TACTICALMAGAZINE MILSIM Spring 2009 Hollywood TrainingShootout and Mindset versus Superior Firepower Ultimate Training Munitions The future of force- on-force training Tubular Assault Course Tactical Counter Terrorism Training on a 727 OH SH!T TRAINING Learn defensive fighting within 5 feet Storming Vegas: Reviewed The story of one man taking Vegas for millions by force $7.50 US $10.00 CAN Tactical MilSim Magazine Spring 2010 Do Not Remove until 5/31/10 WEAPON REVIEW GHK’s AKs-74UN 1 2 6 18 FEATURES The “Oh Shit” Course by Mark Anderson 26 Defensive fighting inside 5 feet with Suarez International 6 Ultimate Training Munitions by Paul Pawela The future of Force-on-Force training 18 727 Tubular Assault Course by Paul Pawela Watch a Counter Terrorism Unit take down a 727 42 Hollywood Shootout by Jeff Takeda Training and Mindset versus Superior Firepower 26 Tech Corner by John Mirarchi 42 Barrel Harmonics: Simple techniques that can save you cash 40 Weapon rEVIEWS Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 by John Mirarchi Check out a few thousand rounds through a cost efficient trainer. 12 44 GHK’s AK-74UN by Gary Bosch We put this gas blowback through the gauntlet. 48 book ReVIEW 4850 Storming Vegas by Don Roff One combat-ready Cuban takes on Las Vegas and steals away millions 22 COLUMNS Sound of the Fury by COL (Ret.) Dalton Fury bin Laden: Still the target. 51 The Chronicles of Mad Max by MSG (Ret.) Mad Max Mullen Are you ready for the fight? 54 3 SIT REP ACTICAL T MAGAZINE When is being safe dangerous? MILSIM Safety is a double-edged sword play with, their lack of hard sur- in a simulated environment. With faces may adversely affect your Owner too little safety, unnecessary team's performance. The lack MSG (Ret.) “Mad Max” Mullen injuries occur. With too much, we of pain, when team members [email protected] learn bad habits that could get us impact these surfaces, may make killed in real life. players too aggressive—and less Executive Director controlled in their actions. Mark “Stone Wolf” Anderson Whether we develop simulations [email protected] for training, or for professional Using actual furniture in the Advertising mil-sim (Pro-Sim) tournaments, scenarios will keep realism high. John Mirarchi the creation of safely realistic It will allow pain to either rein- [email protected] simulations is crucial. force our skills or make us rethink them. Training simulations re- Media Production There are many ways to develop quire a certain mitigated level of Donnie T. “Cowboy” scenarios within a simulation. An risk or danger for us to develop [email protected] overcompensating focus on safe- successful skills. ty can hinder the realism of the Marketing scenarios. As well, being too safe A realistic simulation also re- Toni “Angel” Anderson may put you and your team in quires uncomfortable environ- [email protected] real- world danger. It’s important ments. This strongly affects our to find the right balance of safety ability to safely shoot, move, Sales and realism. The limitations of communicate, and sustain. We Liz Buenrostro your resources—and your simula- rely heavily on our vision. There- [email protected] tion equipment—must match your fore, it is necessary to introduce Senior Editor training environment. challenges. Don Roff [email protected] Unrealistic scenarios offer a dis- Low-light conditions, smoke, tinct potential for us to accidently flashing lights and other visual Senior Layout Editor form unsafe habits. For example, distractions are important ele- Denny Fry operating in a large area, where ments in our scenarios. To safely [email protected] visual targets are out of range of increase levels of stress—and our simulation weapons—yet well realism—consider the appropri- Associate Editors within range of their real coun- ate use of uncomfortable, loud, Rebekah J. Trout terparts—can become a major and abruptly changing sounds. Frank M. Young safety concern. This situation Pyrotechnics, radio station re- Senior Photographer destroys the illusion of realism. cordings in different languages Jeem “Krayzie” Newland It also promotes bad habits that and blank firing weapons are [email protected] may prove disastrous in the real strong choices. world. Photographer We also rely on our sense of Robert Ochoa How would we develop a safely smell in dangerous situations. [email protected] realistic scenario in this case? We Experiment with strong or un- might limit the visual acquisition usual scents to augment a safely www.TacticalMilSim.com of an enemy force to within the realistic simulation. limits of our simulated weapons. To Our Readers: Some of the products that In today's climate, an average The ultimate goals of a simulation appear in Tactical MilSim Magazine may be illegal to purchase, sell, or transport. Pro- real world force-on-force encoun- are to safely experiment, prac- spective buyers should consult local authori- ter is not going to occur within the tice and test our skills, equip- ties. The information contained in Tactical same ranges as UTM, Simmuni- ment, and abilities in realistic MilSim Magazine is based upon personal tions, airsoft, or paintball. environment. If well developed, experiences and research and may vary a scenario provides a seamless with your own personal opinions and expe- Safety is a useful subliminal integration of a safely realis- riences. Tactical MilSim Magazine is not in- teaching tool. It can help maintain tic simulation, rather than two tended to serve as a manual or procedure in any way. Tactical MilSim Magazine, its offi- realism in a simulation. An appro- contradicting terms. Such simula- cers, employees, and consultants accept no priate level of pain, for example, tions are more interesting—and responsibility, liability, injuries, or damages is a good reminder not to repeat valuable—in our quest for effec- from any attempt to rely on any information a mistake. Occasionally, we find tive training. contained in this publication. Reproduction shoot houses set up with all-foam of this magazine in whole or part is strictly simulated chairs, bookcases, and -Stone Wolf Out! forbidden. lamps. Though they are fun to 4 5 the oh class sh!t By Mark Anderson n December 7, 1991, Officer Gabe OSuarez was getting ready to stop for dinner when he got a call to respond to a holdup at a nearby store. Weapon drawn, he rounded the corner of the building—and was met by the suspect, standing approximately five feet away, with a pistol aimed at his head. Officer Suarez immediately ex- ploded out of the line of fire, away from the building. He returned fire and killed the suspect. Later, he examined the wall behind him, where he first met the suspect. It contained five bullet holes— directly in line with where his head and chest would have been. Gabe Suarez learned firsthand that exploding off what is now called the “X” could save lives. 6 class 7 Welcome to the real world use to train matters less than By following Gabe's ad- of 0-to-5 feet gun fighting—or, as how effectively the equipment vice, I was able to explode of Gabe nicknames it, “The Oh Shit is used. Gabe Suarez is a tes- the “X,” by using what is called Class.” tament to this theory. His addi- a Pekiti takeoff, and avoid that This might be a tough title to tion of airsoft technology to his first shot every time. The “X” is market, but we at TacSim like it. training, in 2002, has helped him your initial standing point during develop and/or test techniques an attack. This drill showed us I had the privilege of at- while maintaining a devout Ock- that it is crucial to know when to tending his class. I finished the ham's Razor approach, which “change the picture.” course feeling as if I’d just lost shaves away any unnecessary a bar fight. The knowledge I ac- movements. quired was worth every bruise. “Try not to get What drew me to this course Gabe's use of airsoft was the fact that Gabe utilized brought me to the course. My shot,” I was told. airsoft technology to help train motivations quickly changed his students during force-on- as I faced a loaded airsoft gun, force exercises. I was curious to aimed at my head from 10 feet When an attacker has the see how effective Gabe’s strat- away. “Try not to get shot,” I was position of advantage, they take egy would be. told. a mental picture of the scene. As the target, you are part of that I have always been a firm “Easier said than done,” I picture. If you hesitate to take believer that the equipment you thought. your own mental picture, your attacker will always be one step ahead of you. If you launch off the “X,” you can change your attacker’s mental picture. Thus, you buy yourself the time—usually a few seconds—necessary to gain the upper hand. The next time you run an errand, count the number of people that come within five feet of you. Quickly classify them into three categories: friend, enemy, or unknown. Your friends aren't go- ing to rough you up, and you’re already on alert if you see your known enemies. But what of the unknown? They could be anywhere: your enemy’s friends, a thug looking for an easy target, or someone having a really bad day. 8 In some situations, things happen so fast—and so unex- pectedly—that even Gabe would have little advice for you. Situa- tional awareness is important— but we don't always get all the intel until it is too late.