tactical

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Gritr Tactical Range Bag

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Gritr Gear

Tactical Range Bag

Review

  Everyone needs a good range bag. Some people want smaller ones, and some people want larger ones. Gritr Gear has their Tactical Range Bag that falls somewhere in between the two sizes. So you get a medium sized range bag, with features that can turn it into a larger or smaller range bag.

  The Gritr Tactical Range Bag is really a do all bag. In general, it starts as a 18 inch x 12 inch x 10 inch exterior size. Inside the main compartment is a removable tote, a removable mat, and a medical pouch. On each side are large zipper compartments. On one end is another zipper compartment. On the other end is an open pouch. The main compartment is then covered by a highly velcroed dual zipper flap. Gritr offers the bag in a multitude of colors and patterns. I chose the Green Topo pattern, even though I was torn between it and Splatter.

 I will explain the main compartment of the Tactical Range Bag first. Especially since it is where you end up throwing everything into. The size of the main compartment is approximately 14 x 9 x 9 inches. It sounds small, but you can fit a lot of stuff in there. On the bottom of the main compartment is a hard floor mat. This mat gives the bag a hard bottom but is also removable. Once removed, the floor mat can then be unfolded to a 28 x 14.25 inch size. Because it unfolds, you now have a nice place to set pistols and gear on a shooting bench. You could also use it as an interim cleaning mat. I like it for taking pictures of pistols and gear that I am doing reviews on. The mat has the same topo pattern as the exterior of the range bag. The dual zippered flap that covers the main compartment has hook and loop all over it, for your patches of course. This feature gives you quick access to whatever is in the main compartment. The dual zippers are also tied together with a handle strap, making opening and closing it fairly easy with one hand. This main compartment is very useful for anything you want to throw in it.

  Inside that main compartment is something even more useful. That item is a removable Tote bag. It is made to just rest inside the main compartment. Yes, it does take up most of the main compartment, but you won’t care because it is so useful. It measures 12 x 7 x 8 inches and has some decent, soft style, carry handles. The tote is open top with a hard floor. Built into the sides of the tote bag are 2 padded pistol bags. Just unzip either of them and you can drop a full size pistol into them. Throw some ammo boxes inside the tote and you are ready to go. Because of the tote, you can just grab it instead of the whole range bag. So if you are at a match, or anywhere else, and don’t want to carry the whole bag, you can just grab the tote and go. Put the pistol on one side, and mags in the other, and your ammo resting on the bottom. The only down side to the tote is that it does take up space in the main compartment. I usually just put the tote in the main compartment and nothing else. Having the built in pistol bags is super useful.

  Gritr throws in a medical pouch with the Tactical range bag. It is a fairly decent med pouch having pockets and straps where you need them. The dual zippers unzip to let you open the pouch up flat and quickly. I do wish that Gritr had an option to have the med pouch filled with a trauma kit. Even without it being stocked, I think including a med pouch is pretty cool, especially since any range trip should be accompanied with a good med kit. On a basic level, you could always fill it with something like THIS. I do wish the med pouch had some MOLLE to attach it to the outside of the range bag. But hey, good on Gritr for including it and getting people thinking.

  Back to the outside of the Tactical Range Bag. On each side of the range bag are 2 large zippered compartments, both can fold down flat when open. Inside one of these pockets, there is hook and loop MOLLE up against the bag side. I like that you can attach extra stuff with multiple attachment methods. On the fold down side of this compartment are 2 zippered mesh pockets. I have my stapler in this compartment, with staples in one of the mesh pockets and target tape in the other pocket. The other compartment has one large zippered mesh pocket on the fold down flap side. Then on the side against the bag, there are 3 little pockets. 2 of these have a hook and loop cover flap. The other one is open. I usually put miscellaneous tools, a timer, and rifle mags in this compartment. These side compartments are large enough to fit a ton of extra stuff.

  The Gritr Range Bag has end pockets also. Okay, one is a compartment and one is a literal pouch. The pouch is just an open top pocket with an elastic pull string. I would prefer some way of closing it completely, but maybe I am wrong here. Either way, I use it for my over the ear hearing protection. It does give me easy access to just grab the shooting muffs and slip them on quickly. On the other end is an actual zippered compartment. On the outside of this end compartment is more MOLLE in the bag's color pattern. Inside it is just a compartment, no pockets or anything. I usually have extra hearing protection and eye protection in this compartment. 

  I have been very pleased with the overall size of the Gritr Tactical Range Bag. It has been working out great for me. It is smaller than my old super large one, but big enough that I can fit all my stuff in it. So far the stitching on the seams has held up and looks as good as new. I tend to overload my bags, so this says a lot about the quality of the Gritr bag. The carry handles on the bag work nice, even if they flop into the main compartment when closing it up, but most bags tend to do this. The bag also comes with a removable wide, padded, carry strap. This carry strap is 3.5 inches wide. So it really disperses the weight on your shoulder. Especially if you load the range bag up like I tend to do. Yes, it is adjustable for length too. The Gritr Range bag seems to be the perfect size. If you need only a small bag, just use the Tote by itself. If you need something larger, just attach some stuff to the MOLLE. 

  So, you are looking for a range bag. You don’t want to spend a ton but want a good bag. Go give the Gritr Tactical Range Bag a look. The bag is a great size for range trips, or anything else. The quality is nice. Plus it has all the features you need or want in a range bag. You can even get it on Amazon. Go check it out over at Gritr Gear, who knows, you might find some other good range stuff while you’re there.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Range bag that can used for various other things

Target Market:

Shooters, hunters, or anyone needing a decent shoulder bag

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Material - 500D Nylon

  • Volume - 35.4 liters

  • Dimensions - 18" x 12" x 10"

  • Weight - 6 lbs

  • Removable Inner Tote (12" x 7" x 8")

  • Removable Mat (28" x 14.25")

  • First Aid Kit Pouch

  • Top Patch panel

  • Laser cut molle

  • Heavy-duty zippers

  • Padded carry strap

  • Lifetime warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Lots of different designs and colors

What others are saying?:

4 out of 5 stars on Amazon 

Love it, could use a few tweaks

Overall I think this would be a five-star bag with a few tiny tweaks just to make it easier to fit things.

I love the bag overall.

Pros:

- good fabric

- great layout

- wish more manufacturers/importers opted for more interesting fabric colors

Cons:

- no pocket/opening fits ear pro well, they all crush ear pro except if you want it bouncing around inside the bag

- internal pockets really flat when empty so they're getting strained when you put anything inside, limiting what you can put in the bag. They are only single stitched, I bet this will be a problem too. Common design problem I see. Would be much better if they just added a half inch of fabric to make all the pockets a little loose when empty.

- wish either the gap for the inner bag were larger or oriented the other way

- eye pro pockets are a very tight fit

- wish the top zipper were lockable 

Link to other reviews:

The Gear Bunker

Price point:

MSRP = $114.95

Retail = $100

I need it now! Availability:

Gritr Gear or Amazon 

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great size

  • Molle in good locations 

  • Removable inner tote

  • Hard removable floor/mat

  • Available in non-tactical colors

  • Padded carry strap

Cons:

  • Open end pocket

  • Small inner pockets

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Aimwin PE320 review   

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MDT LSS Gen 3 Chassis

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MDT LSS Gen 3

Chassis Review

  I am not a super precision rifle type of guy, but I do see the benefits of having a chassis system. That is why I was excited when MDT recently brought out their LSS Gen 3 chassis system. I had recently picked up a Bergara for review and knew the MDT chassis would be a great fit. I opted for “The Tactical” pre-configured LSS Gen 3.

  MDT has been updating chassis as the years go on. In fact, I have a LSS-XL Gen 1. Now they are on Gen 3 of the LSS chassis. What makes the LSS Gen 3 standout is its adjustability. Now you can purchase just the baseline chassis, with no buttstock and a small forend. Or, you can go all out and purchase different forends, different stocks, as well as pistol grip options. If you don’t want a stock, you don’t have to get one. The LSS Gen 3 is super customizable. 

  MDT also thought of something else with the LSS Gen 3. They have 3 pre-configured option packages: The Worker, The Tactical, and The Competitor. The Worker is the stripped down, lightweight version. The Competitor is the chassis you might want for shooting precision rifle competitions. Then there is the Tactical. I chose the Tactical for MDT to send out. It fits what I was looking for to install on the Bergara. So I will mainly focus on it, with some other stuff thrown in.

  Before I start on the Tactical, let me intrigue you with all the options one can choose on the LSS Gen 3. As of now, you get two color options, Black or FDE. You then choose your rifle’s action, there are plenty to choose from. Next you get to decide your stock interface. This is the only option that you need to choose if just buying the chassis by itself. There are three options: XTN (essentially MDT’s interface), Pic Rail (for folding stocks), and Carbine (Standard AR buffer tube). Then you can choose your stock, if applicable. If MDT doesn’t have a stock option you like, the LSS Gen 3 can accept just about any stock on the market. After you decide if you want a stock or not, you can choose what forend you want. As of now there are only two, the tactical and the competition. Lastly you can choose a pistol grip. Again, if you don’t like the options, any AR style pistol grip without a beavertail will work. 

  Now let’s get into the MDT LSS Gen 3 Tactical. The Tactical version comes pre configured with certain parts that make it feel more like an AR than a competition rifle. These include the forend, stock, and pistol grip, more on those later. The main Gen 3 chassis is the same across the board. It comes with some small polymer handguards attached to it. These can be used by themselves or removed to attach one of the other forends. This main chassis also has a built-in barricade stop on the front of the magwell. The Gen 3 chassis uses standard AICS pattern magazines. If you have a rifle that uses a blind or hinged magazine, it will convert it to use those AICS compatible magazines. To remove those magazines, MDT installed an ambidextrous mag release. Just push it forward with your trigger finger and the mags drop free. The Tactical model also uses the Carbine buttstock adapter so you can mount any AR buffer tube style stock to the chassis. MDT uses their Elite pistol grip for the Tactical version. This is an angled AR style grip with a soft overmold. 

  The forend on the Tactical version has some great features. First up, it has M-Lok slots at every 45 degrees. It also has a top picatinny rail out at the end of the handguard. This rail can be used to attach extra optics like night vision or thermal. This handguard has a long cut out toward the receiver. I believe this is so that larger optics will not interfere with the handguard. At 13.7” long, the tactical handguard gives plenty of room for attaching accessories like a bag plate or bipod. Since the Bergara I attached the Gen 3 LSS to only has an 18” barrel, it compliments the rifles “tactical” looks.

  Since the Tactical LSS Gen 3 uses a buffer tube style adapter, MDT supplies their top of the line carbine stock. The supplied stock is MDT’s SCS, or Skeleton Carbine Stock. This thing has more adjustments then I probably need, but they are sweet. On the SCS is an adjustable cheek piece that can quickly be adjusted with a thumb screw. The angle and location can also be changed by loosening some screws and re-tightening them. The actual buttpad interface has adjustments for the location on the buffer tube, as well as the angle, by also loosening screws. The buttpad interface is somewhat foot shaped with a flat bottom. It has an M-Lok slot at the bottom for attaching stuff. There is also a QD hole built into this foot for attaching a sling. Then there is a big thumb screw for quickly adjusting the length of pull on the buttpad. Along with the quick adjust screw, there are little thumb screws to lock this adjustment down. Then the buttpad itself can be adjusted up or down by loosening another little thumb screw. Even though there are a lot of adjustments with the SCS stock, it makes for a real nice interface between you and the rifle.

  I proceeded to mount up the MDT LSS Gen 3 Tactical to my Bergara Ridge SP in 308. I knew this would be the perfect platform. The Ridge only has a 18” barrel which makes it the perfect length for the Tactical chassis. Installation was pretty easy, just follow MDT’s instructions and use a torque wrench. Once installed I proceeded to take it to the range. Does the rifle shoot better because of the chassis? I couldn’t tell as this rifle shoots sub MOA with match ammo. But I do know that having the action sitting in a stable platform, like this chassis, will help with consistency. One advantage of the Tactical chassis, over the Bergara’s stock, is that the chassis won’t flex. I noticed this when trying out the built in barricade stop. The stock rifle didn’t even have one, but the MDT’s built in stop seemed to work pretty good. I also stuck on a bipod using one of the bottom M-Lok slots. The M-Lok slots are very useful, as is the top pic rail. To round out the handguard I installed some FDE Nile grip panels from Walker Defense. They match well, but more importantly is that they give a great grip to the smooth handguard of the Tactical chassis. My only complaint about the chassis is its weight. This could be a plus or minus in your mind. Heavy is better for a precision rifle, but light is better for a tactical rifle, at least in my opinion. Since this is labelled as “Tactical”, I was hoping for a pound or two less. However, If I were to just put a standard AR stock on it, it would lighten it up a bit. But then you would lose all the adjustability in the great SCS stock. So choose for yourself what you want, which is really the best feature about the LSS Gen 3. 

  If you are thinking about getting a chassis for your rifle, MDT makes some of the best out there. The LSS Gen 3 makes it possible to get just what you want, or don’t want. You get to choose. Or if you just want a pre configured chassis, like The Tactical, they have that too. I have been very pleased with the MDT LSS Gen 3 Tactical chassis. It makes the rifle look and shoot great. Go take a look at it over at MDT.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Configurable chassis

Target Market:

Those wanting a precision chassis that gives them options

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • 5.74 pounds complete for “Tactical” version

  • 2.2 pounds chassis only

  • Interchangeable Forends

  • Customizable Buttstock Interface

  • Interchangeable buttstocks

  • AICS Magazine Compatibility

  • Ambidextrous Magazine Latch

  • V-block bedding

  • Barricade stop

  • Compatible with AR-15 style grips

  • Compatible with M-LOK thumb shelf

  • Action stays in chassis when changing forend & stock, maintaining zero

  • 6061 aluminum construction

  • Cerakoted Black or FDE

  • 1.25” barrel channel

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Also can be had in basic black, but the options are too many to list

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Tactical Gear Guy  

Price point:

MSRP = $459.90 - $1509.75

Retail = $1059.75 as shown in Tactical Kit

I need it now! Availability:

MDT, MidwayUSA, or OpticsPlanet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Configurable aluminum rifle chassis

  • Ways to mount just about any buttstock

  • Interchangeable forends

  • Uses AR pistol grips

Tactical Kit Pros:

  • Multiple M-Lok slots

  • Multi-adjustable stock

  • AR style buffer tube adapter

Cons:

  • Can be heavy (Good or Bad depending on set up)

Score: 8.50 Great

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Civivi SOKN

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Civivi SOKN

Review

  Having a good little fixed blade knife can be very useful. If it is the right size, it can be used as a defensive knife or a good little hunting knife. Civivi and Kyle Lamb have brought out the SOKN fixed blade. The SOKN is targeted as a defensive tactical blade, but I found it to be very useful for other knife type things. 

  SOKN is an old Norse word meaning fight or attack. This is a fitting name for this little fixed blade, especially since it is designed as a defensive fighting knife. I still want a gun in a knife fight, but that may not always be feasible. Since it is a fighting knife, the SOKN comes with a multi use sheath. This sheath has either adjustable belt loops or a hook. The hook is so the knife sheath can be caught on the pocket when drawing the knife. 

  The SOKN is a very well designed fixed blade. It starts with the full tang blade and G10 handle. The inverse grip handle helps make the knife useful for both types of grip. On the end of the handle, at the butt, is a little “foot”. This “foot” lets you rest your thumb on the handle when using an inverse grip. It basically gives you more stabbing leverage. When using the SOKN with a normal grip, the little “foot” keeps your hand from sliding off the end. Another advantage to the “foot” is that it gives your hand something to catch while drawing the SOKN from its sheath. For as small as the handle is, I was able to get a good comfortable grip on it.

  Blade design and steel are always important, no matter what style of knife you are using. The SOKN uses a 2.82 inch Nitro-V stainless steel blade. It is a drop point style and flat ground. Civivi also put decent jimping on the spine of the blade. I like drop point style blades. The shape of the SOKN makes it good for just about any task, including stabbing things. Because of the blade shape, the SOKN would also make a decent skinning knife. You can also use the SOKN as a replacement for a folder, when a folder just won’t work. 

  Back to the sheath that comes with the SOKN. The kydex sheath really helps to make the SOKN so useful. First, the belt loops are adjustable and have some pretty great snaps on them. These belt loops are designed to carry the SOKN horizontally on a belt. I carried the SOKN for a little bit this way and it worked fine for me. Where the belt loops mount on the sheath, there are 4 riveted style holes. Since the sheath kind of curves up, you can change how the knife carries. The end hole can also be used for a chain, so that you can use the system as a large neck knife. The sheath also has a sharpish hook on it. This hook is intended for pocket carry. When you draw the SOKN out, this hook catches on the inside of your pocket, keeping the sheath in your pocket and allowing the knife to be ready to go. The SOKN also has a removable, and reversible pocket clip so the knife and sheath don’t just float around inside your pocket. Pocket carry is how I carry this little knife and it works extremely well.

 The SOKN is my first fixed blade defensive knife that I actually use. I absolutely love the sheath system. I am a big fan of drop point blade styles because they just work for everything I do with a knife. Nitro-V steel has proven to be a good knife steel. It is hard and holds an edge well. With a weight of just under 3 ounces, you can carry this knife anywhere and not know its there. I have two minor complaints with the SOKN. One, I would like the blade length to be a little longer. Somewhere in the 3-3.25 inch range would be just a tad bit better. Lastly, I would like a better way to mount it vertically on something like a vest. Overall, I really think the SOKN is a great little knife.

  If you are looking at getting a good little defensive knife, the Civivi SOKN might be a great pick. It isn’t just a defensive knife, it can be used for all types of “knife” things. I can see keeping one with your hunting equipment, or just in your car. It really has that many uses. I prefer to call the SOKN an everyday, all around, knife. Go check the SOKN out and see if it makes sense for you.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Small fixed blade defensive knife

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a small fixed blade

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Overall Length: 7.17" / 182.1mm

  • Width: 1.46" / 37.1mm

  • Overall Height (Includes Clip): 0.56" / 14.2mm

  • Blade Length: 2.82" / 71.6mm

  • Cutting Edge Length: 2.58" / 65.6mm

  • Handle Length: 4.35" / 110.5mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.12" / 3mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.35" / 9mm

  • Knife Weight: 2.93oz / 83g

  • Blade Material: Nitro-V

  • Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC

  • Blade Grind: Flat

  • Blade Finish: Stonewashed

  • Blade Type: Drop Point

  • Handle Material: G10

  • Handle Color/Finish: Black

  • Pocket Clip: Tip-Down, L/R

  • Clip Material: Stainless Steel 

  • Clip Screws / Tubes Material: Stainless Steel 

  • Sheath: Black Kydex Sheath With 2PCS Black Straps

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Gray Handles   

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars on Amazon

I bought this knife to have a lightweight cutting tool that would replace my folding knife. I have been impressed with the sharpness and ergonomics of the handle. The sheath allows for several choices of carry. When I carry this knife I often forget that it’s there. Excellent blade for hiking, self defense, and utility chores. The Nitro V steel lends itself to operate in a multitude of environments. Worth every penny.

Link to other reviews:

Gear Patrol  

Price point:

MSRP = $105.00

Retail = $89.25

I need it now! Availability:

Civivi, Amazon, or your local dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great size

  • Full tang

  • Sheath with multiple mounting options

  • Multi purpose blade

  • Reverse grip works well both ways

  • Nitro-V steel

Cons:

  • Blade could be a little longer

Score: 8.50

Favorite Link:  Traser P99A review   

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Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HP-X

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Streamlight Protac HP-X

Weaponlight Review

  Weapon lights are something that I believe everyone should have on a long gun. There are various types and styles on the market today. They range from high lumen - low candela to high candela - low lumen. They all have different purposes. Streamlight has come out with a higher candela weapon light with a slightly lower lumen. That light is the ProTac Rail Mount HP-X Pro.

  Streamlight’s new HP-X is designed as a high lumen light. On High, Streamilight specs out a candela of 105,000 and a lumen rating of 800. This gives you, the user, a light that projects a narrower beam farther. However, having that lower lumen number makes the spill smaller. A smaller spill gives you less light close up. The HP-X still lights up stuff close and it does it well, it is just made primarily for distance. With the HP-X’s beam pattern, you can light up and identify targets at a much longer distance. The beam distance specification is stated as 648 meters. I could easily make out objects at 300 yards. 

  When you buy the ProTac Rail Mount HP-X kit, you get all the stuff needed to run the light. This is a real bonus in my opinion. The kit includes a 45 degree M-Lok mount, a pressure switch, wire management, zip ties, mounting tape, and a usb cord. The pressure switch is a momentary “on” style. It does not have a switch to keep the light on. However, the HP-X uses Streamlight’s “Jack-Cap” tailcap on the light. This tailcap lets you plug in the pressure pad and still have a button for use. So essentially, you get the best of both worlds. The tail cap button can be used in the momentary or click configurations. All this included stuff makes the HP-X a great deal. 

  Since the HP-X is made by Streamlight, it features their ten tap programming. Essentially, you tap the tailcap ten times and then it takes you to the programming mode. The HP-X has 3 different modes available: High/Strobe, High only, and Low/High. When operating the weapon light on the High/Strobe, tap the tailcap (or click) it once for high and then quickly again for strobe. The Low/High also works the same way. This extends over to the pressure pad too, press it twice quickly for Strobe, or High, depending on which mode you have the light in. 

  One feature, that I think is a must in any weapon light, is having the ability to use different types of batteries. The HP-X is Multi-Fuel. This means it can use the supplied SL-B26 USB rechargeable battery or 2 CR123 batteries. I also found that the HP-X will work with a 18650 style battery, even if Streamlight doesn’t mention it. Run times with the CR123’s is a little less, but I expect that. Run times on the HP-X with the SL-B26 battery are: High - 2 hours, Low - 26 hours, and Strobe - 2.5 hours. These are pretty standard for these types of weapon lights. 

Light at Dusk

Night, Target stands at 50, 100, & 200 yds

  Everyone needs a good mounting platform, aka rifle, for their weapon light. I didn’t hesitate to mount the Streamlight HP-X on the Global Monolith so I could put it through testing. The HP-X mounted up smoothly with the supplied M-Lok mount. If you don’t like the supplied mount, any “scout mount” can be used. I really like that the HP-X uses a readily available mount. Then the pressure pad went on with the zip ties. Followed by one of the rail management pieces. The system looks smooth. I used this light a bunch around the house to see how I liked it inside. Even though the HP-X is a long throw light, it still lit up rooms pretty good. If you have a place to reflect the light off of, like a light colored wall, it works a little better. The strength of the HP-X is the high candela. Outside the light shines for some distance. I could identify targets at 200 yards with ease. Another advantage to high lumens is the ability for the weapon light to punch through photonic barriers. Those barriers would include things like smoke, fog, or even other lights. I found the pressure switch to work nicely. The button on the rear tailcap works nice too, at least if the pressure switch is not plugged in. The plug for the pressure switch can get in the way of using the button. This is really my only fault with the light. This problem was really noticeable when running some drills with the light. Otherwise, I was happy with how the light itself performed 

  The Streamlight ProTac HP-X Pro is a nice weapon light. Especially if you want a light with more distance or need something to punch through some photonic barriers. At a street price of around $160 you really can’t go wrong with the HP-X. If you need that do everything type of light, the Streamlight ProTac HP-X Pro just might be it.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

High Candela, long throw weapon light

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a higher candela weapon mounted light

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Multi-Fuel: Uses (1) Streamlight SL-B26 protected Li-Ion USB rechargeable battery pack or 18650; also accepts (2) CR123A lithium batteries

  • TEN-TAP Programming allows for selection of three different operating programs:

  • 1) high/strobe  2) high only  3) low/high

  • High: 800 lumens; 105,000 candela; 648m beam distance; runs 2 hours (SL-B26); runs 1.5 hours (CR123A)

  • Low: 55 lumens; 7,600 candela; 174m beam distance; runs 26 hours (SL-B26); runs 18 hours (CR123A)

  • Strobe: runs 3.5 hours (SL-B26); runs 2.5 hours (CR123A)

  • High Lumens: 800

  • Beam Distance: 648 meters

  • Max Candela: 105,000

  • Battery Type: SL-B26 Rechargeable Battery Pack, CR123A Lithium, or standard 18650

  • Length: 5.63 inches (14.30 centimeters)

  • Weight: 6.40 ounces (181.44 grams) - 7.00 ounces (198.45 grams)

  • Includes remote switch, picatinny and M-Lok mounts, cable management, and mounting hardware

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Light only

What others are saying?:

Optics Planet   

Bright light

Wow this is a handy little tactical light with a beam that cuts through the dark, smoke, fog etc. Nice beam that has a strong column of center light and provides a wide peripheral viewing that allows you to light up a whole room when performing tactical maneuvers.

Link to other reviews:

Tiberious Gib YouTube  

Price point:

MSRP = $266.00

Retail = Around $160.00

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms, Brownells, or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Good light throw

  • Decent light spill

  • 10 tap programming

  • Comes with everything needed

  • Dual fuel - SL-26B or 2x CR123’s

  • Can use standard 18650 batteries

Cons:

  • Tail switch is hard to get to when pressure switch is plugged in

  • Doesn’t use standard plugs for pressure switch

Score:  8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  Global Ordnance Monolith Review   

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GForce Arms Saddlehorn LTAC

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Gforce Arms

Saddlehorn LTAC review

  It seems like everyone is getting into the lever action rifle game. I am always up for more options, especially when it comes to lever actions. GForce Arms has started importing some lever action rifles in pistol calibers. Some of these options are pretty standard, others are super tactical. They sent me one of their tactical ones, the walnut stocked Saddlehorn LTAC 357.

  The GForce Saddlehorn is a Winchester model 92 copy. There are lots of the 92 copies around. The Saddlehorn is very similar to all of them. The only real difference is that the Saddlehorn has a safety selector on the bolt itself, very similar to a Rossi 92. The LTAC version runs a large loop lever that is wrapped in leather. It also runs a straight style stock to keep with the 92 tradition.

  Being that this is the “tactical” version of the Saddlehorn, it does have a bunch of those tactical options. First up, the LTAC uses a 16.5 inch threaded barrel. It is threaded ½-28 which allows the use of suppressors and various muzzle devices. Next is that it comes with a picatinny rail already mounted to the barrel. This pic rail also includes the rear sight, which is only adjustable for elevation. The front sight is a fiber optic red and pairs nicely with the black rear sight. The sight picture is pretty nice for a simple set of iron sights, and they work fine.

  Another part that makes the Saddlehorn tactical is the M-Lok forend. This slim line aluminum handguard has M-Lok slots just about everywhere, even if the top ones aren’t usable due to the barrel being in the way. On the front bottom of the handguard is a 4 slot picatinny rail section. Right behind the pic rail is a sling stud. At the rear, on each side of the handguard, are 4 threaded holes between the M-Lok rails. These are used for attaching miscellaneous accessories. The LTAC also comes with a 4 shell holder mounted in one of these holes. The extra shell holder is also made of aluminum and is a nice addition to the total rifle package. Having the M-Lok and a pic rail gives you options to attach whatever you want.

  I have a true love hate relationship with the Gforce LTAC. Through all the .357 magnum rounds I ran through it, and the 38 specials, the gun ran flawlessly. However, I did run into a huge problem with the LTAC. When I was installing a NERO muzzle brake onto the LTAC, the barrel actually came loose in the action!. This is really unacceptable on any firearm. All I was doing was trying to tighten the muzzle brake and time it with a crush washer. Instead of taking the time to get it fixed by Gforce, I just fixed it myself. These barrels are just “glued” into the action with a sleeve retaining style thread locker, so it was an easy fix. There are even marks on the receiver and barrel on where to line them up. I have had no more problems with the barrel twisting after another 250 rounds of .357 magnum. I am guessing that the factory just didn’t get enough “glue” on the barrel. While the barrel was out of the action, I also noticed that the chamber was a little rough, about half way down toward the rifling. Since it was already off, I polished the chamber a little bit. To me it looked like a dull reamer was used during the barrel manufacturing process. 

  As mentioned, the LTAC ran flawlessly during use. I did mount up some optics throughout the testing. The first one was the Atibal Solar 1 x prism. It worked fine but sat a little higher than my liking. So I settled on the Primary Arms Classic green dot. It sat a bit lower and worked out better for me. Before I mounted the optics, I checked the optic rails mounting screws on the LTAC. They were a tad loose, so I tightened them up. I don’t know if they were loose from the factory, or if they came loose from using the gun. Either way I put some loctite on them and snugged them up. They haven’t come loose since.

  Running the Saddlehorn LTAC was a lot of fun. It has a great trigger. In fact, my sample has a 2 lb trigger pull with very little creep and a bit of overtravel. Let’s just say the trigger is one of my favorite aspects of the LTAC. The action is also very smooth. Way smoother than I expected from a Turkish import. That leather wrapped oversize lever is nice also. The leather gives a little bit of cushion for the back of your hand, and is nice when running the lever fast. It also gives it a cool look. At one point I installed a suppressor to see how that worked. A suppressor with 38 specials is super quiet. The 357 magnums are still pretty good, but they do break the sound barrier, so you still get a sound crack out of it. 

  Loading the magazine tube on the Saddlehorn LTAC is probably my least favorite thing to do. Is it hard? No, it just wears on your thumb when loading those 8 rounds into the tube. This is highly typical of any side loading lever action. I do like that the LTAC holds 8 357 magnum shells in the tube magazine. This gives you a true 8+1 full 357 magnums at the ready, just in case.

  The Gforce Arms Saddlehorn LTAC is another entry into the “tactical” lever gun category. It is super cool looking and has everything needed to get into this style of lever gun. I am disappointed that mine had problems, because I really liked how the gun performed. It ran super smooth and ate all the ammo I threw at it. If you are looking for a tactical thrifty lever gun, the Saddlehorn LTAC just might be it. Just be warned that there might be some quality control issues. Hopefully GForce Arms is working out these kinks.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Tactical 357 lever gun

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a tactical lever action

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: .357 Magnum / 38 Special

  • Capacity: 8

  • Barrel Length: 16.25"

  • Muzzle threaded 1/2-28 with thread protector

  • Overall Length: 34.5”

  • Action: Big Loop Lever

  • Sights: Fiber Optic Front / Adj Rear

  • Barrel Finish: Black 

  • Twist: 1:16"

  • Receiver Material: Aluminum

  • Safety: Hammer

  • Stock Finish: Turkish Walnut

  • Length of Pull: 13.75”

  • Receiver Finish: Black

  • Weight: 5.50 lbs.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

All Black Tactical, Stainless and Black Tactical

What others are saying?:

1 out of 5 stars at PSA    

Wanted to like this gun

Wanted to like this gun but after about 100 rounds the barrel shifted and now I’m unable to load in a round. I reached out to Gforce regarding the matter and haven’t heard anything back.

4 out of 5 stars at PSA

Great first lever action

I’ll give this one 4 Stars! First things first, the only reason it’s not a five star review is because every now and then it feeds a new round when cycling an old one, you’ll see two casings fly out, one will be a spent round and the other brand spankin new, but that’s it, nothing else has been a concern. I love this rifle and this brand. Now it’s not no Marlin or Henry but this is a great start if you’re looking into lever actions. It already has a tactical handguard so there’s no need to go shopping for one, but there are other handguard and stock options out there. It comes threaded so a suppressor will soon be attached. If any of you get this, I suggest you fire .38 special out of it because there's less of a kick and with a suppressor the sound of the metal target will be louder than the rifle. You will not be disappointed!

Link to other reviews:

Guns & Ammo

Price point:

MSRP = $699.00

Retail = Around $600.00

I need it now! Availability:

Palmetto State Armory or Grab a Gun

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Lightweight

  • Big loop

  • 2 pound trigger pull

  • M-Lok handguard

Cons:

  • Rough chamber

  • Barrel came loose and twisted

  • Optic rail screws were loose or came loose

Score: 5.50 Mediocre 

Favorite Link:  GForce Arms Rapture  

,

Traser P99 A Tactical Carbon

,

Traser P99 A Tactical

Watch Review

  A watch review was not on my radar. Then, Traser Watch sent me a press release. So I asked if I could review one of their new Tactical watches. Traser kindly sent me the new P99 A Tactical Carbon. It has tritium dials, an automatic Swiss movement, and a carbon fiber polymer case. 

  One might ask what a watch has to do with firearms, outdoors, or anything else we review? To start with, who doesn’t need to tell time? How are you supposed to know what time to meet up for the boogaloo, when to testify on the gun control hearing at the capitol, or more importantly, when to be home from the range for dinner. Either way, having a tacticool watch that winds itself should be reason enough. But mainly, if you are into the stuff we do here, there is a good chance that you are into quality watches also. After all, it is another piece of gear that helps you in your day to day life.

  The Traser P99 looks exactly like you would expect from a tactical watch. It has an outside bezel with corresponding 5 minute marks laid out around it. So every 5, 10, 15 minutes and so on. Inside the bezel it also has these same minute marks in a smaller font size. On the watch face, it has tritium vials at every hour mark. With the 12 o’clock mark being orange in color instead of green like all the others. Of course there are white minute marks going around the dial as well. Inside those are numbers 13-24, so if you use military time, Traser has you covered for that too. In the 6 - 9 o’clock space is also a date reading. This “date” shows a bunch of the day's numbers, but has a red chevron (arrow) pointing to the today date. The hour and minute hands are painted red but also have a green tritium insert in them to see them in darkness. The second hand has a little orange tritium insert in it. Besides just tritium inserts, the P99 also uses Super LumiNova luminescence, or glow in the dark. For the luminescence glow, there is a complete circle around the watch face along with the 15, 30 , and 45 minutes marks on the bezel. Covering all that is an anti-glare sapphire crystal. The P99 watch face is nicely designed and easy to read, day or night.

  Traser’s first watch was made in 1989. This watch was made for the US Army and was the first ever tritium watch. The first watch was made possible because of a company called Trigalight. They were the first to mainstream the manufacturing process of tritium into little vials, down to 0.3mm in size. These vials can be installed into anything that you want to glow. Trigalight probably produces tritium vials for most, if not all the manufacturers in the firearm space. Trigalight and Traser are sister companies under the MB Microtec umbrella, which helps explain the P99 watch from Traser.

Luminescent glow and tritium

Tritium only

  For the P99 A, Traser uses a Swiss automatic movement. The “A” after the P99 stands for “automatic”, if you have not picked up on that yet. The automatic movement winds the watch from movement in your wrist. So unlike solar watches, you don’t need light for it to keep time. It does have a power reserve of about 2 days, but also can be manually wound using the crown. I only wear a watch during the day and take it off at night. I have not had to ever wind the watch manually. One flaw with automatic winding watches is that they have a specification for how accurately they keep time. The Traser P99’s spec is plus or minus 30 seconds a day, with the best automatic watches being plus or minus 15 seconds a day. The P99’s movement is fully mechanical, so no batteries are ever needed.

  Surrounding the automatic movement is a carbon fiber reinforced polymer. This case also has a steel container to house the automatic movement of the watch. This carbon polymer case is what gives the watch its looks. It also has flake style carbon on the watch face itself. I am pretty hard on watches and I have not even marred the P99’s case. Hooked to the case is a choice of 3 different watch straps. You can either get a fabric NATO strap in grey camo or black, with the other option being a rubber strap. I opted for the camo NATO strap and couldn’t be happier. 

  The Traser P99 A has a few other features. The mechanical movement can be seen from the back of the watch, through a large clear window. All this really does is make it look cool and I am okay with that. The P99 A also has a water resistance rating of 20 ATM which is the equivalent of 200 meters under water. Helping to make this water resistance specification is a “screw down crown”. What is a “crown”? Well, the crown is the part of the watch that winds it, or adjusts the date and time. On the P99, to adjust the date or time, you must first unscrew the crown, which is the little dial thing on the side of the watch. Then just pull it out to the correct step and adjust what is needed. Push it back in, screw the crown down, and you will be back to getting wet and telling time, in no time.

  The bezel, or the outer ring of the watch face, on the P99 rotates. It rotates with a click for every minute. Why you might ask? It is so you can spin it to match up with the minute hand. Then you will be able to tell the elapsed time. So say you wanted to train pistol draw strokes for 20 minutes. Just turn the dial to the current minute hands position, then when the minute hand gets to the 20 on the bezel number, you know you have done 20 minutes worth. It is pretty easy and useful for certain things.

  I have worn the Traser P99 A for months now. It is not a small watch by any means, but it isn’t huge either. I like the size. There are a few aspects of the P99 that I do not care for, but they are minor. One is that this particular watch gains about 2-2.5 minutes a week. It is within the Swiss movement's specifications. I just turn it back 5 minutes every two weeks. Since it gains time, you will always be early for dinner. My only other complaint is that the bezel needs a stronger spring, or whatever is used in it for the detent positions. It moves sometimes. Like I mentioned, I am pretty hard on watches because I work with my hands, so the bezel is getting bumped and moved. On a positive note, I have yet to have scratched the crystal or marred up the watch case. A true testament on how rugged this watch actually is. I shoot with the watch on also. I have destroyed other watches while doing this, both analog and digital. The P99 has withstood everything I threw at it. The tritium in the watch is super bright. I really enjoy being able to tell time in dimly lit rooms easily because of this. The Traser P99 A Tactical has been a great watch

  If you happen to be looking for a “tactical” style watch that never needs batteries, the Traser P99 A might be for you. Its auto winding Swiss movement is nice. The tritium inserts are what really make this watch shine. They are super bright and placed just about everywhere on the watch. This watch is also almost indestructible. Maybe the most important aspect is that the Traser P99 A Tactical Carbon looks great. Go check it out, along with the other Traser products at www.traser.com. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Tritium watch with automatic winding Swiss movement 

Target Market:

Anyone wanting an analog tactical watch that never needs winding

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Trigalight self-luminous technology on the dial, hands and underneath the Traser logo

  • Luminescent glass seal

  • Trigalight cross insert in bezel, Super-LumiNova (SLN) marking on bezel

  • Luminescent ring on crown

  • Movement: Swiss made automatic

  • Size: Ø 46mm

  • Glass: Anti-reflective sapphire

  • Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer double case with internal steel container

  • Screwed-down crown

  • Transparent case back

  • Carbon fiber back face

  • Date window at 7.5 o’clock

  • Strap: Textile NATO strap and rubber strap

  • Water resistance: 20 atm / 20 bar

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Non Automatic, Different bands

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

A Blog to WATCH   

Price point:

MSRP = $1165.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Traser USA is your best bet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Tritium is bright! 

  • Luminescent dial

  • Carbon fiber case construction 

  • Automatic movement 

  • Water resistance 

Cons:

  • Gains time, so time needs reset every couple of weeks 

  • Bezel doesn’t stay in one place

  • Price

Score: 8.50 Great 

,

Gnat Warfare Tactical Pig

,

Gnat Warfare

Airsoft RC Pig target Review

  If you want a fun training aid, that you may be able to do in your backyard, you need one of the Tactical Pig targets from Gnat Warfare. These are a radio controlled (RC) target that is intended to be used with airsoft guns for moving target practice. The “Pig” is a foam target that attaches to a 4 wheel drive RC car chassis. You will need a friend to drive while you shoot, but it is worth the enjoyment. We named our Tactical Pig Kyle, Gnat Warfare respectfully calls them “Kevin Bacon”, I will explain later.

  The Gnat Warfare Tactical Pig comes ready to go. All you need to do is charge the RC battery and install the supplied AA batteries into the controller. The Pig comes with a supplied charger to charge the RC battery. It charges relatively quickly, so you won’t have to wait long to start racing around the neighborhood. The instructions are awesome on how to hook everything up and pair the controller. These instructions have tons of pictures, so you hardly even need to be able to read. This process is so easy to get you up and going, that even a ten year old could do it.

  As for the size of the Pig, it is pretty standard for a 1/10th scale RC truck. The car part is approximately 13 inches wide and 18 inches long. The tires are 5 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide. This lends it to use in just about any terrain including backyards and shooting ranges. With the pig target, the total height is about 20 inches. When I first took the RC Pig out for a test spin, I was worried about it tipping over under sharp turns. Well, it did not. All it did was lift the front inside tire. 

  Kevin Bacon, as it is called, is essentially a small Javelina. This Javelina target measures about 22 inches long by 12 inches tall. It is made from 1 inch thick closed cell foam. This allows the airsoft pellets to stick into the target. If you are really close, they may go through, so as always, know your backstop. Especially since this is a moving target. Hitting the RC car part does not seem to affect it. The pellets just bounce off. The target just pushes into a “U” shaped piece on the RC’s frame. This makes changing it super easy. It also allows one to make their own targets and push them into the mount.

  Being this is an airsoft target, you will need an airsoft rifle or pistol to use it. I purchased a CO2 blowback one off of Amazon for $50 and it works well with the Tactical Pig. If you are looking for something to replicate the firearm you already use, I would look at what Umarex has to offer. Either way, this is not super expensive to get into, unless you want it to be.

  We call our Tactical Pig “Kyle”. Why? We had a neighbor once that was a motorcycle officer. He was on the short stature side, kind of like a javelina. So we thought the name was appropriate, lol. 

  Now that you know Kyle, we can talk about how he helps with training. Even though he is a small target, he does move, and move fast. These aspects help you train by shooting at moving targets. But not just moving in one direction like a lot of the moving targets we are used to. The advantage with Kyle is that he is unpredictable. You do not know what direction he will be moving, only the driver does. This makes him a vital training aid for real life scenarios, even if it is airsoft. If your airsoft pistol happens to be the same as your carry pistol, you can even do draw and fire practice. The training possibilities with the Gnat Warfare Tactical Pig are endless. 

  Everyone that shot, or drove, the Gnat Warfare Tactical Pig just loved it. It is so much fun to shoot at. Plus it gives you a fantastic training aid. If you have kids, they will love it also. Do yourself a favor and go check out “Kevin Bacon”, “Kyle”, or whatever else you want to call the Tactical RC Pig.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Radio Controlled airsoft target

Target Market:

Anyone who likes to have fun and shoot moving targets

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Everything is included except the airsoft gun

    • RC frame

    • RC Battery and charger

    • Pig target

    • Controller

    • AA batteries for controller

  • Replaceable targets

  • Aggressive off-road tires

  • 4x4 RC suspension

  • Hobby-grade 7.2v NiMh battery included

  • 2.4Ghz radio extended-range control

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars at Gnatwarfare.com

Chris H.

I have had this pig target for almost 5 years. It has proven to be extremely well built and insanely fun to shoot. Our kids love airsoft and the large wheels, independent 4 wheel suspension and powerful motor lets us drive anywhere on our property, and it’s fast! The battery seems to last forever. I actually still have the original batteries in the controller. The foam pig Silhouette target has been hit 10s of thousands of times and is barely scratched. The BBs make a satisfying loud thud with each hit, which can be heard at long distance.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $299.00 

Retail = Same - Currently on sale for $99.99

I need it now! Availability:

Gnat Warfare or Umarex

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • FUN

  • Great training aid

  • Well made

  • 4 wheel drive

  • Large tires to go anywhere

  • Everything is included

Cons:

  • MSRP is a bit high

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Umarex Origin Review   

Stevens M320 Security/Tactical 12ga Pump shotgun

To Be Chinese, It Has a Nice Rack

  I have been holding off on this review for several years now for numerous reasons. First this is a budget shotgun and it falls in the same category as a lot of other shotguns on the market. Second, I was afraid no one would be interested in reading it. Then third there was the big C that has been affecting everyone. But here it is and let me dive into the model I have. 

  The Stevens/Savage M320 Pump shotgun, ok what can I say, it is based on the old proven Winchester 1300 action, which uses a rotating bolt to cycle the shells. This particular one has a pistol grip and cross bolt safety, 18.5” barrel with a hooded front fiber optic sight and ghost ring rear sight. The receiver has a 1913 picatinny rail for mounting optics. 

  The model I bought came in flat dark earth stock and hard rubber butt stock, already has sling point attachments on the front cap and the rear of the stock. Right in front of the forend are access points that are on both sides of the 90 degrees apart. They are 1913 rails as well for mounting your favorite accessory to. It has a capacity of 5 rounds for 2.75” shells but has the capacity to hold 3” as well. The shotgun weighs in around 6 pounds with an over length of 38.25”. The trigger pull is a bit heavy on mine, tripping the gauge at 7 pounds. The forearm on the M320 is a little longer than most tactical or home defense shotguns, most of the ones I have encountered are around 8 to 9” long, the one on the Stevens is roughly 11” in length. Does this make a big difference? Not really, just some added weight and hey it has a nice rack.  

  So let us get to the shooting of this Chinese beauty with the big rack. I mounted a Swamp Fox Liberator Green Dot green dot on top of it just because I had one laying around and figured why not. This was a great choice when I went to the range. Remember this is a cylinder bore choke, which means it is not constricted like most hunting shotguns, nor does it have interchangeable choke tubes. This shotgun was made for close work. With that being said I found out that my local Wally world was selling ammo on the cheap and they had their Federal slugs on sale for $2.50 a box, so I bought all they had. With over 200 rounds of 3” slugs and 300 rounds of Rio 2 ¾” buckshot and more than I can count of mixed birdshot loads I was at the range. I sighted in at 50 yards on paper with the slugs and was getting great results. The best group I got was 1 ¾ inches at 50 yards, I was pretty happy with that. We did have some 12” steel set up at 100 yards and I could ring those every time with the slugs. After an hour of brutal shooting of slugs, I noticed I was closing my eyes and developing a flinch. I stopped shooting the 3” slugs. I went with something a bit lighter and did what I could to mimic patterning at about 40 yards and in with the buckshot. I was impressed at the spread that it kept at that distance. I ran out of paper targets so I spent the rest of my time shooting plastic bottles, bricks, logs and whatever else I could find on the junk section of the range. 

  So how did it shoot? Just like a shotgun should, it went bang, it destroyed anything that was in front of it. It ate any shells I put in it. But, here it is, there had to be one. I didn’t tell you this in the initial description, but it has a pistol grip. I absolutely hate pistol grip shotguns now. My wrist felt like I had punched a brick wall over and over. The direct impact into the web of the hand was terrible. The pistol grip made it so I could not get to the slide release switch easily. If you had gloves on it would be a no go. Now the gun for what it is ran fine. It is smooth, the trigger is a little heavy. The forearm is too long if you want to put shell cards on the side. It will cover part of the receiver up. You might be able to use a 4 shell card, but not one of the larger ones. The forearm is a little weird in design, it is not what I am used to but I am not going to call it a negative, just different. It seems to be big on the front and then flows down to an undercut of some sort towards the rear. This might be by design for smaller shooters.

  Overall this is a good shotgun for home defense, maybe a slug gun for deer hunting or varmint control. Throw it in the toolbox of your truck, under the seat, strap it to the rack of your 4 wheeler or to the back of your side by side. I feel for the money $199 when I bought mine, you can't go wrong. I have used mine on several bear and hog hunts, dropped it in the water while getting into my canoe, it does ride on the back of my saddle from time to time while riding horses. If I skin it up, scratch it, take the paint off of it, I won't cry like I would if it was a Beretta shotgun. 

  Is this shotgun for you? Well what is your budget? What is your intended use? Do you use shotguns a lot? I am not a big shotgun hunter, I break one out a few times a year when I go on specialized hunts, so I really do not own expensive shotguns. I own guns that run. I am not saying this is better than my 870, 835, 1100, 500, 590, 37 or what have you. I own a bunch of shotguns, they are tools to me, this M320 is a tool, it is a cheaper tool that has been cloned from a really good tool and has had a few modifications made to it. Would I stake my life on it? YES, I have and I will continue to. Every time I go into the woods to hunt big hogs or black bears and I have this shotgun, I trust it with my life. This is just my thought so take it how you want. I have well over 1000 rounds of high brass shells to cheap birdshot and haven’t had a malfunction yet. Now it is smooth but when I rack it I run it like I am trying to drive the forearm off of it. Just because something is made in another country and its budget means it is junk, you have to do your research and see for yourself. Don’t go off of one man’s opinion and think it is gospel. I am here just to tell you how my shotgun worked. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Target Market:

  • Anyone looking for a budget home defense shotgun

  • Value consumer

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Good ergonomics

  • Good price

  • Well balanced

  • Reliable

  • Barrel Length 18.5 (in)

  • Barrel Material Chrome Alloy Steel

  • Magazine Capacity 5

  • Ambidextrous

  • Length of Pull (in)13.75 

  • Overall Length  39.1(in)

  • Receiver Finish Matte

  • Receiver Material Light Alloy

  • Stock Material Synthetic

  • Stock Type Pistol Grip

  • Weight 7.2 (lb)

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

  • Field grade models for hunting

  • Models without pistol grip

  • Different finishes

  • Available in 20 ga

What others are saying?:

A shotgun that can do it all at a price that nearly everyone can afford, the Stevens 320 pump-action was designed for versatility and affordability

The reliable Stevens 320 pump security 12 ga. shotgun has everything an LEO needs to hit the streets—and it comes at an affordable price.

Link to other reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81oxsoEf3yg

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/stevens-320-pump-field-grade-shotgun/

Price point:

MSRP = $311.00

I need it now! Availability:

Check your local gun shop or online

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great price

  • Well made

  • No sharp edges

  • Good fit and finish

Cons:

  • Trigger pull is heavy

  • Lack of aftermarket parts

  • Forearm is too long

  • Pistol grip

  • Slide release

Score:  7.00 Good

Brash Tactical

  Brash Tactical has come into the gear/accessory market with a bunch of products. These products are made in the USA with mostly American sourced materials. Brash Tactical sent the Gun & Gear Podcast crew a bunch of stuff to try out. We have been using the stuff for some time now.

  The products Brash Tactical sent us were belts and slings. We will have a short section discussing the products each of us received.

Chad:

Double Duty + Kydex Leather Belt - Black: $49.99

  This belt, as the name says, is a double layer, 1.5” wide, leather belt with a kydex insert for stiffness. The belt uses 2 layers of 8 oz American steer hide that is also tanned in America. Brash Tactical then sews these two pieces over the kydex. The US made steel roller buckle is attached in place by looping the outer layer of leather through it and then riveting the leather to hold it in place. Brash Tactical uses ¾” hole spacing on the adjustment holes.

  I have been wearing this belt everyday since it arrived. It is a beast of a leather belt! The belt is around 5/16” thick. I really do like the thickness, it will hold up just about any pistol you decide to carry on it. Where the buckle attaches, there is only a single layer of leather, this makes it easier to use, as well as not making it as thick where the tail rides. The one problem I have with the belt is that the kydex seems to have either set or cracked, where it makes a sharp turn around my IWB holster. It doesn’t affect the belt any, it just looks a little odd. The belt still looks very good and is comfortable to wear. Next time, I’d probably opt for just the non kydex double duty belt, or the Hybrid like Zane and Rob received. 

Deluxe Quick-Adjust 2 Point Sling - Multicam black w/QD’s: $19.99 

  Brash Tactical’s Quick-Adjust sling is a 1” wide, mil-spec webbing, 2 point sling. It comes in a variety of colors or patterns, they sent me Multicam Black with the optional QD’s. This sling uses a quick release steel cam buckle. With the paracord handle that is attached to the cam buckle, you can easily make the sling shorter or longer. Just pull the tab away from you to lengthen the sling. Or pull the buckle up and in toward you, to make the sling shorter.

  The Quick-Adjust sling is easy to use. I found that it works better if the attachments (QD’s) are spaced farther apart on the rifle. So one up by the muzzle, and the other at the rear of the stock. This sling is a little awkward if the mounting points are close together. However, the sling does what it is supposed to do. The 1” wide webbing is a little narrow for my liking, or it needs padding. But for a US made sling for $20, you honestly can’t go wrong.

Loop-Adjust Sling - Black w/QD’s: $17.99 

  The Loop Adjust Sling is also a 1” wide, mil-spec webbed, 2 point sling. The difference is the hand loop that is used to adjust the length. Just pull/slide it up or down to shorten or lengthen the sling. It really is that simple.

  Brash Tactical Loop Sling is one of the easiest slings to adjust. I really do like this sling. Its adjustments are just so easy and intuitive. I was worried that because it was so easy to adjust, it would loosen up. That was not the case, it is very tight when in use. Yes, it also uses the 1” webbing, so it can dig into your shoulder a little bit, but that’s only after extended use. For a $18 US made sling with QD’s, how can you really go wrong.

 Rob:

Hybrid Leather and Nylon +Kydex Belt: $39.99

  When I received the belt, the buckle prong was on the wrong side of the frame.  This meant that you could not insert the belt through the punch holes.  I reached out to Chris, sent him a few photos, and he sent me a return receipt to send the belt back.  A little over two weeks later I had the replacement with the prong on the correct side,

The belt felt strong and fit well. I have been using this belt for two months and have no major complaints so far. The kydex insert supports full size pistols with ease and this is a solid belt. 

  My main issue with this is the kydex stops just before the punch holes.  My experience with similar belts is, after time, the holes will start to open (stretch) causing the belt to slide down.  My personal preference is their double duty belt, where the Kydex takes up the full length of the belt, but that is just a preference. (Editorial note: The kydex doesn’t run through the holes on the Double Duty belt, but it is two layers of leather, which can help with this)


Tony:

Loop-Adjust Sling: $17.99 

Single Point Sling: $29.99

  I received the Brash Tactical Loop Adjustable sling and their Single Point Bungee sling. The 2 point sling was installed on my Hi Point 995 carbine in a High Tower Armory MBS 95 chassis. The sling worked well with the bullpup design, the adjustment allowed the gun to be brought tight into my body when needed. It's easy to manipulate. 

  The con for the Brash Tactical 2 point slings is it lacks width. That lack of width causes the 9 pound carbine to quickly become (at first) annoying and eventually irritating on my shoulder. Taking an all day class or carrying it for a few hours would become distracting if not painful. It needs to be wider, thicker and maybe have some padding. For short range trips it won't bother most people. 

  The single point bungee sling was way too long and had no adjustment in the bag for length. I installed it on my 10/22 in the High Tower Armory 90/22 chassis that I use to introduce kids to firearms. The sling suspended the firearm below my belt buckle. Regardless of placement it hung too low to be of any practical value. If there's a method of shortening the sling it would work well. 

  For multi hour use, I wouldn't recommend either due to the negatives.


Zane:

Zane’s stuff will be added at a later date, or when he finishes it.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

American made gear

Target Market:

Those wanting American made gear at an affordable price

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Belts, slings, and gun cases

What others are saying?:

Mixed reviews on Amazon

Link to other reviews:

Amazon

Price point:

MSRP = See Brash Tactical’s website

Retail = See Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

Brash Tactical or Amazon

Score: Somewhere between a 6.00 and a 7.50 - It really depended on the product

Defense Mechanisms 2 point Sling

  Defense Mechanisms (DM for short) is a newer company that makes quality gear and tactical products. DM is a company that likes to improve on existing technology. One of their products is a 2-point rifle sling. Yes, they improved upon the Vickers style sling and improved it’s functionality.

  If you use a long gun for any amount of time, you realize that you need a sling. A sling can be a simple way to wear your rifle from point A to point B. Or it can be an added support, to help stabilize a rifle, especially in non standard shooting positions. Either way, DM’s sling has you covered for just about any situation where a sling is needed. 

  Defense Mechanisms sling looks quite simple, and it is. But it has so many other functions that really set it ahead of the rest. Being a Vickers style sling, it has a quick adjustment “handle” at the front of the sling. This makes for effortless and quick adjustments in length. You can pull it shorter to make the rifle fit tight up against your chest, then quickly pull the handle to loosen it up and get into a shooting position. This pull tab handle sits out from the rifle, making it easier to locate than the flatter style seen on a lot of 2 point slings. If your hand is on the handguard, it just kind of naturally runs into the adjuster, at least that’s how it felt to me.

  The DM Sling is made from quality materials. It uses a 1” wide webbing that is extremely strong and doesn’t stretch like some of the less expensive ones. When I first looked at the webbing, I was concerned that it may be uncomfortable on the skin. To my surprise, it is more comfortable than I expected. It’s still a tad bit rough on my skin, but all slings are that way to some extent. The comfort is still a bonus when wearing a rifle sling all day long. Since the webbing doesn’t stretch, it makes for an extremely strong, and tight sling when in use. A tight sling equals a tight support. The sling can also be had in a variety of colors and patterns. I opted for MultiCam Tropic, mainly because it looks better in photos for the review, plus I like it.

  An option when purchasing the DM sling is QD swivels. I opted for the QD swivels. I wanted to see what the sling was like when completely outfitted from DM. The swivels are good quality. They are the half curved style, which work well when quickly adjusting the sling. Plus, since they are QD, the sling is easy to take off or move to different mounting positions.

  Storage of a sling, when on a firearm, is always problematic. DM has essentially cured this problem with the addition of built in storage straps. I will say, this is my favorite aspect of the sling. By sewing on, and putting elastic webbing (keepers) around the sling, DM has managed to make the sling tightly storable on the firearm. This allows the sling to be tight up against the side of the firearm and out of the way. Depending on where the sling is mounted, it also gives complete access to the safety and trigger of an AR style rifle, without the sling getting in the way! Having use of the rifle before engaging the sling, can be very useful, especially if leaving a vehicle in a hurry. To aid in the stowage of the sling, DM attached a pull “dongle”. This dongle aids in pulling the sling through the elastic keepers and works quite well. If you run the dongle back through the keeper, it also functions as a pull handle to yank the sling out of the keepers and back normal (meaning no longer in the storage configuration). Please go check out DM’s instructions, https://defensemechanisms.com/rifle-sling/ , on how to stow the sling, they have pictures and explanations that are way better than I can explain.

  Since we are in an ammunition slump, most of the sling use was in dry fire practice. Don’t get me wrong, dry practice with a sling is extremely important. I got so much better at using a sling when practicing with the DM sling! I was fortunate enough to have some real range time with the sling. I ran it with transition drills, from the stowed option, and from being tight up against my chest. In all of the cases, the DM sling performed great. It was easy to quickly adjust the length when it was tight up against my chest. Quick to pull it back tight too. When working from the sling stowed position, I was able to use the rifle as intended. Because of where the sling is mounted on my rifle, it slightly covers the safety selector. I wasn’t keen on this, but during use, it didn’t seem to affect manipulation of the controls. The sling dongle also made it easily return to the normal sling use position. All in all, the Defense Mechanisms sling works well

  The Defense Mechanisms 2 point sling is a nice option. I was pleased with how well it functions. The built in storage capability is a huge addition and keeps you from having to purchase other pieces to do the same thing. It has plenty of pattern options to match your gear preference. At $40, it is priced superbly for what you get. So if you are looking at a useful 2 point sling, go check out Defense Mechanisms.


Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Fast adjustable 2 point sling with containment features

Target Market:

Anyone needing a 2 point rifle sling

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 1” wide Webbing

  • Captured adjustment tab for quick indexing and adjustment

  • Minimalist design

  • Elastic keepers for easy stowage

  • Pull dongle for easy release from self storage

  • Optional QD swivels

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black, Ranger Green, Coyote, Multicam, Multicam Arid, Multicam Black, Woodland, Wolf Grey

What others are saying?:

5/5 Stars - JC at DefenseMechanisms

I have a lot of slings and as far as functionality this is hands down the best one I have. The self storage issue is one that has plagued me for years. Defense Mechanisms got this right!!! Affordable price as well. I will be telling everyone I know about this sling.

Link to other reviews:

GunMagWarehouse

Price point:

MSRP = $40.00

As Tested = $55.00 (extra $15 is for QD sling swivels)

I need it now! Availability:

Defense Mechanisms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Built in storage

  • Easy to use adjustment slider

  • QD swivels

  • Rapid release from storage

  • Strong webbing

Cons:

  • 1” wide (I like slightly wider)

  • When stored, can cover some controls

Score: 8.50 Great

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Favorite Link:  Atibal Optics

Sniper Ops Tactical Tripod

The first time I heard about the Sniper Ops Tripod was during a long range shooting class when my spotter brought his.  During the class I had the opportunity to use the tripod and found it worked very well.  Researching the tripod I initially passed due to the price and financial situation at that time.  Upon using other tripods of lesser quality and available funds, it was immediately purchased.  

The tripod has three legs that are each secured with a hex wrench which allows you to control how hard it will be to fold them to the extended position (they are not telescopic). The center of the base contains the rod which the head mount slides on to support the scope.  The head has a twist knob which secures it to the rod (left/right) and a throw lever which is used for up/down movement.  A micro-fine adjuster on the back of the head allows for incremental elevation adjustments.  The scope support can be pivoted 180 degrees to allow for inverted use. 

The scope is attached to the tripod using a twist knob, and once secured, it does not move. There is an optional Collet which the head rides on to make it easier to pan the scope.  Using the collet allows you to loosen the pan knob, move the scope to the new position and then tighten the knob with ease.  Without the collet you will have to hold the head to ensure it does not slip down the rod.  

Using the tripod on a bench or prone, only one rod is required.  If you want to use it standing or seated with the tripod on the floor you will need additional rod extensions.  The rods have a male connection at one end and a female connection at the other so they screw in easily.  At 13” in length four rods should be sufficient to use the tripod in your hunting stand or blind.  The use of more than two rods will make the tripod top heavy, which is why they make a weight that can be screwed into the bottom rod for greater stability..  

If you have a rangefinder an additional head can be used with the primary (scope) head.  This will allow you to set up your scope and rangefinder to move in conjunction to allow ranging your target more easily.  Adapters can also be purchased to attach your cell phone and a Kestrel in addition to leg extensions which will give the tripod a larger footprint.  

The following items are included with the ‘standard’ package:

  • 1 each round shaped, black, STANDARD head mount 

    • Accommodates all scopes and devices with the standard 1/4" X 20 threads 

  • 1 each 3-legged base assembly

    • Legs are non-telescoping

  • 2 each 13- inch rods, 1" diameter

    • 2 joined rods provide about 30" of height 

  • 1 each (NON-MOLLE) padded carrying case (capacity for 5 rods)

  • Inner soft silicone impregnated storage case 

  • 1 each operator’s manual

  • Tough, high quality anodized camouflage

Currently ordering is done by calling or emailing Dave directly.  This proved to be fortuitous as he was able to assist me with selecting the correct scope base as well as accessories, including drilling the head for future use with a rangefinder.  

When I ordered the tripod the following accessories were also purchased:

  • Two additional rods

  • Collet

  • Quick Attach Mount for scope

  • Upgraded (MOLLE) carrying case

  • Drill the head mount to connect a separate mount for a rangefinder

If you are going to purchase any accessory, buy the collet, as that will give you the best use.  The collet makes it very easy to pan the scope. Personally, I think the collet should be included in the package.  

For side by side comparison I used a friend's Manfrotto tripod.  While the Sniper Ops tripod is more expensive it feels more solid and allows the spotter to get the scope lower for use in the prone position.  

Weight of Base, rod and head mount - 3lbs 8.3 oz. Collapsed 12in H X 2.5 in deep (without head mount)Extended the base measures 15in X 17.5in.  

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Well constructed scope mount

Target Market:

Anyone looking  for a scope mount.  

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Solid aluminium construction 

  • Micro adjuster has a range of +5 to -14 degrees.  

  • Works very well when shooting prone or on a bench.

  • Has attachments for accessories. 

  • Small footprint when legs are extended

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Camouflage 

Tactical Tripod Order Page

What others are saying?:

C. Coker

This is a really well made product and I highly recommend it.

Link to other reviews:

Tactical Gun Review

Tactical Gun Review (YouTube)

Price point: 

$379 for the ‘standard’ package

I need it now! Availability:

http://tacticaltripod.com/

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Well constructed.

  • solid scope mounting. 

  • Quality construction

  • Folds to a compact size

  • Convenient carrying case

  • Made in USA

  • Veteran Owned

Cons:

  • At 3lb, 8.3oz it is Heavy 

  • More expensive than other tripods.

Score: 9.00 Amazing

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