All posts by Soda_Pop

What is the purpose of a Gun Holster?

Gun HolstersThe Mission Drives the gear, whether you know that phrase or not, you may want something that you can wear in the winter that easily accessible under a winter coat, but since you are planning for carrying in winter,  you need to have the appropriate holster, and if you don’t you’ll find out real fast when you can’t even get to your gun because your shirt is caught on it, came un-tucked  or you can sweep your clothing out of the way and grip your firearm.   The problem we deal with constantly, is that nobody really knows just by looking at a holster on how deep it will go IWB and this is all about body type and firearm preference.   One of the main reasons we like to push the Galco Kingtuk holsters on people is there really is a lot of versatility to that design if you are mentally willing to adapt to it.   It’s kind of a Crossbreed holster knock off, but we’ve done well with them and the only complaints are from people that think it’s too big.   Well, how many people think their car seat belt is too big?  You have to adjust it and all of the adjustments are up to you to fit it to your body when you sit down.

Something like the Galco Kingtuk, Desantis Scorpion and even the CrossBreed holsters have screws that can raise and lower the depth of the gun in the holster and there are always going to be levels of adjustment and adaptation.   So many firearms are getting smaller and more durable and recently the Smith & Wesson Shield has become the number one firearm that everyone is asking for Gun Holsters.   Everyone once in awhile I force myself to go to various firearm events, gun rentals and ask my friends to bring something with them whenever we have a group shoot, and that’s how I try to stay up with what might be catching on in the industry.   So much of the industry is geared towards Zombie Apocalypse and Competition  shooting and there are plenty of guns that just don’t do well and the holster options that are available will show it.   If it’s a popular gun, you’ll find a good gun holster if you search properly, if it’s not, better get a good gun rack in your gun safe to hang it on.

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5.11 Tactical backpacks and Go Bags

http://www.rogueelite.net/5_11_bags_s/532.htmI’ve recently had to jump back in the Laptop world and move away from just using a phone because I find even the modern technology to not as easy and fast to type on when it’s too small.  It all depends on what you have to do, but I know there are plenty of people using keyboard fire controls because you do want to be able to type with both hands and not do the one finger dance.  The Mission Drives the gear, and it’s why so many of us have multiple firearms that we carry or multiple back packs and molle gear.   There are always unknowns in this industry, breaking points, versatility and comfort.   You always need to see what people are using around you and the proper way to mount, tolerances and application.  You can buy a really nice tactical bag and load it up with what you want in it, an as soons as you through it on your back, you’ll wish you had a backpack with a belt attached to it to keep it from wacking you while you walk.  Did you know that was going to happen when you purchased it empty on the store wall?

Stitching is always a debate when it comes to what brand of backpack  you are going to buy because not all nylon gear is the same quality and not every one stitches the same way.   You will find out about the short cuts some companies make and the loading tolerances of each pouch that was attached to the bag.  We have gotten good reports on most of the 5.11 backpacks and that’s why we sell them.   Lots of Paramedics are using the Rush 24 and Rush 72 and often want to see both side by side.   There are now Multicam and varying degrees of Gray tactical bags.   Think about what you “may” want to attach to the bag before you buy it and check with someone that already owns one and see what it feels like, where they place things and how you might get what you need out of it.

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Elite Survival Systems gun cases, travelling and profile

Elite Survival Gun CaseMany years ago there was a gun show in Pennsylvania where a whole bunch of firearms were stolen from a vendor that left the show, and stopped to get something to eat at a restaurant or diner and while he ate, all of his firearms were stolen from his vehicle.    In this situation it was a large number of firearms including Class III.   What a total nightmare, but anyone that parks a vehicle that has anything resembling a firearm where only a window is stopping them from grabbing it is asking for trouble.   Most people transport firearms in gun cases and a few times I’ve seen people transport them in a blanket because they didn’t have a gun case, but the best thing to do is get an appropriate gun case, gun sock, and for everyone sake, keep it out of visibility.  If you are a gun owner, whenever you look to buy a new car, make sure you get your windows tinted because that can make a big difference.

What are some options for carrying a low profile gun case? Sure tennis rackets and baseball gear gets stolen, computers lap tops, cell phone chargers ect, but if someone doesn’t know what you are transporting to and from your car, it’s just a bag.    Elite Survival Gun Cases are highly recommended by our staff and purchased by gun owners, both Law Enforcement and Private Citizens for similar reasons.    We had a customer walk  into our store about a year ago because his neighbors teenagers got caught selling drugs and he didn’t want anyone knowing what he was doing when he was going out on a Saturday afternoon to his gun club.   The same goes for pistol cases like the 4 Gun pistol pack that looks nothing more than a black back, but has room for 4 handguns, magazines and whatever else that floats your boat.

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Magpul Slings and all those rail attachments and push buttons and claws

Magpul SlingsIf it has a screw on it, it can come loose.   That’s why you see a lot more of the quick detail mounts on optics rather than screw on.   Loctite everything that has a screw and make sure you don’t over torque anything.    I personally mark all of the screw points with a blue marking pen so I can visually see what might be coming loose because I’ve had thousands of rounds through some of my carbines and after almost 10yrs of owning them, even though they have been very reliable, every tool has it’s failing point, and every mechanical part will wear out at some point.   Guns jam and things break in this industry and there are horror stories out there where Law Enforcement and Military deaths occurred while there jammed or broken firearms were discovered next to them.  In Vietnam there were serious issues with the M16 when it was first issue and the ammunition was the primary problem, do you really want to keep the cheap stuff around and think just because your Carbine runs with cheap ammo that your life should depend on it?

Properly mounting optics, flashlights and having extra batteries available are added insurance but don’t forget to check to make sure your stock is securely tightened down and if you are attaching sling attachements, make sure you are keeping an eye on them.   We try to keep the Magpul Slings in stock because it’s yet another one of those things that you need to know what you are buying and know how to attach it to your AR15 carbine before you go home and find out that you have the wrong sling attachments or it just doesn’t fit you right.   I lean heavily toward the Magpul MS3 and the Magpul MS4 due to the fact that the MS3 is a much better design over the previous MS2 which the MS2 Sling had material that frayed and the clamp wasn’t as sturdy.   Many of the stocks and quad rails we see now have QD attachment points so you don’t have to go out and buy another screw on device just to keep the sling where you want it and then have to wonder what that failing point is.  All these accessories that go on your firearm can be an asset but everyone of them needs to be put on right.

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Shirt Options, CCW, Law Enforcement and Uniform,Tru-Spec Shirts

TruSpec 1/4 Zip Combat ShirtsTruSpec ShirtsNot everyone gets into the tactical shirt wardrobe like I do, but usually at Law Enforcement Events or Conventions I dig a little deeper into what I don’t normally wear.   I have so many brands of clothing but as things wear out, I am very picky about what I replace them with.   It seems most of our EMS and Law Enforcement want something a little stiffer which is why so much of this industry is of a polyester cotton ripstop of various weights.   If you go for a 100% cotton shirt, get use to ironing your clothing, and the last thing most of our customers want to deal with is ironing so we cut a lot of those types of products out of our inventory.  I will tell you that since most of this market is going to be wanting lightweight, you definitely should consider checking out the Ultra Lightweight Field shirts and if you need a uniform looking shirt the Ultra Lightweight Uniform Shirts which are available in Black, Brown, Navy, OD Green and Khaki colors.

Airsoft is an exploding industry and even though I haven’t quite caught on to it, I see it trickling into the Law Enforcement Community even though you might be as likely to see a kid show  up in our store looking for Multicam Black Combat Shirts or the coming soon, TruSpec Shirts in A-Tacs patterns.  The TruSpec Camp Shirt is probable one of the better CCW Shirts because as a lightweight Summer carry shirt that is cut long and a little loose you might like this shirt just as a dress shirt and not piss off your wife for buying more G.I. Joe looking clothing.    Even though it’s a little early for cold weather clothing, it is just around the corner and the Tru-Spec Winter Combat shirts will be in stock in full force, especially after we had a shortage of Winter weight shirts after last years Artic Weather.   There are a ton of local Police Departments wearing this during training here in the Tri-State area and we expect to have a good selection here in October.   The Performance Polos have gotten very good reviews and even though they may be too lightweight for winter, throw a long sleeve one in just to get through a little more of the year.

 

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No disgrace in being a bench rest shooter

gun restsI remember some punk years ago that went off on me when I was shooting  my Mini 14 off a bench rest and how my gun was a piece of crap and that I had to learn how to properly use a sling.   Well, back then I took it because I always had the “student” mindset and not a “know it all” like some people in this Industry.   One of the best things taught to me was when someone told me that the best way to win a fight in combat is to be in a “good firing position”.    There are plenty of War stories where one guy had the upper hand, just because he was in the best position to lay down accurate gun fire.   Sure we need to train to shoot under stress and sometimes that means kneeling, standing or being prone, but using your backpack, bipod or anything else is no disgrace.

Reloading is a great way to learn ballistics and fine tune rounds to your firearm, you can see key holing and limits in what your barrel twist rate, and sometimes at different ranges.   The differences between penetration, fragmentation,  accuracy at different ranges all with the same firearm.   Shooting off the bench is more challenging but when you are trying to get accuracy, why make it more difficult.   You can always make your own bench rest from sandbags or pick up gun rests that are adjustable in elevation that make a differences as well as other options that can adjust to the stock size so you have virtually zero movement and only have to worry about properly squeezing the trigger.   Patience, not heating up the barrel, and watching the wind are sometimes as much fun as shooting an MP5 at water jugs.

 

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Knife Sharpeners, Utility Knives, Warranties, and will you cry if you lose it?

Knife SharpenersKnives and flashlights are kind of in the same group when it comes to accessories.    Most people in this industry are carrying one or both of them almost all the time but depending on the job you are on, there is always a chance you are going to loose it.    Sometimes these are consider expendable and other people spending money for pouches or holders so they reduce the chances anything will be taken off of them.   Just clipping a knife to your back pocket doesn’t mean a fall down the stairs, or getting in and out of your car is going to keep it in place.   I’ve seen enough people walk in our door several days after purchasing a knife only to come back in and buy it again because they lost it.   If you take care of your stuff, and spend the money for a good knife, you are going to want to brush up on all of the knife sharpening optics especially if you have a serrated or partially serrated knife.   It can be difficult to keep that part sharp and if you have to cut through something, it makes it a lot easier to do.

I have done Filet knives, steak knives and plenty of tactical and utility knives with the Gatco 5 Stone Knife Sharpeners.   We always try to keep them in stock and have one at the counter to show some of the various features, and also how easy it is to use these.    Most people don’t pay attention to warranties in this industry and from a retail standpoint, it’s nice to be able to point people to the manufacturers website if there is a problem.    SOG Knives and Leatherman have great Warranties and always keep that in mind if you need to replace a multi-tool blade or device.  We always looking for new stuff to carry especially in the rescue and multi-tool so if you don’t see it on our website, let us know what you are looking for.

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New Leatherman Multitools inbound

Leatherman Multi-ToolsWe’ve been carrying various Leatherman Multi-tools and recently decided to expand upon it.   One of the most asked about mulitools this year has been the Leatherman Raptor.   We have a lot of construction workers and contractors stopping in our Tactical Store even though they aren’t Military or Law Enforcement, but we have very larger and growing number of First Responders that work for Medical Transport and Ambulances.  It’s rare that we have something really new to market in that industry and usually it’s a  lot of EMS pants and and Rush 12, Rush 24 and Rush 72 5.11 Tactical bags.   At first some of these tools can be pricey and others are really not that expensive at all, the Leatherman MUT is probable the most expensive tool we sell but if you have an AR15 or a M16 it can be quite handy.  The only thing I don’t like about the MUT is that it doesn’t have any kind of broken shell extractor, if it did, I’d say it was perfect.

There are always features with each device that make or break it for a inquiring customer, do you need a screw driver? Knife?  A file?  Leatherman Multi-Tools has a really good feature guide and it’ll take awhile for us to have that level of navigation, but we will be stocking a lot of these in our Store as well as selling them online.   The Leatherman Raptor is the most asked about tool and quite honestly it’s starting to look like its becoming part of a uniform in our area.   It is one of those things that you might want to hold in your hand before you buy but even if you are not working in the Medical or EMS industry, consider having something like this in your first aid kit, for around $60.

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Reticles it’s not always how you think it works, Trijicon RMR Options and circles, triangles and dots

Trijicon RMR Sights

I have noticed a trend towards the triangle reticles since some red dots can look real fuzzy and one thing that Trijicon Red Dots don’t have are blur.  Clarity is something that Trijicon can alway praised about.   Horeshoe reticles give you the ability to see through your aiming point and hold a target within the reticle as opposed to putting the red dot or crosshairs on the target.  Sometimes this is a faster way of engaging a target and it was probable some of the Elcan optics that I shot with that I originally started seeing “hollow” reticles.   If you have a triangle reticle like the Trijicon RMR08G, you can still have pin point precision by using the top of the triangle for your zero and holding the triangle over center mass.  It pays to look through optics to see what you feel comfortable with, one down side to the ACOG models are the eye relief but the larger TA11’s tend to much more friendly.  Either way, you might have to learn to adapt to the optic if  you have a certain expectation from it.

I am often learning how to use various optics because every manufacturer designs an optic a certain way, but so many people don’t read the manual or know the specs.   Some of the Trijicon ACOGS are designed for 55gr flying out of a 20inch barrel, some people won’t know the difference but anyone shooting steel plates at a distance are going to notice it.   The Trijicon TA01NSN is meant for an M4 with a 14.5 inch barrel with the 62gr SCBT round.   There are always variations with those bullet velocity due to the quality of the manufacturer but if you shoot something like M193 or American Eagle 55gr you’ll do well with what your ACOG was traditionally designed for.   If you know what your bullet is going to do at a certain distance you can always learn holder overs, but being able to do range estimations and fast shots isn’t going to be easy unless it’s designed into your reticle.   Just like some people start off with a zero magnification optic like Aimponts and Eotechs, you can buy an ACOG and get the mount for an RMR at a later time.  Like always, Trijicon RMR sights will cost you the same as most optics, but I can’t think of anyone that comes close with this dual platform.

 

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Eotech Sights and Eotech Magnifiers you are paying for 2 optics

Eotech SightsWe see a lot of cringing when people ask us about the cost of the Eotech Magnifiers because it’s sometimes more or as much as what the Eotech sight cost in the first place.   At some point there will be a combat optic that you can go from zero magnification to 50X at the flip of a switch, but right now there isn’t anything like that on the market.   Zero Magnification tends to be more practical for most situations because magnification will slow you down in target acquisition at close ranges although there is a certain amount of training you can do to offset that a little but it’s not going to be the same.   I would suggest that, especially if you are right handed and putting your Eotech sight on an AR15, that you get an Eotech model with the buttons on the left side, ergonomically this is going  to be easier to adjust with your left hand no matter what, and if you decide to put a magnifier on it later, you’ll be much happier.

Clarity is going to be very important when looking for a magnifier, I haven’t tested out the Mako Magnifiers but I hear about them a lot, there are optics out there like some Sightmark optics, but in all honesty, I am not the type of person to constantly look for the less expensive optics and hope it’s going to hold up.   My best frame of reference is what Police Departments and Military Personnel are using.   Durability means more to mean then just holding zero because all devices have their breaking point and the difference between someone that is using it on an airsoft gun, might put 500rds through and AR15 and someone that is taking a Carbine Course where he needs to bring 1000rds of 5.56 and 400rds of 9mm is the difference between making it through a Carbine Course without any failures and someone that will be the laughing stock in his class.   As much as I love my Mini 14 Carbines, when put through the rate of fire that an AR15 can handle, the Mini 14 just won’t cut it.   $400 for a good optic, Aimpoint, Eotech Sights, Meprolight M21, and possible a used Trijicon Reflex Sight are my personnel starting point, when shopping for a magnifier, don’t buy a cheap one.

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