Tag Archives: SureFire X300

Marines Show off Shorty HK416s, M18s in Underway Small Arms Drills

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Marines getting in some live-fire training, while embarked on a Navy amphibious warfare ship, were recently spotted with some interesting new gear. 

The Marines, part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)’s Maritime Special Purpose Force, are currently deployed aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5). An elite unit within an elite unit, the MSPF typically includes a SEAL Strike Platoon, a Force Recon Direct Action Platoon, and a platoon from the MEU(SOC)’s boat company, among others. That would explain the extensive use of M27s— itself a version of the well-liked Heckler & Koch HK 416 rifle– modified with HK’s Reconnaissance Weapon Kit. 

The recent photos of the 26th MEU(SOC)’s MSPF show Recon-kitted M27s complete with EoTech holographic sights and PEQ-16 flashlight/laser aiming devices. (Photo: Cpl. Kyle Jia/U.S. Marine Corps)

First spotted in use in 2021, the kit includes a 416A5 upper with an adjustable gas system and 11-inch barrel, allowing for a more compact and suppressor-friendly close-quarters weapon rather than the 16-inch barrel on the standard M27. 

For longer-range work, they have been seen with EoTech magnifiers as well. (Photo: Cpl. Kyle Jia/U.S. Marine Corps)

The SIG Sauer M18, recently adopted as standard across the Marine Corps, is also present on each of the MSPF members, complete with Surefire X300 lights, and lanyards.

(Photo: Cpl. Kyle Jia/U.S. Marine Corps)

(Photo: Cpl. Kyle Jia/U.S. Marine Corps)

(Photo: Cpl. Kyle Jia/U.S. Marine Corps)

As I previously reported, the Marines sought 35,000 of the smaller SIG Modular Handgun System variants to replace Beretta M9 pistols, Colt M45A1 CQB .45ACP railguns, and the M007 Glock.

The 26th MEU(SOC), embarked with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, has been deployed in European waters conducting exercises with NATO allies in the Mediterranean, but this week arrived in the Middle East to support deterrence efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has been harassing oil tankers as of late

So I watched The Tomorrow War

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Going back to my old Tom Baker Dr. Who days on a black & white 10-inch TV in my room in the early 1980s, I’ve always been a sucker for anything time travel and have used the device in a few different short stories over the years.

So naturally, I had to watch The Tomorrow War, in which the losing military of 2051 catapults back in time to today to gather hastily mustered and invariably untrained conscripts to send forward 30 years, where they will lend their mass to try and defeat some very scary alien creatures that have all but overrun the planet.

Lots of issues. Spoiler alerts ahead.

First, instead of coming to get draftees to serve as cannon fodder in a future in which they are already dead (so as not to bump into yourself in the future), why not just send an intel package back to the current age detailing all that is known about the aliens to include future dates and locations of their initial strikes and biological research/samples to develop an insecticide (yes, they are big bugs) against?

Even if you go with the so-called “Let’s Kill Hitler Paradox” which erases your own reason for going back in time because if the traveler were successful, then there would be no reason to time travel in the first place, and you still had to go with the standby of getting future-deceased draftees to come to 2051 and fight aliens, at least give said draftees a fighting chance.

In the film, most of the humans face off with the “White Spikes” armed with short-barreled 5.56 NATO weapons, to ill effect. A vet of two past jumps, meanwhile, runs a 12 gauge tactical shotgun to better success while a grizzled old man with an AR10 lays out several in short order.

The guns in The Tomorrow War, have…some issues

The solution? Send these poor devils to the future with 7.62 battle rifles such as the HK G3/HK91, AR10, FN FAL, and M1A1/M14. There are surely a few million in storage or in local gun shops around the world and more could be cranked out very rapidly. 

Yes, they have a learning curve, but not an impossible one. Remember, the conscript millions of NATO infantry trained in the 1960s-80s carried such beasts with, in many cases, only a modicum of instruction.

If they can’t figure it out, give em a shotgun. I can vouch that I have run one-day tactical riot gun courses with great success for novice users.

Anyway, more on my feelings on The Tomorrow War-– which is actually a fairly good if confounding sci-fi film– check out my piece at Guns.com where I talk about the on-screen weapons.

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid

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The modern equivalent of Han Solo’s DL-44 blaster, via SureFire:

The above set up consists of a Glock 17 with ALG Defense 6 Second Mount & mag well, Aimpoint T1, KKM Precision barrel & comp, and SureFire X300 U-Boat.

I prefer Inforce on my G19, as well as a mounted RMR and have always thought comps were unneeded on anything less spicy than .38 Super, but the above is still a nice blaster.