Constitutional Law

Military gets new sniper equipment, techniques

Story here. I find it interesting that all the equipment is civilian invention and manufacture. That may not seem unusual today, but it wasn't but a few wars ago that everyone carried government-designed rifles made in government arsenals (come to think of it, the one civilian made component was the scope sights, issued in small quantities), and firing government-made ammo.

Hat tip to George Mason 1776...

UPDATE: during wars, it was common to farm out gun manufacture to private companies, because the gov't arsenals couldn't keep up, and private industry came in to make arsenal-designed guns. I think the pivotal thing is that private industry has come out with a bunch of devices useful to shooters, which also happen to be useful to military snipers, whereas the military itself ignored that area. Better variable power scopes, rangefinders, backpacks, hydration rigs, etc.

I hope the military is looking into what we saw on the tour of Blackhawk Product Group's HQ. Camo uniforms with two tourniquets built into each sleeve and pants leg.

UPDATE: Blackhawk doesn't sell to civilians? I think you've got the wrong Blackhawk. I'm looking at their catalog right now. Their webpage lets you order online. And I've been to their brick-and-mortar store, open to anyone who walks in.

Full post as published by Of Arms and the Law on October 25, 2008 (boomark / email).