2 Swords Tactical & Defense, LLC – For shooting enthusiast and 2nd Amendment supporters

Flying the Friendly Skies, with your Trusty 9

Before this experience, I expected to go into detail about how much time and trouble it is to check a firearm on a standard flight. As one who is a firearms professional and CCW advocate, I wanted to know how hard it was to check a firearm onto a domestic flight. So, after some basic research on reciprocity laws, airline policies, and TSA requirements, I pack my bag, AND my 2nd Amendment gear for a trip. I should disclose that I am not a lawyer or expert in airline travel policy, so please do your own research for specific airline carriers and state law that apply to your situation. This blog is only to inform, and describe my experience.

With that said, the first thing I learned is that you need a secure lockable hard-case for your gun, and its accessories. So, being the cheapskate I am, I decided to reuse an old storage case I bought for my pistols I bought years ago when I moved. It’s large and designed for multiple guns, but it was just the right size to fit into my suitcase, and fit the bill in terms of being a hard-sided lockable case. Problem one solved!

Next I had to lock the firearm in a way that made it inert in the event it was inspected. I don’t believe that is a formal requirement, as I think it just has to be unloaded. But if was inspected, I wanted to show I was diligent in making sure it was safe. Again being cheap, I just pulled out one of the hundreds of gunlocks that I have amassed over the years, and locked the breach and mag chamber. Problem number 2 solved.

Next was the ammo. According to what I read, I was able to transport up to 11 pounds of ammunition. I have seen other requirements from other carriers, but when I searched the Sprint Airlines Website, it referenced that maximum amount in their policy. It also stated that the ammo was not to be loosely packaged, or must be packaged in the original box. So, I just repurposed some 50 round 9mm ammo trays, and taped them together to enclose the 50 rounds I was taking with me. In addition, I also had enough room in my large case for two empty magazines. Some airlines allow you to have the magazines filled, but other blogs cautioned that some TSA agents don’t appreciate that. So I decided to error on the safe side, and packed them empty. I was ready for my trip.

Now Checking-in the Next Day…..

As always, there are always 2 major hurdles to airline travel: initial check in and security. Now when you are traveling with your gun, it adds another layer of potential delay to your schedule. As such, when I arrived at the Spirit Airlines ticket area, it was packed with meandering lines of frustrated travelers, crying children, sports teams, and their stuff. Needless to say I was concerned, seeing that I was going possibly add to the mayhem with my situation, as there were only 3 ticket agents on duty. I felt like I was going to be that dude at Starbucks with the overly complicated coffee drink order, holding up the line. However, once I finally got to the counter (60 minutes later), the agent was courteous and professional, despite the mass of passengers staring at her and her every move. Surprisingly, she was not phased by my special situation in the least, as I declared my firearm while handing her my ID. I don’t believe she even looked up from her computer after I said it.

After she found my reservation, she routinely asked to see the firearm. I proceeded to open the 3 locks securing the case, so she could confirm the firearm and contents were secure per Federal standards. She did not touch anything while she reviewed the gun, and proceeded to fill out an orange card, had me sign in 3 places, ripped off the receipt section, and handed it to me to confirm it was processed. She then proceeded to place the large orange card inside the case with the gun. I was then handed my standard checked-bag receipt, and told to take my bag and its contents to the TSA agents working in the oversized baggage area. Fortunately at the Atlanta airport, its was close to the ticket counter areas. So away I went to see the TSA.

When I arrived at the Sprint Airlines Oversized Bag area, I immediately declared I was traveling with a firearm, and was asked to set my bag onto large table and stand back. My ENTIRE bag was then inspected and swabbed, not sure why but I did not ask. Looked rather like standard procedure, because they did still did not even open the pistol case yet. Once the swabs came back clear for any “suspicious residue,” they asked me to open the pistol case, to re-inspected the contents. Once finished, they then asked me to resecure hard case inside my checked bag, lock the external lock, and informed me they would route my bag to my flight from there. They were pretty efficient overall, and minimal time was lost even with the TSA check. From there I went to security as usual from that point, just like any other flight.

Once in Detroit, I was not sure if my bag was going to the regular baggage claim, or if I would have to claim it at the Sprint Airlines Baggage Office. Turns out is showed up on the turn-style, just like a regular bag. So, the TSA routed my bag, just like they said they would. Once I got my bag, I was off to my destination, and could go about my business with the option of exercising my 2nd Amendment Rights. The first phase of my test was a success!

Return flight from Detroit Metro Airport:

Checkin was a breeze in Detroit, as the line was waaay shorter. Once I got to the ticket counter, I declared my firearm as soon as the agent asked for my preboard pass. Again, as before she asked to witness the firearm to confirm the secure storage of the gun and ammo. As before, she then filled out the orange ticket in triplicate, made me sign all tabs, gave me my receipt and requested I resecure gun case. However, unlike in Atlanta she had me lock the case in her presence, and then attached the tag to the outside handle of the locked case. Moreover, I did not have to go see TSA agents, as she had me lock my checked bag, and took it to the conveyer like a regular checked bag. That was it! I was home bound.

Once back in Atlanta, I simply proceeded to the baggage claim area, and waited for my bag to come to turnstile as usual. It did, and the final phase of my little test was complete. Overall, the experience was pretty uneventful. However, the things I learned were:

1. Invest in a smaller and slimmer pistol hard-case. One that can easily slip in and out of the luggage with one hand, and lock with a single key. I now admit, the 3 locks was a bit much. This will save time at the counter, and with TSA.
2. Plan on allowing even extra time for check-in. Even though I did not miss my flights on this trip, it could have been a fail if the TSA agents were busy, not available, or just jerks.
3. Remember, if you plan to check your gun, you have to go to the counter, so pre-checking is not an option. You have to get in line with the common folk.
4. Remember that airlines and airports do things differently, so be ready to be flexible. My experience was with a pistol. However, if you choose to bring a long gun (for a hunting trip or competition), the process may be different.
5. It pays to do your research! Getting there and relying on the ticket agent or the TSA to give you legal advice is a bad idea. Know the laws and policies that pertain to your travel schedule and destination. Also avoid layovers to cities that are unfriendly to the 2nd Amendment (I won’t name names). The internet is filled with horror stories of innocent people that had to spend time in jail, just because they declared a gun on a layover, or weather forced their plane to land in a city that was hostile to legal guns.

Well, it turns out that my preconceived notions about traveling with a firearm were – unfounded. This experience has shown me that the airline professionals and TSA were pleasant, well trained, and efficient in handling the additional requirements of processing a firearm for a flight (at least in Atlanta and Detroit). Hopefully my experience dispels any fears of traveling with a firearm on domestic flights. Just know that once you learn the rules, you can travel with confidence and security, exercising your 2nd Amendment Rights for you and your family. Carry on; and carry often.

CZ P-09 9mm Pistol – A Handful of Liberty!

I recently traded up from my old tried and true Springfield XD-9 Tactical pistol to the new CZ P-09, and finally had some range time with my new man-toy. I must admit it was a difficult decision to sell my XD, as I had it for a number of years, and it served me faithfully from the time I purchased it new. Not even so much as a single FTF/FTE through multiple IDPA matches, and training sessions. However, I really liked the additional capacity of the CZ, and I’ve grown to love the Croatian-Born CZ pistols since I purchased my CZ 75 P-06 .40 Compact in 2012.

Anyway, back to the CZ P-09. It caught my eye earlier this year when I was shopping for a new pistol, and learned of its 19+1 capacity. After seeing that I had to take a second look at these pistols, because it carried more firepower than my XD, AND had a threaded barrel standard. In addition, it was a SA/DA pistol, which I find more interesting to operate and shoot, compared to the safe-action type triggers of XDs and Glocks. Add that to my appreciation for CZs, and I was sold! I found myself trolling YouTube for reviews, and they were all very favorable for the P09.

Features and Benefits:

As I mentioned already, the industry leading 19+1 capacity was the first attention-getter for me. Furthermore, at the release of this blog, there is a 21+1 round mag option now on the market for this model as well! 22 rounds of 9mm, stay-in-the-fight firepower, is something that sets this pistol apart. Add that to the excellent ergonomics and adjustable back straps for different hand sizes, and the shootability factor rises significantly for the CZ P-09. How does it shoot? We’ll get to that.

Another great value/feature of this pistol is the threaded barrel. Even though I do not currently own a can for 9mm, the fact that I can now facilitate such hardware makes doing all that arduous paperwork a stronger possibility. The HPA legislation is still being volleyed around the US Legislature, but even if it does not mature to a law, I will still most likely start the process. At least I will have plenty of range time to break in my new pistol while I am waiting the 6-9months for the BATFE to get around to approving my tax stamp.

Configurability is another benefit of the CZ P-09. It ships with a decocker, which functions just like other SA/DAs, allowing one to safely drop the hammer to DA mode. However, CZ also allows one to reconfigure the pistol and replace the decocker with a traditional thumb safety. In this configuration one can carry the firearm locked, loaded, and with the hammer cocked if desired. There are no tools or gunsmiths needed to reconfigure the controls, so it allows shooters to have the pistol tailored their preferences.

Another nice feature I noticed about the CZ P-09 is that everything about it is big. Big grip, large capacity, long site radius, sizable control surfaces; even the mag release button is big. You cannot miss it, as its right where it needs to be for medium or larger sized hands, and it protrudes out such that you can easily depress it to drop the mag. And as soon as you depress that release button, the magazine shoots out the grip like it had some bad chipotle. No time wasted getting the empty out of the way for the tactical reload with the CZ P-09. However, this could be a problem, which I will cover later.

How Does it Shoot?

Well, how does the CZ P-09 handle itself on the range, with a mediocre shooter like myself? Well, it made me look better than I actually am. During my first outing with the pistol, I was able to keep my shots within the 2-ring at 25feet, during deliberate sight placement. For rapid fire drills I was able to keep shots well within combat accuracy standards, even removing swaths of the target in the process. The DA pull is a bit long, but the break is clean and manageable. The SA pulls are short and crisp, with a fast and audible reset. Though the trigger is not match grade, it is a solid combat SA/DA trigger. Very much what one would expect from a CZ.

Gripes or things I would change

Only two things I noticed about the pistol that I did not immediately like. One was already addressed by CZ, thanks to their solid customer service department. I noticed it when I got the pistol home and checked the sight picture again; as one of the rear sight-dots was missing. It was most likely damaged during handing at the gunstore, or just a rare quality defect from the CZ factory. Whatever the root cause, once I called them and explained the problem, they threw a new rear sight in the mail for me the same day – no question asked. Can’t ask for much more than that.

The only other possible problem I see with the P-09 is the magazine release button. Yes, I just finished raving about how big and great it was, but its ease of accessibility could also be a problem when finding a holster for this beast of a sidearm. In similar situations I’ve seen with protruding controls, the mag-release can actually get depressed when the pistol is holstered; causing the magazine to drop without warning when sitting or waking about. Not a good situation these days. Just something to think about when shopping for a carry holster for the CZ P-09.

Overall, the CZ P-09 gets high marks from 2-Swords Tactical & Defense. There is not much you can complain about on this pistol, as it is has high capacity, solid accuracy, is reconfigurable, and can accommodate a suppressor right out the box. So, I have no regrets giving up my Croatian-born sidearm, for this Czech-inspired piece of liberty.

Another Mass Shooting – Ft. Lauderdale Airport: 5 Murdered, 8 Wounded

Turned on the news today as I was driving home, and heard the breaking news of yet another shooting. I was instantly saddened, as well as pissed off that someone would do something so heinous. Anyway, I got to thinking about what type of person would do such a thing. My conclusion was an evil person, who obviously thought out and planned such actions beforehand. My next thought was, ” Why didn’t anyone shoot back at him?” Answer was it happened in another gun-free-zone, where only the deranged, and the hopefully-in-right-spot-when-it-breaks-off police get to have firearms. Don’t get me wrong, I am a very big fan of our police, but we cannot expect them to be omnipresent, clairvoyant, and bullet-proof 100% of the time. Hmmm, I wonder what other solution there might be to these type of shootings? I know, how about our Constitution, and the Second Amendment! There are lots of ways this could have been different, had there been armed citizens in the airport, trained and motivated to stop this deviant. I do understand the argument against everyone carrying guns, as it would only take a very small minority to make that scenario bad as well (face it, not everyone should carry a gun).

Just spit-balling here, but how about a program where folks could sign up to be a civilian safety marshal – kind of like the Air Marshals that fly our skies undercover. Only these folks would be trained to respond to hostile shootings, and would not be subject to gun-free zone laws across the country. To keep the cost of such a program low, they could supply their own weapon(s), get insurance to cover personal damages, and even pay a fee (Let’s face it, if there is no cost barriers, we would have every X-Box wanna-be warrior still living with mom signing up). Anyway, as long as they could pass an FBI background check, maintain a certain level of training-hours per year, maintain insurance, and attend mandatory training and/or meetings with local LEOs, they could participate and be a great complement to our over-taxed police and security forces across the country. I could see soccer moms, taxi drivers, school teachers, retired military, and even college students all participating is such a program; helping make our soft target areas more safe against terrorists and disturbed individuals.

Because of the love I have for my country and fellow citizens, I for one would sign up for such an opportunity in a heartbeat – but only if I got a cool badge. What about you? Thoughts?

Stay safe in 2017.

MM: 2-STnD

The Best Gear Buys from 2-Swords Tactical: SD9-VE 9mm Pistol

Price: $349.00 NIB with (2) 15 round magazines, safety lock, & manual

Shipping is Free!

To purchase go to GunBroker.com item 593822283

Smith & Wesson SD9-VE 9mm Semi Auto Pistol

The Smith and Wesson SD9-VE is a tried and true semi-automatic pistol, and has a reputation of a solid performer at a reasonable price. If you are looking for a feature-rich, reliable, easy to operate 9mm pistol that can be used in any application, then look no further!! The SD9-VE offers the following benefits right out of the box.

A Stainless Steel slide and Barrel with a Loaded Chamber Indicator

One thing that is key in firearm safety is knowing the status of your weapon. The SD9 has a visual peep-hole that allows the operator to see if a round is in the chamber. The rim of any chambered round is shown

through a cut-away in the stainless-steel ejection port, indicating that the pistol is in a “hot” state. In addition, the stainless steel slide and barrel construction makes it more impervious to oxidation and moisture, so there are no worries when carrying the SD9 in the hot sweaty Georgia summers.

A polymer frame reinforced with Metallic Frame

The SD-9 is a polymer framed weapon, and this molded technology allows for three things. First it allows for light weight, compared to a steel or even aluminum framed pistol. This makes the SD9 easy to carry for long periods. Second, the polymer frame is molded around a metal inner frame structure, enabling it to withstand the rigorous pressures and forces associated with the 9mm slide recoil, and endure years of faithful service. The third benefit of polymer construction technology is the integration of aggressive tactile patterns on the strap and grip surfaces, which help the shooter maintain firm control of the weapon, either with one or both hands.

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Accessory-rail to accept aftermarket add-ons

If you want to go the tactical route (and who doesn’t), the SD-VE is ready to accept any laser, flashlight, or combo on the market today. There is even a rail-mounted pistol bayonet, if one wanted to go total apocalypse. The integrated rail in front of the trigger guard enables easy index finger control of any tactical equipment you want to mount. No need to add-on a rail to accept add-ons with this pistol. Right out the box it can be upgraded to meet tactical mission requirements.

Crisp and consistent trigger

The striker-fire trigger on the SD9-VE is crisp and consistent. It is around 7lbs, with a fairly short crisp audible reset. This trigger has been enhanced significantly from the original one on its predecessor, the Smith & Wesson Sigma, which were notoriously bad. Smith and Wesson heard the market, and reacted to improve the trigger feel and function for the SD9 family. Now that being said, the “SD” in name stands for self defense, so this is not a competition trigger. It is ideal for police and security detail, or home defense. In short, its right on the mark for what it is intended to be.

Easy take-down and assembly: Similar to other more expensive models on the market

It’s well know that the Sigma and SD variants got their “inspiration” from the Glock. So much so, there was some litigation that resulted in Smith and Wesson paying money for their inspiration. Even so, many of the features and details of the SD family are identical to the Glock, including the striker fire trigger, slide controls, and the take-down lever. Some even argue that they are even – dare it be said – IMPROVED! Hence, those that own some of the more expensive makes on the market will be quite comfortable with the SD9-VE.

So, just to sum up, the Smith and Wesson SD9-VE is the latest variant of the SD family, and is certainly a solid performer. Though its predecessor versions had some problems, the SD9-VE inherited all their fixes, resulting in an affordable pistol for those that don’t want to pay Glock or Sig prices. Some call the Smith and Wesson SD-VE a knock-off, but if imitation is the best form of flattery, what do you call a refined improvement at half the price? Hmmm.

Tavor X95: Bullseye or Bull%^&$#?

I have always been a big fan of bullpup rifles. On paper, they seem to be the best of both worlds for a combat style rifle: shorter overall length with a full-length barrel, along with optimal muzzle velocity and stand-off range. What’s not to love, right? Ok, well in life there will always be compromises. So, who needs easy reloads, or a smooth/crisp trigger, or light weight, or simple internal mechanics and maintenance? It looks “cool.” Well, since the mid-seventies many countries have adopted different variations of the rear-magazine rifles. From the French FAMAS, or Austria’s famous Steyr Aug (think of the movie “Die Hard”), to Great Britain’s SA80, all have their strong points, and have served well in many combat theaters all over the world. The latest addition to this elite club is Israel’s Tavor X95, which is the latest civilian version of the Tavor Combat Rifle developed by Israel Weapons Industry (IWI), and adopted by the Israeli Army in 2013.

Because this is a range report on the Tavor X95, there will be no in-depth analysis on the different versions of the Tavors, or its contemporaries; as there is plenty of internet fodder to addresses that. The focus of this writing is on how the new Tavor X95 shoots, handles, and compares to other conventical sports rifle platforms. So, if you are on the fence about the Tavor, and are looking for additional data-points to make up your mind, continue reading.

Size and Handling for Tavor X95 – Score: bullseye 10 points!
After seeing the Tavor X95 on the rack next to the AR variants in my local gun store, I was impressed with the handling and feel of the rifle; even compared to the short barreled rifle (SBR) AR15’s. And, seeing as you don’t need to submit for a federal tax stamp to own one (at least for now), it’s like getting a SBR without having to wait for 6-10 months, while paying $200 for the privilege. The overall length of the Tavor X95 compared to my AAC AR15 9in barrel SBR is about the same, and you get a full 16in barrel.

Trigger for Tavor X95 – Score: 8 Ring
Now, triggers are somewhat subjective when it comes to true shooting snobs. Some like minimum travel and clean break, while others like multi-stage travel before a light break. The one thing that the Tavor X95 trigger has is short clean and audible reset after each press. Now, because this evaluation is for a combat-style rifle, it will not be winning any precision rifle matches (but more on that later). I will say that IWI got the trigger right for its intended purpose. For combat accuracy shots, this trigger has a smooth and controllable creep right before the release. It’s very easy to feel and manage while holding the sight picture. Overall it’s a respectable trigger, especially for a bullpup.

Operation and Controls – Score: 6
This is an area where the Tavor X95 actually improved over the previous versions. IWI made some enhancements to make the X95 more “AR Like.” For one, they moved the magazine release to the same location as an AR, which is actuated by the trigger finger on either side. The older Tavor had a wonky 2nd trigger in the rear to release the mag, which was often pressed unintentionally, due to its horrible location behind the pistol grip. The non-reciprocating charging handle is like the previous Tavor models, and located on the side, similar to an MP5. The one ding on this design is the bolt catch/release switch, which is located on the underside of the rifle behind the magazine well. The oversized rocker-button is easy enough to hit with your hand after reloading a new mag, but it’s very difficult to operate when you are just trying to keep the bolt open for maintenance or checks. You actually have to support the rifle against something (like your body), and pull it out with one hand, while holding the charging handle open with the other hand. Unlike the AR, where these two controls are at least near to each other, it can be done a bit easier. However, the X95 bullpup layout makes this much more of a clumsy operation to pull off. I imagine if one practices, they could come up with a quicker and effective way to do this, even under stress. Other than that, the safety/fire switch is the typical thumb rotation type found on the AR15 models. I should also mention the fact both right and left handed models of the Tavor X95 are available, with the selector switch, charging handle, and ejection port, being on the opposite side. However, either version can be reconfigured as needed with the necessary factory offered components.

Features and Benefits – Score: 9 Ring
One of the more interesting features of the Tavor is the integrated back-up iron sights (BUIS). They are deployed by manually unfolding them from their Picatinny rail storage pockets. The good point of the sights is they actually work quite well, and are easy to align, allowing for impressive groupings (as you will see later). The bad points are that they are, one, not attractive – more like an afterthought. And two, could be easily damaged in a harsh environment, because they are literally vertical posts that stick straight up from the top surface, with no protection whatsoever. I can just see a shooter forgetting they were up and slinging the weapon, only for them to catch on something and be bent, or ripped off altogether. You definitely only want deploy these if your primary optic goes down.

Another plus, the Tavor X95 has more Picatinny mounting surfaces than you will ever need. So, just about anything on the market today can be attached to the X95 to enhance your shooting pleasure. The rails are even hidden by a clever spring loaded covers that are easily removed to access the mounting surfaces. Mounts are on the top, sides, and even the underside of the rifle fore grip. You could really go Rambo-Norris with this rail setup if you wanted!!

And if you weren’t already convinced, the X95 has integrated quick-detach holes built into the body of the rifle. They are (5) different locations along the length of the rifle, along both sides that enable you to customize the sling setup of the Tavor to your liking. Get this – it even ships with (2) quick detach swivels in the box!! Speaking of the body of the rifle, the color schemes for the rifle are traditional black, OD, and FDE. Though furniture colors are nothing new to sport rifles, the fact that much of the rifle has color, along with its distinctive form, makes it pop.
You say you don’t like the pistol grip and hand-guard of the Tavor X95? Well, change it! Yes, another improvement IWI threw in for its fans was the ability to change out the rifle to meet different tastes, and physical requirements. You can reconfigure the rifle to have a standard pistol grip without the hand-guard if you desire. In addition, you can change out the pistol grip backstrap to fit smaller or larger hand sizes. Obviously, this is the trend most major pistol manufacturers are currently following, so it make perfect sense.

Tavor X95 with Alternate Grip — Tavor X95 shown with Alternate Grip

Shooting and Accuracy – Score: 9 Ring

OK, down to the real question; how does the thing shoot? Well, I can say that my range time with the Tavor X95 was very satisfying – right out of the box. I took the nubie gun to my favorite outdoor range, and put it through some paces at 25 yards, as I was only looking to get a feel for its combat accuracy. In future postings I may do some long range 100-yard work and report.

My first order of business was to check the muzzle velocity out of the X95 with the 55 grain Federal .223 ammo I had that day. As you can see it was clocking at a consistent 2880ish FPS. One thing to note is the first shot taken with my AAC suppressor resulted in a misfeed-failure, possibly due to the increased back-pressure. However, after removing the mag and conducting function-check, all following shots with the can were fine. I should also say that the extra weight of the can on the barrel changes the balance and feel of the rifle, adding ballast to the weight of the rearward magazine and bolt assembly. This noticeable change was not an improvement; just different.

All shots on target were all done with iron sights, with about 5 different sets of 5 shots each. For comparison, I also dusted off my full length AR15 300BLK rifle. However, the 45deg sights on my AR rifle are crappy, but this fact also shows how nice the iron sights are on the Tavor X95. I also shot some groups my SBR AR15, just to compare as well to the X95. The results were not as good as the X95, as the Tavor’s consistent trigger and iron sight combination made for some tight groups, once I got the hang of the rifle. I think with practice and the right ammo, I could get sub 2-MOA fairly easy.

Overall, the Tavor X95 is a bullseye! Scoring 42 points out of 50 points makes this a solid contender for a sporting rifle. Add in the benefits of having a compact and easy to handle SBR-type weapon, without the hassles of the tax stamp and waiting period. The only other ding of the Tavor X95 is the price, as it was retailing around $1700 at the time of this writing. You could easily get two midgrade AR15’s for this price. However, what fun is that when you can have the latest semi-automatic rifle technology that harnesses the piston reliability of the AK series, with the modularity, functionality, and accuracy of the AR platform. Win-win!! Hopefully this unscientific but reasonable comparison helps some folks make their purchasing decision, as the Tavor X95 is definitely a solid platform for anyone at any shooting level. There will be more shooting comparisons published soon, and the X95 will certainly be included. Stay tuned.
2STnD – 2016