18 June 14
Devil Dog Arms, of Lake Zurich, IL
“The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle!”
Pershing
I met fellow former Marine, Joe Lucania, at the SHOT Show in January. Not surprisingly, I found him to be a person I instantly liked! He builds ARs, Devil Dog Arms, intended strictly for serious purposes, so, as you might imagine, we established common ground quickly.
The term, “Devil Dog,” was actually intended as an affront! It was a title (in German, “Teufel Hunden) grudgingly bestowed upon US Marines by German soldiers during the bloody Battle of Belleau Wood, a part of the ill-fated 1918 German Spring Offensive of WWI.
Marines, via deadly rifle fire, blunted the German advance multiple times, and the Marines’ dogged resistance was well noted by Germans. Marine Captain Lloyd W Williams was made famous for his snide remark: “Retreat? Hell, we just got here!”
General John J Pershing, Commander of the entire American Expeditionary Force, was inspired to say: “The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle!” Marines have always cherished that distinction!
The title, “Devil Dog” was, of course, hardly intended as a term of endearment, but the name stuck, and I remember learning all about the Battle, and the title, during my Marine OCS training at Quantico, VA back in 1967. I’m sure young Marines are still told the story today!
I now have a copy of Joe’s rifle. Mine is in 300BLK (7.62×35).
I’ll be hunting pigs, and other game, with it this fall.
My copy is set-up to my liking:
Forward-mounted Aimpoint T1 on a Larue Quick-release mount, with a riser that center co-witnesses with the fold-down Troy iron sights.
Adjustable stock
SLY or Vicker’s (BFG) two-point sling
Surefire or Terralux 500-lumen weaponlight, co-axially mounted (forward) on the left side of the forend
The rifle’s gas-tap is just a few centimeters in from of the chamber, necessitated by the steep pressure-curve of the 300BLK round. In fact, I don’t think it is possible to manufacture an AR in 300BLK that will run reliably with both full-power and subsonic loads, unless it is gas-adjustable.
My copy of the DDA/AR (15B) is set-up to run only full-power loads, and it digests them superbly!
As I build-up my supply of 300BLK ammunition, I’ll be running it at some of my upcoming Urban Rifle Classes.
300BLK may catch-on, and it may not! It is a legitimate 250m rifle with excellent penetration, superior to the 223 in both regards. But, trends are fickle, as we know. After shooting a few pigs with it, I’ll have a stronger opinion, I’m sure!
With the world rapidly descending into chaos on all fronts, and weak, faltering, indeed mendacious “leadership” at the highest levels, with no relief in sight, every savvy American is going to need a legitimate, military rifle, as well as a good pistol, and critical skills and knowledge in their use.
Joe and his wonderful Crew at DDA put together a very acceptable AR, and they are on my “Recommended List!” Web Page is http://www.devildogarms.com/
“The right of self-defense never ceases. It is among the most sacred.”
James Monroe
/John
