Every time I go to SureFire LLC, I expect to get an education –– but I'm always amazed as to how much has changed. Created by Dr. John Matthews, SureFire was called Laser Products for the first 15 years, but has been SureFire for the past decade. Comprised of five buildings now encompassing 150,000 square feet, SureFire employs more than 350 people in production, shipping, engineering, R & D and marketing.
Having literally defined tactical, fighting lights, SureFire lights have redefined the way soldiers and law enforcement officers fight for and protect the citizens of America. Consisting of both hand–held and weapon–mounted lights, these tools provide their operators the ability to, as Dr. Matthews says, "win the light fight and win the gun fight."
Seen here is a brand new X200 remote switch for the Glock pistol.
Having just returned from the latest SureFire writer's conclave, I can attest to the fact that the company is not only living up to its promise, but is also taking a quantum leap forward in both production and in introducing new products. First is SureFire's commitment to the U.S. military and American law enforcement, enforcement, both of whom are issuing SureFire products in ever–increasing numbers. This is the reason for the enormous growth in the company during the past few years. However, equally important is the continuing development of superior products as fast as advances in technology permit. At the forefront is the light emitting diode (LED) and the energy to run it.
PK Turns Up the Light
During a special lecture, SureFire's Vice President of Engineering, Paul Kim, explained the company's future direction and the advances forecast in LED technology, as well as in batteries. While I won't pretend to be an expert in electronics, it was fascinating to hear Paul talk in terms of high intensity discharge (HID), super batteries, advanced circuitry and so forth. To sum it up, Paul made it clear that SureFire is not in competition with anyone except itself. What would you think about a hand–held light offering not only white light, but also blue, green, red and infrared? With me so far? Now how about also being able to instantly adjust the brightness from 50 lumens up to 1,000 lumens?
In the meantime, SureFire continues to introduce new state–of–the–art products using existing technology. One of these is its new Scout Light. Designed as a tactical weapon light, the Scout Light comes with an integral M1913 rail mount and it's also very light in weight. It also comes with both LED and incandescent lamp modules, each of which produce more than 60 lumens of white light. If that's not enough, the Scout Light also comes with a pressure–pad end cap and a plug–in with a remote switch.
Bill Murphy (top) and James Williams demonstrate buildingclearing techniques in the SureFire Institute's Simunitions force on force house.
A new variation of an existing SureFire Tactical Weapon Light (TWL) is a Model 910 in Desert Tan. In addition to matching U.S. military weapons painted this color, the new M910 will absorb far less heat from sunlight and the color will also reduce the visual signature of the presence of the light to the enemy during the daytime, prior to an entry. Other new SureFire Tactical Lights include several LED models, such as the E2d Defender.
Sound Suppressors
SureFire's Suppressor Division is headed up by Barry Dueck, creator of SureFire's now famous M4FA Suppressor. While the M4FA continues to prove itself in Iraq and Afghanistan, the company's Suppressor Division now also offers this superb suppressor in 6.8mm SPC and 7.62mm (.30 caliber), with a slightly heavier version for the sustained fire role on FN M240G LMG.
To simplify things, the SureFire M4FA Suppressor is being offered in 6.8mm for use with either a rifle in this caliber, or one in 5.56mm. When used on a 5.56mm carbine, the slightly larger hole of the 6.8mm Suppressor increases the sound only by a tiny fraction, and allows the operator to use it on either weapon. Since the suppressor is the same size for all three calibers (except the M240G version), the feasibility of using a .30 caliber suppressor for any of the three calibers is also being studied.
The secret of the success of SureFire's sound suppressors lies not only in quality control, but also in the materials used. The exotic steel tubing alone costs $150 per foot. This steel is similar to that used in venturis of jet fighter engines. Even at 1,200 degrees f, this special alloy steel is stronger than a stainless suppressor is at room temperature. When one wellknown gun maker suggested that SureFire over–engineered its suppressor, SureFire replied, "No, we just made it to last forever."
However, an even newer twist is an integral barrel mount for these suppressors. SureFire is providing the blueprints to barrel makers for an integral mount that can be machined as part of the barrel. This integral mount will not only preclude the need to screw–on a mount, but will also guarantee the alignment of the mount with the bore, for optimum repeatability of point of impact (POI).
SureFire's Travis Mitchell, a former USMC Sniper, was on hand at the seminar with a sample of this system as well as a Bushmaster M–15 and an Armalite AR–10, both equipped with SureFire Suppressors. All present fired both SureFire–suppressed rifles without need of ear protection. Sure– Fire's suppressors are now available to all qualified Class III dealers as well as law enforcement, but that's not the end of it.
Barry Dueck has designed a new rectangular suppressor for use on pistols. Although difficult to produce, a rectangular housing has a number of advantages, one being that it does not require higher sights, as in the case of a round tube. Another advantage is being more holster friendly, but even more interesting is that four interior sides do more to diffuse the hot gasses that create the sound as they are released into air. Beyond that is a whole new generation of suppressors and suppressor mounts also being developed by Surefire.
The SureFire Institute
After being revamped and expanded, the SureFire Institute is now operated by Tony Raper, a retired Army Special Forces lieutenant colonel, with the assistance of Orange County SWAT Cop Bill Murphy, who is also an adjunct instructor for Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. With both live–fire and force–on–force Simunitions shoothouses at the Raahage Range in Corona, the Institute has another, even more elaborate force–on–force shoot–house at another site, the location of which will not be divulged here for reasons of national security. However, we were allowed to tour this facility as well and it is top notch.
Following this tour, we traveled to the Orange County Sheriff Department's indoor range to shoot the rest of the day. Most of us used Springfield XD pistols. I chose one in .45 GAP caliber. The following day we went to the force–onforce shoot house at the Raahage Ranch Range, but first we were treated to some of the defensive and offensive tactics of James Williams, a former Army officer with more than 45 years of martial arts experience, who is also an integral part of the SureFire Institute. Having studied both armed and unarmed defense since many of his students were in liquid form, Williams does his magic almost effortlessly, taking you down before you know it, or deflecting an offensive move.
James Williams also works with real edged weapons about half of the time. I know, as I was on the delivering end of a razor sharp dagger several times during classroom demonstrations. Where projectile–based fights are concerned, Williams demonstrated several innovative solutions to problems in shooting scenarios. Although his techniques are well illustrated in his training videos, James' hands–on training courses are unsurpassed.
"Say, WHAT?"
Among a number of new divisions at SureFire is one that will manufacture a new line of electronic hearing protection and communication gear. This will include miniature devices as well as more sophisticated commo systems. Although it was not announced at this writers' conference, I learned of a major new program under development at SureFire that will rock the firearms industry, so stay tuned for more from this major player in the world of tactics.
In the meantime, for information, contact SureFire LLC, Dept. SOF, 18300 Mt. Baldy Circle, Fountain Valley, CA 92708; phone: 800–828–8809, on the web at (www.surefire.com).
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