Recoil

I guess this is a milestone of sorts. The 75th print issue of RECOIL is in your hands, and it’s packed with exactly the kind of content that we’re known for — and that you just won’t find anywhere else. In a constantly evolving media landscape, we’ve tried to stay true to our values in order to bring you honest and balanced reviews, insight regarding guns that are outside of the mainstream, and stories covering interesting topics beyond a narrowly focused guns-and-ammo segment. Most media in this field, be it print or digital, is notorious for a “pay to play” attitude toward coverage. I’m proud to say that we’ve never sold a cover or taken money to run a feature, and we’re not afraid to broach subjects that others shy…

01 DELTA V SOLUTIONS GEN 2 3MR MSRP: $349 URL: deltavusa.com When upgrading, some folks focus on aesthetics and flashy elements, like what color to paint their rifle. A far more important component is the fire control group. After all, it’s ultimately what makes your gun go boom. So, it only makes sense to put a lot of thought into which trigger assembly to get. Enter the Gen 2 3MR, a drop-in kit with three modes: safe, semi-auto, and Delta V’s 3rd mode. This latter mode has a positive reset that reduces split times, achieved by transferring the force from the bolt carrier through the trigger assembly to assist the trigger back onto the front sear. Its semi-auto and 3rd mode have a non-adjustable 4.5-pound pull weight. The 3MR also comes with an ambidextrous…

Most historians today will agree that while we may celebrate the Fourth of July, the United States of America was essentially born on April 19, 1775, at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, where the first “shot” of the American Revolution was heard around the world. In addition, the nation secured its independence at the Battle of Yorktown when the British Army surrendered on October 19, 1781. However, the United States was arguably saved at the Battle of Baltimore on September 15, 1814. Though the United States may not have fallen under British control again, the country may have been greatly weakened had the British succeeded at the battle — and more importantly, we certainly wouldn’t have the “Star-Spangled Banner” as a national anthem. Most Americans also know some of the…

When the Hummer first came became available as a civilian version of the original AM General Humvee, people were excited about the prospect of owning a tactical vehicle with battlefield roots. When GM took over production, the Hummer steadily devolved into a bloated, blinged-out hoopty that bore little resemblance to its rugged progenitor. Nowadays, a roughly 10,000-pound electric version [insert muffled giggle here] is attempting to rekindle interest in a model that’s become a parody of itself. If sh*t really hit the fan, would you want to be driving one? Spoiler alert: It’s survival of the fittest, not the most politically correct. Over the years, RECOIL has shown you lots of armored badassery on four wheels, ranging from DIY to bespoke turnkey. With vehicles of this type, however, there tends to…

PRESENTED BY Last issue we looked at knives designed by Special Operators, and this time out we’re going to see knives made by Special Operators. Each one comes from a SEAL, Green Beret, or Marine Corps Scout Sniper. Most are custom knives, but a few were made by retired SF soldiers who own their own knife companies. When we think of a tactical knife, do we think of a plumber, engineer, mechanic or even a judo master as having a say on what goes into that design? No, most of us think of the battle-hardened Special Operations warriors who rely on them daily. These designs are the culmination of different elements that these men deemed necessary in a knife, whether for use on the battlefield or use in civilian life as an EDC…

Formula 1 racing is the apex of motorsports. It’s on the cutting edge of technology, but in a conservative way. To clarify, totally new concepts are very risky, so refining existing ideas is a safer game plan, with a goal of getting an advantage without going off the deep end. An entirely new technology has a chance of not working out and when you’re dealing with hundreds of millions of dollars per season, no one can afford to take that risk. The focus becomes finding combinations of “safer” ideas that will net a better result. The problem is there are no new ideas; so evolving existing ideas is the order of business. Finding ideas from outside arenas to fit the racing circuit is a thought process in and of itself. For example,…