FOCUS Entry & Breaching Tools I Broco Breaching Tools
T BROCO MAKES MECHANICAL BREACHING TOOLS LIKE THE UNIVERSAL BREACHING TOOL, JIMMY TACTICAL PRY BAR, ENFORCER DOOR RAM, AND BABY ENFORCER. ALL ARE PURPOSE-BUILT WITH INPUT FROM TACTICAL OFFICERS.
S THE UNIVERSAL BREACHING TOOL USES A SLEDGE HAMMER HEAD WITH AN INTEGRATED PRY TOOL INSERT. EVERYTHING WORKS BETTER WITH A D-SHAPE HANDLE. THIS TOOL OPENS CLASS 1 RESIDENTIAL DOORS.
T e fi rst thing that was apparent was this is not an ‘armstrong tool’ when used as a ram. Like any smaller, lightweight ram, proper technique is mandatory for a positive breach. Legs, hips and core are incorporated to gain the energy needed. T e D-shape, shovel handle signifi cantly assists in driving the tool forward. With the training door set to replicate a Class 1 residential door, there was no problem making entry, usually with one or two hits. T e tool head is a modifi ed sledge hammer. A slot is milled into one side where a pry tool insert is pinned into place. T e insert is well- designed. T e angle slopes away from the door stop as it is being driven in. T is helps create a fulcrum and aids in preventing the tool tip from pen- etrating the door stop. T at means you are not prying the door and the trim. By building the pry tool into the sledge hammer portion, one side is free to use for striking. One tool can be used to set another when prying. T is tool is sturdy. T e tool head is machined from AR500 steel. A 1-inch diameter steel shaft is inserted to reinforce the handle, which is made from thick wall steel tubing. T is 6-inch insert aids with momen- tum at the tool head to add a mechanical advantage. A version with a longer shaft and minus the D-handle is available to the military. As a break and rake tool, there is little doubt about the functionality. With most short-handle window breaches, there is a concern about injury to the forward arm. We have seen operators get their lead arm too far forward on full-size tools and get cut from the broken glass.
ENFORCER DOOR RAM T e Broco Enforcer-series of door ram are available in two versions. T e Baby is a 16-inch-long, 25-pound ram. T ere is always room in the trunk for the Baby. T e Enforcer is 25 inches long and weighs 38 pounds. Each works well and each is surprisingly effi cient for the compact size. It is interesting to see fi rst-time users pick up the ram expecting something much lighter. More than once, they have come close to dropping the tool from the unexpected weight.
With all short nose rams [the distance from the tool’s striking face to the forward hand grip], there is a possibility to injure the lead hand. Proper use dictates driving the ram stopping point at least 6 inches past the door. When standing on the lock side of the door, this put the front hand danger close to the door jamb and stops. Remember, push doors are recessed in the frame. To resolve this issue with all short rams, the Enforcer has a cleverly designed knuckle guard to help prevent injuries. While not 100 percent in all scenarios, the guard works well for the size. In most applications, the breacher will have to be in front of the door for positive results. Another key feature is the forward grip rotates as the ram is swung to provide better range of motion. T e rear handle is angled backward to allow the breacher to drive the tool. Its opening is wide enough to allow a ‘reach through’ handle to allow it to be carried on one arm. T e Enforcer defi nitely has a weigh-forward design, which helps maximize the impact force from the shoulders and hips. T e Enforcer has a chrome carbide hard-faced impact edge.
In the tactical arena, an open-minded, ‘thinking outside the box’ at- titude can provide solutions to unconventional circumstances. A variety of breaching options in a layered approach is a progressive, asymmetric practice that yields exponential results. T ese Broco tools are solid steps in that layered approach.
Ron Yanor is retired after a 25-year law enforcement career. He spent 19 years on a 22-operator multi-directional tactical unit, with nine years as the training and intel offi cer. Since 1999, he has been a contract trainer and currently operates Adamax Tactical Academy in Illinois. He is also on the staff of Tactical Energetic Entry Systems.
S THE BROCO UNIVERSAL BREACHING TOOL IS A COMBINATION DOOR RAM, PRY TOOL, SLEDGE HAMMER, AND BREAK & RAKE TOOL. IT COULD BE THE ELUSIVE “ONE TOOL DOES IT ALL.”
28 Tactical Response Fall 2015
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