All posts in Tactical Gear

Dress Code when you’re packing

Gun beltsJust about everything in this industry revolves around the color black, whether it’s a Glock or an AR15, Flat Dark Earth gun accessories are second, but it’s gaining ground.   When it comes to clothing, Khaki is far  more popular than black because black colors make things look far more Law Enforcement or tactical ninja and it’s an image that doesn’t always fit the “casual” look.  Dealing with Uniform codes, each department has their standards that is usually at the discretion of the Police Chief, nylon gear tends to be for K9 Units or for Bikers, and plain leather or basketweave for the rest.  Sometimes the belt keeper button snaps are gold, silver, or high polish.

For your average CCW holder, the dress code rules are at your discretion but concealment is an art and not something you should cut too many corners.  Buying another gun is the conclusion some are going to have to come to because when we start showing various gun belts that we sell from The Wilderness belts to Desantis, Galco leather, Elite Survival Systems nylon Cobra Belt to a Safariland duty belts are pretty pricey and usually an overkill for CCW but Desantis leather has a very good reputation for being good looking, flexible and durable.   There were some issues with the Blackhawk plain belts “cracking” but they have a good Warranty so if that occurred when you purchased the belt, make sure you send it in.

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The Art of story telling in Action and Criminal Justice movie production

Tactical gear  We’ve been selling a lot of  tactical gear to production companies and probable get a phone call a couple times a month from wardrobe companies from Universal Studios and MGM but there are several Indie production companies that have come to the Philadelphia asking about technical support like how holsters are worn, Police Badges from City to City, and even an occasional foreign production company that is shooting locally. We pay a lot of attention to production, tactics and gear in movies. As someone who worked in the Music Industry for more than a decade, we saw bands like rock bands purchase their own studio equipment after proving to their record label, that they could produce their own music on their own recording budget . Moving from Analog to digital recording saved a ton of production money and after time, the bands learned to produce things on their own, sometimes they even went on to start their own labels.

It seems that movie production companies many times whore off some of their budgets as long as they get their money back and if not, contracts don’t get fulfilled or actors give up with butting heads and retire. Everyone knows about the bands that left the major labels in the music business and are much happier on their own, but it happens in the Movie industry as well. Many actors get tied to contracts in movies they don’t like and it’s now very common for actors to move on to producing, writing and directing because the ability to make movies has gotten easier and they can produce whatever they want . I’ve always paid attention to “Indie” bands and now with the way movies are ordered right off the TV, but depending on your tastes, not everything is going to be there. It’s always part of my night time venture to see if something new has come out. There are now all types of movies being released on Red Box, which is a movie rental kiosk that you probable see in certain stores.

Action Movies and Criminal Justice movie production aren’t all about big budgets and a bunch of fireworks to make it look cool. The same story is in just about every Love, Action or Drama, but to tell it well, you need good choreography , the costumer designers and Wardrobes have to be accurate, and the fight scenes can look dumb if directed by someone inexperienced with their firearms, firearm accessories or physical stances. I can’t stomach watching movies where the production allowed a S.W.A.T. Team movie through a building with their fingers on the trigger or some fast frame sequence made the actor look like he knows Karate. It looks like Steven Seagal is secure in his home in the direct to TV movies like True Justice – Dark Vengeance from Voltage Pictures. I have to admit I waited for anticipation to see when Elijah Kane ( Steven Seagal) would take someone down with his bare hands and got that artwork in the first 10 minutes of the movie. I can’ t tell you what Japanese Martial Arts he was deploying but when he had to pull his gun out mid-movie to shutdown a gun buy from a bunch of criminals, it was obvious he had his trigger off the trigger until his sights were on target.

In “Dark Justice” Kane’s department is on the hunt for a serial killer that is using date rape drugs to murder women, There’s plenty of eye candy in this film Seattle Police Officers Juliet (Meghan Ory) and Sarah Montgomery (Sarah Lind) (- both had parts in the TV Series “Smallville”) kept my attention from going from Cop to well… you’ll find out in the movie. Also, several well known actors like George Takei have parts in the movie. The story all has hints of Steven Seagal’s Asian Influences in Martial Arts as well as Mysticism , but I’d say they are subtle and not overbearing.  With over 50,000 fans on Facebook, which is huge in the marketing world, I’m sure there will be more to come. I thought Dark Vengeance  seemed a little rushed in the last 15 minutes of the movie and only picked up 1 part of the production that hinted at the movie budget, but not having to pay for over priced movie theatre tickets I actually and going to check out redbox movies more often. From what I’ve gathered this was completed several years ago and nobody knew if it was going to TV or being sold as a DVD. Entertaining? Yes.

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Tested gear in a breakable world

slingsTroy flash suppressorsTroy Charging HandlesI’ve already got enough experience in this industry to see reticles spin inside a scope tube, folding foregrips crack, firearms explode, magazines blow out and basic operator induced malfunctions.   I think it’s kind of funny that so many of the firearm training DVDs that I have watched about handguns and rifles seem redundant, but the truth of the matter is that Administrative Loading and Unloading can’t be taught enough.   I’ve out shot ARTroy Rail PanelsTroy Gas BlocksTroy Pistol GripsTroy ForegripTroy Trigger GuardTroy QD Sling attachmentTroy Stock attachment15s with Mini 14 because I know the ballistic capabilities and 5.56 bullet twist rate and the pros and cons of each caliber and firearm.   Firearms especially rifles are more like Golf Clubs.   You can’t use a putter to drive a ball accurate, a wedge isn’t good on the green and a wood isn’t good for putting.

Many firearms that people own don’t have a lot of rounds through them, probable because most gun owners are hunters that only bring their guns out a few times a year and might only check their zero and others are in the “plinking” category.  There are several really good brand names that we saw at Shot Show this year but Troy firearm accessories from pistol grips to slings, iron front sights and rear sights, gas block sights to their rail systems, are in high visibility.   There are a ton of grip accessories and plastic accessories at gun shows but name brands mean something.   Troy gun accessories and Magpul Industries have a large customer base for a reason.

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Reasons to keep your gear organized

Bulldog gun casesrifle caserange bagThere are a lot of reasons to consider putting the money down for a quality range bag because I’ve often see guys show up at gun ranges that didn’t have staples or forgot thumbtacks or tape for their targets.      One thing I always forget to bring with me is a dump pouch not just for collecting used magazines, but for keeping the brass I used so I can use it for reloading at a later time.  It’s always a liability to keep all of  your stuff of value in one place but it’s also an asset to know were it all is.  Nylon gear cay vary from quality to ingenuity from manufacturer to manufacturer but sometimes its best to look over all of what is available and pick what suits you.

If you wanted a shoulder holster that is made out of leather you’re going to be spending well over $100 and probable closer to $150 for a good one but nylon holsters are fast less expensive and depending on what type of gun you are carrying you might find you saved 50% off and got a good comfortable holster from Bulldog, Blackhawk or Elite Survival systems.    The Bulldog gun cases are reasonable priced and are a good option for pistol rugs, hunting rifles, shotguns ect.   The bulldog range bags are simple carry bags that can keep your ammo, range gear and magazines and sight in tools organized.

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New Patterns and the reality of camo

TruSpec MulticamThere are a ton of cool looking camo patterns out there that are fun to wear while playing airesoft or paintball and then there are camo patterns that are absolutely useless in the military and are going to put you in the crosshairs of an enemy sniper because you standout like a groundhog on a hill.   Digital pattern camo was cool when it first came out but it doesn’t work well.  The idea was theoretically good but didn’t work.   Multicam was a big step forward and what looks like the military is going to up in the air after some testing with CrTruSpec MulticamTruSpec Multicam combat shirtMulticam Assault suitye Precision’s MultiCam, it looks like budget cuts might hold that idea up.   My standards for what actually works in camo is from a bow hunters point of view. If the pattern makes you hard to spot in a tree stand it’s probable a good idea for the military.

There is a new Multicam black that has been hard to keep on the shelves because like the previous Multicam, it actually works well in many environments.   The majority of the multicam we are carrying is the TruSpec multicam which comes in various products from the 24/7  Series tactical pants for $64.95 to the once piece assault suit.   I personally find the Assault suit to be a very nice bow hunting option because it has knee pads and elbow pads built into it although I know it’s kind of pricey.   The new combat shirts should be in sometime in the next month with the multicam and multicam black.

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Tactical clothing fabrics

tactical pantsEveryone in this industry wants comfort and there is a difference between a Police Officers uniform comfort a Soldiers comfort and someone going to training on a firearm range.   I hear so many nightmare stories from our Law Enforcement about all the bad tailoring the get, they get measure so it will fit properly, and then when it’s on them, it’s not right.   We’ve noticed differences in fit, from tactical clothing company to tactical clothing company and it’s definitely there.   Comparing pants with elastic waistbands to tailored clothing is a bad idea.   One reason we have a fitting room is our customers have to decide for “themselves” of what is comfortable for them.   Once you get the proper fit, there is another area of comfort and that is with the fabrics.

It usually starts with a varying degree off cotton to give breath ability because it’s assumed in this world that you will be moving and sweating.  Most of  your perspiration is release from you upper body so tactical pants won’t have ventilation like shirts due but varying degrees of durability is what is offered.   100% cotton ripstop is probable the most comfortable, but the least durable, but hot environments you don’t want to sweat to death, but the nylon stand prevents tearing which actually what it was designed for in the Pacific theater in WWII.  Cotton canvas is durable but can absorb moisture,   Poly/cotton ripstop is a stiffer feel and Blackhawk, Tru-Spec and 5.11 have made a big foothold in the industry with this material.   Many Tru-Extreme or Combat Uniforms have poly/cotton or 50/50 Cordura.  Spandex and Lycra are two other materials you will find in these products as well as Vertx tactical pants to give the material some ability to stretch.

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Preparing for emergencies in different climate seasons

Wise Emergency Food StorageI think up here in the Northeast, most of the major power losses occur in the Summer when major thunderstorms roll through and trees come down and knock out power.   We get wacked with hurricanes every couple decades and most people up in my neck of the woods have stories about them.  This year was very different, we are dealing with one of the highest recorded amount of snow and several ice storms and never ending snow storms have piled up on power lines.   The idea of being without refrigeration like you have in the summer doesn’t matter when it’s 6 degrees fahrenheit and all you have to do is move your freezer outside, but there are problems that extreme cold temps can cause you when you loose power.

If you have a gas stove you will still need to melt snow or keep water from freezing if possible, but fruits and vegetables are going to go bad if they freeze.   Having an item like the Wise Food Storage in your emergency food storage supply is going to come handy in these situations.  We have several local emergency management departments buying the larger serving kits to drop off in neighborhoods when people loose power for more than a week.   Things people don’t realize until it happens so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on what happens around the Country from weather channel cable news and see how they dealt with it.    These are sometimes once or twice in a life time incidences but we got our warnings in 2014 to be prepared for the next round or the next year.

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Staying in action when things go wrong at the range

Smith Optics Elite eyewearThere are always things to prepare for and after my experience on firing ranges, I’ve seen things in recent years that never happened to me or anyone before.   People with more experience than me probable see this stuff every year but for me it’s once  in a 25yr cycle.    I have  had stovepipes, failures to feed, broken Mini 14 extractors, gas keys coming loose and people just stare at their guns and don’t have the slightest clue how to narrow down what is failing. In a real gun fight, that means if you don’t have a secondary firearm, you are out of the fight and your best thing to do is turn around and run.   I have broken shell extractors, extra gun lubrication and sight adjustment tools and stock wrenches with me every time I go to the range.   I usually end up helping someone else out with their “bad experience” but hope I’m just passing on the information so someone else can solve a problem quicker.

Has anyone ever gone to the range and had to call it a day because their extractor broke, shell got stuck, or even worse, the gun closed on a loaded round and you couldn’t open the action?   What about when you get a chip in your eyewear or some form of rock or lead flies up at you?  Quikclot combat gauze is on me at all times for the really bad, but I learned my lesson about reloading and buying cheap surplus ammo and my Smith Optics Elite eyewear Aegis kit with different lenses for different lighting situations are also on me.   The Aegis Echo, Aegis Compact and the standard kit as well as the Asian fit all have different frames but  you’ll probable have to stop in our store to try them on so  you know you have the proper design.

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You’ll never watch another action movie the same when…

There is a saying in the music industry that once you learn how a record is made, you’ll never listen to a CD, record or song on the radio the same way.   In the firearm industry, once you become an NRA Firearm Instructor, you’ll never watch an action movie the same way either.   We have several people in our customer base that travel around the world, Europe, Asia, North American ect,  as a consultant on how the military or Law Enforcement should have their duty gear on, what color lights the Polie use in different Countries and yes, even the sounds of the sirens.   If an action movie involved a Die Hard movie where the LAPD had Police sirens that sound like they were in Paris France, somebody will call it.   There are some pretty funny mistakes in some of these movies that you know the Directors didn’t know until it got out, check out “movie mistakes” and pick your Action Titles.

I’ve seen Police Chiefs on National stages make inaccurate statements about the firearm in their hands, like calling for a National ban on assault rifles like this AK47, meanwhile, they are holding an AR15.   In this industry you have to talk about what you know, and if you are wrong in your statements about tactical gear, especially on Blogs, Facebook or in a gun magazine, you’ll hear it.   Things have to seem real in a good action movie.  Ever see the 9mm gun brass on the ground during and after the Darth Vader entrance into Princess Leia’s ship?  What about all of the wrong caliber brass falling from Neo’s gun?   Now go find all the action movies where the SWAT Team all have their fingers on the trigger while they move in a stack.

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Changing parts instead of changing firearms to adapt to your personel preferences

Wilson Combat Parts9There are always going to be people with different hand sizes and different length of pull with rifles and handguns.   One of the smartest things gun makers have done is selling firearms with different back straps so customers can figure out which will work for them by just changing the issued back straps.    Smith & Wesson and Glock have all done this with the M&P and Gen 4 Glocks.    Certain issued firearms like  the Beretta 92FS and 1911 all have complaints from some people just because they don’t feel right or are too big.   Well, for all of the people I know that own 1911 handguns, from Les Bauer to Colt M1911A1’s, not a single person I know has the same grips or sights on theirs.

I have taken that step of customizing my 1911s to adapt to my tastes, but still keeping somewhat of a GI look to them.    Hogue finger groove grips and Wilson Combat Parts are a good way to get the gun the way you want it to be.  Learn the mechanics of the firearm and Wilson Combat parts like different weight recoil springs (depending on the 45acp bullets you want to shoot).   The Wilson extended slide release was a big deal to be as well as the extended base pads on my Wilson Combat Magazines.   There were changes I could make to my gun griping that made me more accurate with this platform.

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