By John Zent, Shooting Illustrated
Axelson Tactical, custom builder of a host of highly regarded, limited-edition firearms to honor fallen American military heroes, has produced one such series for 2016 that pays tribute to Navy SEAL Danny P. Dietz, Jr., who was killed in action on June 28, 2005, while fighting Taliban insurgents in Operation Red Wings. That battle and the men lost in it were immortalized in Marcus Luttrell’s book Lone Survivor and by the movie based on his story.
Axelson’s Dietz Tribute Rifle is a partial-replica M4, inspired by the carbine Dietz carried during his service in Afghanistan, but enhanced with some of the young SEAL’s own artwork. The upper and lower are Axelson forgings, along with the maker’s polished nickel-boron bolt carrier and Tactical Talon muzzle brake. Those base components are teamed with: B5 System SOPMOD butt stock; Bravo Company USA Gunfighter Mod 1 grip; Guntec USA M-Lok rail system; gas system and buffer from Bravo Company Manufacturing; ALG Defense Combat Trigger; Faxon Firearms QPQ 16-inch barrel; CMMG lower parts kit and Spike’s Tactical Flare launcher. An optional feature is a factory-installed Trijicon ACOG 4×32 sight.
The Dietz Special Purpose rifles have an authentic battlefield appearance thanks to the work ofNevada Cerakote that carefully styled the finish to match the worn condition of Dietz’s actual combat rifle. Additional markings come in the form of pictures drawn by Dietz including the bone frog with trident that is a traditional Navy SEAL’s icon.
Cindy Dietz, mother of the fallen hero, attended this year’s SHOT Show and NRA Annual Meetings to draw attention to this fitting tribute. The series is limited to 99 rifles available for sale, serial numbers Dietz01 to Dietz99. Proceeds from will go to help fund two groups, the Danny Dietz Memorial Fund and the Danny Dietz Leadership and Training Foundation. When Dietz10 was recently auctioned, it brought roughly twice the current list price of $3,595 forrifles on offer.
The family behind Axelson Tactical also lost a Navy SEAL son, Matt Axelson, in Operation Red Wings. As its guiding principle, Axelson Tactical contends, “… that in the toughest moments thoughts should not be on the gear you carry, it should be on the safety and well-being of those next to you.” The Axelson Tactical line spans a wide range of precision and tribute rifles and handguns plus parts, accessories and gear. For further details go to axelsontactical.com.
Veterans Family Of Brands
Axelson is also part of the Veterans Family of Brands (VFOB), founded by military veterans and Gold Star families to render assistance to wounded military personnel returning home. VFOB supports legitimate charity organizations and encourages like-minded businesses and individuals to join in this worthy mission. Additional member companies include Snake River Shooting Products (Team Never Quit Ammunition), Gnat Warfare, Reaper Outdoors, SEAL 1, Grunt Style, Triumph Target Systems and Sinterfire Ammunition. For details on individual memberships and an overview of VFOB, go to veteransfob.com.
WATCH:
——-
Thanks to the SI team for this post. Click here to visit ShootingIllustrated.com.
Click here to get SI’s free newsletter delivered to your inbox.