Increase reliability of the old dog

Wilson Combat MagazinesWe’ve all  heard about how the 1911 isn’t as reliable as a Glock, but firearm reliability has increased for just about every semi-auto that is in production these days.    Guns that were made 50-80yrs ago are manufactured better, magazines have become more reliable and ammunition is far more reliable now than it was even 30yrs ago.    When using a semi-auto, we have to think about the purpose for it and what we think we need in a certain situation.   I love the people that think they are going to fight off 50 bad guys with there Glock, but the reality is that if you think you are going into that bad of a situation, bring a rifle.

I consider myself a 1911 enthusiast, but I’d take an M4 over any handgun, any day.   A 5 shot snub nose is good enough for most white colar environments, but if you think you can carry a full size auto, 7 or 8 shots of 45acp is plenty.   1911s are not out dated, but they are also not modern weapons and are being beat out by some of the firearms coming out now, so is the DI M16 by the way.   If you own or know anyone that owns a 1911, you absolutely will increase the reliability of the gun by using Wilson Combat magazines.

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Serving a purpose

Vickers GlovesReasons for wearing gloves are as numerous as reasons people wear a shirt, pants, vests or jacket.   We have jeans and sneakers for one situation and a suit and tie for others.    A citizen carrying a gun won’t want to look like a Cop and everyone knows that Police wear uniforms most of the time.   Gloves can be used to keep hands warm in the Fall, and other gloves are heavier for Winter weather.   Tactical gloves can mean fingerless gloves, but fingerless gloves might be hunting gloves.

Well here’s one more stick in the fire.   What kind of glove do you need to be able to load bullets in a magazine and still be able to pick up a quarter, open doors and not get your finger caught in the trigger guard on your AR15? How many of your regular hunting gloves or winter gloves will hold up?  Larry Vickers Gloves are known in the firearm industry and the new Duty gloves are not as long as the Vickers Mid-length gloves, but they have the same durability and feel.    I think it takes some time to get use to wearing gloves while operating a firearm, but for $30 these are a great option to have in your range bag or tactical vest.

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Fit and manueverability

Tactical PantsEotac has several pants styles that may look like 5.11 knock offs or something that you thought you saw coming from Woolrich Elite a few years ago, but the reality is you will feel the difference in manueverability and flexability when you’re wearing them.   We had a few customers say they preferred a competitors pants since they had more room in them for sitting and kneeling, but the reality is Eotac Pants were stitched and designed so the pants move with the body and they were designed for operators that are getting off the ground and working from standing, kneeling and squatting.  Think about all of the firing positions an operator with a Carbine can get in, now try doing that with Levi’s jeans, 5.11 pants, Woolrich Elite and then try it with the Eotac Pants and get back to us.

We’ve been able to watch the tactical clothing market grow over the last decade and we’ve seen big companies go from owning the business to dealing with real competition.   Due to the nature of the War on Terror, there is demand for clothing that is not BDU looking but has lots of uses for military and combat purposes.   Tactical Pants aren’t just about what they can hold.   Everyone has a different idea of what they need for their job, but putting tons of gear in your pockets can be done with a pair of pants that just has big pockets.

 

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Mounts and durability

Scope MountsAdding the extra security may mean that your scope won’t come loose after a few thousand rounds.  I’ve seen guys with battle rifles with $1000 optics on them and after a few thousand rounds, the mounts came loose.  None of these individuals were using loctite.   Over torquing screws is something to be concerned about because screwing a mount in as tight as you possible can does not mean more security, it actually means more stress.   Loctite doesn’t add stress to your gun mount it just helps keep the grip on your screws so they don’t rotate after long firing periods.

There is much debate about which scope mounts are the most durable.   Some scope mounts are stronger than other just based on the quality of the metal, but the reality is that all scew on mounts can come loose over time.   One of the secrets that experienced shooters need to pass on is the use of loctite.   If you are going to be using a scope for serious shooting or putting an accessory in a firearm, you should seriously consider using loctite.

 

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How much further can you really see?

Spotting ScopesI’ve seen so many people on firing lines with spotting scopes complain about the optics they have and what they should have gotten or what they wish they knew before getting a scope.   Sometimes people have this idea that having an optics magnify 45x will make things easier to see at great distances and any experienced observer know that isn’t true.  Magnification can become void due to heat and mirage and even zero magnification can cause you to have trouble hitting an object at certain distances.
Expecting to see 22 Caliber holds at 600yds is a hard feat

One thing you may want to consider if you are expecting to use a spotting scope for long ranges is a different type of target other than paper.  Shoot N C targets can help improve your visibility and avoid any frustrations in trying to pin point your point of impact on paper.  They aren’t re-useable so you’ll have to expect to spend more money on them, but they work.  Spottings scopes are as good as the money you pay for them, but make sure you know what you can realistically do with them before you select one.

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Keeping sidearms clear of your Carbine

Blackhawk HolstersThere seems to be a big transition in the Law Enforcement community to leg holsters.   Its kind of funny how the old western look disappeared for a few decades but now it’s back again.  If we all road around on horses we’d probable agree that carrying a sidearm on a leg holster is appropriate and its not just for the cool Han Solo look.

Blackhawk Holsters are one of my favorite options, Primarily the Serpa holsters.  The Omega is a less expensive and more versatile when it comes to using different guns, but if you already have a favorite, you’ll want to stick with a holster that works for just that gun.   Whenever you are carrying a Carbine, and you are carrying a sidearm, carrying it in any position other than a leg holster can be a liability, especially when a sling is being used.   I’ve seen many novice operators show up on a training day and end up tangling their slings with a paddle holster or OWB holster.   The Blackhawk Tactical holsters will lock your gun in place and be below the waiste to give you more manueverability.

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Just like new

Glock BarrelsThere are a lot of Police trade ins and used firearms out there that can be purchased and 30%-40% below what NEW prices are.   There are a few online FFL dealers that pick up the police issued Glocks and Sigs and resell them for under $400.     I picked up a few that had a lot of holster wear but once I opened the action, they were hardly fired and they ran flawlessy.   Most of the time this is the type of condition most Police trade ins are found.
Some firearms may have actually been shot a lot, but if you think the accuracy in your Glock is starting to deteriorate, if you got it at a good price in the first place, replacing the barrel is easy and not a headache.  Most of the type a barrel will just drop right in.    Glock Barrels can be found for under $200 and will last longer than most shooters will ever know.

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Getting out this Spring

Gun ClubsSometimes knowing what you’re load is isn’t enough to get you on paper and 600-1000yds.   Paying attention to crosswinds and terrain will give you that extra improvement to avoid misses.   Its not about just bullet drop at those distances, knowing when to pull the trigger and paying attention to your target is what makes you an expert.

 

Spring is just around the corner and after a long winter like this one, I know you’ve probable been itching to get out to a gun clubs and test out some of the loads you’ve been working on while stuck in your home.   A few months ago I was lucky enough to get out to a 1000yd range here in Ohio and get expert advice on long distance shooting.   Sometimes you learn quicker when in the company of the experts instead of just trial and error on your own.

 

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What price to protect your guns?

Gun CasesDo you own a rifle that could use a nice scratch up the barrel?  Well, I thought so, so why do people not think about buying a rifle case for every gun they own?   One thing I’ve found is it’s really a good idea to buy atleast, one soft case for each semi-auto you own and then put a tag or label on it so you know that gun will fit in it.   How many times have you gone to the range and had to figure out which rifle goes where?

Some rifles like lever action and shotguns may only need a gun sock for transportation and even a less than $10 sock can help protect against scratches.   Rifles with optics are another can of worms.  Not only do you need to worry about how long the barrel is and if it will fit in the case, but you have to consider that optics will widen the dimensions of the space you need and zipping up a gun case too tight is either going to cut your fingers or eventually break.   Make sure you put some thought into why you are buying a gun cases for your guns and make sure the gun is going to fit properly.

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Top Tier Rifle Optics

Nikon Rifle ScopesAnother thing to think about whenever looking for a good optic is clarity.  Some people seem to think that high magnification is  better for long distances, but it’s not true.   There is something to be said for too high of magnification and even on dark rainy days, you may notice the difference between a cheap scopes ability to see in low light in comparison to higher end scopes.   A good 3-9×40 scope can be better than a cheap 6.5-20×40 in low light.

In my many years of being on the firing line, one of the top tier rifle optics I see at the long distance ranges are Nikon Rifle scopes.  Nikon has had a tried and tested line of optics that can be used for long distance accuracy, clarity and adjustability.  Nikon rifle optics are reliable tools that I have first hand witnessed tack drive whenever the operator was up to it.   Rifle scopes need to be clear and reliable when shooting long distances.   The ability to hold zero becomes obvious when shooting beyond 100yds because those flingers at 100yds will be misses at 600yds if you don’t have a good scope.

 

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