and each team was assigned a course of the meal to prepare. My partner was Michael Hunter from Canada. He is well known for his wild game restaurant, Antler Kitchen and Bar, located in Toronto. Hunter is even better known for being the recipient of a street protest by a hoard of ultra-woke vegans. His answer was to butcher a deer leg in the front window during the protest. Obviously, that video took about a minute to go viral. The feast consisted of five courses of wild game prepared in various ways. Our chosen dish was bacon-wrapped filets with a borde- laise mushroom sauce, served with spaghetti squash and roasted zucchini. The evening finished with full bellies, great laughs and amazing stories from an incredible group of people. Hats off to Outdoor Solutions and the Ballisticmag.com 150 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022

SPONSOR LINKS BOG OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS boghunt.com outdoorsolutionscorp.com CALDWELL SCHRADE caldwellshooting.com schrade.com FROM FIELD TO TABLE UNDER ARMOUR fromfieldtotable.com underarmour.com MEAT! WEATHERBY meatyourmaker.com weatherby.com MORE ON THE MEAT! CLEAR, COMPACT ARSENAL RED DOT → “Meat! equipment is MDPR2 4 MOA MICRO DOT © 2022 UMAREX USA, INC. easy to use and easy to clean and maintain. And + High-performance lens coatings for optimal best of all, easy to love!” Meat! dot contrast in any lighting conditions has made it easy and affordable for hunters and fishermen to be + Durable and versatile for most rugged field conditions able to own commercial-grade + Delta Pro Footprint with included Picatinny processing equipment at a great price. Essentially, they have taken mount for tactical rifle use out the retailer and sell directly + Achieve rapid shooting transitions and to the consumer. That equates to savings and awesome equipment. target acquisition with the 4 MOA red dot Meat! has a full line of equipment, size and large viewing window including slicers, grinders, stuffers, mixers and dehydrators. Vacuum SHOP MDPR2 sealers and sous vide machines are also in the Meat! arsenal. Their goal AxeonOptics.com is to enhance your field-to-table experience. The website has tips When Technology and recipes from the pros and will Meets Affordability, answer any questions you may You’re Clearly On Target. have. Whether novice or expert this site is there to bring the outdoor community together and to share the experience. For more info, visit meatyourmaker.com. —Scott Baxter our families. Like our ancestors before us, the key to surviving tough times is to be prepared, not only to develop those skills to provide but to also pass those skills along. If we really think about it, self-sustain- ability and self-sufficiency are similar but overlap. Self-sufficiency is not as complex and can mean shorter terms of taking care of ourselves. Either way, it seems most of society has lost the art and skill of being self-sufficient. In a mere two or three generations, we have unfortunately become totally dependent on government and big corporations to take care of us. BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 151

AFTER HOURS 152 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022

→ Ah, malt liquor—the trailer park cousin of the American beer world. This golden pain reducer is usually found on the bottom shelf of the corner cooler with a light burnt out. As you open the cooler to grab your favorite 40, the slight tingling of regret begins to nudge at your consciousness. To hell with it you say and grab your 40 and roll. After all, you are the OG and there is a street calling your name. Drunk History Malt liquor technically is beer with high alcohol content. Legally, it often includes any alcoholic beverage with 5% or more alcohol by volume made with malted barley. That sounds innocuous enough, but there is a phrase in that description that is the key to malt liquor’s popularity with the drinking crowd. The alcohol content in this drink has a punch. It’s about 20% stronger than “regular” beer. This translates into more bang for your buck. While many malt liquors were and are available in cans, the 40-ounce bottle became syn- onymous with the drink, so much so that in most circles if you say “grab a 40” there is no question about what you want. Some interesting trivia on malt liquor is that when it was first produced, it was marketed towards the upscale country club crowd. It was described in some advertisements as “champagne-like” and “more of a cocktail than a beer.” As you can imagine it never really took hold and sales stagnated. BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 153

40T HE S: MALT LIQUORAT ITSBESTANDWORST Bottom Of The Barrel Where malt liquor did become popular was Now we turn to white suburbia with in more working-class and urban neighbor- Next up is a malt liquor with the absolute Mickey’s. The cliché is that this is the drink of white hoodlums from coast to coast. Most hoods. Once the marketing teams saw this best name—King Cobra. It has been referred beer experts agree if they’re going to drink any 40, it’s going to be a Mickey’s. Made by trend, they jumped on it and changed the to in some circles as “40 ounces of clear Miller Brewing Co., this malt liquor has 5.6% ABV. Many believe it is a “fine” malt liquor as direction. As time went on, malt liquor became liquid gold.” Once again, buyer beware. its bottle says, and the judges at the GABF and World Beer Cup agree—it’s a standout a part of rap culture as well. Names like Ice King Cobra is brewed by the hop masters at brew. As they always say, it might be best to get a second opinion. The brew is also known Cube, Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Anheuser-Busch and comes in at 6% ABV. as Mickey’s Big Mouth because of the large diameter opening. This makes pounding the Warren G, Nate Dogg and the Wu-Tang Clan The official description is a premium malt liquor green devil all that much easier. Like a couple of other malt liquors on this list, I have spent all found time to mix in a 40. Fast forward brewed with a combination of malts and select some time with a Mickey’s in my hand when I was young, cool and willing to try anything to today and you can still find a 40 at most unmalted grains. Brewed with U.S.-grown once. At this point, you know what I am going to say. Get those squat reps in and get down liquor stores. You are still here reading, so let hops, a special fermentation produces a bold to the bottom shelf once again. me take you on a walk to some of the best or and distinctly flavorful taste. As my friends in to hip-hop culture is St. Ides. Everyone from worst of the malt liquor world. Some are still the swamps of the South would say, “Them being produced and some are now history. We are some pretty words about an ugly dog.” will toast those still with us and pour one out Unfortunately, the name is about all this drink for those that are gone. has going for it. One review summed it up best when the reviewer said, “Looks like urine Billy Dee & The OE and doesn’t taste much better: intense blast of corn mixed with a touch of grassy hops Our first 40 is one that became iconic and, in and garbage can juice.” But don’t let that turn many ways, launched the popularity of malt liquor. Of course, we are talking about Colt 45. The funny thing about Colt 45 was that it was originally marketed to the upper-middle class. Commercials included the likes of a little-known actor named Ted Danson. The pitch failed and a new plan was devised. In 1986, malt liquor would be forever changed when the team at Colt 45 brought in a new spokesman. His name was Billy Dee Williams, and he became the king of malt liquor. He was Lando Calrissian for goodness sake. And, if Lando was sipping Colt 45, so were millions of others. Colt 45 is a strong drink with 8% ABV. It comes to us from none other than Pabst Brewing Company. It is still around today, and if you want a go-to 40, you need to grab a Colt 45. The next batter up is Olde English 800. It is more commonly known as OE800. It is described as offering a smooth, rich taste with a slightly fruity aroma that is a favorite among malt liquor drinkers. I’m not sure about that, but this 8% ABV powerhouse is still very popular. Another nickname it goes by is “8-Ball,” referring to its alcohol content, and it has been the king of the streets since 1964. As with any beverage in this category, there is a love/hate relationship. People are either calling 8-Ball the king of malt liquor, or they are quietly pouring it down the drain. Once again, if you are looking to get some street cred, you should probably crack open an Olde English 800 and see what the buzz is about. 154 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 Ballisticmag.com

Snoop Dogg to Tupac to Macklemore has referenced St. Ides in their music. A product of the Pabst Brewing Company, St. Ides is like PBR on steroids at 8.2% ABV. Like most other malt liquors, St. Ides has a nickname as well. Here, we call it “The Crooked.” The high alcohol volume offsets the taste challenge that some may face. I will be honest and say that I have tried St. Ides before and didn’t hate it. I won’t be ordering it with dinner, but if you want to get into a 40 that doesn’t taste like hate and regret, St. Ides is a place to start. Next in our lineup is Steel Reserve 211. This is a powerful 8.1% ABV beverage that can still be found around the country. It is described as: “Slightly sweet and malt-ish, Steel Reserve is a great all-around option when you need to pack a punch with as little cash as possible.” Steel Reserve 211 is produced by Steel Brewing Company, which is owned by Miller, a subsidiary Ballisticmag.com BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 155

THREADS ® I HEAT STYLISH AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR SUMMER CONCEALED CARRY SAND IN THE CRACK, GATS IN THE PACK! HIGHER TEMPERATURES MEAN BEACHES, POOL PARTIES, SUNTANS AND MINIMAL CLOTHING. WHILE WE ALL LOVE DONNING OUR LIGHTWEIGHT SUMMER ATTIRE, THESE SITUATIONS MAKE CONCEALING YOUR CARRY WEAPON DIFFICULT AND CREATE HARSH CONDITIONS FOR YOUR GEAR. HERE ARE SOME HOT NEW PRODUCTS TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FIREARM COOL AND PROTECTED THIS SUMMER. BY ALEX LANDEEN 156 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022

WHETHER YOU’RE DEFENDING FREEDOM OR ENJOYING IT, OUR OPTICS ARE READY FOR ANYTHING. ©2022 Trijicon, Inc. | Wixom, MI USA | 1-800-338-0563 | 22TRIJ14777-T22 | trijicon.com 2 MOA GREEN DOT Trijicon MRO® MRO HD What we’ve learned from decades of deployment with America’s greatest fighting forces, we’ve put back into our technology for America’s greatest shooters. For example, the MRO® and MRO® HD are engineered with many of the same innovations as the battle-tested ACOG®—in a compact housing. • Large viewing area for faster target acquisition and no tube effect • Multi-coated, superior quality glass lenses for outstanding clarity • Fully sealed, tough-as-nails, forged aluminum housing • Adjustable brightness settings, including night vision settings • Now available: Trijicon MRO® HD (with optional Magnifier) • Now available: Red, green, and complex reticle configurations Upgrade your optics at Trijicon.com/MRO. MADE IN THE U.S.A.

THREADS ® Retro Rifle Hibiscus Pink Are Retro Rifle button-downs the best party shirts ever? Maybe. First, their proprietary poly/spandex blend is just the right amount of stretch for shoulder mobility when sending the finishing beer-pong shot. The fit is perfect. The extra thick collar holds up and stays in place with hidden buttons. The front pocket holds sunglasses and pens. The patterning is perfect, just the right amount of “gun shirt” that you still get passing compliments from your lefty aunt Margaret at the pool party for how nice and stylish you look, and how that color really brings out your eyes while failing to notice the true bouquet of badassery inherent within. They are, however, hand-wash only…so you might have to move the gun parts out of the utility sink once in a while. Vice City Blue button down is featured in the opening photo. MSRP $50 (retro-rifle.com) Sheepdog Response Low Viz Waist Pack It’s summer. The kids are out of school and everyone is ready for an adventure. The wife and daughter want to spend some time on the beach, and your son is excited to see Jurassic Quest, the traveling dinosaur museum in town for the weekend. The plan is set with just one problem. How do you conceal carry with a lightweight button-up shirt and swim trunks? The answer is as old as time, or at least the 1980s. The Low Viz Waist Pack from Sheepdog Response is a carry-all, do-all minimal pack designed for comfort and concealability in an unsuspecting package. Built with 500 denier nylon and YKK zippers, the pack features a breathable mesh back panel, a rear cell phone pocket and a universal/ freeform holster system capable of securing handguns from subcompact to full size. With additional pockets and built-in elastic mag/accessory holders, this pack is the perfect size for an afternoon out. And remember, looking like a dork can be great camouflage. MSRP $60 (sheepdogresponse.com) This retro-style sunglasses company started in 2012 with Ballisticmag.com the simple principle of having fun and building a product that can take a beating. The earpieces are adjustable both in length and angle for a comfortable and custom fit. Wearing a pair of these is a statement in itself, telling the world, “I party, kick ass, get shit done but don’t take it all too seriously.” Now the Pit Viper 2000 series is available in a step up from the ANSI Z87+ to true U.S. Military Standard Ballistic Rating. The BALL-ISTIC Pit Vipers have matte rubberized frames and non-mirrored lenses, making them a safe choice for the field. Have I found my new range shades? Yup. MSRP $109 (pitviper.com) 158 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022

Viktos Ruck Recovery MC Slide I have been wearing the original Ruck Recovery sandal for a few years now, and they are great. When the new Slide came out, I knew I had to check it out. These sandals have the same thermoformable EVA footbed, which is great and allows for basically an immediate, custom-fitting footbed by placing it in the oven for a few minutes before wearing. The Slide’s rubber outsole seems a little more durable and slip resistant, and I really like the pattern on the footbed. It feels great and allows a little more slip resistance if your feet are wet or sweaty. The leather and nylon webbing footstrap seems super durable and should last for years. Note—they might run a little big, so if you have thin feet like me, maybe order down a size. MSRP $75 (viktos.com) Bone-Dri Handgun 2.0 Case Gymswym2 shorts have a four-way stretch poly chassis, meaning you are not restricted Moisture is never good when firearms are con- whichever way you move. The alloy G-hook cerned. Rain, humidity and sweat can promote rust closure means a custom fit between training, and affect finish and performance. The Bone-Dri gun swimming and lounging. Two main pockets cases are engineered with Absorbits, a proprietary moisture-removing material that are positioned on the outseam to stay out of draws moisture away from your firearms after exposure to wet conditions. Built from the way during lifting exercises. A zippered industrial 800D PVC nylon, the Handgun 2.0 will fit two full-size pistols, five magazines pocket on the right-hand side keeps ECD and a tool kit. The Bone-Dri Shotgun/Rifle case is a great option in the field when secure. MSRP $55 (viktos.com) storing your rifle between hunting sessions. Combined with an oil wipe, you might never have to deal with the rust fuzzies again. MSRP $58 (bone-dri.com) BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 159 Ballisticmag.com

FUBeAR FEEDBACK Ballisticmag.com This comment from reader Tom Walz made FUBeAR smile (something that doesn’t happen all that often): “FUBeAR is FUBeAR. As with most of your readers, he is who he is and doesn’t think he needs any changes. Again, as with most of your readers, you are probably best appreciating him for who he is. That’s probably better for your health as well.” Additionally, Saul S. Goodman asked if stuffed FUBeAR’s are in Ballistic’s plans, as his wife Kim is a huge collector of rare bears. We’ll keep you all posted. Feedback on all things FUBeAR is always welcome and appreciated. Hit us via [email protected] or via FUBeAR’s spot on ballisticmag.com/fubear-ballistic-magazine. 160 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022

RUGER® LCP® MAX Chambered in .380 Auto, the Ruger® LCP® MAX fits 10+1 rounds into the same footprint as the LCP® II. Compact and lightweight, the LCP® MAX continues to be the definitive pocket-sized personal protection pistol. LEARN The acquisition, ownership, possession and use of firearms is heavily regulated. Some models may not be legally available in your state or locale. Whatever your purpose MORE for lawfully acquiring a firearm – know the law, get trained, and shoot safely.