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Wilson Combat Quality Custom Firearms
Article By Rob Haught

Wilson Combat

Berryville, AR - -(AmmoLand.com)- The name Wilson Combat has been associated with fine quality custom firearms since 1977. While best known for its line of custom 19ll pistols, in past years the company has expanded to include the Scattergun Technology line of shotguns and most recently they have thrown their hat into the AR-15 market.

While not content to merely copy everyone else in this regard and only produce a military clone, WC has drawn on the input of shooters from a wide spectrum of the shooting market and has produced a line of rifles to meet the needs of just about every shooter.

Wilson’s initial offering was called the UT-15, or Urban Tactical rifle. In the Post-Ban era it was configured to comply with Federal Law and sported a fixed A-2 Buttstock and a non birdcage type flash Hider. Now that the ban has unsettled and is no longer in effect the UT-15 can be had with a conventional 6 position collapsible stock and its trademark 16.25” fluted barrel and real flash hider. A flattop receiver will allow the customer his choice of iron sights or one of the many types of red dots or magnified optics.

The current production line of rifles also includes the new WC replacement AR-15 trigger system known as the TTU or Tactical Trigger Unit. Available in either single stage or two stage configurations, they greatly enhance the trigger pull on this type of weapon platform.

Perhaps no other weapon platform since the 1911 pistol has produced so many aftermarket parts and accessories as the AR-15. An entire industry has developed to supply the demand for these rifles. Wilson Combat has responded to this market by bringing to the shooter accessories that reflect the tastes and needs of serious shooters. Not content with merely copying what others have done, WC has looked at each one of it’s accessories with the practical application in mind and made several common sense changes to what is normally seen on these parts.

One that stands out the most is WC’s unique rendition of the free floating accessory rail hand guard… While others are looking for every possible attachment point along the forearm, The WC model is streamlining the available rail space and using only what is practical and smoothing the Rest for more comfortable shooting. When I first saw one of the pre-production models I was skeptical of it having only used the normal configurations. After using one, I’m sold on the concept.

The concept of the AR-15 Carbine started out to be a handy, lightweight rifle. Nowadays look at the Cover of any “Tactical” shooting magazine and I’ll bet there will be a rifle that is practically a crew served weapon on the cover with so much hanging off the gun. This is not what the average shooter needs or wants.

WC also recognizes that some parts are so popular with shooters and work so well that no further enhancement is needed and supplies those parts on the rifle packages they offer such as MagPul stocks and Ergo Grips among others.

Another standard package offered by WC is the ever popular M4-T TC which is the civilian legal version of the military’s M4 Carbine. This is offered with the M4 profile barrel and flat top upper. TTU Trigger group, 6 position collapsible stock and WC back up iron sights or BUIS. Also standard is the hand guard mentioned above. Finish off with WC’s Armor Tuff proprietary metal finish and you have a Rifle that will handle just about any task.

Never one to set on it’s laurels, WC has introduced two new models for 2010 that I’m particularly excited about. In response to the popularity of the military Special Purpose Rifle concept, WC has added The SPR model to this years catalog. Designed in part to give members of the military enhanced longer-range capability, the SPR was designed to allow the use of the standard M16A1 or A2 lower receiver and adding an 18” free floated barrel and a magnification optic such as a 3×9 power to allow for hits at longer Range than a standard issue iron sighted M16. The concept has been very successful in the field and that has fueled the demand for a civilian version such as the WC model. The WC SPR Rifle boasts a match grade 1-7” twist barrel that allows the use of heavier bullets for long Range accuracy and terminal ballistics. A fixed A2 style butt stock and rifle length gas system under the free floating rail hand guard, a TTU Trigger group with a crisp 4lb trigger pull, pretty much round off the package. With quality optics and good ammo this should be a tack driver capable of filling the role of Law Enforcement or varmint hunter rifle.

Wilson Combat Recon 6.8SPC Rifle

The latest rifle project at WC is the development of the 6.8 series of rifles. The 6.8x43mm or 6.8 as it is commonly referred to was initially developed by members of the US Army Marksmanship Unit as a possible replacement for the 5.56mm NATO cartridge as our service caliber. It offered increased down range terminal ballistics and not much in the way of increased recoil or loss of magazine capacity. The only thing it didn’t have was the word NATO behind it unfortunately, and so was doomed as far as adoption as a service caliber. That didn’t keep its utility as a medium size game cartridge from being explored and it has caught on. WC president Bill Wilson is an avid hunter and has brought the AR-15 platform to its full potential with the 6.8 line of rifle models being offered this year.

For the whitetail deer or hog hunter this is just about perfect in terms of a compact hard hitting caliber. With factory loaded 110 grain ammunition available that reaches 2500fps, this is about perfect medicine for a feral pig. The 6.8 Lightweight Hunter is the ideal platform for using practical accessories like red dots and other types of optics with low light capability as well as offering mounting solutions for white lights for use in areas where it is legal such as Texas to hunt hogs after dark. The ability to have rapid follow up shots is nice when facing the possibility of a wounded pig at night as well.

For the customer who is interested in home defense or tactical use of the 6.8 caliber WC also offers a version to suit that purpose. The Recon 6.8SPC model has a choice of 16 or 18”, 1-11” twist barrels. It also has a mid length low profile gas block and a fold down front sight that allows for lower mounting of any optic you might want to use. A quad rail for end allows for mounting accessories and it’s equipped with a single stage TTU trigger group and Magpul CTR buttstock and MOE pistol grip. Finish this off with your choice of Black, Green, Grey or Tan Armor Tuff finish and you have the ultimate defensive rifle.

For the shooter who appreciates the efforts that go into a custom firearm, Wilson Combat has become THE place to go for all your shooting needs. From the industries finest 1911 pistols to tactical shotgun models that are so good they are sole sourced by many Gov’t. customers and now a full line of AR-15 style Rifles and accessories to meet every need.

About:
Founded in 1977, Wilson Combat has grown to include more than 50 employees – no one else in the custom gun business has as many professionals, as many years of experience, or as much history with hand-crafting custom guns as we do. Here’s an idea of the type and number of years experience you will find at Wilson Combat. Visit: www.wilsoncombat.com

Filed under: Gun Gear, Shooting Industry News by Ammoland 1 Comment »

The Shotgun Is The Most Neglected Weapon In Our Arsenal

Tactical Tips with Rob Haught

Wilson Combat

Berryville, AR - -(AmmoLand.com)- Have you been to your local sporting goods or gunshop lately? Have you tried to find 5.56 or 9mm ammunition? Likely it was a frustrating experience.

My local WalMart who normally has a fairly well stocked sporting goods section now has bare shelf space where once was a wide variety of ammunition. Management confirms that the warehouses are empty and that what little does come in is allocated to several stores in the region so everyone gets a little.

If WalMart, the nations largest ammo retailer is in this fix what does that say for the small Mom and Pop gunshops? The frenzy that is driving this shortage is not likely to get better in the near future either.

The one thing that is available however, at least at present is shotshells. The shotgun is one of the most neglected weapons in our arsenal of defensive firearms.

We think of the Carbine and Pistol as being more fun or sexy to shoot and tend to leave the scattergun at home when range time comes around. With the price of rifle ammo skyrocketing many shooters are forced to cut way back on their consumption. I was used to shooting a couple hundred rounds of 5.56 a week and now only shoot around fifty in carefully selected drills designed to get the most out of my training.

Many trainers are seeing attendance drop and classes not filling due to the rising costs and availability of ammo.

Rob Haught of Wilson Tactical

Back to the shotgun….., at least for now we should take the opportunity to stock up on training ammo and dust off the shotguns and get back up to speed on this very versatile tool.

Think about it, the shotgun from the days of Leonardo DaVinci has fed our families, patrolled our streets, defended our homes, and fought our wars for hundreds of years virtually unchanged in concept of a multiple projectile weapon.

Given the wide variety of ammunition available, the typical defensive shotgun can do a fine job either protecting the homefront or putting food on the table. I feel that the best training ammo is birdshot either 7 ½ or 8 shot. This can also be used for small game so putting away a goodly supply will serve you well.

At this time it is still found at decent prices as all the manufactures have promotional ammo for sale in bulk. This could change at any time so if you are even remotely thinking of buying a shotgun for defensive use you should act now and stock up.

Another consideration is politically, the shotgun will probably be the last weapon to be regulated if another AWB should take effect. So take advantage of the chance to get the scattergun to the range.

Rob Haught:
Veteran Law Enforcement Officer
Firearms Trainer for civilian, law enforcement and military
IDPA National Champion

About:
At Wilson Combat we’re proud of our position as the acknowledged leader in customer satisfaction and quality products. We work hard to maintain the reputation we’ve built over almost thirty years, and continue to invest in the human resources, training, capital equipment, research and development to stay on top. We have added new leadership personnel in engineering, manufacturing management, materials, research, design, operations, and business development. One of our goals is to be a little better every single day, and we work hard to meet that goal.

Filed under: Firearm News by Ammoland 1 Comment »