Smith Enterprise Upgrades Battle-Worn Sound Suppressors for Silver Star Recipient in the 82nd Airborne

 

Tempe, AZ

Smith Enterprise, Inc received a phone call from Silver Star recipient 1SG Michael Onstine of the 2-505^th PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment) in June of this year.  He told Smith Enterprise, Inc. that he had in his possession some battle-worn Wind Talker Sound Suppressors made by Smith Enterprise from 2004 and wondered if there was anything Smith Enterprise could do to help clean them up.  Not only did Smith Enterprise clean them up, but they replaced all of the baffles inside with the new SEI Cone Baffle system as well as replace the coupler, the end cap, and the Vortex flash hider it mounts on.  Smith also gave the suppressors a new paint job to MILSPEC standards.

The only thing remaining on the original Sound Suppressor was the tube itself.  Everything else got replaced.  1SG Onstine and his men were pleased to have the four Sound Suppressor back in mint condition with the latest upgrades.

The Sound Suppressors were originally sent to the 2^nd Infantry Division (2 ID) in Korea back in 2004.  At that time the 2 ID ordered a total of 110 M14 Wind Talker Sound Suppressors along with 110 of Smith’s M14 Crazy Horse upgrade kit which consisted of Smith Vortex Flash Hiders, mounts, rails, bipods, scope rings, gas lock front sites, upgraded heat treated barrels, extended bolt stop, and a long list of other parts.  Right after the upgraded Crazy Horse rifles arrived in Korea, the 2 ID deployed to Iraq.  Those suppressors stayed in Iraq transferring from unit to unit until the 2-505^th PIR redeployed this past year.  That is when Smith got the call from 1SG Onstine with the 2-505^th.

The 2-505^th PIR is part of the elite 82^nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, NC.  The 82^nd Airborne is one of the main light infantry divisions in the US Army with an ongoing mission to rapidly deploy anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice.  The 82^nd Airborne also conducts rotations overseas as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  It was during one of these rotations where 1SG Onstine received the Silver Star.  1SG Onstine received the Silver Star for valor during Operation RUSTUM as part of Operation IRAQ FREEDOM near Baghdad, Iraq in 2007.  1SG Onstine braved through multiple fire fights while severely wounded ensuring his men got out safely before he allowed himself to be evacuated.  He also acted bravely and selflessly multiple times to ensure his platoon escaped against overwhelming enemy numbers.  You can read more about 1SG Onstine here at MilitaryTimes.com.

When Ron Smith, President of Smith Enterprise was asked about this he stated, “This is a no brainer.  For what 1SG Onstine did for his men and this country, the LEAST we could do was get their suppressors upgraded for them.  These Sound Suppressors they have are quite the find.  Imagine how many battles they went through over the last 9 years?  There must have easily been tens of thousands of rounds fired through them and many of fine fighting men must have taken these suppressors on and off their rifles over the years.  They were in as good a shape as when we first sent them off, just needed to have the carbon cleaned off.  We wanted 1SG and his men to have our new light weight coupler, our new baffles, our new end cap, and our new Vortex.  We want these heroes to have the best we have to offer them.”

Smith Enterprise currently sells the Wind Talker Sound Suppressor to both the military and civilian markets.  Smith Enterprise also sells the Vortex Flash Hider, the Good Iron Muzzle Brake, M14 Accessories, AR15 Wrench, and several other weapon accessories and upgrades.

Smith Enterprise is also available on the Smith Enterprise, Inc. Facebook, Smith Enterprise, Inc. Twitter, Smith Enterprise, Inc. Youtube, Smith Enterprise, Inc. Googe Plus, and Smith Enterprise, Inc. Blog.

Colt Buys 5,000 Vortex for LE-901


Colt Defense ordered 5,000 Vortex Flash Hiders for their .308 caliber LE-901.  SEI is honored to be a supplier of a company that puts its customer's first and cares about attention to detail when making their rifles.  More info on SEI's .308 Flash Hider can be found on the SEI website.

Colt Canada Orders Vortex for Canadian Military

 

Colt Canada ordered 151 of our 5.56 mm Vortex Flash Hider for the Canadian military on 1 Feb, 2013.  The Vortex will go on the C-8 5.56 mm rifle.  SEI is pleased to be one of Colt Canadas primary flash hider suppliers.  More information on SEI's 5.56 mm Vortex Flash Hider can be found on the SEI website.

SEI Provides M14 Receivers

 

These are Smith Enterprise M14 receivers. If you wish to order some call Croc at Croc's gun shop 1-505-757-3461 or email crocodile@newmexico.com.

Uncle Mike Thanks Ron Smith for the Crazy Horse M14SE Rifle

Because of all of Mike McElfish's (Uncle Mike) generosity to the troops, SEI built him a Crazy Horse M14SE rifle.  He was so excited about it and the effectiveness of the rifle he wrote us an email.  Here is what Uncle Mike wrote:

Dear Ron,

Thank you so very much for the job on the Crazy Horse, M-14 Rifle.

 

I took it out to the range with my son and his wife while they were here on leave, and the guy next to us had a couple of steel targets that he had made.  So we set them out at 100 yards and let them have it.  The target is 1/2 inch steel plate and the ammo was Remington 308, 150 grain out of the box from walmart.

This seems to be a pretty quick way to put holes in a steel plate, might not be just where you want them, but with some more practice maybe I will get there.

Thanks again for putting together such a beautiful rifle. This thing really kicks *ss!

Mike McElfish

Carson City, Nevada

Jessy Summers Nails the Bulls Eye with an SEI M14

SEI recieved the following letter and picture today.  We love when we get feedback from our happy customers:

Hi Andy and staff,

Take a look at the photo that's attached to this email. This is 300 yards, iron sights this weekend. The only shot that was not in the orange was  my sighter. After that, I'm on target. Love this rifle and the work you did.

Let me know when you receive the new tee shirts, I want to buy 3.

Thanks again and Semper Fi,

Jessy Summers

SEI Shot Thousands of Rounds Through Our Sound Suppressor on the MK48 and MK46 Machine Guns

Ron and Andy went out to a Naval Base in California with some Special Operations forces to try out our Wind Talker sound suppressor on the MK48 and MK46 machine guns.  We also put it on an M4 and shot 7 magazines through it on 3 round burst and full auto.  Most sound suppressor have back pressure issues because they are too small or the blow wide open because they are not rugged enough and cannot withstand the heat, but our suppressor held up even though we put thousands of rounds through them.

The SEI Wind Talker passed with all flying colors.  We had a Larson Davis sound meter there and were able to test the decibel reduction - and we can't publish how much, but it was significant!  Also, we were able to fire 120 rounds through the MK46 and MK48 on full auto with no issues to our Wind Talker sound suppressor.  Below are some pictures and videos.

Here is the SEI Wind Talker on a MK48 Machine Gun

Here is the SEI Wind Talker on a MK46 Machine Gun

Here is the SEI Vortex Flash Suppressor on the MK46 and MK48 (Random Shooting)

More Pictures with our Vortex and Wind Talker on the Weapons

SSgt Charles Freeman from 26th ERQS USMC Sends Us Pictures

We got the below email from SSgt Charles Freeman who we sent Vortex Flash Hiders to.  He is really kind to us and we thank him.  Also please check out these pictures!

Hey Andy

      Here are just a few pics zoom in and you can see the vortex's we have more pics and video but we're crazy busy so ill get those to you as soon as I find time. Also that package with free gouge in it got buried by other [stuff] we had to ship out but you'll get it here in a few days.

P.S.  The flash hiders are [really] awesome

V/r

SSgt Charles Freeman

26th ERQS/MEDEVAC

M14 Expert, Lee Emerson, Sends Email About our M14 Piston

We got this email from Lee Emerson who is from the TACOM EBR shop.  He has nothing but nice things to say about our M14 Gas Piston (PN 2075) we make:

Hi, Ron

I looked at the print for the USGI gas piston.  Wow, that is a huge difference taking the tolerance on the interior holes down to 0.001", sweet!  I have posted information on the new SEI M14 gas piston at these Internet sites:

M14HDW.us - http://m14hdw.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=extras&action=display&thread=1342

EBRSOPMODS.com - http://ebrsopmods.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=dedicatedm14partsandmanuf&action=display&thread=2962

FaceBook - http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/m14research/

Here is what I posted, let me know if it needs some clean up:

I spoke with Ron Smith, Smith Enterprise, Inc., today about the new SEI radiused groove M14 gas piston. Here's what I learned.
The USGI M14 gas piston major diameter is 0.4975 " - 0.0005 ". The new radiused groove SEI M14 gas piston major diameter is 0.4975 " + 0.0005 ". Thus, there is less area for gas to blow by between the gas cylinder wall and the gas piston. The SEI radiused groove gas piston is made from 420 stainless steel that is heat treated to 58 HRC. The piston is then plated with thin dense chromium and baked to prevent hydrogen embrittlement cracking corrosion. The chromium plating is given a highly polished surface finish, 9 microinches as measured by profilometer, through several operations on an OD surface grinder. The surface finish requirement for a USGI gas piston is not as smooth, 16 microinches.
The circumferential grooves are fully radiused instead of being flat bottomed. This feature will make it easier to remove carbon when cleaning. The large interior hole is drilled, reamed and bored. The small interior hole is drilled and reamed. Both holes are held to 0.001 " tolerance. This is significant as the USGI tolerance is 0.004 " for the two internal cavities.
FYI, dealer pricing on the SEI radiused groove M14 gas piston is available. That said, I have no financial interest in Smith Enterprise, Inc., just passing along one of the latest developments for the beloved M14 Rifle.

Vortex on a Colt CM901 Modular

Check out this Colt CM901 Modular rifle that has our Vortex Flash Suppressor on it.  Looks really nice!  Thanks to Gun Websites and Colt Defense for the showcase.

Artur Tests SEI Steyr AUG Muzzle Brake

Check out this great video showing how effective the SEI Good Iron Muzzle Brake is on the Steyr Aug-Z A3.  Artur is shooting .223 Remington ammo in the video.

Smith Enterprise on Display

Look at this great picture of Ron, Andy, and Caesar that was taken by Gary Paul Johnston of Shooting Illustrated Magazine.  Ron is holding the SEI Crazy Horse M21A5 with a Leupold Scope.  Everything on the weapon is SEI-made.  Andy, who is an Iraq War Vet, and Cesar are holding receivers SEI makes for the M14.  On the table are Vortex's for the M2 .50 Cal and various other weapons.  You can't get any products better than these for your military and civilian weapons.

Ron Smith is Now Part of TACOM "Dime Club"

When Ron Smith went to TACOM earlier in 2011 he was tested.  He had to shoot a dime at 110 yards.  This is very difficult to do.  Not that many people are part of the "Dime Club" accept for the guys at TACOM.  So on the second shot, Ron nails the dime at 110 yard with M118LR ammunition shooting a TRW that Ron dialed in there and was giving them some trouble.  The ding on the rim is from when the dime hit the ground.  Ron was there with Lee Emerson, Doug Carlstrom, and Mike Petersen.

David Winters of USSOCOM Sent us a Pics of the SEI Vortex and Wounded Warriors

Here is the email that Dave sent our Federal Supply Coordinator John Bainer:

John,

Hope all is well with SE!  I took some time and took pics of our Black Dagger M4s with your SE flash hiders (they work great).

I also added a pic of our SOF Memorial (10-11-11) and some SOF heroes.  Thought you would enjoy!

http://blackdaggermhc.org/


Dave

Here are the pictures Dave sent showing our Vortex and also some of our heroes:

SEI Rolls Out New Tool Pouches

If you need the perfect tool pouch that is the perfect size, this is your kit.  This kit can fit all of the larger tools for serious armorers and it can also fit the smaller cleaning kit tools for the basic rifleman.  Our basic kit is about $60 retail and does not come with any attachments.  You can purchase the attachments seperately, however.  Available in Black, Tan, OD, and Multi Cam.

Experienced Security Trainer Gives the Good Iron Muzzle Brake Rave Reviews

We recently were sent a video about our M4/M16 Good Iron Muzzle Brake from Steve Cooper from Paladin Training...  We appreciate email like this and hope you enjoy watching the video.

Here is the email:

Sir or Madame,

I recently installed an SE muzzle brake on a 16” 5.56 AR and wanted you to know how pleased I am with the way it performs.  Muzzle rise and felt recoil are noticeably dampened, but w/o any apparent increase in sound or back/side blast to my surprise.  Everyone comments that it’s the least obnoxious brake they’ve seen.

 You might be interested in a video of the brake in use here:  http://contour.com/stories/urban-break-contact-carbine-class-test-run-paladin-training-inc

I rarely write letters of this sort, but then I’m rarely 100% satisfied with what I buy these days, as I am w/ your muzzle brake.

Thank you.

Steve Cooper, Director of Training

Paladin Training, Inc.

See Our Precision Manufacturing Equipment Make Vortexes Our of Barstock

In this video you can see this machine cut away from barstock steel in order to form the grooves on the Vortex Flash Suppressor.  As you can see, this is no easy task and requires a great deal of precision.

In this video you can see this machine cut away from barstock steel in order to hollow out the coupler portion of the Vortex .50 Cal Flash Suppressor.  As you can see, this is also no easy task and requires a great deal of precision.

Riflecraft Goes to DSEi UK With SEI Vortex on Their .50 Cal

Our good friend and partner Riflecraft UK sports the SEI .50 Cal Vortex at the DSEi UK exhibition this year.  This trade show has over 1,200 exhibits and 25,000 attendees on average.  Also, the booth behind Riflecraft is LWRC, another good friend and partner of SEI.

Kevin Young Sends Pictures of His M14 EBR Crazy Horse Collection

Here are some more great pictures from TheH2OMan Kevin Young.  Notice the SEI Vortex and Wind Talker on these M14s Crazy Horse and EBR variants.  Check out TheH2OMan's Youtube Channel also.

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