Defense Technology Corporation model 1315 37mm Gas Gun

Defense Technologies 1315 37mm Gas Gun

For as long as I can remember, I've always been fascinated by fireworks. What could possibly be better than mere fireworks? Fireworks launched from what would appear to the casual observer as a grenade launcher. In my youth, I had always remembered seeing what looked like grenade launchers at gun shows and cheesy FMJ/Cobray ads in 1990s issues of the Shotgun News. I thought to myself these sure would be fun, but never seriously considered owning one.

These were "non-guns" in such that they were only designed to launch flares and gas rounds. Any possession of anti-personnel munitions such as wood batons, rubber buckshot, or bean bag type rounds would constitute an unregistered destructive device in the eyes of the BATF.

After hours of online research, I came to the conclusion that some consumer grade 37mm signal launchers might not be safely constructed and added unnecessary weight while throwing off the balance of any rifle one might mount them to. Mounting one to a rifle was out. There were also plenty of warnings accompanied by graphic photographs educating people about the dangers of these large bore launchers. Missing body hands, missing fingers, twisted metal...you get the idea. For the most part these launchers are made of aluminum and until recently the wall thickness left more than a little to be desired.

Another problem wasn't so much the construction of 37mm launchers, but the lack of standards and practices for loading 37mm cartridges. Unlike small arms ammunition, there are no organizations along the lines of CIP or SAAMI that regulate and promote industry standards. Different case designs might accommodate black powder or smokeless powder as propellants. Different case dimensions may or may not fit into various launchers depending on how the chamber is cut on a particular launcher. Not surprisingly, I was unable to find concrete pressure specifications for 37mm munitions. 

There are commercially loaded flares, gas, and smoke rounds marketed for law enforcement riot control. These are effectively unavailable to private citizens as law enforcement distribution channels are unwilling to sell outside of government customers.  Even if they were available for purchase, these rounds cost upwards of $25 per shot, placing it outside of what most people are willing to spend.

Decision Diamond

So a firearms mounted launcher was out of the question. It's unnecessary added weight at the worst possible location on a firearm. I also couldn't imagine a situation I would really need to launch a firework off of my AR-15. Most ranges will not allow pyrotechnic ammunition of any kind. This is especially true of indoor ranges where unburnt powder accumulates quicker than one might expect. So I was looking for a standalone launcher, but which one?

Cobray

This was the launcher I saw in my youth at gunshows and advertised in the Shotgun News. I still remember the ad in the Shotgun News featuring the launcher with a top folding stock. From what I can tell, these are no longer in production. Cobray along with their product line pretty much died with the introduction of the 1994 "Assault Weapons" Ban. 

These launchers were designed to look like the military M203 40mm grenade launcher and could also be mounted to an AR-15/M-16 similarly to the M203. Unfortunately, these were also the pieces of twisted metal shown next to mangled hands and missing fingers I found when researching 37mm launchers. From what I understand, these are mostly aluminum and have fairly thin barrel walls and breech face. 

To operate the launcher the user activates a release latch on the left side of the device above the barrel. This allows the barrel to slide forward and accept a cartridge. There is an internal striker than must be cocked before each use on the right side of the launcher receiver. I'm not a big fan of this design as the striker stays protruding after firing. This means that unless the user cocks the striker prior to reloading the launcher, it is possible to unintentionally fire the launcher upon slamming home another shell.

Spikes

Spike's Tactical has probably manufactured their 37mm Havoc launcher in one form or another for over a decade. In my opinion, the Havoc is one of the more aesthetically pleasing launchers in production. These are available as either a sliding barrel design like the Cobray or a side loading barrel that swivels away from the receiver to accept a cartridge. 

Unlike the Cobray launchers, the Havoc is better built and finished. The barrel on the Havoc is visibly thicker than the Cobray, buy alas it is still aluminum. I understand even the military M203 employs an aluminum barrel and my fears may be unfounded, but I'd still like something with a little more strength even if it sacrifices weight.

The one drawback is that the operation is identical to the Cobray where the striker must be manually cocked prior to firing. There have been a few YouTube videos illustrating the possibility of "slip firing" the Havoc should the user accidentally release the cocking knob prior to engaging the sear. This can be avoided by cocking the striker first and engaging the mechanical safety.

MLR

MLR manufactures a unique launcher in that it operates differently from any other launcher. It also happens to be constructed of steel and is boosted to support up to 30K PSI. Heck, it's even the lowest cost option with the top of the line 37mm launcher retailing at $180. 

This may just be my nit picking, but the lack of a trigger firing mechanism crosses it off of my list.

Bates & Dittus / Ordnance Group

These guys make a really nice launcher with excellent materials, fit, and finish. Everything about their series of launchers screams quality. Unfortunately, Bates & Dittus closed their doors in 2015, but Ordnance Group is now producing the design. 

As with the Cobray and Spikes launchers, the Bates & Dittus requires the user to cock the striker prior to firing. They also produce a model called the LTL DAO that fires double action as the name implies. This would allow the user to safely carry a loaded cartridge in the chamber and simply press the trigger without the need to first cock the striker. It's a beautiful looking launcher and the only model from Bates & Dittus I'm interested in. It's all aluminum and Unfortunately MSRP is $599 and out of my price range.

Exotic Firearms

Yet another contender for the double action launcher. Exotic Firearms produces the Nemesis SL. It's well machined out of aluminum and has a double action trigger that doesn't require a separate cocking of the striker or hammer. It also has a side loading feature and is probably the sleekest looking launcher on the civilian market. 

Unfortunately for me, prices start at $679.

Defense Technology Corporation

This is what I finally settled on. The Def Tec 1315 37mm launcher. I came across a used LE launcher from eons ago for a price that undercut all but the most inexpensive options out there. The launcher was in great condition with a shiny bore. The bore condition is extremely important on the Def Tec / Safariland / ALS launchers as the 1315 is made from steel rather than the typical aluminum. Couple the steel barrel with most law enforcement 37mm munitions using black powder for propellant; you have a recipe for some serious rust.

The 1315 also uses the proven trigger group from S&W revolvers. This is a throwback from when S&W owned and produced the design before selling it off with its chemical company. The action allows for a safe double action trigger pull or single action should the user cock the hammer first. There is no safety and loading is accomplished by way of a small latch at the top of the receiver.

Although roughly finished in black enamel paint, the underlying steel barrel and receiver scream quality. Oddly enough the trigger and hammer still carry the trademark case hardening used with S&W revolvers to this day. The hammer is of the wide target hammer variety in S&W circles. It's quite the contrast given the utilitarian finish and purpose of the model 1315.

The 37mm community is still very much a cottage industry driven by enthusiasts and a limited number of manufacturers. Standards are hard to come by for either launcher or ammunition. Most 37mm enthusiasts reload casings and projectiles. 

 

Palmetto State Armory Freedom Experiment

Prices have been dropping for a while on AR parts largely thanks to Palmetto State Armory. Since their online presence, prices for AR parts have taken a steady decline. Forged upper receivers that once cost north of $100 can sometimes be had for $40 during sale events. Lowers that once cost $100 now sell for $50 for a blem; $60 for 1st quality when on sale.

So imagine my surprise when I found PSA offering a 16" mid-length upper with a melonite lightweight barrel and MOE handguards at the princely sum of $199. It's not that I need another upper, but for the price it was really hard to walk away. It's not the fanciest upper ever, but assuming everything runs, it is quite functional as to weight and barrel finish. The lightweight profile places the balance of the rifle further back towards the stock and gives a faster and smoother swing when engaging moving targets. The melonite finish protects the barrel steel from corrosion better than most mainstream firearms finishes as well as provide surface hardening.


I'm not the most fond of the FREEDOM laser engraved on the barrel, but I really can't complain at $199. For less than the price of some entry level barrels, I have an entire upper sans BCG and charging handle. The upper comes assembled with a front sight pin assembly, A2 flash hider, crush washer, forward assist, dust cover, MOE mid-length handguards, and of course the useless sling loop on the bottom of the front sight base. I'm really not sure why anyone puts the USGI sling loops on front sight bases anymore.

You might notice that the upper is a slightly purple color. Although the upper was not listed as a blem, the color is off slightly. Again, I'm really not complaining at this price point; just making an observation. The upper is a standard flat top upper with M4 feed ramps and no T markings of any kind. Pure functionality and nothing extra. Everything appears to be assembled as it should be. The front sight base is pinned with two taper pins and appears to be aligned properly according to my finely calibrated eyeball. The forward assist is of the round style without a cross pin to secure the end cap from the shaft.
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The front sight base is F-marked and is of the proper height to co-witness with back up iron sights and red dot optics. The gas tube is of the standard unfinished stainless steel variety mated to a triangular handguard cap. There's really not much special about the upper other than the low price point. I didn't observe any burrs or tool marks in or around the barrel. In fact, the finish on the barrel is surprisingly nice.

 

The only con to the upper is the upper receiver itself. There are a few artifacts from either rough handling or the forging process pinged into the exterior of the left side of the upper receiver wall. This was obviously there prior to the anodizing process as all of the dents and bumps have been anodized over. There is also some finish that has worn through to bare metal at the rear takedown lug. This was probably from the assembly process. None of the noted cosmetic issues affect functioning, not even the purple tint of the upper.

I'll post an update once I procure a BCG and charging handle. So far I'm pretty impressed by the value this upper provides. No missing parts and everything looks assembled the way it should be. 

Safariland GLS Holsters

Safariland GLS holsters

History

I first came across the Safariland GLS holster in 2014. At the time, holsters were firearm model specific. These holsters were wrapped and  molded using a Kydex-like material. Customary with previous Safariland offerings, the holsters featured a suede-like lining. Unfortunately over long term use, the liner material will collect dust as well as moisture. As the holsters got more use, the liner material started to apply more friction to the firearm and hinder the drawing effort. After approximately a year of constant use, I've had to apply silicone sprays to reduce the friction caused by the liner material.  I was living and using the holster in a hostile environment where summers were triple digits and winters were negative double digits. The dust and sand in the area were extremely fine and to top it all off, I lived off a gravel road that was more dirt/dust than gravel. Windless days were far and few between and 15-25 MPH winds were commonplace.  Each draw would force sand, dust, and whatever else further into the liner.

In 2015, Safariland released the Pro-fit version of the GLS holster. Safariland thankfully did away with the suede lining as well as now using a completely different construction method. The new Pro-fit models use an injection molded shell that is then folded and screwed together unlike the molded wrap around construction seen in the previous versions of the GLS holster. The material used for the holster is a very slick plastic. It feels lightweight, but durable.

Function

The new Pro-fit holster is also adjustable for multiple models of handguns. In order to accommodate fitting multiple handguns in a single holster design, Safariland incorporates an adjustable screw that raises or lowers a shelf that pushes against the bottom of the dust cover. The top of the firearm then pushes against the sides of the sight channels in the holster. In effect, the pistol now rides on three points of contact sans the GLS retention mechanism.

Also different in the Pro-fit models is a 1.5" belt loop high ride option. This belt slide is more comfortable than the tried and trued 567BL Injection Molded Belt Loop. The high ride belt slide is curved to fit normal human torsos and doesn't need to bend under the tension of a belt to conform. This means you won't have to cinch your belt as tight to stabilize your firearm.

The curved high ride belt slide is on the left and the older belt slide is on the right on a 1st generation GLS holster.

Thoughts

Use

By removal of the liner from the previous GLS holsters, I've had no problems with either moisture or dust collection. The slick polymer body coupled with limited surface contact between the firearm and holster creates a smoother draw than the original GLS holsters. There is no sticky liner to foul the draw or collect moisture and fine sand.

As a long term user of ALS holsters, I believe the GLS is much easier to reach proficiency with. The ALS takes a some practice before mastering the motions required for a smooth, hangup-free draw. This is especially true when users are required to add additional layers of security such as a rotating hood or ALS guard (the latter being preferred). The GLS system only requires the user to execute a proper firing grip to deactivate the retention device. The middle finger of the drawing hand naturally and effortlessly depresses the GLS button inward towards the firearm. There is no extra motion to deactivate the GLS retention mechanism other than completing a full firing grip.

Security

The GLS does offer speed and ease of use at the expense of security. The ALS line of holsters can arguably be the defacto standard by which duty holsters are measured. These holsters are built to satisfy litigious administrative staff while attempting to keep the burden of use to a minimum for rank and file users. Security hoods, chop guards, and ALS guards are all available as security enhancements in a duty holster. Safariland also offers the ALS system on a plain Jane belt/paddle model with just the ALS thumb release.

The GLS offers no enhanced security options. The only retention mechanism on the GLS holster is the GLS button.

Concealability

Unfortunately, ALS holsters are not very concealable despite what the marketing folks at Safariland may say (they are listed under concealment holsters).  Trying to conceal an ALS holster is akin to trying to conceal a first generation insulin pump. The GLS holsters while still not terribly concealable, are flatter and lighter than their ALS counterparts. During colder months, the GLS conceals well enough under a jacket or sports coat.

Bonus

An added bonus with the Pro-fit holsters is the nice Allen key affixed to a universal T-handle that comes in each package. It fits the mounting screws as well as the adjustment screw in the bottom of the holster. Gone are the days of cursing a rounded Allen wrench or screw cap because the tool wasn't square with the socket.

Holosun Paralow 403B Red Dot Sight

I recently learned about the Holosun series of red dot sights. What I really wanted was the Aimpoint T1 or H1 series of micro red dots to minimize weight and maximize battery life, but without the Aimpoint price tag. 

I know. You get what you pay for and that's usually true. The Aimpoint T-1 starts at $681.23 and H-1 at $618.00 from a reputed online retailer. The Holosun 403A retails at $169.99 and the 403B at $199.99.

I was already an EOTech user and as such hated changing batteries frequently even without steady usage. The vampiric drain from the EOTech 552 made it inconvenient to keep it ready to go at a moment's notice should life get in the way and you forget to change the batteries out. 

Despite offering a wide view, the EOTech was also heavier than the T1 or H1. Fielding a rifle for extended periods made me want an optic with as little weight and smallest profile possible. This inevitably lead my search to the Aimpoint T1 and H1 series of micro red dots. I had already tried the Aimpoint Micros via friends, but was I ready to plop down almost $700 for one?

After browsing a number of online forums and watching countless YouTube videos, I discovered a little-known manufacturer called Holosun. From what I could gather it appeared Holosun was one of the OEM manufacturers for Primary Arms red dots. If I had to guess I would say that Holosun is likely also the OEM for Leatherwood/Hi-lux on their Mirco-Max B Dot with the exception that the Leatherwood unit accepts a ARD on the objective with tethered caps and the Holosun branded offerings do not. It appeared Holosun was trying to make a better market presence in the US by going out under their own label.

Holosun claimed the same 50,000 hour battery life as the Aimpoint Micros. The YouTube community posted wanton abuse and mayhem being done to the Holosun. If all this were accurate the Holosun would be on par with more expensive Aimpoint micro dots as far as battery usage and possibly even durability. YouTube videos showed the 403A go for ocean swims, get frozen, get smashed by a hammer, and remount with an acceptable zero.


I recently had to stalk a mountain lion on foot at night with iron sights after it decided to sit on porches and eat things it wasn't supposed to eat. The whole time, I cursed myself for not having an illuminated sight on my work rifle. Trying to pick up a sight picture at night with iron sights on an AR type rifle can be challenging at best. It's even more difficult when what you are stalking is silently stalking you at the same time. Iron sights ultimately resolved the situation, but it took longer to acquire a usable sight picture and was less precise at night even with a weapons mounted light.

As a side note, please don't feed mountain lions off of your porch. Doing so causes mountain lions to associate people with food and it can end poorly for both sides.

Shortly after that episode, I purchased the Holosun 403B. I had originally made up my mind on the 403A, but changed my mind because of the following things:

• The 403A uses a proprietary style of mount. The 403B uses Aimpoint Micro mounts.
• The 403B still maintains sleek silhouette of the 403A which allows a less obscured sight picture over the Aimpoint series with the battery compartment on the side.

I still have reservations about the battery mounting setup for the 403B. The battery slides into the side of the sight on a plastic tray on the right side of the unit. The tray is secured via friction and an o-ring. The o-ring comes pretty dry so I dabbed a little 100% silicone grease on it and plugged it in. Despite what the manual says (in broken English); the sight does not include a battery. Fortunately CR2032 batteries are common and available at almost any store for a nominal cost.

The Holosun comes packaged in an attractive cardboard box with cut foam inserts. Included are bikini scope caps, two torx wrenches, 1/3 cowitness mount,low-mount, tool for adjusting zero, cleaning cloth, instructions, and an extra battery tray. The caps double as field-expedient adjustment tools for windage and elevation. 

The finish on the Holosun is as nice as the Aimpoints and EOTechs I've handled or owned. The machining is clean and there are no tool marks to be seen. The difference in texture is due to the excess silicone grease on the housing.

This will likely deter a lot of buyers as the unit is "Made In China." Just keep in mind that Aimpoint is made in Sweden. 

The glass appears clear and free of aberrations. Some earlier users reported distortion in the glass.  

Only time will tell how this sight will hold up. I'm still somewhat skeptical one can find an alternative on par with the Aimpoint Micro series at a sub $200 price point. I'll post updates on how this sight compares as it gets more use.

After all this, I'm still not sure what a "paralow" is. Watch this space.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit the Manatee Gun Club range in Myakka, FL.  Notably they are the only open-to-the-public 1000 yard range in the Sunshine State.  I limited my shooting to 565 yards where steel targets and truck tires live on the berm.  Long story short, I brought my homebuilt AR-15A2 (FN 1x7 surplus barrel) and approximately 500 rounds of various steel cased ammunition. 

Steel is not as malleable as brass and thus does not expand to seal a firearm's chamber as well as brass.  As a consequence, there will be significantly more case blowback than a similar brass cased cartridge.  This is evident in the pictures below as you can see the amount of carbon residue stuck to the side of the steel casing I had to manually eject via cleaning rod. You can also see the nice section of missing case rim material in the approximate shape of an AR15 extractor. This can be a more common problem with uneven case coatings such as "lacquer" found on Brown Bear (not really lacquer) or "polymer" found on Wolf and Tula (who knows what this really is).

The moral of the story is the bring a good cleaning rod when shooting copious amounts of steel cased ammo.

Russian 223 Disassembled

I'm a cheap bastard and like shooting.  This coupled with my affinity for the AR15 platform equals cheap Russian steel-cased ammunition.  On average these rounds cost right around or under $.20 delivered and are accurate enough for my purposes.  Unlike many stories I've read about Wolf and Tulammo I rarely get FTEs or FTFs with my bottom of the barrel ammunition.  With steel cased ammunition not expanding as much as brass cased ammunition; I also scrub my chambers after each encounter in order to remove excess powder residue and fouling. 

On to the actual review.  From the bottom of my range bag, I was able to retrieve a few stray rounds I could identify from previous purchases.  They are (from left to right): Tulammo 55 gr FMJ, Tulammo 75gr HP, Brown Bear 62gr SP, Golden Tiger 55gr FMJ, Federal XM193C 55gr FMJ.

Tulammo has the Wolf-like polymer case coating and both Brown Bear and Golden Tiger have the green "lacquer." Of course Federal is traditional brass.  Additionally, Golden Tiger and Brown Bear both have sealed primers with that nasty red stuff.  Golden Tiger also sports the sealant around the case neck.

Unfortunately, I left my impact bullet puller in another city so I had to pull the bullets the old fashioned way.  Please forgive the vise-grip marks on the projectiles.

 The Federal is the only of the lot with ball (spherical) powder.  All of the Russian specimens have extruded cut powder of some sort.  All of the Russian projectiles also have a noticeably thicker jacket than the M193.  This would seem to support observation by many shooters that recovered steel jacketed Russian projectiles do not readily fragment. My own testing has shown Wolf 55 gr to fragment in the past; albeit perhaps not consistently. All of the projectiles here exhibit a boat tail design including the Brown Bear 62gr SP.  The Brown Bear is the only projectile to feature an enclosed base.  Notably, there is a good amount of lead exposed at the tip.  I'm curious in the performance of this round hog hunting. The Tulammo 75gr HP has what loosely can be described as a hollow point similar to an OTM (open tip match) round.  Unlike American made OTM rounds; I have my doubts as to the fragmentation ability of this round.

 When I'm feeling less lazy, I'll take the time to weigh and measure the projectiles (sans pliers deformation) if I haven't lost them by then.

Tactical Machining AR Lower / Palmetto State Armory LPK

I recently had the opportunity to assemble yet another AR rifle from random parts around the house.  After reading various reviews and having used most of the big name manufacturers such as Colt, Bushmaster, RRA, Stag, Armalite, Spikes, Superior, Essential, Mega, and Aero Precision; I decided to try another brand.  As this is a newer company, I couldn't find too many reviews about their stripped lower.  Out of the reviews I stumbled across, none of them seemingly had anything bad to say about the lower or the company.

Upon visual inspection, the lower showed excellent finish with none of the flashing left over from the forging process that Colt and Bushmaster love to leave on their products.  Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures before slapping the lower parts kit into the lower.  Everything went in as expected and took approximately 15 minutes to assemble.  I should note that the LPK used was from Palmetto State Armory and also exhibited excellent fit and finish.  Coincidentally, the LPK happened to be the cheapest set available as well.  It is head over heels better than the DPMS trigger parts I have used in the past.

 The lower is a low shelf with a properly beveled magazine well.  My only complaint is the FIRE and SAFE markings are a little larger than most manufacturers.  Everything from USGI aluminum to Magpul PMAGs drop free and seat properly in the magazine well.  Here is the clincher though.  Out of all the receivers I have used or complete rifles from "Tier 1" manufacturers, this lower has the best upper to lower fit with any number of upper receivers I have tried it with.  I do not know how TM does this, but I'm sold on the internal dimensions they use.  The upper and lower receiver assembly slide together with no noticeable play whatsoever.  This isn't the typical out of spec super tight take down pin syndrome some lowers exhibit. No accuwedge or foam earplug required for proper upper/lower fit here.

The dye used in the anondization is also a perfect match for the my A2 upper (USGI surplus) with a deep, thick, black hardcoat.

This is by far the nicest lower I have yet seen or used when it comes to fit and finish.  Could I do with no logo?  Sure.  But given that every manufacturer plasters a giant billboard on the side of their lower, this one was done with reasonable good taste.  No deer head on my rifle.