Shadow Warrior: Interview with Former CIA Paramilitary Officer Ric Prado

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We’d love to say that Enrique “Ric” Prado is a man who needs no introduction. But that’s not true. On the contrary, Ric has dedicated his life to secrecy and security. A life-long veteran of America’s clandestine fight to suppress oppression, Ric has never actively sought fame or glory. The fruits of his labor remain, by and large, entombed in a casket of red tape and rubber stamps marked “Classified” or “Top Secret.” The scourge of Communism — real Communism, not the white-washed ideal praised in coffee shops and collegiate lecture halls — stained his life at a young age and set him on a five-decade mission that carried him literally around the world. From the streets of Miami during the dawn of the Cocaine Cowboys, to the jungles of Latin America, to the skies over Baghdad, Ric has cashed in his shot at the American dream to defend all of ours.

We recently sat down with him, following the release of his book Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior, to discuss his life in the sequestered and oft-misunderstood world of covert operations.

This article was originally published in our sister publication, RECOIL magazine. Photos by John Jackson.

Ric Prado Interview

RECOIL: Tell us why and how you and your family emigrated to the U.S. from Cuba.

Ric Prado: By the age of 7 or 8, during the culmination of the Castro Revolution, I saw the consequences of a firefight two feet in front of me. Shortly after Castro gaining power on January 9, 1959, I witnessed the atrocities being committed in the name of the Revolution: three men hanging from trees with signs around their necks which read “Counter-Revolutionaries.”

Above: Ric's last supper with his family in Cuba before his solo voyage to the US.

All businesses, including my dad’s modest coffee roasting company, were confiscated by Castro. My dad saw the writing on the wall and decided to flee the island for freedom (which only the U.S. provides). Because of corrupt political machinations, my parents were not granted the mandatory exit permit (U.S. visas were not the problem). So, my dad found the “Peter Pan” program, which was facilitating the departure of kids under the age of 15 via the Catholic church.

As an only child, I flew solo to the U.S. at the age of 10. I immediately was sent to a Catholic orphanage in Pueblo, Colorado. My parents were able to flee the communist yoke eight months later. I truly believe that these three experiences — war, solo departure, orphanage — “forged my metal” for what would be my path in life.

What was your childhood like in Miami? What were some people or events that influenced you to take your current path?

RP: I got mixed up with a rough crowd in high school — no drugs but lots of fighting. I had decent grades in school, but my conduct was not. The tipping point for my course correction happened in my first year of college in Miami Dade: 1971, hippies protesting the Vietnam war announced the intention to burn the American flag the following day. “Not on my watch!” I said to myself. So, I called a few of my fellow street rats, and when the 15 to 20 hippies showed up to take down the flag, the five of us plowed right through them. Torn T-shirts and beads all over the place, but the American flag yet waved. It was the first time in my life that I felt proud of my violence. Four months later, I joined an elite Air Force unit with the solemn intent of fighting in Vietnam.

What did you do in the military?

RP: I qualified to enter the pararescue pipeline in 1971. I thought I was a tough, fit kid but the initial experience was humbling. Still, under the “ain’t dead, can’t quit” mantra, I gutted it through and got my coveted maroon beret in late 1972.

Can you talk a little about what the pararescue training was like?

RP: Pararescue was one of the final hammer-strikes forging my character. During the six-week selection, we did two-a-days (pool and PT) six days a week. Like most SOF units, our attrition rate was 80 percent. Not only was the physical training brutal, but the mental load of eventually becoming an EMT-2 was also quite a challenge.

We did EMT-1 training and simultaneously pre-SCUBA preparation at Sheppard AFB, Texas — that was brutal! SCUBA school is arguably the most demanding course of most SOF pipelines. I had the slight advantage that I was already advanced SCUBA qualified (a passion that started in ninth grade), and that allowed me to sleep a little more, while my teammates had to study Boyle’s law, nitrogen-narcosis, decompression tables, and related illnesses.

It was still a beast of a challenge. Then, Jump School at Fort Benning was relatively “easy day.” But S.E.R.E school was no joke. We then entered what was then referred to as “Transition School,” which encompassed EMT-2 medical training, goat-labs, advanced parachuting — which included SCUBA jumps with about 130 pounds of gear — mountain climbing, and lots of PT … at altitude.

First time this Cuban kid from Miami saw snow was on a four-day trekking exercise through 3 feet of snow, in snowshoes. Last was a frosty night SCUBA jump into the dark abyss of a lake in Utah in 38-degree weather. That night we donned our berets for the first time.

How did you wind up at the CIA? Did you apply, or were you recruited?

RP: Like most things in my life, it was preordained. I was loving pararescue but with Vietnam winding down and no hope to test my skills, I lacked a sense of purpose. Yes, I was jumping almost weekly and doing great waterwork, but training only for training’s sake. In 1974, I applied to the Agency. “Not hiring, firing” was their blunt response.

I tried again in 1980 and was brought in on periodic contract as a paramedic supporting CIA’s elite Special Activities Division, Ground Branch. I represented myself well, I was “fit as a firetruck,” and when President Reagan declared war on Latin American communism, I was recruited into the ranks of SAD/GB, where I was home-based for over 10 years.

What was your first assignment for the Agency, and what was the onboarding process like?

RP: Like your first kiss, your first assignment is always unforgettable. Mine was arguably the most rewarding adventure of my career. In early 1981, I was PCS’d to Honduras, in alias, to support the anti-Sandinista “Contras” in their fight to regain their freedom. For the first 14 months of that program, I was the only CIA officer allowed in the Contra camps — this in order to hide the U.S. hand (covert action equals black ops).

Above: Ric and his family while receiving his first CIA medal for leading a team of native combat divers to blow up a port facility controlled by Sandinistas.

I slept in a jungle hammock for 3.3 years and loved every minute. Here, I lost my cherry in my first firefight, a Sandinista ambush, which we countered and subsequently leveled their camp using my new mortar class, via 82mm mortars. These were Soviet stock, again to hide U.S. involvement.

After the Contra program, did your Cuban heritage and language ability “corner” you to Latin and South American postings?

RP: My next two assignments after the Hondo/Nica deployment were to Latin America. First, Costa Rica covertly running the Contra program from the south. The third was to a country in South America (unnamed). This was my first counterterrorism gig, and where I recruited a Maoist terrorist. However, although I was a PMO (paramilitary officer), I was also a fully qualified ops officer/intel. So, being SAD, I was not constrained by geographical boundaries.

Above: Photos from Ric's first assignment with the CIA, training Nicaraguan anti-communist freedom fighters.

I subsequently PCS’d to the Philippines, Korea, and “Shangri-La,” a radical Muslim country in East Africa. I was the Chief of Station (COS). I returned to headquarters and was awarded the coveted Chief of Operations at our Counterterrorist Center (CTC).

How was the transition from being a full-time paramilitary officer to being a “traditional” operations officer, relying more on tradecraft than battlefield tactics?

RP: With the copious tradecraft training we receive at “The Farm,” our PMOs are well-prepared for the transition. In fact, it is mandatory for PMOs to first and foremost be intel-collecting ops officers. I had the added advantage that I worked in a men’s haberdashery in my junior and senior high school years, so I learned to “clean up well.”

As much as I loved my kinetic PM days, I found the primary CIA mission — collect intel and conduct covert ops (black ops) — the most exciting. Nothing like swimming in dangerous waters undetected. My recruitment of a Maoist terrorist and my surviving a Philippine New People’s Army (NPA) “Sparrow” hit team attack really floated my boat.

You were one of the original members of the Agency’s Bin Laden task force. How did you wind up there, and what made the CIA dedicate a whole station to one individual?

RP: Yes, I am Plank Owner of that task force, better known as Alec Station. I had just returned from my Chief Liaison job in Korea and had taken OpCon of CTC’s Palestinian Branch when the C/Ops pitched me about being the Deputy Chief of Station for this effort. I had just gotten my GS-15, and this was heaven sent.

Above: Ric at First Coast Firearms with an M240B, which he carried while assigned to 20th SFG.

Mike Scheuer, the COS, was a senior analyst, and he is the first to develop the theory that Bin Laden was a major organizer of radical Islamic terrorism. We started with a small crew of about eight, all but two analysts.

Within 10 months, we had uncovered 10 times the intel we had prior. And we had him under extreme vigilance, while he was in Khartoum, Sudan. Special Forces legend Billy Waugh was the chief of surveillance for the station, working for my great boss and friend, Cofer Black. Billy had “made book” on UBL and had full documentation of his patterns of life.

Billy, via Cofer and Alec Station, kept proposing that we bring Bin Laden to justice based on the copious amount of intelligence that was pouring in from multiple sources, including unilateral and liaison. Unfortunately, that administration did not have the political will to approve such a venture. Mind you, Billy could have killed him with a pencil (his quote), but we were confident that we could render him to justice with minimal resistance.

We all enjoy 20/20 hindsight, but if we would have been allowed to do the deed, the USS Cole, our two embassies in Africa, and perhaps even September 11th could have been disrupted.

You also worked at the CTC — the Agency’s Counter-Terrorism Center. How did that assignment differ from your field postings, and how did the CIA’s focus on terrorism change over the years you spent there?

RP: Well, my South America tour was under CTC’s mandate. Same with my time in the Alec Station. After my tenure as East Asia Deputy Division Chief for the community’s Korea program, I returned to the fold of CTC in May of 2000, first as Chief of International Terrorism and subsequently as Cofer’s Deputy for Operations (referred to as Chief/Ops).

CTC was cutting-edge CIA. It was the epicenter of all source intelligence gathering and operational initiatives dealing with the Global War on Terrorism. It was a dynamic place to work with a plethora of dedicated professionals, operators, and analysts alike. And yes, terrorism became the “flash bang grenade” that shifted the focus of the whole community toward the global onslaught. After Sept. 11, CTC was the biggest entity in the CIA.

What was your final posting before retirement? And when did you transition out of active service with the Agency?

RP: After my year as CTC C/Ops, I developed an operational concept that Cofer and Jose Rodriguez loved, for going after the soft underbelly of any terrorist organization: their worldwide support mechanisms! The idea, which I briefed to then Vice President Dick Cheney and Condi Rice, was to establish patterns of life of two to three senior support elements for every terrorist group who could threaten us.

The concept was disruption — if we were receiving major indicators that target group was planning an attack against the U.S. or its allies, we could neutralize those pre-established targets for rendition, local police intervention, or whatever else the president of the U.S. would approve under CIA’s Title 50 Authorities.

After senior CTC management, which included me, realized that we were never going to be allowed anything more than long-term surveillance, we decided to disband the team, as it had become nothing more than a “paper tiger” that briefed well.

Shortly thereafter, in the early part of 2004, I retired from the CIA. I received the Distinguished Career Intelligence medal and the George Bush medal for Excellence in Counterterrorism, among others.

Above: A sampling of career tokens, encased in a shadow box, including an assortment of carry knives. “I fear knives, so I figure so does everyone else. I always carry two.”

We understand that you also spent some time working for Blackwater after retirement. How did that opportunity come about, and what did you do for them?

RP: I had met and befriended Erik Prince while I was Chief/Ops. When I started my “special program” described above, I asked Erik to facilitate the kinetic training me and my crew needed to carry out the missions.

I chose Blackwater because we could train there anonymously and with the best of the best instructors. Shortly after my retirement, Erik pitched me to come work for him. His patriotic idea was to allow me to bring my talents and my networks to the intel/CT community writ large.

Above: Serving as a fill-in door gunner on a Little Bird in Iraq, during his time with Blackwater.

My title was VP for Special Government Programs (wink!). I cannot go into much detail because black ops was fully vetted and cleared by CIA up to and including my CIA tenure. The rest of what we did in Blackwater for the community, which was a lot, remains classified, although some things have leaked maliciously. I had the best time of my career working at Blackwater. And enjoying the fact that Erik would train with us in all aspects of the trade. Great times indeed.

Have you had the opportunity to pursue any other consulting or private sector work since then?

RP: Yes, I taught at Advance Special Operations & Techniques (ASOT) at Fort Bragg for seven years. There I worked with some of the best SOF elements and instructor cadre. I am very proud of my time supporting the ASOT and ASOT Managers Course.

Earlier this year, your book Black Ops: The Life Of A CIA Shadow Warrior was released and has since become a New York Times bestseller. Who or what prompted you to tell your story?

RP: The idea started via my former boss, Cofer Black, whom I had recruited for Blackwater. He would harp at me incessantly about using my life story as platform to tell the story of the real CIA and the true ethos of our colleagues. I did not listen.

Then, my oldest son insisted I write my memoirs for the family, and that is when I started writing. Like all things in my life, I did not plan for it, but the Good Lord guided me, sometimes with a 2×4, toward publishing. First, Steve Coll (Pulitzer Prize winner) and then Annie Jacobson both interviewed me for books they were working on, and both encouraged me to make the leap.

Two things were catalysts: 1) My name and special projects were maliciously leaked in 2009. My name appeared in the front page of the news, tying me to CIA death squads. The importance of this is that my “fig leaf” had been ripped off and in a very negative way. 2) Post-retirement, I had time for introspection. The fact that we, a tiny Agency, have 139 stars on our Wall of Honor, and about a third of those are post Sept. 11, I realized that I needed to take up defending their honor and sacrifices and make them public knowledge.

After all is said and done, that was the driving force for finally pulling the trigger on Black Ops. By the way, it also made Amazon Books Editor’s number-one pick last month.

From an emotional/psychological standpoint, how were you able to reconcile the prospective publicity you would likely receive from this book with the inherent desire to remain anonymous and private, a staple requirement for intelligence officers?

RP: Men like us enjoy a passion and conviction that makes us who we are. The old saying “if you’re going to be a bear, be a grizzly” comes to mind. The leaking of my name and the terrible picture that Hollywood paints about my colleagues and what the Agency does is always portrayed as treasonous, treacherous, corrupt. Those men and women who adorn our Wall of Honor deserve better representation. Names like Mike Spann and Jennifer Mathews, the latter an early UBL/Alec Station member, deserve a better history, especially for their offspring.

Was there a formalized review or approval process with the CIA to get your manuscript published?

RP: Absolutely! My book underwent a thorough scrub for protecting sources and methods. It took six months to get it through, but what I wrote was fully vetted and approved by CIA reviewers.

In television and movies, intelligence officers are always using far-flung gadgets and tech to accomplish their missions. Did your experience as an Operations Officer involve anything like this?

RP: Unadulterated “Bravo Sierra” (BS)! In Black Ops, I document real sexy CIA ops, conducted by committed patriots in places most people never even visit. We get no Aston Martins or clothing allowance for Brioni suits, but the men and women of the CIA deliver, in spite of the politics that often hamstring us.

While gadgets and disguises and diplomatic wine mixers are a part of legacy case work, you spent much of your career in paramilitary covert action — the “pointy end” of intelligence operations. What was that equipment like, especially in the early 1980s when you started out?

RP: Well, while supporting the Contra project, I carried an AR-15, a Browning High Power 9mm pistol on my hip, a straight-blade knife, a pair of golf-ball grenades (V-40s I think they were called), and my trusty Walther PPK/S in an ankle holster. In other danger tours, like in the Philippines, I carried an MP5K in my armored vehicle, first a Browning HP then a Glock 19, a knife (or two), and again, an ankle piece.

When I serviced “walk-ins” (volunteers) in the PI, during the first Gulf War, I would make my meeting at the high-end hotels. They screened everybody for weapons, but I noticed (awareness rules in our business) that they only used the metal-detecting wand above the knee. Ergo, I carried two five-shot Lady Smith revolvers, one on each ankle, with a backup ammo strip. No gun for all seasons!

How did the Agency itself evolve or change over the course of your career?

RP: Well, in my case, it started with an elite military posture while working in and out of our 10 Contra camps on the Nica border. Tradecraft was not always employed, but situational alertness was mandatory. This was PMO work at its finest. The transition to fighting the Cold War under U.S. Embassy cover was definitely tradecraft-based and, of course, armed in EDC mode.

Then came terrorism, and our operational world changed dramatically from diplomatic and business circles to dealing with rougher characters. In contrast to solo operations of the Cold War, we now often had to employ “shadow surveillance” by our highly trained cadre. I used to refer to them as my ghosts with teeth.

By the way, counterterrorism is the best thing that ever happened to our PMOs — from second-class citizens in the late ’70s and early ’80s to fast trackers and Chiefs of Station in the many danger posts.

Above: Ric and his elite close-surveillance team in an undisclosed African country where he served as Chief of Station.

After decades of high-tempo operations, how do you spend your time nowadays?

RP: Well, currently, I am omni-focused on the promotion of Black Ops. Next, however, I plan to ride my horse, my motorbike, and spoil my wife any way I can. After 51 years of “God and country,” I am looking forward to some me time. Don’t get me wrong, this dog can still hunt and will if I must.

Do you still get out and shoot?

RP: Religiously! Like physical training, fighting skills are a way of life you just don’t leave behind upon retirement. Because of my extensive training and temperament, I could not ignore a woman or child being abused or a cop being overwhelmed. Like Jack Paladin used to say: Have gun, will travel!

Above: Ric at the range with a kitted-for-duty carbine, courtesy of First Coast Firearms. The PJ hat worn in memory of teammate Cliff Kunde.

Based on your experience in countries where citizens could not defend themselves from the threat of terrorism or communism, what are your thoughts on the relevance of the 2nd Amendment?

RP: The 2nd Amendment is the backbone of democracy, along with our 1st Amendment. There’s not a single communist country in the world that allows their civilian population to be armed. Like in many of our cities, the states with the strongest anti-gun rules produce the most violent and dangerous cities.

Evil exists at every level. Whether the long tentacles of communism, the bloody outcome of terrorism, or just street survival, we are living with the presence of evil. It’s not a police officer’s job to protect your family, home, and life. They are deterrents when present or investigators of the crimes committed against you. It’s our personal responsibility to take care of our own, first.

You spent some of your childhood and the first half of your career face-to-face with the threat of communism. What are your thoughts on the current situation in Ukraine and how it might affect the U.S.?

RP: Ah, leaving the best for last! The one and only goal of both Russia and China is world domination. Radical Islam has similar intentions but using a different excuse, religion. We, the U.S. of A, are the primary enemy of those predators.

We — our military, intel, and police forces — are the sheepdogs. Feared by the wolves and unappreciated by the sheep. The Western world needs to wake up and realize that socialism is only a mask communism wears to lure you into their lair and devour your freedom. God knows we have ample examples that it does not work for any democracy. See Ukraine, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and many others. All once thriving countries now reduced to fourth world status.

What’s your current EDC?

RP: Ah, there is no gun for all seasons or holster for all reasons. It all depends on what I can get away with — with no one knowing I am carrying. If I am in my summer three-piece-suit (shorts, T-shirt, and flip-flops), I often carry my SIG 365 SAS. With jeans and an ample shirt, I conceal my Glock 43 with Shield Arms 10-round mags.

Above: A sampling of Ric's carry gear, including the Walther PPK, an iconic spy sidearm. In Ric's words, “no gun for all seasons, nor holster for all reasons.”

Jacket viable? Glock 48, again with a Shield Arms 15-round mags. In every option, I always carry a spare magazine and a knife. I wear my knife on my left side. Why? Because at a fit 71 years of age, if I am attacked, my pistol (appendix or strong-side carry) is my go-to option. If that is negated, then my left hand comes into “sharp” play.

About Ric Prado

Ric enjoying an Arturo Fuente Opus X maduro cigar.

Name: Enrique “Ric” Prado

Age: 71 years young

Hometown: Hialeah, FL

Family: Married 40 years to Carmen; we have three grown offspring.

Recommended reading:

Favorite cigar/drink pairing: Arturo Fuentes Maduro, Macallan 12 Single Malt or Zakapa Rum

Selected EDC items: I love the flexibility of pairing my SIG 365 SAS and my SIG X Macro; Bob Kasper Dragon fixed blade fighting knife.

URL: ricprado.com

Worok: Powerful Malware Hidden in PNG Images

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Unless it's your first day on the internet, you're probably aware that downloading certain files can be a serious mistake. It doesn't take a cybersecurity expert to know that double-clicking the TotallyNotAVirus.exe file that mysteriously appeared in your downloads folder is a bad idea. If you're a bit more security conscious, you probably also know that PDF files, Excel spreadsheets, and Word documents can also contain malicious code. But how many times have you considered the possibility of malware hidden inside an image file? A sophisticated hacking group known as Worok has developed a new type of malware that can be concealed in innocuous-looking PNG images, and they've been using it to target governments and large corporations around the world.

Take a look at the soothing blue abstract image above. This is one of the actual PNG images that was used to distribute Worok's info-stealer malware payload. According to ESET's We Live Security blog, the PNG malware has been used to attack the following high-value targets:

  • A telecommunications company in East Asia
  • A bank in Central Asia
  • A maritime industry company in Southeast Asia
  • A government entity in The Middle East
  • A private company in southern Africa
  • An energy company in Central Asia
  • A public sector entity in Southeast Asia

Above: This map from ESET's We Live Security offers a quick look at some of the countries where cybersecurity researchers have found Worok's malicious PNG files.

How is Malware Hidden in PNG Images?

This question gets very technical very quickly, so we'll give you the short version. If you want the full explanation, go read the We Live Security article or the Avast article.

Neither ESET nor Avast have determined the exact initial compromise point, but it's known that the infection starts when some code is executed to create a few malicious DLL files in the Windows System32 folder. Those DLLs then execute one of two malware loaders: CLRLoad or PowHeartBeat. Next, a second-stage DLL known as PNGLoad extracts the final PowerShell script payload that's hidden inside a PNG file.

Above: A flowchart of the two known execution chains for the PNG malware. (Source: We Live Security)

Worok used a process called LSB (least significant bit) encoding which “embeds small chunks of the malicious code in the least important bits of the image's pixels,” according to BleepingComputer. This is actually a form of steganography (i.e. hiding data inside an image file), a topic we've discussed in our previous article Steganography: More than Meets the Eye.

Above: Through LSB encoding, two pixels in an image can conceal one byte of hidden data. The center image shows Worok's RGB bit planes without hidden data, and the right image shows LSB bit planes alongside a visual representation of their embedded data. (Source: Avast)

Once this complex infection process is complete, the PNG file payload installs “a custom .NET C# info-stealer” called DropBoxControl. This abuses DropBox accounts created by Worok hackers to upload or download files and execute commands remotely on the infected machine.

What Can Worok's PNG Malware Do?

According to Avast, the DropBoxControl backdoor can perform the following commands:

  • cmd — Run a command prompt with parameters given by the attackers
  • exe — Execute a .exe file with parameters given by the attackers
  • FileUpload — Download files from the attackers' DropBox onto the victim's computer
  • FileDownload — Upload (i.e. steal) files from the victim's computer
  • FileDelete — Delete any file from the victim's computer
  • FileRename — Rename a file from the victim's computer
  • FileView — Send info on the properties (i.e. name, size, last access time) of all files inside a selected directory
  • ChangeDir — Select a different directory on the victim's computer
  • Info — Send computer information (including hostname, IP address, explorer.exe version, and available hard drive space) to the attackers
  • Config — Update the encrypted DropBoxControl backdoor settings (a file called ieproxy.dat located in C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer)

In other words, the attackers essentially have complete remote control over the victim's computer and all of its files at this point.

Who is Worok?

Above: Much like the destructive ransomware known as Petya, some have speculated that Worok's malicious PNG files are a state-sponsored form of cyber-warfare.

Cybersecurity experts don't know exactly who is behind these attacks. However, based on the high-profile nature of the targets, the espionage-oriented functions of the malware, and the sophistication of its delivery method, it appears likely that Worok is a state-level (or state-sponsored) hacking group. According to Avast, “one of the DropBoxControl connections was monitored from an IP associated with the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia.”

Avast also noted that the authors of CLRLoad and PNGLoad are likely a different, more experienced entity than the authors of the final stage, DropBoxControl. They noted that “the code quality [of DropBoxControl] is debatable at best,” explaining that it “contains a lot of redundant code” and even saying it “looks like a school project.”

You're unlikely to encounter one of Worok's malicious PNG files unless you work for a government entity or Fortune 500 company, but it's still worth remembering that even ordinary-looking image files can contain malware. Download with care.

New: Short-Barreled Ruger Mark IV at CANCON 2022

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Last weekend in Georgia, our sister publication RECOIL hosted the first ever CANCON event — a fully-suppressed range day that included a wide variety of firearms and silencers for the general public to try out. During our time at CANCON 2022, we shot quite a few different rifles, carbines, and pistols, but one of our favorites was found in the Ruger booth. The Ruger Mark IV 22/45 seen here is a new short-barreled variant. We're told this should be officially announced at SHOT Show in January, but we got an early sneak peek at one of the handful of early-production samples currently in existence.

The new unnamed Ruger Mark IV variant features a short threaded barrel that's ready to accept your suppressor of choice (including Ruger's own Silent-SR). How short is it? We weren't given an exact number, but by our estimation, it appears to be approximately 3 inches long. A Ruger representative said it's “as short as engineering would allow us to make it while maintaining reliability with a variety of ammo.”

Granted, there are third-party gunsmiths who will chop barrels down shorter than this, but Ruger says those modified guns tend to be finicky and will only cycle on hot .22LR ammo. We're glad to see this option become available straight from the factory with a full warranty.

Above: Even with the 5.4-inch Ruger Silent-SR attached, this rimfire pistol is still quite compact.

On the range, this short-barreled Mark IV 22/45 was whisper-quiet, even with ultra-compact .22 suppressors. We could see it being a great tool to quietly take out varmints and other small game, and it's also a ton of fun for target shooting. We'll keep you posted once we have more information at SHOT Show in a few months. In the mean time, keep an eye on Ruger's web site for any other updates.

Above: We also tested this pistol with a 2.8-inch Bowers Bitty suppressor that Silencer Shop brought to CANCON. This seems like a great match for its barrel length.

What If You Met Someone Dangerous on an Online Dating Site?

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Documentaries such as The Tinder Swindler, The Craigslist Killer, Catfish, and Murder on the Internet have gained a great deal of attention recently because they all boil down to one lesson — interacting with others online doesn’t come without risk. The individuals you may come into contact with run the gamut from just plain dishonest to seriously disturbed. When it comes to finding companionship, many consider online dating to be the best resource. However, reading the virtues someone listed on their profile page is in no way, shape, or form a thorough assessment of their level of honesty. Whether you’re meeting someone to purchase an item you saw for sale online or taking a chance on a potential love interest you met on a dating site, you need to have a plan in mind in case this person tries to lure you into a trap.

The Online Dating Scenario

Situation Type
Internet dating

Your Crew
You

Location
Your hometown

Season
Fall

Weather
Normal

The Setup: Let’s face it, you can pretend to be whoever you want over the internet, and lots of people do. The days of placing a personal ad in the newspaper to find love have evolved into a slew of dating sites, all with their own supposed formulas for pairing you up with Mr. or Mrs. Right. Even if you’ve never signed up for online dating, social media profiles allow a certain amount of sensitive info to be disclosed to the prying eyes of unknown people. Strangers who send private messages and friend requests may have a legitimate interest in meeting someone special, or might be completely nefarious in their intentions. If you’ve decided you want to find companionship by looking for love on the internet, it doesn’t come without risks. How do you vet someone you met over the internet and get them to prove their intentions are honorable, without completely shutting yourself off from online interaction with people you haven’t met face to face?

The Complication: You use the typical social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but it has been a few years since your divorce and you’re looking to meet new people. So, after some persuasion from your friends, you’ve also decided to try a dating website to solicit interest in finding someone special. You create a profile and immediately start getting hits from people who want to meet you. Some are immediate throwaways because of the vulgarity of their messages, profile info, photos, and overall approach. After narrowing it down to a couple of individuals who seem like they might be worth meeting, you decide it’s time to start making arrangements to meet in person. What should you do to mitigate the risks involved in meeting a potential love interest for the first time? How can you determine they’re not dangerous without ruining your shot at romance, and what will you do if you start seeing possible red flags?

Firearms Blogger Monica Newman’s Approach

In most situations in life, I aim to strike a balance between being my authentic self and ensuring my own safety. The same goes for online dating — it can be a fine and complex line, but is easily approached with intuition, situational awareness, and a few boundaries. Online dating requires the right mindset to be successful and to keep myself safe. Each time I’ve approached online dating, I make sure I’m going into it with a clear mind and a clear intention. Knowing what I want and what I don’t want is essential.

My online dating profile provides just enough information to show a potential suitor what kind of person I am without divulging anything too personal. I make sure my dating profile doesn’t include my full name, where I work or go to school, the specific area I live in, any establishments that I frequent, or my social media profiles. I also make sure not to include any information or photos of my friends and family. Many dating apps provide the option to link to Instagram, Spotify, or other social media accounts — this is a no-go for me, as this provides the opportunity for a stranger to collect even more information about me. While these precautions should prevent someone from finding my social media profiles, I also ensure that those other social media profiles are private, don’t have the same username or photo as my dating profile, and don’t include any public-facing information about myself, my friends, or my family.

Following setting up my own profile, I establish rules and boundaries regarding my interactions on dating apps to help protect myself and more easily rule out those who won’t be a good fit. For example, if someone’s profile includes references to drugs, illegal activities, or a lifestyle that doesn’t align with mine, it’s an automatic pass. If someone demonstrates aggressive behavior or lack of respect in messages, it’s an automatic pass. If someone shows no interest in meeting in person or too much interest in meeting in person, it’s an automatic pass. And so on.

I surely do a little research on a potential suitor, but rather than extensively vetting someone I’ve met online (which can prove to be quite difficult if they’re ensuring their own online safety, as I am), I look for clues about the person based on how they present themselves and how they communicate with me. If someone is being disingenuous, misrepresenting themselves, or seeking information I’m not willing to give, there are usually indicators, even if they’re subtle. Sometimes this can present in the way they communicate, or by way of inconsistent or contradictory information or behavior. Sometimes it’s simply a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right. If something feels off, it probably is, and it’s important to listen to that feeling. In any situation where I feel like something isn’t right or if I feel my online match won’t be a good fit for any reason, I immediately excuse myself from the conversation by unmatching or blocking that person. There’s no need to waste my time or energy on that situation.

If I feel compelled to meet someone in person, I approach the situation as a “zero date.” This is a concept I came across in a TED Talk years ago, and I find it quite brilliant. I interpret a zero date as a short, casual meeting intended to evaluate if I jive with this person in real life, if I want a real first date with this person, and if I feel safe with this person (keep in mind, chemistry and feeling safe don’t always match). My approach to the zero date allows me to safeguard myself and my time.

I have a few requirements for a zero date, with my safety in mind:

  1. I time-block a zero date to one hour. This gives me enough time to achieve the goal of a zero date and also gives me an easy out if it goes south — I’m not committed to a whole meal, event, or evening with someone.
  2. I schedule the date during daylight hours. Not only does this take a lot of pressure off, but it also removes the safety concerns that come with darkness.
  3. I make sure alcohol is not a factor. Happy hour or wine tasting can be fun with the right person, but introducing mind-altering substances on a first meeting is a recipe for disaster. I keep a clear mind so I can maintain situational awareness and tap into my intuition during the date.
  4. I pick the location. More on this below.

I’ve found the process of making plans is when someone’s true colors start to show, so I pay close attention to how they handle the situation. There are a few red flags that I look out for:

  1. Being extra difficult about making plans. Everyone’s busy and it can be hard to find a time to meet, but it shouldn’t be too hard. If someone is extra difficult when making plans, it can be an indicator that something isn’t right.
  2. Insisting upon meeting at a particular location of their choosing or not being open to my suggestions.
  3. Getting upset when I won’t let them pick me up. A chivalrous gentleman will want to pick a lady up for a date, but he will also be understanding when I want to meet there instead.
  4. Changing the agreed upon-location last-minute. Absolutely a no-go for me. If a date tries to change the location last minute, I politely bow out. Things happen and this isn’t always a red flag (in which case, we can reschedule) … but it certainly can be.
  5. Not being OK with an alcohol-free date (like meeting for coffee) or insisting upon getting drinks. This leads me to wonder about their intentions (among other things), and I don’t want any part of that.

I can usually weed out a lot of the creepers with the strategies above, but you never know what you’re going to get when it comes to online dating. I proceed with caution and a plan, but I typically don’t go into a zero date with a list of interview questions. I find that it’s easier to really get a sense of who a person is if the conversation is less scripted. I do, however, make sure we are on the same page about what we want out of dating and aligned on what we want out of life, in broad strokes. Those details can shine light on the type of person someone is, what they value, and what their intentions are.

To continue to maintain my safety on a zero date, as well as the first few dates after that, I employ a few more strategies in addition to what I mentioned above.

I don’t exchange contact information and keep all communications isolated to the dating app until I know for sure I want to continue dating someone beyond the first few dates. If something goes wrong, if I don’t feel comfortable with the person, or if I don’t want to see them again for any reason, not exchanging contact information makes it easy to cut ties, as well as maintain my privacy and safety. If the situation calls for it, keeping all communications within the app makes it easier to report the person to the dating app or the authorities.

I choose the location for the first few dates, and I make sure it’s a populated place that I am familiar with, but not one that is a part of my usual daily routine — for example, a cafe across town that I like to go to, but not one that is in my immediate neighborhood or where I stop for coffee on my way to work. Bonus points if I know the staff and am familiar with a back exit. I avoid secluded locations, parts of town I’m unfamiliar with or don’t feel safe in, and outdoor locations like parks where there aren’t employees around that can help if something goes wrong.

I tell at least one local friend or family member the time and place of the meeting, and when they should expect to hear back from me. I also send them screenshots of my date’s profile and photos, along with any other pertinent information that may come in handy, just in case. I let them know once the date is over and once I am home safely.

I always meet the person at the agreed-upon location and I don’t move the date to a second location, even if it’s going well. I do not ever let someone pick me up or give me a ride home for the first few dates, and I won’t pick them up or give them a ride either. Again, this is a privacy and safety measure, gives me some control over the situation, and enables me to quickly get out if I need to.

I’m intentional about my parking strategy. I park in a place where I can make a quick and easy getaway if I need to, and always back into the parking space to make it easier to leave. I try not to park directly in front of the establishment where I’m meeting my date so that my vehicle isn’t visible from the date, but I do try to park in front of a neighboring establishment where there are witnesses and/or surveillance. As always, I avoid parking garages and make sure to park in well-lit, populated areas.

In addition to the parking strategy, I don’t let my date walk me to my car. Again, a gentleman will want to do so, but this can also put me in a very vulnerable position. I say goodbye at the door of the establishment where we met, and am on my way. This also helps me avoid the painfully awkward car-side goodbye.

I always carry a concealed self-defense tool on my person that I am trained and prepared to use (another reason to go sans-alcohol). I hope to never have to use my defense tool, but I absolutely won’t go without it when meeting up with a stranger from the internet.

All of this to say, my most important strategy for online dating is to listen to my intuition, use my situational awareness skills, and respond accordingly. There are almost always signs if something is off, and we simply cannot ignore those signs!

International Traveler Micah McQueen’s Approach

I remember the stigma that was attached to internet dating when I first tried it out. It has come a long way since its debut in 1995 when it was often considered “cringe” and “unsavory.” Even when I first tried it, about 10 years ago, everyone was leery and told me to be careful I didn’t wake up in a bathtub of ice missing a kidney. Back then, we were cautioned not to get into cars with strangers or to meet up with people we had met online. I got lucky — I didn’t lose a kidney. But I did meet a woman who spent the whole night trying to convince me her cat was psychic. However, the very fabric of our societal norms has shifted with the proliferation of the internet and easier access to technology. In fact, most of us get into strangers’ cars every weekend using ride-share apps to meet up with strangers from the internet. There’s no denying it, the landscape of dating has changed with the use of social media and our digital identity. In fact, most of my friends have met their significant others through some social media platform or dating app.

Our lives lately consist of being constantly “plugged in” through apps, email, and constant news updates. So, anyone hunting for love or companionship in this modern age will find themselves in the digital watering hole that is social media and dating apps. Online dating is a great way to meet new potential mates and form new friendships. But these people are still strangers. The instant intimacy we can feel in a small period of time can be exciting, but if we don’t protect ourselves, it can also be dangerous. But don’t fear, I am here to help. I’m going to highlight several things you can do to protect yourself, your privacy, and your loved ones, on this grand adventure of digital love.

There are over 1,500 different dating apps now. Some of the bigger ones are Bumble and Tinder, depending on what you’re looking for. So, first of all, when you’re creating your profile, make sure you’re being honest with what you want and maintain that congruence to ensure you find someone who has similar expectations. Here are some steps you should take to assure your safety from anyone who is looking to take advantage of this interesting love-seeking process.

1. Protect Your Personal Information

In this day and age of modern technology, a first and last name and general geographical area can yield an uncomfortable amount of information for less than $10. Make sure that you aren’t using your full name in any of your dating profiles. Be intentionally vague about what you do and where you live. You should never post your company’s name or pictures of yourself wearing a name badge or shirt with your work logo embossed across the front. The last thing you need is a missed connection showing up to your job with the undeniable proof that her cat is truly psychic. In addition, I know you want to flex with your shiny new car, but make sure you’re blurring out the license plate and cropping out any street signs that might show your residence or neighborhood. These sites have built-in communication platforms, so you should always wait until you have met in person before exchanging phone numbers. Another added layer of personal security is making sure you’ve disabled your phone camera’s location-tracking feature before uploading photos to the internet. Go to your privacy settings, then go to camera and disable the geo tag, which can show where the picture was taken.

2. Do Your Due Diligence

There’s a difference between stalking and doing some light research to catch any obvious red flags before you meet up and invest your time, money, and energy. A simple search can make sure the person isn’t misrepresenting themselves or hiding things like a secret family or a criminal record. Just like you might check up on an ex-lover after a break-up, do the same digging before you even meet up with a stranger.

When meeting anyone new, it’s important to share your location with a friend or family member just in case. Furthermore, communication to a friend about your plans will allow you the opportunity for an exit strategy if the date is off, dangerous, or just not going how you would like it to. Set up a call or text an hour into the date that gives you the opportunity to leave due to an “emergency.”

3. The Meetup

So, you finally found someone you click with and feel that there’s potential for something more. Pick a spot that’s public and central to your location. Bring a book or have some work with you while you wait, that way if they no-show it’s not a total waste of your time. Always have your own transportation. You never want to be at the mercy of someone else and potentially get stuck somewhere if a dangerous situation arises.

A local coffee shop is a safe and great place for an initial meetup. This is an inexpensive, low-pressure scenario that’s perfect for making sure your date is who they say they are and that you can carry over that online chemistry in person. If this is the case, take the initiative by having a second spot in mind (like a local bar), where you can escalate the evening. That way, you don’t leave yourself open to the pressure of going to his/her favorite bar that you may not be familiar with. At the second spot, you can get into the delicate details of each other’s lives, such as toxic personal relationships with a crazy ex, or delve deeper into your connection.

Alcohol is a fantastic social lubricant that can help you and your date relax and open up more freely and often more honestly. That being said, never drink to the point where your judgment is impaired. Remember, you’re still in a “yellow zone” as far as your safety is concerned. Drinking too much can jeopardize the date, as well as your safety and ability to react if something does happen. Once you get to the bar and have built a rapport, this is when you can start pre-screening to make sure they are who they said they are. Pay attention to how they treat the servers or bartenders. People like to represent themselves to you as who they think you want to see. But how they treat other people is a real measure of character and can be a red flag for safety. A lot of people don’t mention kids at first, so this is a good time to ask.

4. Trust Your Gut

If something feels off, it usually is. Don’t wait around and give in to the social pressure to hang out if something doesn’t feel right. People forget that we are animals first and have an innate ability to sense when something is wrong, even if we can’t quite nail down what it is. If you catch them in a lie about something small, this may be an indicator of other manipulations and deceit. Don’t be afraid to politely, yet firmly, end the encounter in a friendly manner. If you get the feeling your date might get unreasonably upset, use the trusty Irish Exit (for those who don’t know what that is, it means leave without saying goodbye). It isn’t anything personal, and your safety is the most important factor here. This is why not giving out your number or address, and using your own transportation is imperative if the person is not someone you are interested in getting further involved with. Again, safety over everything.

5. Slow and Steady

If the date is going well and the vibe is there, the first inclination is often to take it to the next level physically and emotionally. Everyone can be charming and personable the first time you meet them. You’re essentially meeting their best representation of who they want to be. Slow it down. Instead of jumping in, inviting them to your house, and exposing yourself to the potential danger of them knowing where you live, hold off for a second date. This will help you be certain that you’re really seeing them for who they are. In this day and age of instant gratification and connection, taking your time and really getting to know someone will not only protect you from physical harm, but can also protect you from emotional catastrophe. If it’s a real connection, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other. In terms of your safety, this is a solid strategy. Set up a second date constructed around your shared commonalities and make sure they are someone that’s well-balanced and safe.

If you follow these simple steps, they will secure your safety, and that of your loved ones, from people who have ulterior motives or that you just don’t vibe with. Bottom line is if you are congruent with what you want and make safety a priority, there’s plenty of fun to be had in the world of online dating.

Conclusion

We all want to make a good first impression with someone we’re dating, but don’t be in a hurry to do too much too soon. Let them prove themselves to you as well. Think of it like a job interview. Sure, you want the job, but you also want to make sure you’re getting what you want out of the deal. Ask pointed questions, don’t be afraid to say no, and hold out until you feel like your requirements are being met. If you feel like the only way you’ll get someone to like you is to capitulate to their conditions, all you’re doing is showing the world how naïve you are. In doing so, predators will descend on that vulnerability like a plague of locusts.

Setting boundaries should never provoke shame, guilt, and pressure from someone you’ve met online. Anyone reacting like that is likely trying to take advantage of you. Would you allow a friend to treat you like that? We didn’t think so. If you would, you don’t need to be dating anyone — you need to be in therapy. Be your own advocate and make safety your number-one priority. People with honest intentions will respect your desire to maintain those precautions. If you let your guard down too soon, you might find that the people you’re attracting are the ones who have anything but romance on their mind.

Meet Our Panel

Monica Newman

Monica Newman is the founder of Pinot+Pistols, a lifestyle blog dedicated to two of her favorite hobbies — wine and guns — and various aspects of life related to those topics. It all began as a way to share her explorations of Oregon’s Willamette Valley Wine Country, as well as her journey into all things gun ownership, concealed carry, and self-reliance. These topics can be intimidating, but Monica aims to make them approachable and encourages others (especially women) to expand their knowledge and capabilities in a way that’s attainable, fun, and safe.

Micah McQueen

Micah McQueen is a global adventurer, photographer, travel writer, and social media presence. Told at a very young age by his grandmother that he had “gypsy blood,” he hasn’t stayed in one spot since. A bona fide travel addict, his adventures have taken him to over 50 countries and countless adventures. When he’s not writing or taking pictures, you’ll find him making friends in the back of a dusty bus or drinking whiskey in a corner of a dark bar with dangerous men. Starting soon, he’ll be offering specialized travel education and travel safety courses to assist the average person in developing an overall greater awareness while they travel and emphasize the importance of structured endemics when planning trips. Not only will the program provide a foundation of basic safety tips and information you can readily incorporate, but will also equip you to quickly and effectively deal with any problems you will likely encounter. You can find him on Instagram at @classicmcqueen_.

Video: DIY Overland Camper Build Time-Lapse

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We love a good DIY project, and the internet has made these projects much more approachable. Whether you're 3D printing a small plastic component, wiring or soldering electronics, woodworking, or metalworking, you can find all sorts of diagrams and downloadable blueprints online. John Brochu, the founder of a company in Virginia called ADV4x4, recently posted a video on his YouTube channel that shows a 10-minute time lapse of the DIY overland camper he made from nothing but raw materials and a set of custom blueprints. The result is pretty impressive.

John offers the blueprint files he created, in either metric or imperial format, as downloads on his website for a small fee. On its own, this wouldn't catch our interest, but the video he posted with a complete time-lapse of the project certainly did. It shows how he welded the frame, installed Timbren suspension and wheels, finished it in bedliner, added lights and a wiring junction box, and then built the camper itself on top. In another video, he estimates he spent a grand total of $6,000 in materials and about 100 hours of his time on the project — that's a lot, but it's also a lot less than it would be for a pre-built camper.

The DIY overland camper has custom flooring, ceiling, and wall panels, LED lighting with dimmer switches, shelving, a coat rack, two sliding windows, a locking door, a powerful vent fan, and more. He also went on to add a motorcycle rack to the front of the trailer, and a roof rack with a pull-out awning.

The results of this build are pretty cool, and we appreciate how thorough John was with documenting the process. He even made a comprehensive list of the tools he used during the build, from a miter saw to a caulk gun. Check out the video below to watch the trailer build time-lapse, or head to ADV4x4.us for the blueprint files.

Build Blowback Better: Aero Precision EPC 9mm AR Pistol Review

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The concept of a 9mm AR is nothing new. In the early 1980s, Colt began developing 9mm prototypes based on this platform, the earliest of which was an open-bolt submachine gun that fed from a modified Uzi magazine. In subsequent prototypes, the design switched to a closed-bolt direct blowback system — this would carry through to Colt’s first production version, the 10.5-inch-barreled R0635 SMG. Since then, direct blowback has become the industry standard for 9mm ARs, with a few notable exceptions (for example, the radial-delayed CMMG Banshee featured in Concealment Issue 16 and the roller-delayed JP-5 we reviewed in RECOIL Issue 57). If we’re being generous, we’ll just call direct blowback simple. Otherwise, we might call it downright crude. Either way, rather than relying on a mechanical delay mechanism to slow down the bolt, it relies on the mass of the bolt and buffer system. This translates to a recoil impulse that can feel a bit jarring despite the pistol caliber — it’s noticeably more harsh than a 5.56mm AR. Thankfully, there are ways to mitigate this. We built a 9mm AR pistol using components from the Aero Precision EPC (Enhanced Pistol Caliber) line, and then modified it using aftermarket parts. The end result is a smooth-shooting, compact weapon that can be used for a variety of tasks, from competition to defense.

Above: With the brace compressed and the JK Armament suppressor removed, this EPC-9 can fit into a small backpack with ease.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 29 of our sister publication Concealment magazine. | Photos by Nate Gerhart and Patrick McCarthy

Aero Precision EPC-9 Review

The EPC line is Aero Precision’s take on an optimized pistol-caliber AR and it consists of mix-and-match uppers, lowers, and builder kits, rather than complete carbines or pistols. At time of publication, it’s only available in 9mm/.40S&W, but a 10mm/.45ACP variant is in the works. Yes, both versions accept Glock mags.

Much like Aero’s popular M4E1 rifle-caliber receivers, the EPC receivers are machined from 7075-T6 forged aluminum, with an enlarged trigger guard and flared magwell. A last-round bolt hold-open mechanism — a feature many 9mm ARs lack — is built-in. The bolt catch and takedown pin channel are both threaded for ease of assembly, and there’s a tensioning set screw to ensure a tight fit between the upper and lower. An extended mag release is also pre-installed.

Above: Aero Precision sells EPC-9 lowers with various stocks and braces, and uppers ranging from 5.5 to 16 inches with several handguard styles. We ordered an EPC-9 pistol lower and complete upper, then added this black nitride BCG and charging handle to finish it off.

We started our build with an EPC-9 complete pistol lower with SBA3 brace. This includes a Mil-spec trigger and selector, Magpul MOE grip, EPC 7.7-ounce buffer, and Aero M5 .308 carbine spring. Aero notes that special hardened trigger pins are installed to withstand the “high demands of blowback AR platforms.” We paired it with an EPC-9 8.3-inch complete upper equipped with Aero’s Atlas R-ONE 7.3-inch M-LOK handguard. To complete the setup, we picked up a nitride-finished 9mm bolt carrier group and a Breach ambidextrous charging handle, both from Aero. Total MSRP for these items was $1,095, and they were assembled into a functional AR pistol seconds after unboxing.

Initial Impressions

To test the EPC-9 pistol in standard form we loaded up some 30-round Glock mags from GunMag Warehouse, mounted a Primary Arms MD-20 SLx red dot on an Arisaka Defense riser, and headed to the range. Aero’s modifications to the 9mm blowback AR formula — namely the heavier 7.7-ounce buffer and stronger .308 buffer spring — create a weapon that’s definitely softer-shooting than an old-school 9mm carbine with 5.5-ounce buffer. The 8.3-inch barrel makes this pistol light and easy to maneuver, and it’s small enough to fit into a backpack. Reloads were fluid thanks to the bolt hold-open feature, easy-to-reach mag release, and flared magwell.

However, as is often the case with these projects, we began wondering if there were more improvements to be had with aftermarket parts. Before long, we were shopping around, and down the rabbit hole we went.

Modifications

Above: When the Arbor Arms sling isn’t in use, the excess slack can be stowed neatly against the brace using this magnetic Haley Strategic Sentry Strap.

The first focal point was reduction of felt recoil, since the Aero EPC buffer system helps but doesn’t completely overcome the punchy direct-blowback recoil. For this, we turned to a buffer system we’ve used in many of our rifle-caliber ARs over the years: the VLTOR A5. The A5 uses a buffer and tube that’s ¾-inch longer than a standard carbine system, as well as a rifle-length spring. It allows the buffer — and therefore the heavy 9mm BCG — to slow down more gradually. The A5 SP-PCC kit we picked up is designed specifically for pistol-caliber applications. In addition to the extra travel, its A5SH2 stainless buffer is slightly heavier than the EPC buffer at 8 ounces. Shooters who want to fine-tune the recoil impulse more can try an A5SH3 (8.8 ounces) or A5SH4 (9.6 ounces).

While we were at it, we swapped the nitride BCG to a RedMohawk 3.0 Copperhead 9mm BCG from Iron City Rifleworks. It’s coated in a slick copper PVD finish with an extremely low coefficient of friction for easier cleaning, and it uses a standard AR-15 extractor. If copper isn’t your style, variants of this BCG are also offered in black, tungsten gray, and gold finishes.

Above: It’s not hard to see why Iron City Rifleworks calls this BCG the RedMohawk. On this Copperhead edition, the carrier is finished in a high-gloss, copper-colored PVD coating.

We replaced the Mil-spec trigger with a RISE Armament Blitz drop-in unit, which features a 3-pound pull, crisp break, and fast reset. It uses springs rather than set screws for tension against the included anti-walk pins and is suitable for PCC applications (Aero Precision even sells it directly as an EPC upgrade). We also installed a Strike Industries 60-degree selector switch and more-upright 15-degree pistol grip on the lower.

Above: The RISE Armament Blitz trigger blade has a faint curvature and chamfered edges we found to be very comfortable. It’s also lightning-fast with a short reset.

As for the upper, the handguard is clad in textured M-LOK rail covers from Strike Industries and a Magpul hand stop. We stuck with the optic setup and charging handle mentioned previously but added a compact Streamlight TLR-VIR II unit that toggles from a white light to an infrared laser and illuminator for shooting under night vision. It also features a prototype TLR-1 Paddle Shifter switch from Emissary Development. When we installed a sling loop into the built-in front QD socket, we noticed it interfered with a full grip around the handguard, so we opted to attach our Arbor Arms Dual-Adjust sling to the top rail via a Strike Industries Ambush sling mount. The other end of the sling is attached to a PWS Ratchet Lock end plate, which also eliminates the need to stake a castle nut after installing the A5 buffer tube.

The final element of this build is a JK Armament suppressor built with five baffles and a “strainer” compensator endcap. It threads onto a War Eagle 9mm comp/flash hider, attached to the 1/2×28 threads on the Aero Precision barrel.

On the Range

With all these parts installed, we returned to the range to check the results. The A5 buffer system provided a noticeable improvement to felt recoil, changing the impulse from an abrupt thwack to a softer push. Granted, this direct blowback recoil is still nowhere near the buttery smoothness of a gas-operated gun like a SIG MPX, and no amount of aftermarket parts is going to change that. However, it’s close enough to shoot quickly and comfortably. Plus, it maintains the familiar manual of arms and accessory compatibility of an AR-pattern firearm. The Blitz drop-in trigger is also quite good, with none of the slack and vagueness that’s present in many 9mm SMGs and PDWs. This is a big advantage of a 9mm AR — trigger options are plentiful, easy to install, and well-suited to semi-auto precision.

The reduced-angle pistol grip and handguard add-ons provide improved control, and of course, the suppressor makes shooting much more enjoyable all-around. With the suppressor removed, the War Eagle comp doesn’t make much difference in felt recoil — 9mm muzzle devices rarely do — but it dissipates muzzle flash and acts as a convenient mount for the suppressor. Combined with the tall optic mount and IR light/laser, this EPC-9 build is excellent for active or passive aiming under night vision as well.

Above: We previously used the EPC as a test bench for our review of the Phantom Hill Design CTF-1 infrared laser/illuminator.

Aero Precision EPC Build Sheet

Aero Precision EPC-9 Pistol Complete Lower with SBA3 Brace $430
Aero Precision EPC-9 8.3-inch Complete Upper with Atlas R-ONE 7.30-inch Handguard $415
Aero Precision BREACH Ambi Charging Handle $80
Iron City Rifleworks RedMohawk 3.0 Copperhead BCG $280
JK Armament War Eagle 9mm Comp and 155 Suppressor $962
RISE Armament Blitz Trigger $199
VLTOR Weapon Systems SP-PCC A5 Buffer Kit and RE-A5 Receiver Extension $127
Primary Weapons Systems Ratchet Lock Castle Nut and Endplate $40
Strike Industries AR Enhanced Pistol Grip, Flip Switch, Ambush Sling Mount, QD Sling Loops, and M-LOK Covers $153
Magpul M-LOK Hand Stop $25
Primary Arms SLx MD-20 Gen II Red Dot Sight $150
Arisaka Defense 1.93-inch Aimpoint Micro Mount $109
Streamlight TLR-VIR II $600
Arbor Arms Dual-Adjust Carbine Sling $60
Haley Strategic / NeoMag Sentry Strap $40
ETS Gen 2 32rd Glock Mag $22
As Shown $3,692

SOURCES

Situational Awareness Evaluation: Part 2 – Threat Identification

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The first part of this series discussed how your brain can affect you in times of threat and moved our “mindset shot group” closer to the bull’s-eye. This article will cover specific behaviors or environmental cues that might indicate impending danger. Just as there are stressors that trigger fear and anxiety within us, so too do bad guys show signs when they’re about ready for violence (though not always). When these “fearful” moments arise just remember: You have enough time during those precious seconds before something terrible happens to enact a plan and get to safety. Even a bad plan put into motion is much better than a perfect plan that never makes it out of the gate. To get an idea of what to look for, we’ll first need to understand the difference between overt and covert threat identification. Overt threats are those where the bad guy isn’t trying to conceal his or her intentions. Covert threats are when someone is trying to remain concealed, and their actions might be harder to spot. Both types of threat have different visual indicators you can use to help identify them.

Overt Threat Identification

Overt threats are when the ne’er-do-well is openly exhibiting hostile behavior with the intention of causing harm — for example, openly brandishing a weapon in a threatening manner.

Above: Have you thought through how you’d deal with a threat as overt as being confronted by an armed assailant?

Hostile Behavior
Hostile behavior is often accompanied by certain physical indicators that you can’t fake. If you’ve ever narrowly avoided a car wreck or other severe injury, your heart probably went racing for a few minutes while you recovered. The veins in your jugular or forehead might pop out visibly. Your breathing might become rapid enough to the point where your chest is visibly heaving, or your nostrils start flaring like a bull about to rush. All these observable indicators can appear immediately and can take time to abate as your body works the chemicals through your system.

If you see someone exhibiting these behaviors, you can’t say with 100-percent confidence that they’re about to become violent, but you can confirm that the person you’re observing is having a high-level stress response. Not just “oh man, I’m late for work” stress, but at a survival level. Something has triggered their brain into a fight or flight response — if this is happening near me, I want to know why.

There are obviously other things that can cause these responses like illness, dehydration, or a panic attack, but on a scale of threats, I only really care if they’re about to become violent or cause harm. Once you analyze the situation and realize they may be experiencing a medical emergency, you can render aid, but this should only be considered after you’ve established your own safety.

Other Physical Indicators of a Flight-or-Fight Response:

  • Blanching or whitening of the face (blood is pooling in preparation for a threat)
  • Profuse sweating (especially if in cool or temperate weather)
  • Shaking (caused by an adrenaline dump)
  • Whitening of the knuckles and clenched fists (often done unconsciously)

Above: Profuse sweating isn’t solely related to ambient temperature. Many times it’s related to what’s going on inside an individual’s head.

Openly Carrying a Weapon or Within Easy Reach
In America, the Second Amendment protects our right to keep and bear arms, and I applaud our forefathers for acknowledging this important right in our Constitution. It gives “We the People” teeth to protect ourselves against tyranny or violations of our human rights. I say this to make it clear that not everyone openly carrying a weapon is a threat, no matter how much the media tries to claim that’s the case.

Unfortunately, a small population of criminals and generally bad people use weapons for evil. If I observe the above openly hostile behaviors and notice that the person is also carrying a gun or knife, the stakes just got much higher. I might not know the intention of the person, but if they’re about to conduct violence, they have the means to kill or hurt multiple people rapidly.

When I trained a member of the LAPD’s famed Gang Squad, he explained that many local thugs or drug dealers don’t carry their weapons physically on their person. If they were on a corner selling dope, they would stash the weapon nearby in the wheelwell a car that didn’t belong to them. If an officer were to detain them, they would have to prove some type of material possession to make the weapon charge stick. Pretty savvy on their side! So, when you scan the person for a weapon, don’t forget to scan the area near them.

Impediments to Movement or Escape
Most people think of kidnapping as a crime involving the forcible abduction of a person, usually a child, with the intent to hold them for ransom. However, the legal definition of kidnapping is much broader. According to U.S. law, the criminal offense of kidnapping consists of the unlawful taking and carrying away of a person by force or fraud or the unlawful seizure and detention of a person against their will.

Above: Once an individual is kidnapped, the severity of the situation increases with every passing hour, so there’s a limited window in which escape is truly possible.

In other words, if you unlawfully take someone and move them even a short distance without their consent, you can be charged with kidnapping. The same is true if you detain someone against their will, even if you don’t physically move them.

If you’re ever in a situation where someone is blocking your exit and preventing you from leaving, it’s a clear-cut case of hostility. Even when there’s zero visible hostile behaviors or weapons present, if somebody is keeping you from escaping, that’s an act of hostility. It could be as innocuous as somebody standing in a doorway and looking intimidating or communicating to you in some subtle way that there would be bad consequences if you left the area.

Whether you whip out your verbal kung fu or grab the closest thing that you can use as a weapon, you need to start executing a plan immediately to get to safety. Get loud and proud and tell the person that you’re leaving right now and any action they take to stop you will be considered a direct threat. If this is not the intention of the person, then this loud statement should make them understand where your head is at and clear up any “misconceptions.” In these cases, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and assume the worst. So, don’t hesitate to take whatever measures are necessary to ensure your safety and get out of the situation as quickly as possible.

Covert Threat Identification

Covert threats can take many forms, but there are some behaviors that are commonly associated with malicious intent. These are often an attempt to blend in with their surroundings and avoid attracting attention. This may involve wearing clothing that’s inappropriate for the weather conditions or positioning themselves near an exit. While not all covert threat indicators show malicious intent, it’s important to be aware of these behaviors so that you can identify potential risks.

Above: Take a moment to think about how to assess whether physical contact is an innocuous gesture or potentially threatening one. 

Smuggling Behavior
If someone is illegally or maliciously carrying a concealed weapon, they will often unknowingly give off tells. The consequences of the weapon being observed by a citizen or police officer are very high, and this knowledge often leads to indicators that can help you single them out from the crowd.

Patting, checking, or touching a certain part of their body (especially the right hip or waistline) tells me there is something there that they really care about. Just this observation itself can’t tell me if the person is carrying a weapon, but if I had to pay attention to one person in the room, congrats, friend, you have my full attention.

  • The average pistol weighs about 1.5 pounds. If you’ve ever carried concealed, you know that it can move around and get uncomfortable after a while. So, you occasionally re-adjust it or tighten your belt. Street criminals often won’t spend the time and money to obtain comfortable, high-quality holsters and belts — if they use a holster or belt at all — so these effects may be amplified.
  • If you’ve ever had to run or go upstairs with a holstered weapon, you probably put your hand on it to stabilize it and stop it from moving around.
  • When carrying concealed you probably had to make certain decisions regarding apparel to keep it concealed, like oversized shirts or multiple layers of clothing even when it’s hot outside.
  • If you had to reach for something high on the shelf in a grocery store, you wouldn’t want it to pop out and scare all the normies, so you might hold down that side of your clothes to keep it concealed.

These are all signs and indicators that someone could be carrying a weapon. It’s important to remember that not all people exhibiting these behaviors are threats. There may be other explanations for their behavior. For example, someone who is carrying a gun might just be exercising their Second Amendment rights. But if you add in some hostile behavior cues, along with furtive movements and smuggling cues, you aren’t just guessing. You’re making a much more informed decision about your safety rather than observing just one cue.

Above: Someone who’s concealing a firearm may unknowingly exhibit various physical indicators that reveal the presence of a weapon.

Other Smuggling Cues:

  • “Dead Arm.” When you walk normally, you swing your arms back and forth in a balanced fashion. Someone walking with one arm pinned to the side maybe concealing a long-gun or baseball bat.
  • The weapon “printing” or bulging awkwardly on one side.
  • The person “protects” a specific part of their body by maintaining distance or angles.

Attention Focus
We’ve all probably been in a situation where you walk into a bar or restaurant and your entrance is noticed by everyone inside. A bell might’ve chimed, or the door slammed behind you, and all of a sudden, everyone is staring at you like you’re a pink elephant. This is an awkward moment, but usually passes quickly as everyone acknowledges your presence and goes back to what they’re doing. The person or people you want to watch out for are the ones whose attention or gaze remains a little too long on you. Unless there’s an overt reason for you to be stared at — like you’re rocking a feather boa — most people should be uninterested in you unless something more sinister is happening.

Police officers see this in the field when questioning individuals in an initial investigation. If the person has bad intentions, they might start “target glancing” at their next move. If a police officer is asking questions and the person is looking to the left and right multiple times, they’re probably about to run. Worse yet, if the person being questioned starts target glancing the officer’s weapon, that’s a big problem. An innocuous explanation could be they are scared of guns and are nervous, but it’s also possible they are mentally walking through the steps of going for the officer’s gun in an attempt to kill them. Always err on the side of caution and at least start creating distance.

Above: You don’t necessarily have to have eyes in the back of your head to assess a threat. There are certain key giveaways that, if you know what to look for, may help you plan an effective response strategy. 

Don’t Jump the Shark

We all like to think that we see the world clearly and make judgments based on objective facts. But the truth is, we all have biases that can distort our view of the world. Our biases come from our personal backgrounds, experiences, and beliefs. Someone who comes from a background of violence will be more likely to see violence in others, while someone who has never experienced violence might have a harder time recognizing it. It’s important to be aware of your own biases so you can take them into account when evaluating potential threats. Otherwise, you might find yourself making decisions based on your fears instead of the reality of the situation.

In the next and last installment of this series, we’ll cover more covert threats along with asking the question of “What else?” Once you’ve established there are no threats around, what extra information can we squeeze out of the scenario?

Paying attention to your surroundings and being aware of potential threats can help you stay safe in both overt and covert situations. Keep an eye out for visual indicators and observable behaviors that might signal an impending threat. And always remember, even a bad plan executed now is better than a great plan too late.

About the Author

Yousef Badou is the owner and founder of Emergence, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) providing behavioral awareness training to Fortune 500 companies, military, and other government agencies. Yousef began his journey into security training after multiple deployments with the United States Marine Corps. He’s an Arabic speaker and former infantryman, along with being the longest-standing member of the USMC Combat Hunter Training Program. With so many threats on the horizon, Yousef believes the best way to disrupt these threats is through education on pre-event indicators and behaviors of violence. www.emergencedisrupt.com

New: Streamlight ProTac 2.0 with USB-C Charging

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A bright, reliable flashlight is certainly one of the most valuable items you can carry on a daily basis. I use my EDC light at least once a day, and that's under normal circumstances — in many emergency scenarios, a flashlight is worth its weight in gold. The Streamlight ProTac series has been one of the industry's most popular choices for more than a decade, thanks to its durability, affordable price, and useful features. The company recently announced version 2.0 of this flashlight, now with much higher output, longer run time, and a USB-C charge port built into the housing. Read on as we take a look at some of the new features and variants of the Streamlight ProTac 2.0.

The first major change to the ProTac 2.0 is a transition to a new, proprietary SL-B50 battery pack. But before you groan at the prospect of a proprietary battery, listen to what it offers. It's a 4900mAh 3.6V cell, meaning it offers more than 50% larger capacity compared to Streamlight's universal 2600mAh 18650 batteries. This battery can also be charged directly via an included USB-C cable, either outside the light or inside it through a retractable collar. A built-in charge status LED turns green when the battery is fully charged:

Thanks to the extra capacity, the Streamlight ProTac 2.0 can output more lumens without compromising run time. It offers three brightness modes plus a strobe setting:

  • High – 2,000 lumens, 2.5 hour run time
  • Medium – 570 lumens, 4.5 hour run time
  • Low – 100 lumens, 25 hour run time
  • Strobe – 2,000 lumens, 4 hour 25 minute run time

These settings can be accessed in one of three programmable sequences via the TEN-TAP switch:

  1. High-Strobe-Low (default)
  2. High only
  3. Low-Medium-High

The ProTac 2.0 is 6 inches long, weighs 8.25 ounces with battery, and its aluminum housing is IP67 rated dustproof and waterproof. It comes with the SL-B50 battery, removable metal pocket clip, belt holster, and a USB-C charging cable.

There's also a weapon rail-mounted version of the light called the ProTac 2.0 RM. It includes an integrated picatinny rail mount, and is available in a complete kit with pressure switch and attachment/wire-routing accessories.

MSRP for the new ProTac 2.0 is $195, although street prices should be roughly $100 based on Streamlight's historical pricing. The RM version will be slightly more, although we don't have an exact price for that at the moment. For more information on these lights, go to Streamlight.com.

Forgotten Weapons: The World’s Smallest Pistol

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For those of us who carry concealed handguns on a daily basis, it's often a necessity to “dress around the gun” by wearing slightly roomier and less-form-fitting clothes. Of course, carrying a smaller pistol makes this less of a challenge — but how small should you go? Most will settle on a subcompact, while a few will consider pocket pistols with even smaller frames. At the most extreme end of this spectrum is the 2.7mm Kolibri, the smallest centerfire pistol that was ever mass-produced. In a classic Forgotten Weapons episode from back in 2014, Ian McCollum gets his hand (singular) on one of the few remaining examples of the world's smallest pistol.

The Kolibri, which means “hummingbird” in German, was developed by an Austrian watchmaker named Franz Pfannl and released in 1914. It fires a 3-grain bullet. No, that's not a typo — three grains. For a quick comparison, that's 7.5% of the weight of a 40-grain .22LR projectile, or less than 3% of the weight of a common 115-grain 9mm.

This 2.7mm round delivers 3 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, which was reportedly enough to penetrate about an inch into a pine wood board. It was also said to be quite inaccurate, since early-1900s machining technology made it difficult to add rifling to the tiny barrel. Understandably, it seems that this weapon was not well-received as a practical tool for self-defense.

Unlike the simple derringers that are a mainstay of this ultra-compact pistol category, the Kolibri uses a semi-auto blowback mechanism with a reciprocating slide. It even has a removable magazine that holds six rounds. About 1,000 of these pistols were produced before they were discontinued in 1938.

For a closer look at the world's smallest pistol and some more interesting details, check out the Forgotten Weapons episode below. We agree with McCollum's conclusion: “It may be insanely impractical, but it's a great piece of mechanical art.”

Ringbrothers’ 1,200-Horsepower “Bully” K5 Blazer Unveiled at SEMA

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For many years, Ringbrothers has made a name for itself by building some of the most intricate classic cars and trucks ever seen at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. In the past, they've displayed vehicles ranging from a 1948 Cadillac to a 1971 DeTomaso Pantera, but this year the shop decided to build a 4×4 — specifically a 1972 Chevy K5 Blazer known as “Bully.” With a 1,200-horsepower supercharged V8 engine, a custom Roadster Shop chassis, Currie Dana 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles, dual Warn winches, and a one-of-a-kind leather interior, this Blazer build didn't leave a single nut or bolt unchanged.

At the heart of the Ringbrothers Bully Blazer is a 6.8L LS3 V8 engine built by Wegner Motorsports, topped with a 2.9L Whipple supercharger. The combination sends a whopping 1,200 horsepower through a Bowler Tru-Street 4L80E automatic transmission into the Currie axles. The truck's body sits on a Roadster Shop custom chassis with a triangulated four-link and two Fox 2.5 Race Series coilovers per corner.

Above: Opening the hood reveals a series of custom-fabricated metal trim panels and a custom intake that draws cold air from grilles on each side of the hood.

This K5 rides on 18×12-inch custom-designed HRE wheels wrapped in 325/65R18 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro mud tires. Six-piston Baer disc brakes on all four corners provide stopping power.

Ringbrothers painted the body a custom-mixed color they call Bashful Blue, and it contrasts nicely with gold exterior accents and rich brown leather interior upholstery. In the bed, there's a bright red jerrycan with a Ringbrothers billet cap, as well as a Warn Zeon 10-S winch that passes through a unique floating fairlead cut out of the tailgate. A second Warn winch sits beneath the custom Ringbrothers front bumper.

With an estimated 8,500 hours invested in this project, Ringbrothers used it as a test bench for a variety of one-off machined and 3D-printed parts. One element that immediately caught our eye is the use of picatinny rails to attach modular tie-down points along the bed sides:

As with previous Ringbrothers builds, the “Bully” K5 Blazer is definitely more of a show piece than a workhorse; we don't imagine it'll receive many paint scratches on tight off-road trails or mud baths while fording rivers. Some will surely decry it as a trailer queen for this reason — a common criticism of most SEMA projects. However, when you view it as a proof of concept and a test bed for the numerous small parts Ringbrothers offers for the K5 Blazer and Chevy C10 platforms, it makes a lot of sense. And with four-wheel-drive, a four-figure horsepower output, and an open-air cab, we have no doubt it'd be a ton of fun on- or off-road.