More Blackhawk vs Safariland

We have a very long and growing list of Law Enforcement officers coming into our store with broken or worn out parts, and 95% of the time it means going back to our Safariland product book and flipping through the pages to find the right part.  There are so many variations of guns out there and slight contour differences that mean you need a new holster.   With many products this takes research and patience to get it right the first time.  There have been changes to guns, holsters and even Streamlight flashlights but it’s almost impossible to keep up to date with it. In fact one of our distributors even acknowledged that they don’t have the man power to keep their website up to date with all of the correct product info.

This year we are breaking from the drop shipping policies and moving more toward stocking the parts and accessories that we know people are going to need.  Some of the Blackhawk and Safariland holsters that we carry are the products that are the most demanded.  For instance, most departments around here use the Glock 17 and the Glock 21 so we usually stock the duty and drop leg holsters that they need.   Some of these holsters can cost over $140 so stocking the correct items and not getting stuck with a dead product they collects dust for years is something we try to avoid.

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Eotech configurations vs ACOGS

I started out with an Eotech 512 because I basically thought that AA batteries were so common in my home that that was my best option.  I was right, but I learned real fast what the limitations were for the Eotech sights when I was engaging targets at 300 + yards with it.   Those optics are really fast for close up fighting which is why most of our Law Enforcement Officials want them, but they, along with any red dot, will actually be difficult to use at longer ranges.   I find the haze from red dots to be annoying but I personally have never had to use one in a house clearing situation.    The Eotech XPS sights and the EXPS sights are more compact versions with different power switch locations.

Eotech sights while many may claim are slowly becoming outdated, are still very popular.  Sometimes it’s not just what is higher tech, but the Eotech sights that we sell are so well known that sometimes it’s hard to deviate from something that you know works.   I have yet to see somebody complain about their Eotech not holding zero and the quick detach options are very appealing.   The one thing I will say that is you really need to put some thought into how much magnification you want on your Carbine before you buy and Eotech sight because I know many people that got the optic, magnifier combos and later said they basically purchased a Trijicon TA01NSN .

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Inventory Availability for Don Hume holsters

We got in a very large shipment of the much sought after Don Hume holsters.  I just had a customer come in here and ask what the big deal is with them and I told him that the big deal is that these are the best price leather holsters out there.  They definitely are not the nicest looking holster which Desantis and Galco will show you but if you are on a budget.  You can get a good holster for under $25.   Now that so many people are packing, not everyone really knows what it’s like to carry and how comfortable certain types of holsters are.  There are many of our customers that don’t want to carry IWB because it’s not very comfortable but from a defensive standpoint it probable is the most recommended method of carry.

I do like the Don Hume Jit holsters and if you compare these $20 holsters to the Desantis Scabbard you are going to spend 2x’s as much for a similar holsters but they are not as nice looking but they get the job done to some degree.  Most of the Don Hume holsters that I use are for small or single stack magazines.  I have noticed that the j-frame and Sig 239 holsters work very well but the Sig 228 holsters seem to flop a little and in my opinion aren’t as secure.   Some of the flopping can be avoided with a paddle holster or an IWB holster.  Do your research on the size of the gun you are using and see what other people are saying.

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Comparisons between smaller optics

Some of the XPS and EXPS sights are floating around my local police departments and even at the gun club.  With how much people like to put on their AR15s, the main selling point of these optics is they are shorter and give you rail space.  I put a Surefire Scout flashlight on my LWRC M6A1 rifle and figured out real fast what people mean by needing more rail space.  I guess due to the size of my hands I could not find a good place to put the pressure switch and if I switched from a 512 Eotech sight to s shorter XPS or EXPS sight I would be better off.   The shorter run time on the batteries is personally not an issue because I tend to shoot with iron sights more often anyway.

If run time is an issue and you have the money, there is another option that hit the market in 2012.   After you get past the sticker shock on the Trijicon SRS sights for sale, these red dot sights,  as a serious operator, you will then understand the long term cost effectiveness of an optic like this.   In comparison to Aimpoint and Eotech XPS and EXPS sights this is more compact.  Having a primary solar cell and then a backup battery you are getting years of batter life out of this optic and also give Aimpoint some competition. We have a few of them we are testing out with local operators, but quality and durability are things that

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A place to walk into and walk out with the stuff you want

Now that so many people do their shopping on Cyber Monday or just order things from Amazon and Ebay, many small business have been put out of business.  One thing that hasn’t changed though are returns and exchanges.  Sometimes people mis ready technical details about the size of a product or they order a wrong color.  When it comes to buying shoes and certain types of clothing, people really want to walk in a shop, hold it in their hands and then walk out the same day.  We’ve had several people tell us that we should stock certain products and many of our nearest competitors do now.   Nobody wants to walk in a retail store, order something online and then go back in and pick it up when you can easily go home and look it  up on google and get it in a couple days.

With holster sizes, flashlight and laser accessories its very hard to know what you are getting with a gun holster.    In the area we are in we draw a lot of customers looking for Philadelphia Law Enforcement supplies that are willing to drive several hours just to try it on and get it right the first time.  You can be one size in on line of tactical apparel but another size or in between sizes with another and  only when  you are standing in front of a mirror will you know if it’s for you.   Whether you’re looking for a gun holster for your Glock 21 with a TLR-1S light or a new pair of boots, we stock most of what local law enforcement personnel are looking for.

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Retention holsters leather vs Serpa

We recently  had a customer in here that asked me if people still “use these” and picked up a Desantis thumb break scabbard holster.  I laughed and told him we only carry things that we sell.   What he meant to say is do people still use thumb breaks over the Blackhawk Serpa.   I then pointed to the Safariland ALS holsters and showed him that a thumb is a very useful way to open a retention holster.  After that I showed him the Elite Survival Nylon holsters we have and then he comprehended what i was saying.  Some guys think that the Blackhawk Serpa holster is some type of advanced holster design when it’s really just another optional holster design.   There are many ways to retain a firearm in a holster and we sell most of them.

I have several types of holsters for each firearm I own and sometimes I just feel like a certain type of holster would be more comfortable.  I still find the Desantis holsters to be the best leather product line because they do everything from wallet ID badges, leather belts, and even some kydex designs.   While many of these debates about who makes the best leather are really about preference, some brands have their best designs and do something a little better than another person for certain modes of carry.  It’s not always just the leather, its the quality of the snaps and the screws that make it a good fit.

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3yrs of customer feedback on Original Swat boots

We still get a large number of people in our store that have never heard of the Original Swat footwear company, but locally, there are more and more of our Police Departments wearing their products.  We have seen several improvements and re-designs with their products as well as some very new lightweight tactical boots.   I personally have worn the boots for over 3yrs and not a single one of them has been flawed or fell apart on me and I wear them 7 days a week.  There are differences in what people’s line of work is and not everyone is going to need wear waterproof or composite toe boots.  If you haven’t noticed, steel toe footwear is a thing of the past.

The SEK900 were a very popular all leather boot for us but for some reason they were discontinued.   The 1150 Original Swat Boots are still the most popular lace up boot and the 1152 and now 1312 Chase Low boots are the most popular side zip boots.  Boots are increasing becoming lighter and lighter as the materials have improved.  The Slip on Moc boots are also very popular with the EMS as well as our number one Paramedic boot the waterproof 1234 which is a waterproof version of the 1232 air boots. We have seen what Original Swat is coming out with this SHOT SHOW and are looking forward to the new Chase low womens footwear.

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Here we go again with magazine capacities

I really would be surprised to see another AWB like 1994 get passed because it looks more and more like the Obama Administration is going to over reach on the issue and  just piss everyone off.   We have a large number of Police Departments that are shaking their heads at the Politicians because it’s really all about grand standing and showing face.   If you look at the rate of fire that an AR15 has, 10rd magazines can shoot very fast and can do very little to make the firearm less deadly.   This whole argument is like saying that, to reduce speeding people need to drive on gas tanks a few gallons smaller.  If you look at the way this shooting occured in CT, none of the laws that are being pushed would have had an impact on what happened.

It’s so sad watching the stories play out in CT and on the News in Washington DC while we sit here and watch all of the murders in Philadelphia not make national news.  Now they are demonizing Glock magazines that hold anything over 10rds and every news story is about crime involving drugs or the same mentally unstable shooter in Goth makeup.   Standard capacity magazines have existed for the AR15 for over 60yrs and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical weapons have advanced and can kill more people.   Private ownership of firearms is about personal safety and preventing tyranny.

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Feedback about Turtleskin search gloves

This is a market we knew practically nothing about until 2012 when we expanded our customer base into the Law Enforcement Market.  Many of our products were for military contractors and security that had very little risk of dealing with HIV or Hepatitus C.   Many in the Law Enfocement have to worry about jerks with diseases spitting on them or leaving needles in their pockets knowing that a Copy might have to search them.   Officers need to wear frisk gloves or atleast carry them in their car at all times.   The truth of that matter is this is something they don’t often have to do, but when they do they need to have them.

Most Police Officers we deal with are buying products based upon their clothing allowance or worse, their own pockets and since not all police departments make the same amount of money, sometimes certain products sell more because they cost less.  We have tip toed with products like the Turtleskin gloves because we were not really sure how they would sell and if people would like them.  This is one of those niche products that LEO’s need but we don’t move a lot of them.  Well considering the fact that we cleaned house on them and zero complaints from customers, we are going to re-order them in 2013.

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Gun cleaning, 3-1 or multiple products?

I have tried out several gun cleaning lubricants and supplies in recent months and have come to the conclusion that I still can’t narrow it down to just one product line for all of my needs.  I started out with a 3 piece cleaning rod and quickly learned about using one piece and boresnakes for rifle cleaning.   Boresnakes are very good for cleaning barrels but not so good for cleaning out chambers.  There are differences in the types of brushes you might want to add to your cleaning kit because the direct impingement AR15 is probable the most difficult to clean up properly in that area, although we do suggest you be aware that it is possible to over clean firearms.  Good lubricants like Mpr0-7 and Slip 2000 are very good in AR15 firearms.

One of the best arguments for using up your old gun cleaning supplies and switching over to M-Pro7 or Slip 2000 products is that they are non-toxic.   I was very happy with my experiences with gun cleaning supplies like the above mentioned products.   I have used CLP for many years but after using a few firearms in a Defensive Training classes where the guns ran dry and started clunking after about 400rds of 9mm and 40 caliber training sessions.   Eliminating toxic materials from your gun cleaning gear is a good idea, and truth be told, modern technology with lubricants has greatly improved run time and firearm environment tolerances.

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