Some feedback about Tru-Spec shirts compared to others

truspec shirtsWe’ve had the Tru-Spec product line in our store for a little over a year and  a half and when we bring new things in, we usually let customer tell us what they like and if it’s a good product.  Part of being a good seller of tactical clothing is listing to what your customers are asking for  or complaining about and giving them a good product or products to choose from.  This year we tested the waters and we sold  out certain products and brought in new ones based on feedback.   There still is a great unknown what is going on with the Woolrich Elite customer base we have had for almost 8yrs because it looks like they are not making the product anymore.  There shirts are still well made but you have to alter things based on what your customers ask for.

When it comes to durability and fit, I’d say that after about a year of use my Tru-Spec shirts started to fall apart but I sure got my monies worth.  The major selling point we have with the Tru-Spec shirts we have are they are close to $10-$15 less than their 5.11 tactical comparisons.  Since so many of our customers shop at our store based on their yearly clothing allowances, Tru-Spec products are even more popular.  As a dealer it’s nice to have stuff here that is less money and less dollar amounts of inventory.

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Blackhawk Serpa’s, Glocks and training…

If I think about the handguns I own, the last handgun I have picked up in recent years was a Glock 19.  From my experience with firearms, it’s mostly about preference because so many handguns are far more reliable than they were 20yrs ago.  Lubricants like Slip 2000 and M-Pro7 have gone a long ways form where CLP started from and that was enough to get a firearm to last several hundred if not thousands of rounds longer.  When people get into these debates about handguns and how many rounds they will shoot before jamming up, you really have to be realistic, nobody carries hundreds of rounds of handgun ammunition around with them even in combat.  It’s mostly officers that have sidearms and the  majority will have an M16 with them.

Glocks will run longer but there is also something to be said about a device being easy to use and user friendly.   Thumb breaks have been around for a long time but there is something to be said for Blackhawk Serpa holsters  since they seem to be a perfect match.   I have never had fit issues with the Serpa unlike what I have had with some of my older model Fobus holsters.    It is easy to train someone who has their basic firearm safety down, to use the Blackhawk Serpa retention holster.   We are a stocking dealer and have most of the Glock holsters for left hand and right handed gun owners.

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What does Tru-Spec have in store for us in 2013 regarding their tactical pants?

tactical pants We just watched a video about the new stuff coming from Tru-Spec and it was music to our ears to here that what they were primarily going to do is put a less expensive pant on the market.  Who has done something like that in the last 10yrs?  Not a single company that we can think of.  Years ago 5.11 pants were about $30-$40 and when Woolrich Elite Series hit the market they were the first tactical pant we sold that was almost $50 a pair.  You do get what you pay for but now that we see that so many tactical clothing companies have overdone their designs, there is something to be said for simplicity and quality.

We like the Tru-Spec tactical pants and especially the new Gunny boot cut pant, but were looking forward to the new pants that will be well received with our Law Enforcement departments that are always on a budget.   We have not seen these new Tactical Pants yet but I expect our sales rep will be out with them shortly.  The major selling point of the Tru-Spec product line is that it is the best priced tactical product line in comparison to Vertx and 5.11 tactical.  We’ve picked up a lot of customers in the EMS world from 5.11 just based on price points.

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Wilson Combat Magazines vs everyone else

I’ve mentioned many times in my blog posts that my first handgun was actually a Colt 1991A1 and I got a screaming hot deal on it.  $375 out the door for as far as I know an unfired firearm that was brand spanking new.   My first experiences with it were like many, it did not run out of the  box and I had to do some minor tweaks to my approach for carrying this firearm, what type of ammunition to use and what type of magazines.  I only had 1 magazine with it when I got it and it did not last more than a couple reloads before the magazine lips started to bend and the gun would close on an empty chamber, the problem was that I was using USGI magazines that are in all practicality, throw away magazines.

There are many new fancy 1911s out there Kimber is what I consider fancy as well as Les Bauer.  I have seen plenty of feeding problems for people that did not use Wilson Combat Magazines and eventually they figure it out and go to an online discussion forum and find out what works best. We recently noticed that some companies have upgraded their standard magazine capacities have learned the technology to do that, I have not found any truth that the Wilson Combat 8rd magazines were less reliable than the 7rd magazines.  I think an 8rd 45acp is the best option since 10+ rounds of 45acp tends to make the guns too heavy.

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Gun cleaning tools, how many do you need?

There are always arguments that can be made about hypothetical things, but one thing we do not believe is that gun cleaning should take you a long time.   We have had numerous discussions about gun cleaning supplies with our team of firearm instructors and one thing they commonly tell us is that gun cleaning can be over done.   The same people that are afraid to go to a firing line during a little drizzling rain and get a combat firearm wet are usually the same people that think they need to clean a gun until they get a perfectly clean white patch.   The truth is this, you can over due firearm cleaning and damage a gun if you don’t use your gun cleaning supplies correctly.

Cleaning rods can damage chambers and wear out barrels, but we’ve never heard of anyone doing this with a bore snake.  Sometimes cleaning rods are necessary, but the Hoppes Boresnakes that I personally  use always get used on  my AR15 rifles and my FAL rifles.   Firearms like the Mini 14 really don’t have any other options that I can think of that are better than a boresnake basically because the M1 Garand style of rifle is difficult to clean from the chamber and you can mess up your bolt carrier if you are ramming a rod through the rong way.   For pretty much $15-$20 you can get a caliber specific gun cleaning device for your firearm that don’t call for brushes and cleaning patches.

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Solar Power Optics are here

We have seen fiber optic cables for years, Tritium and illuminated reticles now for several years.   There are always pros and cons about which is better, Aimpoint, Eotech or Trijicon, but the reality about all of these optics is that they will all change once battery or solar technology improves.   The most advanced optic we have seen so far is the Trijicon SRS sights because it has a solar cell as well as battery power and will give you 2-5years of illumination depending on how much sun you are working in.   For anyone working over seas, having an optic like a battery powered Eotech can make it a high maintenance thing to worry about how many batteries you have left.

We have seen great advancements with Surefire and Streamlight flashlights this year and the breakthrough rechargeable batteries will be right around the corner.  We are  hoping to see the Trijicon reflex sights for sale, expand upon this solar technology and possible bring in some more reticle options.  We have a very large body of customers that still prefer the Eotech reticles but the TA26 sights have gained interest.   Trijicon optics are on the high end but the Warranty and durability of the optics are hard to compete against.  Is there really much competition?

 

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New Products from Smith Optics Elite

It looks like we have a good review of the new  Smith Optics Elite eyewear that was on display at Shot Show this year.   Last year the Boogie regulators were the big hit but we kind of fell a sleep at the wheel on some of the other Smith Optics Elite eyewear.   The Aegis Echo is something we forgot to list on our website and now that so many of our customers have asked us why we have not been carrying them, we brought them in late January 2013.  The Aegis Echo is something that anyone with hearing protection or helmets might prefer due to the fact that it does not bend around your ears and press against your head.

Comfort is with eyewear is something anyone in the Military or SWAT Team is going to know about.  There are so many styles of frames from Smith Optics Elite protective sunglasses that  you really need to try them on and see how they feel because your eye and comfort tolerances will vary depending  on what  you are doing.  Some of the ballistic eyewear, like the goggles can feel different on  your face and even eye lashes will get annoyed depending on the fit.   All Smith Optics Elite eyewear has a lifetime warranty on the lenses and many of our customers have taken advantage of that.

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Gun holsters on a budget

We never bash brands unless we really have issues with them, whether it’s quality control or ridiculous product pricing.   There are some brands we have dropped over the years, mostly gun accessories because the amount of breakage was too high and we got tired of hearing it from our customers.  Many of the gun cases or gun bags we sell are made in foreign Countries and are reasonable priced, but some people just won’t buy products that aren’t made in the United States.   We’ve seen some gun  holster companies be forced to manufacture certain products in Asia because the restrictions and costs were too high here.

When you need a gun holster for your handgun or your rifle, we know that not everyone wants to spend $100 on a gun case because the gun may have only cost you $200 and $30 bulldog gun cases are all you need.  Nylon gun holsters can vary in quality and features but we leave it up to the customers to decide if they want to spend the money on Bulldog, 5.11, Blackhawk, Elite Survival or the well known Uncle Mike’s gun holsters.  All of those pretty much give you what you pay for them.  For higher end firearms you might want more protection for your gun and $100 gun cases will give you that.

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Smith Optics Elite new products, new year….

We always have our favorite product lines each year that put  put out new and interesting things and always impress us.   Original Swat, Tru-Spec, Trijicon and now Smith Optics Elite are on our list.   There are many products that we sell that our employees wear and use every day and will personally attest to their clarity, durability or value.   When many of us first started wearing the Smith Optics Eyewear it all seemed like over priced shooting range glasses until we actually wore them and looked through them.  We’ve had guys come in here and say they get the cheap stuff at the hardware store, but none of them knew about the prescription lense options or the manufacturer’s warranty on the eyewear.

Many of the goggles that we sell are similar to each other, but Smith Optics Elite came out with a lo-profile goggle in multicam last year as well as the very well received boogie regulator google.   The boogie regulators are really big for sky diving and airsoft and we’re amazed at  how  broad these Smith Optics Elite goggles have been accepted.  I read a few negative reviews from people about them  online but that has not been our experienced.  When entire tactical teams are walking in the door and send their buddies in the next week, and nobody complains about them, and they are getting used, we know we have a good product.

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Handgun safes aren’t what they use to be

Gun safe technology has so dramatically improved over the last decade that leaving loaded firearms around the house or having an excuse for not locking up your guns is over.  Gun theft is the number one reason criminals get a hold of firearms and hiding guns in a closet, next to a bed can easily be found.  Home security systems can be defeated and having levels of security protecting firearms is the responsible thing to do.  Handgun safes can easily be used for jewelry, money, or other valuables besides firearms.

The Gunvault minivault can be bolted down into a car or area and then hidden.  The Gunvault breechvault and AR15 magvault give you alternative ways of locking up shotguns and carbines so they can not be used easily. There use to be concerns about having loaded firearms in a house with children, but now that gunvault technology has become so reliable, there should be no concern about it anymore.  Biometric gun safes will give you another level of security to prevent children or anyone unauthorized to gain access to your firearms.  Gun safes can have dual uses for important documents and records as well as defensive measures.

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