Several months ago one of Suarez International’s Staff instructors, Jon Payne, came to me with a problem; build a rifle for a student that was missing his left arm. The student, Brad, had lost his left arm in an accident many years ago and had not shot a rifle since then. Making the rifle as lightweight as possible while maintaining a reasonable cost were critical concerns. Using my resources at KE Arms, contacts at GWACS Armory, and consulting with Gabe and Jon we came up with a package that met the right price point and performance.
Features include:
CAV-15 MKII Polymer Receiver
Suarez Recce Trigger and Lightweight Handguard
Lightweight contour 16″ barrel
Young Manufacturing low mass bolt carrier group
Suarez Kompressor to reduce muzzle jump
Weight without the optic was 5 pounds 6 oz.
For Brad the addition of a BAD lever was obvious to control the bolt catch and aid in malfunction clearing. We know that a charging handle can be racked against a surface or by otherwise bracing the rifle against something. Neither of those things is convenient. I modified a charging handle to attach a sling directly to it. With the other end of the sling around the shooter’s body, running the charging handle was accomplished by simply pushing out or down.
Working on a consistent repeatable manual of arms was critical. I experimented with different techniques in dry practice at home. Some techniques worked, others had to be modified once we were on the range training.
Working through the manual of arms for various conditions including sighting in and recreational range use was part of the training.
This project was a success. Brad was very pleased with how his rifle turned out and being able to use a rifle again was clearly satisfying for him. I was personally very pleased to bring together these manufacturing and training resources to facilitate this project and help Brad accomplish his goals.
Suarez International will be applying the concepts learned in this project to the Light Fighter Rifle. If there is sufficient interest, the charging handle sling may enter production.
Posted inCAV-15, Training|Comments Off on Training and Manufacturing Resources Coming Together
KE Arms has continued to bring new products online since I built my first KE Arms Rifle using their components. I built this rifle after SMM3G 2015 with the intent to use it at the Ironman 3 Gun Match.
To get ready for Ironman 2015 and make sure my rifle was adequately broken in, I used it at a few local matches first:
I then used it at the Suarez International Ultimate Combat Rifle Camp. Before this class I just relubed the rifle. I relubed it before the start of training each day. The last day of class I gave the bolt a quick wipe down and relubed it. 1200 rounds fired during the class with zero malfunctions.
Ironman
Before Ironman, I did detail clean the rifle and relube it. At Ironman I only experienced one malfunction when shooting sideways through a port after doing a reload with retention; I think I simply didn’t seat the magazine all the way during the reload. Simply racking the action fixed the problem.
The use of the low mass carrier has been particularly interesting to me. I have heard that they can make AR15s less reliable. I have not yet experienced any limitations with reliability attributable to the low mass carrier. In fact in the first 3,000 rounds fired through this rifle, the only malfunction I experienced was the one in the middle of the stage at Ironman that I mentioned above. I have noticed that sight picture was disturbed significantly less under recoil than with a standard mass carrier.
The KE-15 Trooper is a good do everything configuration for competition or tactical classes. It continues to serve me well in either role.
Posted inUncategorized|Comments Off on Gun Profile: KE-15 Trooper
I started off strong at this years match. By the last stage I was ready to be done after spending all day in the heat. My USGI mags double fed and the malfunction combined with heat exhaustion made me lose mental focus.
I still placed 2nd/15 in Trooper and 10/76 Over all.
Karl Kasarda of InRange TV placed 1st in Trooper and 6/76 Over all with his substantially abused GWACS CAV-15 MKII with KE Arms upper and DMR Trigger.
At the end of May I had the opportunity to attend the Suarez International Ultimate Combat Rifle Camp in Prescott, AZ taught by Gabe Suarez himself. The class was an over view of a lot of subjects related to use of the rifle in a fighting role from basic manipulations, stances and ready positions to close range gun fighting, intermediate distance shooting, and basic team tactics. The class was 4 days long and required a minimum of 1000 rounds. While I have been using Suarez gear since 2010, and I have been representing the Suarez Group at shooting competitions since 2012, this was the first Suarez class I have taken.
Gabe discusses close range use of the rifle.
I have taken a lot of tactical/defensive training from various sources over the years, so some of the material was similar to what I had been exposed to before. Shooting fast and effectively is shooting fast and effectively: I have little difficulty switching from match mindset to tactical training mindset.
Shooting and moving drills at close range
Learning New Things
Some portions of the class were a significant departure from what I had experienced before. Particularly when it came to employing the rifle fast and efficiently off both shoulders at close range while moving. I could see the benefit to Gabe’s method within the context he was teaching it. Gabe’s methodology for transitioning shoulders is based upon making reasonably good hits at close ranges while moving; the methodology I had been previously taught was based upon working around barricades and making more accurate hits on targets at 50 yards+. So while what I had been taught before wasn’t necessarily wrong, it was less efficient in this context and I found myself struggling to unlearn the process I had practiced for so many years.
Gabe doing some durability testing of the GWACS CAV15 MKII with KE Arms lightweight upper.
Gabe himself isn’t an absolutist and looks at all techniques with a critical eye. He cautioned the class to beware the instructor that tells students there is only one way that is the best way for all situations at all times. The techniques and procedures Gabe teaches have been worked on and refined at multiple levels; range work, force on force, and sometimes validated in actual gun fights. The students in this class were very, good particularly for the number present. Normally classes have one goofball for every 8-10 students, and this class had none. Everyone that came was serious and safe about their gun handling. The students represented a broad cross section of Americans; farmers, construction workers, photographers, law enforcement, and other gun industry people like myself.
Transition to Pistol vs Reload Rifle at Close Range? Pistol transition always beat reloading the rifle.
Instructional Method
Gabe running the new Suarez Direct Action Lower with Recce Upper.
Gabe’s instructional method is very adult education oriented. Techniques are discussed in detail, then demonstrated cold, then demonstrated live. Students then try the techniques cold, receive correction as necessary, then try techniques live, then receive more correction as necessary. This is a stark contrast to other venues I have attended where it was almost as if the instructors wanted students to fail so they could yell at them and “add stress”. There was none of that present in Gabe’s class. People were professionally informed of what they needed to correct both on and off the range and that was all. In some cases I saw people struggle with physical limitations and fatigue by the fourth day. Gabe simply told them to dial back on the speed and do things safely and not hurt themselves. They’re there for knowledge and getting hurt doesn’t help learning. Gabe is a wealth of information for firearms instructors to learn how to teach and manage classes. I learned a lot about how to improve my own classes by observing this one and in my discussions with him.
Team work drills started the end of the third day and carried through the fourth and final day.
Team Drills
Gabe told us that part of learning to use a rifle effectively is employing it as part of a group. If a disaster did occur that resulted in the break down of social order, as has happened a few times in recent history, the ability to defend one’s family and friends may be dependent upon working as a group. Some students posed the question, “what do we do if the people we are with have no training”…Gabe’s answer was in that kind of situation it would be incumbent upon the most experienced person to give instruction and direction. There are a lot of people that are decent enough at doing things, that simply need the go ahead from someone to take action.
Movement and communication procedures were discussed and practiced along with patrolling formations and react to contact drills. These were not comprehensive, but meant as an introduction to concepts should students want to take higher levels of training. Everything was rehearsed dry several times before going live. One thing that became apparent to me during this portion of the class is that most people don’t like telling others what to do, or were uncertain how much direction they should be giving. After seeing some team mates struggle with this, I filled in as “squad leader” for our group. I had some previous experience doing similar activities in other venues so that definitely helped. Being mentally aware and confident in ones own abilities and equipment allows looking at a larger picture and giving the team direction.
Range Conditioning Aside from the knowledge gained at the course, it was a great physical prep for doing the Ironman 3 Gun a week later. Wearing 50 pounds of gear running around in 100 degrees for 4 days and shooting 1200 rounds of rifle in a tactical class was remarkably good practice for doing the same thing a week later in the match environment. Normally the first few stages at a big event I feel like I’m getting settled in, this time I felt primed and ready to go.
Should You Take This Class?
People interested in the martial application of the rifle would benefit from taking this class. How much so depends on your previous level of training. What I can say definitively though is Gabe runs his classes professionally and he is serious about delivering a quality product to his customers. There aren’t a lot of people teaching professionally today that have won multiple gun fights as a lone individual (not part of a fire team or SWAT unit). Gabe is one of the few that has. I am willing to make the assumption that this makes his training more relevant for the private citizen than many other venues.
Author (left), Gabe Suarez (center), Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons (right)
Posted inTraining|Comments Off on Suarez International Ultimate Combat Rifle Camp
I originally purchased my VEPR-12 in late 2012. I reviewed the gun for RECOIL Issue 12 that was published in early 2013. I did not initially have problems with Slug Accuracy using the polymer rail attached to the hinged top cover, over the course of time of using the VEPR-12 I found that the Zero would shift after cleaning. The groupings were not adequate to hit some slug targets at the MGM Ironman 3 Gun Match. When the mechanical accuracy of the shotgun is 8″ at 50 yards, and the plates on a spinner are 8″ and 10″ across, hitting it was more a matter of luck than skill.
In May of 2015, I wanted to resolve this problem before attending the Ironman 3 Gun Match that year. I asked the bossman at KE Arms for help modifying my VEPR-12 to be more accurate. I needed a rail mounted to a part of the gun that would not move and would allow me to leave the optic in place while cleaning the gas system. The gas system on a VEPR-12 must be cleaned every 200-300 rounds for reliability.
We removed the rear sight and milled that area flat. We then sized a piece of picatinny rail to drop down into this space and drilled and tapped the shotgun to hold the rail in place.
The aluminum rail drilled and tapped into the shotgun made for a much more rigid mounting point for the optic.
Update May 2016: One problem that remained though was that the lever to remove the top handguard and access the gas system for cleaning was blocked by some optic mount combinations. When I switched to this Aimpoint micro, I had to make another change.
I removed the factory lever and replaced it with a nut and bolt secured by a cotter pin. The optic could now stay in place for routine cleaning and maintenance.
Using this optic mount dramatically improved slug accuracy to having 2.5″ Groups with good slugs and and 4″ groups with cheaper slugs at 50 yards. Kalani Laker asked me at a match not long after doing this work, what I thought the best things to do to improve the VEPR-12 for competition were. I recommended the optic rail mod as the most important upgrade to do. This feature would be incorporated by Dissident Arms into the KL-12 used by Kalani. It is also available as an upgrade to your existing shotgun.
Updated March 2019: I retired my VEPR-12 after the Hard as Hell 3 Gun Match 2017. With 5 years of use and 5000-6000 rounds fired through it, it started experiencing reliability problems and breaking internal parts (fire control). For the 2 matches a year that I do Trooper 3-Gun as of this post (March 2019) I am using the Mossberg 590M. For SMM3G I shoot in Stealth Division with my Beretta 1301. Otherwise I shoot Rifle only and 2-Gun Matches 3-4 times a month in Arizona and don’t need a shotgun at all.
KE Arms has brought me on board as Marketing Director after shooting SMM3G 2015 with them. I’m excited to be part of a company with such impressive manufacturing capabilities and quality people. Amongst other things I will be coordinating match sponsorships for the company and shooting events.
I got my rifle from KE Arms back in November of 2014. You may notice some differences in parts in some of the photos. In the months leading up to SMM3G 2015, KE Arms brought several new products to market. I added them to my rifle as they became available. Consequently I did a few different photo sessions. KE’s ability to bring new products to market with such speed is one of the reasons I chose to accept employment with them.
Here’s a break down of the components on my rifle I used at SMM3G
The Flared Mag Well lower makes reloads on the move or under duress much easier. Fumble factor is reduced significantly.
The NP3 coating on the upper and lower simplifies cleaning making it a simple wipe down process.
The KE Arms Match Trigger is a crisp 4.5 pounds with short reset. This is one of the products that came on line after I initially received the rifle. The JP Pins and KNS pins pictured in these photos are not required, I simply prefer them as an extra level of security to keep Murphy at bay.
KE Arms ambi selector. Another product that came out after my initial build. There are several variations that allow the user to choose the right feel. Each selector has a long arm and a short arm that can be configured for left or right handed shooters.
Opposite side showing long arm configured for left handed shooter.
Receiver end plate accepts HK style hooks or QD Swivel.
With HK Style hook attached.
PMAG extensions add +5 rounds on 30 rounders or +6 on 40 rounders. 46 round magazines mostly eliminate the need to reload on normal 3 Gun Match stages, but cannot be used in the prone position.
Delta-S Keymod handguard. The Delta-S is lightweight and cools fast
BCM Keymod socket attached
BCM Vertical Fore Grip attached. One of the cooler Keymod accessories I have used.
Ergo Grip Keymod covers in place. The ergo covers give a nice positive grip and offer some protection to unused section of the handguard.
We have a lot more products in development that I look forward to putting into use on the range!
The Superstition Mountain Mystery 3 Gun Match (SMM3G) is held annually at the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club in Mesa, AZ. It is the longest running active 3 Gun match in the country with the most competitors. This year over 390 competitors participated. KE Arms generously provided me with a sponsor slot for the match and a rifle to evaluate by using it at the match. I will be doing a full write up on the rifle in a separate article. To get ready for the match I used the guns I would be using there at as many local matches as I could. I also took a Rifle/Pistol competition class from Kelly Neal two weeks before SMM3G using the same rifle and handgun I would use there.
The Guns
Here are the guns I used to compete in Open Division:Shotgun: VEPR-12 Shotgun with Vortex SPARC 2. I started with 13 rounds in the shotgun, and a second 12 round mag clamped together with the first. Extra reloads were with MOLOT 8 round magazines from Legion USA
Pistol:Suarez International Glock 17 with Trijicon RMR and Suarez’s new suppressor sights. I use Limited length mags that hold 20 rounds.
Rifle: KE Arms KE15 with competition funnel mag well and NP3 coating on the upper, lower, and Delta-S free float keymod handguard.
KE Arms Duty 4# Trigger
16″ Daniel Defense Barrel
Suarez International Kompressor
Nightforce 1-4X Scope Harris 9-13S Bipod (used on one stage).
I’d say my shotgun is the closest thing to a true Open Division gun. The pistol is somewhere in between open and tactical. The rifle could be a Tac-Scope rifle if I didn’t use a bipod. However, any one feature from a higher level division bumps a competitor into that division.
Staff Match
I chose to shoot through with the match staff so I could work on various media projects while the main match was in progress. Shooting through with the staff gives one an appreciation of how much effort goes into a match of this size. Planning and logistics for the next year’s match begin almost as soon as this year’s match is over. Stages are designed well in advance and concepts tested at the club level match leading up to it. Setting the stages up takes a lot of man power and time before the match starts.
The staff match starts at 6AM two days before competitors arrive. Staff shoot until dusk the first day, and until done in the afternoon the second day. The focus when shooting the stages in the staff match is to proof them out; make sure props will work, targets will function and stay in place, safety issues are resolved, and stage descriptions make sense. There is always something to be fixed on every stage.
It is readily apparent what starts out as fun turns into work and by the end all the staff simply want to be done shooting. I would be surprised if anyone that shoots the staff match is truly competitive and on their A-game. The compressed schedule and different mental focus makes it almost a different event entirely. Another factor is that there aren’t as many shooters to observe and plan stages. The more people you get to watch the more potential solutions and problems you can see before your turn to shoot. There were several things in retrospect that I wish I had done differently after observing more shooters during the regular match.
The match theme this year was Back to the Future. All the stages incorporated elements from the film trilogy. The shooters bags all included some goodies at the start: PMAG30, KE Arms +5 PMAG extension with SMM3G engraving, Prolix gun cleaning products.
Video
Here’s my match in the order the stages were shot:
Day 1 Morning Stages
One thing I noticed on Stage 2 was most of my squad hit the moving no-shoot at the back when it leveled out on the track. I think the change in direction resulted in people pulling the shots as they were leading expecting it to keep going in the first direction.
Day 1 Afternoon Stages
On Stage 3 I wish I had shot the steel first then the hangman. Watching other shooters this made sense in retrospect; get settled in on the big targets. Get solid behind the rifle and on the optic then shoot the small pipe. Interesting challenge nonetheless.
On Stage 4 I shot conservatively because I saw others struggle on the timing. This was definitely a stage where the more you saw it shot, it was easier to understand the timing of all the activators.
Stage 6 ended up getting thrown out because it took too long to reset during the regular match. By the end of day two a full squad was backed up.
Loose gear? Stuck casing? Debris in your fire control? Luckily I had my Honor Point JACS with all my Trooper Division equipment to support the squad with gun maintenance and fixes.
Day 2 Stages
Day 2 started out very windy with with wind speeds of 15-30mph.
Stage 7 was my worst stage of the match. I couldn’t tell where I needed to hold with the white backers behind the targets. I’m not sure it would have mattered anyway with thw winds being so inconsistent anyway. I saw a lot of people struggle on this stage for similar reasons. Others lucked out and had no wind to deal with. That’s simply how it goes sometimes shooting in field conditions and the elements are unavoidable.
The rest of the stages went fairly smoothly for me. The only malfunction at the match for me was with the VEPR-12 after switching to slugs there was one failure to eject.
I use the “load 8 system”: 8 round VEPR-12 magazines in chest rig when the 25 rounds on the shotgun at start aren’t enough.
Results
Many of the names here may be recognizable. The top of the charts here is a who’s who of competitive shooting. SMM3G has the highest concentration of exceptional shooters out of any match I attend.
The last time I shot open division at SMM3G in 2010 I was 24th out of 59 shooters. I shot Limited division at the match the past few years. This year I ended up 28th out of 82 shooters in open. And that’s with all the inherent difficulties of shooting the staff match. My goal was to break into the top 30 so I am content with that. Maybe next year I can break into the top 20. Being 35.106% slower than Jerry Miculek is doing pretty decent as far as I’m concerned.
Posted inCompetitions|Comments Off on Superstition Mountain Mystery 3 Gun Match 2015
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