PREPPING JUST IN CASE?

Not only is this a pistol, but SIG Sauer’s MPX-P PSB is
equipped with SIG’s new BATF-approved stabilizing
brace which folds to the side for compact storage.
NOT-A-STOCK
By David M. Fortier
L
Always wanted a Short Barrel Rifle but won’t jump
through the hoops? Here’s your solution.
ike to have a short barreled carbine but don’t want
to end up in the pokey? Well, you are not alone.
Interest in both NFA registered Short Barrel
Rifles and pistols based on rifle designs have exploded in
recent years.
Today more people than ever are interested in lawfully owning a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches.
The reasons vary greatly, but interest is definitely on the
rise. It seems more people than ever are willing to tackle
the NFA paperwork to obtain a legal Short Barrel Rifle.
Even more people though are going a different route and
buying/building an AR or AK pistol and installing an
arm stabilizing brace onto it. The end result must be shot
to be fully appreciated.
For those of you not familiar with it, the stabilizing
brace is a game changer for large bulky pistols built on
rifle or pistol caliber carbine type platforms. In years past
I viewed AK pistols as fairly useless noise makers. AR
pistols were a step up due to the receiver extension providing an additional point of contact, but still less than
optimum. The addition of a stabilizing brace changes the
entire dynamics of how these bulky pistols perform. If
you have any interest in Short Barrel Rifles but do not
want to go through the paperwork, you will want to consider a stabilizing brace.
Ok, so what exactly is a stabilizing brace and what does it
do? Good question. It was originally developed with badly
injured war veterans in mind: those
who had returned from the battlefield with only one arm. Many of
these wounded warriors had enjoyed hunting and shooting before
being injured. With the loss of an
arm, they were not able to handle a
rifle or carbine as they were before.
So, with them in mind a solution
was developed by a U.S. Military
Here’s where the stabilizing
brace started. It was intended
to allow disabled veterans to
shoot with one arm. It is perfectly legal to use in other ways.
veteran with help from a top V.A. prosthetic specialist in
the form of a contoured rubber piece which is attached
to an AR, AK or SIG pistol. This could then be strapped
to the shooter’s forearm allowing them to fire the pistol
with one hand. Doing so allowed injured vets to again be
It didn’t take too long for someone to realize that
the brace can effectively be used as a buttstock,
turning an AR or AK pistol into a stubby carbine.
the BATF. Earl Griffith of the Firearms Technology Branch replied with a letter dated
able to enjoy shooting and hunting with a
March 05 2014 stating, “We have deterfirearm they were familiar with.
mined firing a pistol from the shoulder
The BATF carefully reviewed the stabilizing
would not cause the pistol to be reclassibrace as designed for AR and AK pistols and isfied as an SBR:
sued a letter stating it was not a stock and legal
FTB classifies weapons based on their
for use. This is where things became interesting. It
physical design characteristics. While usage/
wasn’t long before people took notice of the fact you
functionality of the weapon does influence
could shoulder fire a pistol so equipped.
the intended design, it is not the sole criterion
Many wondered if using the device without it strapped for determining the classification of a weapon. Generally
to your forearm would make it a stock, and thus illegal. speaking, we do not classify weapons based on how an inAfter numerous arguments on the internet about this, a dividual uses a weapon. FTB has previously determined
police officer sent in a letter asking for clarification from (See FTB #99146) that firing of a weapon from a particu-
lar position, such as placing the receiver extension of an
AR-15 type pistol on the user’s shoulder, does not change
the classification of a weapon. Further, certain firearm
accessories such as the SIG Stability Brace have not been
classified by FTB as shoulder stocks and, therefore, using
the brace improperly does not constitute a design change.
Using such an accessory improperly would not change
the classification of the weapon per Federal law.”
The BATF stating you could legally mount a stabilizing brace onto a pistol and shoot it however you wanted
immediately led to an explosion of interest. Here was the
Grail long thought to be legend. Gun blogs lit up in a
firestorm of interest.
At a recent Intermedia Outdoors Editorial Roundtable
held at Academi’s Moyock, N.C. facility it became crystal clear we are living in the day of the stabilizing brace.
SIG, Century Arms and a host of other companies all
brought pistols outfitted with stabilizing braces for writers to handle and shoot. IMO’s own Jim Tarr coined a
name for the popular accessory immediately after it was
first introduced, the Not-A-Stock. Henceforth that is all
it was referred to as by IMO writers.
“WE HAVE DETERMINED FIRING A PISTOL
FROM THE SHOULDER WOULD NOT CAUSE THE
PISTOL TO BE RECLASSIFIED AS AN SBR…”
SIG got the ball rolling with the SB15 for AR pistols.
The company asked for and got the crucial BATF
ruling that allows the device to be sold and used.
A stabilizing brace, regardless of manufacturer, has a split body that
passes over either side of the shooter’s forearm, and straps to secure it.
SIG Sauer’s SB15 is available as an accessory
with a street price around $125. With a little bit of
searching they are readily available on the internet.
NOT-A-STOCK
One nice feature of both the SB47 and SB15 is a wide
footprint and its rubber material which soaks up recoil and prevents it from sliding around.
Currently some companies such as SIG and Century
Arms are offering pistols with a stabilizing brace factory
installed. Century also offers their SB47 stabilizing brace
as an accessory you can purchase separately. This attaches easily to an AK pistol by removing the pistol grip.
It can be mounted onto the Zastava-built PAP pistols
or Romanian built Draco pistols Century offers. It can
also be mounted onto the Polish built AK pistols from
Pioneer Arms offered by IO Inc. Once installed it changes
the entire dynamics of the pistol.
Frankly, I have never had any interest in pistol versions
of AK rifles. They never really made much sense to me.
Remove the buttstock from a carbine and all you have left
is a heavy, awkward and unwieldy piece which is difficult
[Cont. to page 34]
to hit with, right? Not anymore!
The Century Arms SB47 is very
simple in design and available
separately as an accessory. It
attaches easily to an AK pistol
underneath the pistol grip.
PREPPING
JUST
IN
CASE?
From wool blankets to Jerry cans Prepandmore has you covered
By David M. Fortier
I
t seems more and more people are waking up to
the world we live in and wanting to be ready for
whatever challenges they might face. This could
range from dealing with natural disasters, man-made
scenarios and acts of terrorism to whatever you can
think of. I tend to be fairly realistic when it comes
to “prepping.”
My efforts are focused on realistic events my family
might face. In Kansas, this includes ice storms, tornadoes, power outages and the like. Many companies
which offer a host of items catering to the needs of
the “prepper.” One company which offers items which
have impressed me is Prepandmore. Their merino wool
blankets and NATO Jerry cans are top notch. So I decided to share a bit about them.
Having lived most of my life in rural Maine, I have
come to appreciate the fine qualities of wool. Sure,
there are many new wonder materials out there, but
wool is extremely hard to beat. It’s rugged, durable,
warm and keeps you warm even when wet.
So I have always kept a few wool blankets around,
and one in each vehicle, just in case. Usually these
were surplus military blankets. The problem with surplus military blankets is the quality/thickness varies,
and coming from long-term storage. they usually have
a strong smell.
A good wool blanket is a handy thing to have “just in
case.” Prepandmore has brand new Merino wool blankets at surplus prices. Note how thick this blanket is.
Prepandmore’s Merino wool blankets are available
in brown, green and camouflage and are soft, thick,
stain resistant and very warm for only $44.99.
There is a nice option though. Prepandmore is offering brand new production Merino wool blankets from
Europe.
Produced in Poland, they are 61x79 inches in size
and have a weight of 500 g/m2. Basically they are very
thick, soft and warm. Merino wool it has unique properties, making it extremely comfortable and conducive to
health. The fibers are very fine, making the wool soft,
lightweight and comfortable.
Unlike synthetic fibers that stick to the skin, merino wool absorbs and evaporates moisture, making
the blanket breathable. This reduces clamminess and
prevents the blanket from sticking to the skin. Merino
sheep have adapted to extreme changes in temperature which causes the wool fibers to expand or contract with temperature variations. So it works with your
body to regulate body temperature, keeping you warm
when it is cold and cool when it is hot.
The cell membrane of the wool fiber is hydrophilic
on one side. This enables the wool to absorb water
vapor, making it anti-static. In addition the hydrophobic
side of the cell membrane complex of the fiber reduces
stains from being absorbed.
Because of its ability to absorb and evaporate moisture, merino wool can absorb sweat and odors and
evaporate them when blankets are aired outside. Merino wool contains a natural grease substance called
lanolin, which has antibacterial properties. Lanolin
prevents dust and lint accumulation. The antibacterial
[Cont. to page 34]
NOT-A-STOCK
By turning the MPX into a pistol (MPX-P), SIG was
able to keep a short barrel and add a stabilizing brace. In use it proved very effective and fun.
SIG’s MPX submachine gun is a quick handling piece
which is fun to shoot. Normally a semi-automatic
version would be stuck with a long 16 inch barrel.
on had steel silhouettes at 50 and 100 yards and the PAP
pistols proved well able to make very fast multiple hits at
[Cont. from page 32]
these ranges.
IMO writers had a chance to try Zastava built PAP
One nice feature of the SB47 is it has a relatively large
pistols with Century’s SB47 brace at Academi and footprint and its made out of a rubber material. So it
everyone was impressed. The SB47 turns a clumsy pistol does not slide around if placed against your shoulder and
into a quick handling Krink. The Academi range we were it absorbs some of the recoil.
While the 7.62x39mm PAP pistols have a bit of a bark
due to their short barrel, they proved very easy to control. Most of all though, they proved great fun to shoot.
Reliability was flawless and practical accuracy was quite
acceptable.
A number of years ago I put the paperwork through
and purchased a semi-automatic AKS-74U Short Barrel
[Cont. to page 36]
[Cont. from page 32]
properties make wool blankets and bedding dust mite
resistant.
Prepandmore has blankets in brown, green and
camouflage and they are priced at just $44.99. Basically these are brand new production heavy Merino
wool blankets priced like surplus blankets. As such
they are a steal and I highly recommend stuffing a few
away just in case.
Another recommended item is Prepandmore’s
NATO Jerry cans. Jerry cans have long been popular
with preppers due to their useful design and practical
nature. However old surplus cans often have internal
rust and new production cans from China are of very
poor quality. So I recommend new production cans
from Prepandmore.
These are brand new steel NATO Jerry cans manufactured in Europe. They are of very high quality and
Extremely well designed, rugged and safe the NATO
Jerry can remains the world standard. PrepandMore
is now offering 20-, 10- and 5-liter Mil Spec cans.
NOT-A-STOCK
look great both internally and externally. Built to exceed
NATO specifications they feature robust laser cut thick
steel bodies, nicely executed robot plasma welded
seams and excellent fit and finish.
As to be expected an internal breather pipe and user
replaceable gasket are standard. To ensure a long service life even under harsh conditions, the metal body
features a corrosion resistant nano-ceramic finish. On
top of this is an epoxy powder coat paint proofed for
liquid fuels. This is done internally as well to prevent
rust inside the can. Build quality is a step up from
standard NATO cans and leaves the cheap leak prone
knocks-offs in the dust.
If you are unfamiliar with the noteworthy features
of this design, let me share for a bit. Developed by
Vinzenz Grunvogel at Muller of Schwelm in 1936, it
was originally designed for the needs of the German
Army and became known as the Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister. The design itself is rectangular in form and
constructed from two pressed halves welded together.
A noteworthy feature though is how the welds are in a
central ‘gutter’ which protects them from impacts. To
The cam lever
locking system
of the Jerry
features user
replaceable
gaskets and
is superior to
thread on caps.
Also note the
breather in the
filler neck.
prevent leakage a simple yet robust cam lever locking mechanism secures a snap closure lid atop the
filler neck. This simple yet well thought out design has
proven superior to leak prone thread on caps. To both
speed and smooth pouring an air-pipe is incorporated
into the filler neck, which eliminates the “glug glug glug”
of containers lacking a breather. Yet at the same time
no additional external vent is required.
The sides of the can are marked with cross-like
indentations. These both strengthen the can and allow
the contents to expand and contract during changes
in environmental conditions. An air pocket under the
handles also allows expansion when the can is filled
correctly.
Another noteworthy feature is the three handle design. Normally, the central handle is used for carrying.
However the outer handles allow one can to be carried
by two people or two empty cans to be carried in each
hand or to move cans bucket brigade style.
PrepandMore offers cans that hold 20 liters (5.2 gallons), 10 liters (2.6 gallons) and 5 liters (1.3 gallons).
In addition to the cans they also offer spare gaskets,
spouts and vehicle mounts. Best of all, while most companies are selling their 20 liter cans for $49.99 or more
PrepandMore has them for just $34.95. They also have
a line of high quality plastic “Jerry” style water cans in
similar sizes. Lastly they are continually adding to their
line of military surplus and prepping items.
SOURCE
Prepandmore
234-400-9951 / www.prepandmore.com
HI-LUX M40
TACTICAL HUNTER
Believe it or not, this is a legal BATF approved AR-15
pistol chambered in 6.5mm Grendel. Required paperwork? Nothing more than to buy a standard pistol.
T
wo sniper scopes became famous during the
war in Vietnam. The first was the U.S. Army’s
3-9X ART fielded on XM-21 and M-21 sniper
rifles. The second was Redfield’s 3-9X Accurange
fielded by the USMC on M40 sniper rifles. The Redfield was a commercial off-the-shelf product that
was good enough to meet the needs of Marine
snipers. The famous ART was developed by Captain
Jim Leatherwood specifically for U.S. Army snipers.
Both played an important role during that conflict.
Recently I had a chance to play with a new model
just released by Hi-Lux, the 3-9x40mm M40 Tactical Hunter. This is an interesting design that functions just like the Vietnam-vintage Accutrac system.
To range an 18-inch target, you merely bracket it
between two stadia in the field of view as you dial
the magnification in or out.
New from Hi-Lux is the 3-9x40mm M40 Tactical
Hunter, which is based on the USMC’s Vietnamvintage Accurange sniper scope, originally made
by Redfield.
The top two
stadia of the
reticle are
for ranging a
target, with
the tombstone
displaying the
range. BDC
marks provide
aiming points
out to 600
yards.
Barrel length on Fortier’s 6.5mm Grendel pistol is 12.5 inches. This is long enough to drive a
100-grain Barnes TTSX bullet at more than 2500 fps.
Once the target is correctly bracketed, the range
will appear in the FOV on a “tombstone.” Then you
just need to zoom to 9X and use the correct holdover point in the reticle and fire. The reticle provides
holdovers out to 600 yards. The system is simple,
fast and well proven.
I found the Hi-Lux to be a noticeable improvement over the old Redfield design. While outwardly
the Hi-Lux resembles a Vietnam-era Redfield, internally the optics, coatings and sealing is noticeably
improved. Plus the Redfield used a plastic tomb[Cont. to page 38]
NOT-A-STOCK
The MPX-P PSB changes all that by keeping the short
barrel but adding a stabilizing brace. SIG even went a
[Cont. from page 34]
step further by not only reducing the stabilizing brace in
Rifle. The Century PAP pistol with SB47 brace felt very size but also by making it side-folding. Yes, it folds to the
similar to the AKS-74U. The only difference is it’s legally side for compact storage. Think of the possibilities.
[Cont. to page 38]
a pistol and no laborious paperwork or tax stamp is required to own.
SIG Sauer also showcased their SB15 stabilizing brace
on AR pistols. What really caught writers’ attention
though was their new 9x19mm MPX-P PSB. This is a pistol that features SIG’s newest stabilizing brace. Based on
the MPX submachine gun, the MPX-P features a shortstroke piston operating system with a rotating bolt.
It is unique in that you can change not only barrel
length but calibers easily in the field. Normally when a
semi-automatic pistol is developed for the commercial
market from a design like this, it either ends up with a KAK Industries offers a pistol receiver extension
silly looking long 16-inch barrel or a short barrel but no specifically for the SB15. Note the shoulder to space
it back slightly in a more comfortable location.
stock.
Everything you need for a bit of
fun: stripped AR receiver, AAC
9 inch 300 Blackout upper, KAK
Industries pistol receiver extension and SIG Sauer SB15.
By the time you read this
Hi-Lux should have a green
M40 USMC sniper scope available
that should be perfect for
M40 sniper rifle reproductions.
Unlike the
M40 Tactical
Hunter, the
M40 USMC
sniper reticle
lacks the
BDC holdover
marks, but
features the
classic ranging
system for an
authentic look.
[Cont. from page 36]
stone for ranging that degraded in sunlight. Hi-Lux
uses a much improved etched glass tombstone
which performs better while appearing the same.
Hi-Lux’s 3-9x40mm M40 Tactical Hunter is a
classic looking scope that performs very well. Optical performance is extremely good with accurate
color rendition, very good resolution and contrast.
The scope tracked accurately and returned to
zero properly and the ranging system is simply
groovy. If you have a classic sporter and are looking
for a scope with a bit of traditional class, you will
want to consider Hi-Lux’s M40 Tactical Hunter.
Better still, by the time you read this they will have
a green version identical to the USMC scopes fielded in Vietnam down to the correct reticle. So if you
are interested in building a reproduction M40 sniper
rifle, you now have a scope to put on it. Price for
either model is $419.
SOURCE
Hi-Lux Optics
888-445-8912 / www.hi-luxoptics.com
NOT-A-STOCK
[Cont. from page 36]
Jim Tarr, Patrick Sweeney, Timothy Yan and I all took
turns firing both the MPX-P PSB as well as standard
MPX submachine guns side by side. We found it very
simple to operate with well-placed controls and excellent
practical accuracy. In use the stabilizing brace was actually more comfortable than the stocks on the submachine
guns. The brace made the MPX-P PSB very easy to control and hit with and greatly increased the fun factor.
Perhaps you’d prefer to build an AR pistol. Again this
is pretty straightforward. You need to start with either a
pistol lower receiver or a stripped lower receiver that has
never been fitted with a a stock.
Assemble your stripped lower receiver normally except
install a pistol receiver extension. A pistol receiver extension differs from one for a carbine as it will not accept a
stock. One I recommend is KAK Industries’ Super SIG
SB15 buffer tube.
This is designed specifically for use with the SB15 and
features a shoulder that spaces the SB15 back a bit for
comfort. Unlike many designs, KAK Industries’ Super
SIG SB15 utilizes a standard end plate and castle nut,
making for a simple installation. Plus it utilizes a standard action spring and buffer. Price is just $42. The SB15,
with a bit of force, will slide onto the Super SIG SB15
and provide a nice secure fit.
Once you have assembled your pistol’s lower receiver,
you need to think of what to top it with. Here you can
choose to either build a short barreled upper receiver assembly or to simply buy a complete unit ready to install.
My next build will be topped with an AAC 300 Blackout upper receiver with a 9-inch barrel. Whatever caliber
and barrel length you choose, I’m sure it will be a lot of
fun.
If you’re scratching your head right now, there are just
two things to understand. The BATF says it’s legal, and
it really does work great. All it takes is to shoot a pistol
with a stabilizing brace installed once to make someone a
believer. It really does work that well.
Yes, it does look a bit out of the ordinary and does
remind you of a Short Barrel Rifle. However it is a perfectly legal pistol. The stabilizing brace comes with a letter from the BATF and I would suggest keeping that with
you when you take your pistol out. Not everyone knows
the law and it might save you from being hassled.
Currently the Modern Sporting Rifle market is flat. The
Great Panic is over and the poor economy has caught up
to the firearms industry. Plus July is a naturally slow time
IF YOU’RE SCRATCHING YOUR HEAD RIGHT
NOW, THERE ARE JUST TWO THINGS TO
UNDERSTAND. THE BATF SAYS IT’S LEGAL,
AND IT REALLY DOES WORK GREAT.
SIG Sauer also offers their SB15 stabilizing brace as
an accessory. This allows you to fit it onto an AR-15 pistol. Installation is straightforward and extremely simple.
It merely slides onto a pistol receiver extension (buffer
tube) and is held in place by friction.
A couple years ago I built an AR-15 pistol in 6.5mm
Grendel with a 12.5-inch barrel for velocity testing. So I
dug that out and slid an SB15 onto its receiver extension.
Fit on the Spikes Tactical pistol receiver extension was extremely tight. Basically, it fit perfectly and transformed an
interesting idea into a very useful, and fun, tool. The large
footprint and rubber material softens recoil and makes
the short barrel Grendel very easy to control and hit with.
What about if you don’t own an AR pistol but you are
interested in the concept? Currently there are a host of
companies offering AR pistols in a bewildering array of
calibers and barrel lengths. While 5.56x45mm remains
hugely popular, 300 Blackout is not to be forgotten. You
just need to pick out an example you like and then install
the SB15 brace. Pretty simple.
of year for industry. So while sales of AR and AK rifles
are stagnant AR and AK pistol sales are ramping up.
As I write this the street price on SB15 and SB47 braces
run about $125. As interest in stabilizing braces grows
I’m sure you will see them available on a wider array of
models in the future. It’s an exciting and fun accessory
that works extremely well. If you’ve always wanted a
short barrel rifle, perhaps what you really need is a pistol
with a stabilizing brace.
SOURCES
Century Arms
800-527-1252 / www.centuryarms.com
SIG Sauer
866-345-6744 / www.sigsauer.com
KAK Industries
816-516-6774 / www.kakindustries.com