By David Crane
david (at) defensereview (dot) com
Photo(s) Credit: Ashbury Precision Ordnance (APO)
January 13, 2015
Some very good news just came DefenseReview’s (DR) way, and we’re pretty excited about it. Ashbury Precision Ordnance (APO), a company known for building some of the best precision modular bolt-action tactical (anti-materiel and sniper) rifles and rifle chassis in the business, has just opened a custom shop for premium tactical pistols called APOCS, whiich stands for APO Custom Shop. APOCS will initially be upgrading/customizing Glock, Heckler & Koch (HK), and M1911 pistols with the Trijicon RMR (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex) ruggedized mini red dot combat optic, TrijiconTrijicon tritium night sights (iron sights), upgraded triggers and tactical controls, and gripframe texturizing for both civillian tactical AND competition shooting–and the guns look goood.
The RMR combat optic and iron sights can be co-witnessed with the rear iron sight either in front of or behind the RMR, according to customer preference. There are of course differing philosophies about this rear iron sight placement, but again, APOCS will let the customer choose which way they want to go.
The APO Custom Shop will offer complete “optically enhanced” pistols, but you can also send your pistol in for upgrading/customizing. APOCS will also supply threaded barrels, and even silencers/sound suppressors along with them, since APO is a BATFE licensed Class 07 manufacturer, SOT and registered US Department of State ITAR exporter. If you want your APOCS-customized pistol set up for a suppressor APOCS can co-witness suppressor-height Trijicon night sights with the RMR reflex sight.
So, how did Ashbury decide to start the APOCS program? As it turns out, they were sitting on an in-house treasure trove of veteran USMC MOS 2112 Precision Weapons Repairmen/Technicians in their Ordnance Department”, men who served during Vietnam, and in Iraq and Afghanistan. These gunsmiths didn’t just build M14 and and M40 rifles for Marine Corps Scout Snipers and Palma rifles for the USMC Rifle Teams. They also built pistols for Marine Corps Pistol Team shooters.
APO Product Development Coordinator Matthew Peterson is the architect for the APOCS custom pistol shop program, and he and his staff didn’t just wing it. They did a lot of research to pick the best combat optic, iron sights and other components for their customized pistols, and read the Norwich University’s Comparative Pistol Project (CPP) study on the advantages of shooting with the Trijicon RMR over standard 3-dot iron pistol sights. While the sample size was a bit small, and the round count a bit limited, the CPP authors concluded the following:
This comparative pistol project indicated the Trijicon Inc.’s RMR was more effective than traditional iron sights. The results suggest that trainees in military and law enforcement specialties may gain proficiency more efficiently with the RMR. In addition the RMR is useful for seasoned professionals.
Anyway, while Mr. Peterson is the architect of the APOCS program, veteran Marine gunsmith Travis Bankston is the team’s “energizing force”. Bankston’s goal is to offer civilian tactical shooters “the same reliable, high quality pistol builds and modifications we provided to the Marine Corps shooting teams, Force Reconnaissance and MARSOC throughout our careers, for competition or combat.”
If you’re going to SHOT Show 2015, you can find all the APOCS optically-enhanced pistol products in the Tactical/Law Enforcement Section at booth 31407.
Just for the record, Defense Review has been covering APO’s tactical rifles, including the APO Asymmetric Warrior (ASW), APO SABER-FORSST folding rifle stock system and SABER Precison Rifle (SPR) rifles for years now, and we have yet to see one that isn’t badass (that means impressive). The rifles look superlative, and work how they look, and DR has no doubt that the APOCS pistols will work exactly as advertised. APO’s years of experience manufacturing the above military-grade tactical ballistic badassery portends an easy and successful transition into upgraded and customized combat/tactical pistols. DR’s eager to get our hands on an APOCS-upgraded/customized Gen-3 Glock 19 (G19), Gen-3 Glock 34 (G34) HK VP9, HK HK45 and Gen-3 Glock 21 SF (G21SF) as soon as possible. Speaking of the VP9, DR recently got a chance to handle and put a few rounds through one. We really liked the looks, ergonomics and shooting characteristics of the gun, so we very much look forward to getting a VP9 sample gun for a high-round-count review. If/when we purchase one, we’ll probably send it to APOCS for customization.
The following is the official APO press release on APOCS, along with addition photos:
“For Immediate Release:
Media Contact:
Troy Perry
(434) 296-8600
tperry@ashburyintlgroup.com
APO Custom Shop Now Upgrading M1911, Glock® and HK® Pistols
Former USMC Precision Weapons Section 2112’s Custom Crafting Pistols with Reflex Sights for 21st Century Personal Defense, Competitive Shooting, and LEO Operations
Ruckersville, VA. – <a href=http://www.ashburyprecisionordnance.com/ target=right>Ashbury Precision Ordnance (APO) Manufacturing</a> known for its product focus on their patented ergonomically adjustable SABER® modular rifle chassis system and high accuracy precision long range rifles, has taken their product offerings in a surprising direction through a new and exciting Custom Shop operation. The APO Custom Shop (APOCS) is offering complete custom precision rifle builds, and unexpectedly, practical/tactical pistols with CNC inletted Trijicon® RMR reflex sights.
The architect of the APO Custom Shop concept is Matthew Peterson, Product Development Coordinator for Ashbury. “Our company has more than 45 years of professional USMC MOS 2112 Precision Weapons Repairman/Technician experience in our Ordnance Department,” said Peterson. “These patriotic veterans have served our nation during Vietnam and through deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq,” he continued. “In addition to building many hundreds of precision M14 and M40 rifles for Marine Corps Scout Snipers and Palma rifles for the Rifle Teams, our gunsmiths also supported Marine Corps Pistol Team shooters over the course of several decades.”
It became quite obvious to Ashbury that pistols equipped with reflex sights are trending with today’s shooters, and especially those <a href=http://www.personaldefensenetwork.com/i-cant-see-my-sights/ target=right>shooters with aging eyes</a>, which is something we will all eventually encounter. “After considerable market research we contacted Trijicon® to learn more about their RMR products and the remarkable Norwich University Comparative Pistol Study,” explained Peterson. “This study emphasizes the distinct advantages of training pistol shooters with reflex sights vs. traditional iron sights.”
APOCS precision machines pistol slides for direct mounting of Trijicon RMR ruggedized miniature reflex sights that “co-witness” suppressor height night sights on popular handguns to include the venerable M1911, selected Glock®, and HK® models. The company also offers new “shooter-ready” optically enhanced pistol packages with upgraded tritium iron sights, improved triggers and tactical controls. Much sought after accessories such as threaded barrels and suppressors are also available as Ashbury is a BATFE licensed Class 07 manufacturer, SOT and registered US Department of State ITAR exporter.
Veteran Marine Gunsmith Travis Bankston, the energizing force on APO’s team of 2112’s behind this effort, said, “The Custom Shop offers civilian pistol shooters the same reliable, high quality pistol builds and modifications we provided to the Marine Corps shooting teams, Force Reconnaissance and MARSOC throughout our careers, for competition or combat.”
“APOCS will earn the trust and confidence of civilian shooters and law enforcement officers,” continued Bankston, “by providing accurate, reliable and affordable, optically-enhanced, custom handguns. We’ll provide the same high quality custom firearms for recreational and competitive shooting, personal protection, and tactical operations we confidently provided to Marine Warfighters.”
Depending on the make and model of pistol being modified shooters have the option of mounting the RMR with the rear sight behind or in-front* of the optic. Co-witnessed iron sights offer shooters many advantages to include rapid red dot acquisition, RMR protection and emergency cocking point* and RMR back up the in the event of battery failure.
Shooters can also have other grip, frame, slide and fire control [trigger] enhancements made by APOCS team of qualified gunsmiths and machinists. APOCS is additionally supported by an experienced team of Ashbury engineers, machinists and product developers who are all shooters and hunters.
APOCS will be introducing its line of optically enhanced pistol products at the 2015 SHOT Show in booth #31407 in the Tactical/Law Enforcement Section. For more information on APO Custom Shop Services, tactical pistol packages, precision rifles and long range Riflesports accessories, please visit the Ashbury Precision Ordnance Mfg website, contact our customer service department or shop the APO online store, The Armory.
About Ashbury…
Ashbury International Group Inc. is a central Virginia USA based company, having nearly two decades of international experience as a prime contractor to government agencies, military, and special operations forces as well as manufacturer of firearms and shooting sports equipment. The company provides logistics, engineering, training, ordnance manufacturing, and systems integration products and services.
Ashbury Precision Ordnance Mfg. (APO), a division of the Ashbury International Group Inc. is a BATFE licensed 07/11/SOT firearms manufacturer. APO manufactures SABER® bolt action receivers and patented modular rifle chassis systems for factory and custom small, medium and large caliber bolt action rifles. APO also manufactures custom tactical and multi-sport precision rifles in calibers from .223, .to .375CT. APO’s Custom Shop offers complete special order custom rifle and optically enhanced pistol builds for discriminating customers.
Additionally, APO manufactures high quality rugged electro-optical weapon mounts, and TACT3 tactical field tripods. The company also distributes a wide range of Riflesport accessories to include Field Firing Solutions (FFS) ballistic software, Long Range Accuracy Bipods, Snipers Field Tool Kits and Vectronix laser range finders, thermal imagers and night vision devices.
The Rapid Product Development Center (RPDC) provides engineering design and prototyping services. The engineering services group is Solidworks® CAD based with Cosmos® FEA and FeatureCam® CAD/CAM machine programming software, 3D Printer-Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) capable, a modern CNC precision machining shop and an experienced, well trained staff.
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Company Contact Info:
Ashbury Precision Ordnance (APO)
PO Box 8024
Charlottesville, Virginia USA 22906-8024
General Phone: 434-296-8600 Ext. 998
Email Contact Page: http://www.ashburyprecisionordnance.com/contact-us/?expandable=5
APO Website: http://www.ashburyprecisionordnance.com
APO Facebook: http://www.ashburyprecisionordnance.com/facebook
APO Armory: http://www.ashburyprecisionordnance.com/armory/
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