Review

Onnais Safe

  I ran across the Onnais safe when I saw a friend had one. Being the curious type, I proceeded to have them send me one. I liked that the Onnais had both fingerprint and numerical code access. It can hold 1 large framed pistol comfortably, or 2 if they are Glock 17 size or smaller.

  The Onnais is pretty functional. As long as you don’t expect it to keep career criminals out. It’s all steel exterior is nicely finished. Although I would like a little stronger steel on the lid, more on that later. It is foam padded on the inside, not the thickest foam, but not bare metal either. The biometric sensor is easily accessible, as is the numerical keypad and key slot. The safe also comes with a wire cable to secure it to something strong. Or it also has 2 screws that can be used to mount it to a flat surface. The holes are pre drilled in the bottom of the safe for the screws, and a slot is at the rear corner for the cable.

  Setup on the Onnais is really easy. Install the 4 AA batteries, which are not included. Use the instructions to program a code in. The number code must be at least 5 digits and up to 10. Two keys are also included. The keys are actual keys, not the barrel type typically found on cheaper stuff. Then you can program fingerprints in. It allows up to 30 fingerprints. Because it is a biometric sensor, I recommend storing about 5 or so with each finger you plan to use. Do the sides, tip, etc of one finger, then the next, and so on. That way there is a better chance that the reader will read your finger under stress.

  One of the things I like about the Onnais safe is the triple opening options. Even though the biometric reader has a less than 1 second read time, sometimes the biometric sensor wont read your fingerprint. You then have 2 other options to open the safe. Let’s be honest here, biometric readers are cool, but they can still be unpredictable. Mine wont read my fingerprint if I have a cut on my finger, or if some skin has recently been roughened up on it. Get some dried super glue on your fingertip, and it just won't read it. But don’t worry, that code you entered will still work. Just type that code in, press “OK”, and the Onnais pops right open. The key is basically a backup for if the batteries die, at least for me. The fingerprint reader actually performed very good for me, minus when I had other problems noted above. I just switched fingers when it gave me the flashing red light, then it usually opened right up.

  To put the Onnais into perspective, I call it a rapid storage box. Partially because a “safe” implies a bit of work to get into. This Onnais is great if you want something to keep children or others from gaining access to your pistol and still have almost immediate access yourself. I wouldn’t hesitate to put this on a nightstand or something similar. But there is the question about breaking into it. You can pry the lid up by sliding a butterknife between the lid and the frame. Enough so that you can get something stronger into it and pry on it. Until either the lid bends, but more likely is that the plastic locking latch will break. I didn’t pry on it enough to break the latch, but I see how it is highly possible. It does flex the lid quite a bit when prying on it with the knife. 

  Another option to use the Onnais in, would be a car. I say this loosely, because it needs to be placed somewhere it can’t be seen, maybe a trunk. But, because of the supplied cable, it can be wrapped around a semi-permanent fixture, like a seat mounting base. If it gives you a safer storage option than “your car is not a holster”, when you run into some place like a post office, or federal building, then it may have just done its job. The Onnais is not water or air tight, so don’t plan on using it in a boat, if you get the idea.

  The Onnais safe is a good concept. If you need quick access to a firearm, it might be just the ticket. If you need to keep it super secure, it might not. I do like the “safe”. Having backups to backups, makes it function like a quick access safe should. If it is to keep honest people honest, then it would be a good little bedside safe. You can check it out on https://onnaisafe.com/ or Amazon if you're interested.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Small storage case with fingerprint opening

Target Market:

Those wanting quick access to a handgun, but still a safe storage method

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 3 modes of access - Key, fingerprint, or code

  • Exterior is all steel

  • Holds 2 regular size pistols 

  • Exterior size - 11.49 x 9.17 x 3.07 inches

  • Interior size - 10.63x 6.69 x 2.91 inches

  • Weight - 5.8 lbs

  • Cable and mounting screws included

  • Uses 4 AA batteries - not included

  • 8-10 month battery life

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Newer Version

What others are saying?:

1 star on Amazon

Butter knife can beat this safe

The locking mechanism is, believe it or not, plastic. A sturdy butter knife can break into this safe. Took me about 1 minute.

4 stars on Amazon

Well done for its intended purpose

The gun safe is well built with no sharp edges, and is easy to operate. It has enough room for two Glock 19-size handguns. The instructions are clear on how to add new codes and fingerprints. The only real down-sides I see are that the fingerprint reader can be finicky and the internal foam isn't very thick. It is clear that the intended purpose is to deter others and secure your guns, but it would not prevent a determined criminal from opening it. It would absolutely work for securing guns away from children.

Pros:

- Well built

- No sharp edges

- Button beeps can be disabled (still makes some noise when opening but is far quieter)

- No internal spring that "over-springs" the lid when opening

- Easy to use and setup

Cons:

- Internal foam seems a little thin

- Fingerprint reader can be picky if your finger is not placed on the sensor exactly as it was when you programmed it

Link to other reviews:

Nothing of any value found

Price point:

MSRP = $129.99

Retail = $119.99 on Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

Amazon or Onnais

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • Multiple opening options (Key, Fingerprint, Code)

  • Decent size

  • Cable and mounting screws included

  • Stores up to 30 fingerprints

  • Quick access with fingerprint or keypad

  • Easily programmed

Cons:

  • Thin metal - Lid can be pried up with a pocket knife

  • Fingerprint reader can be finicky

  • Plastic latch, as noted in Amazon review - Can be broken fairly easy

Score: 6.50 Okay

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Patmos Arms Judah 43 slide

  JSD Supply has been selling 80% kits and supplies for some time now. They offer the Patmos Arms’ series of slides, as well as other parts. They kindly sent this complete Patmos Arms Judah 43 slide out to me. The Judah 43 is for a Glock 43 or 43x size pistol. I actually installed it on a SS80 kit from the Glockstore. It proceeded to work great on that little SS80 frame.

  As noted, the Judah 43 is for a Glock 43 sized pistol. This includes the actual G43 and G43x, along with the SS80 and other 80% slimline frames. The Judah 43 comes in 2 configurations, stripped and complete. This review is for the later, as it came with internal slide parts and a match grade barrel. It does not come with sights, though they did install a set of factory plastic sights for me. It uses any standard G43 sights.

  The Judah 43 is a very nice simple slide. It has front and rear cocking serrations. Both of which run perpendicular to the slide. All the exterior edges have large chamfers, so nothing is extremely sharp. The interior and exterior machining are super smooth. Very few, if any machine marks can be seen on the inside, and Zero machine marks can be seen on the outside. Lastly, the Black Nitride coating is top notch and should last a very long time. Even if it were to wear through the Nitride coating, the slide is manufactured from 416 Stainless Steel, so corrosion should never be a problem.

  When the complete Judah slide was received, I realized that the upper parts were not installed in the slide. Not a problem for me, more of a heads up for someone purchasing a Judah slide. The parts not being installed actually worked out better for the review, since I was able to assemble the slide with the parts provided. All the parts fit great and were easily installed. No loose or ill-fitting parts were noticed when the slide was assembled. 

  Being a complete slide, a match grade barrel was also included. The barrel fit tight in the slide, but not so tight that the slide didn’t function properly. The slide also fits nice and snug on the SS80 frame. I'm sure it would have the same fit on other frames as well. I don’t know if it’s the barrel, or the whole pistol/slide combo, but this little pistol build shoots fantastic. I didn’t put it on paper, but on my tiny A-zone steel, it was keeping shots on target out to 15 yards with no problem. 

  I did install a set of XS Minimalist sights onto the Judah 43. As expected, the front sight fit snug without any side to side play. The rear sight had the typical interference fit, so I had to use a sight pusher and a small punch to install it. It’s just another point of reference to the quality of the machining.

  After using this Judah 43 slide for some time, I can say it is great. It does exactly what I want it to do. It’s very accurate. The finish is nice and smooth. There are no sharp edges, except on the slide serrations. But those are not sharp, per say,  just squared off. My only complaint is that it does not come optics ready at this time. The Judah would be a great fit for an 80% build or to turn your Glock 48 into a 43x size pistol.

  So if you are looking for a great slide, check out the Judah series at JSD Supply. It’s a quality slide at a great price. It comes stripped or complete with a match grade barrel and parts. If you're building a G43 type pistol, you can’t go wrong with the Patmos Arms Judah 43 slide, or probably any of the other Judah slides as well.

  

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Complete slide for Glock 43 or 43x

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a slide for their Glock 43 or 43x build

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Stripped or complete options available (Complete slide was given for review)

  • 416 Stainless Steel

  • Nitride coated

  • Front and Rear cocking serrations

  • Match Grade Nitride barrel

  • Complete upper parts kit included

  • Fits Glock 43 and 43X

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None, but also available for other Glock models

What others are saying?:

Nothing found

Link to other reviews:

Nothing substantial 

Price point:

MSRP = $149.99 stripped - $299.99 complete (as tested)

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

JSD Supply

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Price

  • Top notch machine work

  • Accurate

  • Front slide serrations

  • Nitride Coated Stainless Steel

Cons:

  • No option for red dot sight

  • Comes unassembled 

  • Plain looking

Score: 8.50 Great

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Favorite Link:  Atibal Optics

Strike Industries "Strike Mag"

  Strike Industries has been hitting a home run in the aftermarket parts game. They continually bring out new products. Of those new products is the Strike Mag. The Strike Mag is a 32 round magazine for the AR-15 rifle.

  As with a lot of Strike Industries products, the Strike Mag has a semi-futuristic look. The way the magazine’s lines flow, just gives it that kind of look. Of course looks aren’t everything. So they gave the magazine an anti-tilt follower. Some anti-slip grip texture on the front and rear to aid in inserting and removal of the magazine. There are also some raised “dot matrix” textures on the front sides to aid in the aforementioned. And of course, it holds 32 rounds of 223/5.56 for only a little bit added in overall length.

  Some other features of the Strike Mag are really useful too. The first of which, the magazine has been designed to help prevent over-insertion. It has 2, what I like to call “bumps”, on the front and rear of the magazine, just below where a fully inserted magazine rests inside the magwell. These “bumps” help to stop the magazine from over-insertion when slamming in the magazine on a locked back bolt. I have seen this happen with other magazines and it essentially takes the rifle out of use until one can literally pry the over inserted magazine out. Another feature is the magazine base’s shock cord channel. This channel lets the shock cord, on many magazine carriers, fit snugly over the magazine. It keeps the shock cord from sliding side to side. It works extremely well on my plate carrier pouches.

  What does the extra 2 rounds get you? Unfortunately, it does make the magazine slightly longer. About ¾” longer than a standard GI magazine and ½” longer than a Gen. 3 Pmag. This has pluses and minuses. One plus is: If you stack magazine pouches, the Strike mags can be used to offset the magazines. Maybe put them closest to a plate carrier or chest rig so the back magazines are easier to grab. A minus is: They are longer. I didn’t really notice the extra length when shooting or reloading the AR.

  Luckily I received the Strike mag before the crazy ammunition prices, just barely. So I was able to run quite a few rounds through the mag. Just as I expected, the magazine ran great! I have had zero malfunctions when using it. I ran lots of cheap steel cased ammunition through it too. The magazine was tried in 5 different AR’s, from a 7.5” to 16”’er’s. It even drops free from my AR that has a slightly tight magazine well. So, I would say it is a good magazine, one you should probably check out. And yes, it does insert fully, when loaded with 32 rounds, on a closed bolt.

  Strike Industries has been coming out with top notch products. The Strike Mag is one of them. It holds 32 rounds instead of the normal 30 and functions great. Plus it is 100% made in the U.S.A. Go check out the Strike mag, or any of Strike Industries other stuff. I think you’ll be surprised at all the firearm accessories they have. 

  Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

32 round AR 15 magazine

Target Market:

Anyone wanting an extra 2 rounds in their standard capacity AR magazine

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 32 round capacity

  • -223 Remington/5.56 NATO AR-15/M4/M16 compatible magazine

  • "AccuRamp" first round feed tray design

  • Anti-tilt follower

  • Enhanced geometry with anti-slip finger grooves

  • Magazine base shock cord channel to help provide additional retention

  • Lightweight high-strength polymer

  • Tool-less disassembly of magazine

  • Made in the U.S.A.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

10 round version for restrictive states

What others are saying?:

Nothing as of this review

Link to other reviews:

None found

Price point:

MSRP = $16.95

Retail = $15.95 at Primary Arms

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms or Strike Industries

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Capacity

  • Shock cord channel

  • Functions as expected - very well

  • Designed with over insertion protection

Cons:

  • A little longer than a standard 30rd magazine

Score: 8.50 Great

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Favorite Link:  Matador Arms

Nightstick LGL-170 Weapon Light

  If you are into any type of self defense long gun, then you could probably use a weapon mounted light. Nightstick, a division of Bayco products, has brought out some nice lights in this category. One of those lights is the LGL-170. This is their top tier weapon mounted light, coming in at 1500 lumens.

  Now I know that you just can’t judge a light on Lumens alone. You need the Candela rating also. Well the LGL-170 produces 23,148 candela. In easy to understand terms, the lower the candela rating, the more “flood” like the beam output will be. The higher the candela, the more “spot” like the beam will be. At 23,000 candela, I found the Nightstick to be a good combination of the two. It produces a wider beam then some other weapon lights on the market, but yet still gives plenty of throw to see down range. Nightstick rates it at a 304 meter beam distance. All I know is that I can make out targets at 200 yards with the naked eye, in essentially complete darkness. This also translates into being able to see “threats” out to 200 yards.

Closest target stand is 50 yds, next is 100, and farthest is 200 yds

Steel gong and swinger rack (slightly left of center) is at 200 yds. Click image to make larger

  Nightstick includes everything needed to get started with the light. In the box are 2, yes 2, 3400mah 18650 rechargeable batteries, with a charger of course. Standard and off-set picatinny mounts. An optional 6” cabled pressure remote pad, with an on/off button. The pad can be used with a supplied hook & loop, or a slide in, picatinny rail adapter. Also for the pressure switch, is a wire management picatinny clamp. Nightstick also makes a low profile angled mount adapter for KeyMod or M-lok. I used the M-lok one to mount the light closer in toward the handguard. This makes it easy to use, with just my thumb, for activation. I thought the cable management clamp was a nice added benefit to the package, even though I ended up not using it.

   In the standard configuration, the LGL-170 is your basic weapon light. The tail switch is pressed slightly to use the momentary on function. Or pressed completely to turn it on or off. There is a nice positive click when turning it on or off. One feature I really like in a weapon light, is full lumens all the time. No strobe, or low power to get me distracted under stress. The LGL-170 does this. It’s either on or off, nothing else, always at full power. 

  Since most of the features are listed below, I won’t go over most of them here. But, there are a couple I am going to mention. Having a way to use another power source is always a good idea. So Nightstick made the LGL able to use 2 CR123 batteries as an option. The output is cut down to 1200 lumens, but it’s way better than zero! Plus, you probably have some rolling around in your range bag, at least I do. The next feature is the light’s weight. It comes in at 7.5 ounces with the battery. It’s a little heavier, by 0.5 ounces, than some other lights, but that’s not a deal breaker. When you have a light mounted on the end of a rifle, it makes the rifle swing differently from target to target. Something I noticed when moving the rifle. Also, you just added a ½ lb to that lightweight rifle. But in this case, I’d rather have the ½ lb and be able to see my targets.

  As with most products, there always has to be something questionable. The only part I really don’t like about the light kit is the picatinny switch mount. This picatinny mount, for the pressure switch, is a clip on a piece of plastic. You then slide the pressure switch into this mount. The part that mounts to the rail actually holds on okay, but could be torn off under extreme use. But even worse, is that the pressure switch just slides into the rail adapter, and doesn’t stay. Yes, I know that I could use glue or hook & loop to fix this, but it was kind of annoying. On the other hand, the pressure switch, itself, is awesome.

After a couple months of use, I ran into a problem. The light was not staying bright. After 45 seconds of being on, the output had dwindled down to almost nothing. Cycle the switch, and it would get real bright and then dim down in a minute again. I contacted Nightstick and they immediately sent a new light kit. Yes they sent the whole kit and told me to only return the light and the pressure switch. So I gained two 18650 batteries and a charger in the deal. When I asked them what had happened to the light, they said it had a programming error and were very thankful for me in helping them find the problem. Every company has something go wrong from time to time, I suspect mine was a one off problem, knowing that they have these lights in many law enforcement departments and that they have been tested by those departments. How they react to the problems is what really counts. So far, the new light is working as expected. If anything goes wrong again, I’ll update this review.

  The “unrated” light output is what really shines. In my house, bouncing the light off of the hardwood floor, will literally let you see everything in the living room and kitchen, with ease. Anything you directly point the light at, is bright as day. Real world use, I did get the 1.5 hours of constant on run time. I didn’t expect the full run time at highest output, but I was pleased with how long the light was bright for. In fact, even when it nears the auto shut off from low power, the brightness was still real bright. I’d guess somewhere in the 1000 lumen range.

  I can say that the Nightstick LGL-170 is a useful weapon light. It’s bright. The battery lasts a decent time and it comes with everything that you might need to attach it to your weapon of choice. I have some other Nightstick products. This LGL-170 is right up there in quality and function. If you are in the market for a weapon light or something else, that lights up your world, go check out the Nightstick line of lights.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

1500 lumen LED weapon light

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a bright, decent weapon light for their rifle or shotgun

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 1500 Lumen output for 1.5 hours

  • 23.148 Candela

  • Length: 5.5 in (140 mm)

  • Width: 0.9 in (23 mm)

  • Weight: 7.5 oz (213 g)

  • Diameter: 0.9 in (23 mm)

  • Head Diameter: 1.5 in (38 mm)

  • Tail cap and 6" Remote Pressure Switch included

  • Momentary or constant-on function

  • Standard and offset Picatinny rail mounts

  • Sharp focused beam for distance illumination

  • 6061-T6 aluminum housing w/Black type III hard-anodized finish

  • Beam distance rated at 304 meters

  • IP-X7 Waterproof

  • Impact & chemical resistant

  • Serialized for personal identification

  • (2) 18650 batteries, single charger and 2' USB cable (included)

  • Will work with 2-CR123 batteries - output reduced to 1200 lumens and 21,278 candela

  • Lifetime Warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars on Optics Planet

Very well made light

The light is well made and super bright with no strobe function though ...also the mounts are very solid and screws come with thread locker applied which is a nice touch and shows some forward thinking by the manufacturer.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found at the time of this writing

Price point:

MSRP = $249.00

Angle mount = $24.00

Retail = $199.45 at Optics Planet

I need it now! Availability:

Optics Planet or other online retailers

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Everything is included

  • Bright

  • Real nice pressure switch

  • Run Time

  • Customer Service

Cons:

  • Candela output

  • Mount for pressure switch

  • Weight

Score: 7.00 Good

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Favorite Link:   Atibal optics





Buck 110 & Slim Pro

By: Rusty Odom

THE BUCK 110 original and SLIM PRO

This review is about the Buck 110 Slim Pro folding lock back pocket knife. As a young kid growing up in Tennessee, carrying a pocket knife was second nature. I can remember at an early age, maybe 6 or 7, having a classic Buck 110 with the ebony handles, classic brass bolster, solid lockup and unlock of the thumb button. I don’t know what I ever did with that particular knife but I wish I had it now. I can remember the heft it had in the pocket of my husky corduroy jeans. Many children nowadays will not remember those jeans, the ones that built up static electricity when you walked and your thighs rubbed together. You know the ones, they had double layered knees that would never wear out, even if you were dragged behind your dad’s pickup truck. Now back to the knife, the Buck, the heavy weight, built like a tank, you could dig with it, hammer with it, pry with it, but it was made to cut. I wouldn't suggest doing any of the other things listed besides cutting, but man what a knife. I don't know where mine came from or even what it cost at the time, but it was worth a fortune in my eyes as a kid.

The 110 was designed in 1963 by Al Buck, for sportsmans looking for a sturdy folding knife, for those that did not want to carry a fixed blade. This model knife has been the number one selling knife in the world since it was first marketed, something has to be said about a design that has lasted almost 60 years.

The lockback mechanism is that works off of a rocking bar that locks against the blade when opened all the way. I have cut myself more than once with a folding knife that didn’t have a locking blade because i was not using it the right way.

The original 110:

Closed length 4 ⅞” long

Blade length 3 ¾” long

Blade thickness 0.120 (almost ⅛”)

Weight 7.2 oz

Blade material is 420 HC (high carbon stainless steel)

Ebony handles

Brass bolster

Black leather belt sheath

Price $55 to $79

Now to the new era of the Buck 110, the Slim Pro Series:

The 110 Slim Pro is an improvement on the original 110, in my opinion it is a EDC gentleman's knife. It has all the traditional features of the original but as the name states, it is slimmer, comes with a decent deep pocket clip and a thumb stud. The pocket clip is also reversible for the lefties out there. The blade is S30V stainless, which has better edge retention, hardness and corrosion resistance then the original 420. Now both are great blades, the 420 material has been and is still being used on all major brands of knives. (https://knifeinformer.com/discovering-the-best-knife-steel/) I inserted a link if anyone is interested in reading over the specs of the different knife blade materials. To the common person it might as well be Greek unless you have some kind of metal working or metallurgy background. I myself used to be a machinist in my younger days so I understand it somewhat.

The 110 Slim Pro:

Overall length 8.625” (8 ⅝”)

Closed length 4.875 (4 ⅞”)

Blade thickness .0120”

Weight 3.4oz (almost 4 ounces lighter than the original 110)

Handles are Micarta or G10 material

Pocket Clip

One hand opening with thumb stud

Price $94.00

So to compare these two knives almost seems like comparing apples and oranges as the old saying goes. But I can tell you I have been carrying both knives on my person for several months. I have been cutting various items like cardboard, rope, myself, and then and I mean then I had the perfect time to test them out. A coworker of mine was running emergency traffic while driving an ambulance, when a nice buck stepped out in front of her. I received a phone call around 8:30 PM telling me she had just had an accident in the ambulance and hit a deer. So the first thing that came to my mind was, is the deer salvageable. I can see where everyone is going with that statement I just made. But deer meat to me is like caviar to a Russian. I knew she had to be okay because she was calling me. I wasn’t that uncaring, I knew where the conversion was going to go anyway so I just brought it up first. So after getting the general location of the accident, loading up my Plott hound to track it, my 7 year old son and my 13 year old daughter, we were off. As soon as we located the deer about 100 yards off the roadway, I realized the only knife I had on me was the 110 Slim. So after doing a pretty good trauma assessment and realizing it looked pretty good, it was time to go to work. The knife cut through the hide like butter, all the good stuff came out intact which made me feel good about the meat. After getting it hung up on the kids swing set I let it hang over night and gathered the tools of the trade for the next morning's work. I almost started out with my Cutco hunting knife that I have been using for over a decade but decided to use the Bucks. (How Ironic) I skinned the entire deer with the Slim Pro and it was still pretty dang sharp after that chore. I then swapped to the original 110 and went to town disassembling the various quarters of meat. I did notice that the handles on the original got pretty slick with bloody hands and I lost my grip on the handle a few times. I took the Slim pro and hit the blade on an Arkansas stone to straighten the edge up and went back to cutting meat. With the Slim being a good bit lighter and of course slimmer I had less hand fatigue. The micarta handles gave a more secure purchase with wet hands. After all of the processing was done I went to the cutting board and started cutting up jerky strips, round steak, tenderloins, backstrap etc with both blades. I really liked the weight of the original while making cuts through bigger pieces and the Slim Pro for the more delicate cuts. They both performed great and honestly I couldn't tell a difference in the material that the blades were made out of, I think it all comes down to personal preference to which knife you want to use.

Now as an EDC knife I have to take the Slim Pro, the pocket clip, the knife being lighter and thinner gives it a huge plus in my book. The original comes with a black leather belt sheath to tote it in or you can put it in your front pocket. I have carried it both ways and I am not a fan of having it jumping around in my pocket, it seems to bind up and just uncomfortable to me. I don't mind the belt sheath, but sometimes I have a lot of stuff already attached to my belt and the weight difference between the two and not having a pocket clip, it loses an advantage to me. So this all goes back to what you are going to do with the knives, how you are going to carry them and what your primary use is.

I have to say that I have really enjoyed carrying the 110 Slim Pro for months now, it was razor sharp out of the box, I love how it sets deep into my pocket and the clip is secure. It is a little stiff to open unlike some of the tactical folders I have and on the market, but it is not a tactical knife. This jewel is an EDC that you can open with one hand, it will cut as good or better than other knives on the market in its price range. It still holds that classic original clip point blade with a solid lockup that Al intended with the first model back in 1963. I consider this a blade of all occasions, a do most blade, a gentleman's knife that doesn't mind getting dirty and putting in a hard day's work. If you want to know the best part about both of these knives are? They both are 100% American made with a lifetime warranty. So you choose which one you want, you won’t go wrong either way.

Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame

  • Best selling knife since 1963

  • American made

  • Classic Style

  • Sharp

Target Market:

  • Dedicated knife people

  • Hunters

  • EDC

  • Those who like quality

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product): 

See above in review section

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

  • Different material for handles

  • Aftermarket sheaths for belt carry (cross draw)

  • Stainless Bolster for original 

What others are saying?:

One knife for a lifetime.

Beautiful classic, very sharp.

Great knife, all American made

Price point:

MSRP:

110 Hunter - $55.00 - $79.00

Slim Pro - $94.00

Retail:

110 Hunter - $44.99

Slim Pro - $89.99

I need it now! Availability:

Buck Knives

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • American made

  • Sharp

  • Great construction

  • Good quality for the money.

Cons:

  • Might be a little bulky

  • One blade style for both knives

  • Original handles are slippery to hold when wet

Score: 8.00 Great 

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Hawke Optics Endurance red dot

 If you didn’t know, I am a big fan of red dots on carbines. So every chance I get, I like to try out new ones. This leads us to the new Endurance line of red dots from Hawke Optics. Particularly the 1x25 version. 

  Hawke Optics recently introduced the Endurance line of red dots. They are aimed more at the AR/MSR/Sporting Carbine market. I say this because they have many options one would want for these applications, at least in my opinion. I’ll be talking about the 1x25, which is the smaller version of the Endurance, as they also offer a 1x30. Both versions have a 3 MOA dot size.

  The Endurance red dot has a nice compact size. You can read the dimensions below in the FNB’s. However, it is very light at 6.5 ounces, so it adds very little to the weight of the rifle. Because it is small, it is very unobtrusive. This makes it very nice for moving around obstacles, may they be walls, trees, or anything else you might bump up against. 

  This little red dot has 8 brightness settings. Utilized by using the “+” or “-” buttons on the top of the optic. The brightest setting is plenty bright outside in the sun, or when using the red dot with an artificial light source (flashlight). You can also hold down either of the buttons to turn it off. Or hit either one to turn it back on. However, I don’t use the on/off function. This is because the Endurance has an auto off, auto on function that works fantastic. After sitting still for 5 minutes, the optic turns the dot off. Yes, I sat there for 5 minutes and watched it turn off. Then when you move the optic, it turns back on. It even turned back on after sitting in my safe for 2 weeks with no use! The auto on/off function is my favorite feature of the Endurance red dot. 

  Some might say that having a 25mm objective lens is too small. I actually appreciate the smaller window on this optic. I am still able to pick the dot up extremely fast without “searching” for it. The 3 MOA dot might help with the fast acquisition. I would like to see a smaller dot size for more accurate work, but the Endurance doesn’t fall into the “Duty” category for me. It is, however, great for range and hunting use. 

Adjustment of the red dot is pretty straight forward. It has covered windage and elevation knobs. Unscrew them, and underneath is a nice little click adjustment dial. No having to use a coin or a screwdriver here. They are 1 MOA adjustments per click. The clicks are pretty good. You can hear them and feel them. Just like you would want. I liked the fact that they were finger adjustable.

  Another reason I put the Endurance red dot in the range/hunting use, is the battery life. Even though it turns itself off after use, it only has a 22 hour run time when on the max brightness setting. Of course, this increases to 190 hours on the medium setting. Which is a good actual use setting for this red dot. The low setting gives 2200 hours, but unless it’s pretty dark, there is not much use for this setting. Standby time, when using the auto on feature, is 10,000+ hours, so no need to worry about that. 

  The Endurance comes with 2 mounts. A low mount, and a quick release high mount. The high mount is for AR style carbines, and puts the red dot at the proper height for these rifles. As mentioned, it is a quick release high mount. When I first received the red dot, the quick release would not clamp on to the mounting rail, ugh. I had to take it apart and cut the screw shorter, then it clamped on just fine. The mount did loosen up after essentially throwing the rifle on the ground, but that could happen with other mounts also.

  I drop tested the Endurance red dot. Watch the quick video. It survived nicely. No loss of zero and only a few minor dings from the rocks. The quick mount did loosen up after the second drop. This didn’t surprise me, I just turned the adjustment screw, on the quick mount, in a ½ turn and I was off to the races again. 

  The actual dot is very clear for me. I do have an astigmatism, so most dots appear “starry”. The Endurance’s dot is actually clearer than some of my other red dots. I don’t know if it is because of the coatings that Hawke uses, or if it’s just me. Looking through the Endurance is also very clear. The glass doesn’t seem to distort the color spectrum like some red dots do. I didn’t even notice any weird reflections or halo’s. 

  The Hawke Endurance red dot works well. I really like how durable it is. It’s super clear. My only wishes would be a smaller dot and more battery life. Everything else, on this little red dot, is top notch. It would be perfect for a .22lr or Pistol caliber carbine. If you're in the market for a reasonably priced, almost indestructible, red dot, go give the Hawke Optics Endurance line a look. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Small Red dot optic with auto on/off

Target Market:

Those wanting a red dot sighting option

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 3 MOA Red Dot Reticle

  • 8 Digital Brightness Settings

  • Uses  1 - CR2032 battery

  • 5 minute auto off if no movement

  • Auto on when movement is detected

  • 25mm Objective lens

  • Rubber lens cover included

  • 25-Layer Anti-Reflection Multi Coated lenses

  • 1 MOA windage and elevation adjustments

  • Anodized Aluminum Housing

  • Nitrogen-Filled, Water and Fogproof

  • Quick Release Weaver / Picatinny “high” Rail Mount

  • Low and High Mounts included

  • Weighs 6.5-ounces

  • 2.8” long

  • 2.2” tall with low mount

  • 2.8” tall with high mount

  • 1.7” wide

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Larger 1x30

What others are saying?:

Nothing found

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found

Price point:

MSRP = $189.00

Retail = $169.99 at Optics Planet or B&H Photo

I need it now! Availability:

Hawke Optics or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Auto on

  • Durable

  • Physical Size

  • Weight

Cons:

  • Battery Life

  • Mounting base

Score: 7.00 Good - for the Red Dot

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            5.50 Mediocre - for the included quick detach mount

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Rough Cut Holsters RHAEGAL IWB

  Anyone that carries a pistol, should have a good holster. It doesn’t matter if you conceal carry, or just open carry. The point is, everyone needs a holster. This brings us to Rough Cut Holsters. They sent me one of their Rhaegal inside the waistband (IWB) holsters, with a few asked for modifications. This holster is nicer than I was expecting.

  The Rhaegal holster is one of Rough Cut’s IWB holsters. This particular one is for a Kahr CM9. They make this holster for a number of common pistols like Glocks, Sigs, Smith & Wessons, etc. The Rhaegal is a taco style holster. Meaning that it is one piece of kydex wrapped around the firearm. It’s a common type of IWB holster, especially for concealed carry.

  I asked for some options on this holster. One of them was a small “claw”. It adds like $5 to the price. But I really wanted to see if the claw would help conceal the small pistol better. Rough Cut told me it probably wouldn’t, and guess what? The holster maker was correct. The point is, they will let you do options, even if it doesn’t make much sense.

  Rough Cut also has various pattern and color options for their holsters. As we know, everyone likes to somewhat personalize their gear. I opted for a zombie green topo kydex with zombie green washers. It’s an IWB so nobody really sees it anyways. But if you want options, they can give you options. They also will do custom holsters. If they don’t have your firearm, they have some options for that also. 

  There are many great features to the Rhaegal holster:

 First up, it comes standard with the Discreet Carry Concepts (DCC) monoblock clip. This is the clip that attaches it to your belt, and the DCC is the best in my opinion. You can wear the holster straight up and down, or adjust the DCC clip to give you a 20 degree cant. Both holes are pre-drilled in the holster. I use the 20 degree cant as I feel it hides the butt of the pistol better. With this clip, the Rhaegal holster doesn’t move at all on my belt, it just stays where I put it! There is also an option for belt loops, if that’s what you like. I did ask for them to include holes to mount an UltiClip or another type of DCC clip, Rough cut supplied the extra holes. I did try it out using a single DCC clip and it works fine. This actually made the holster ride farther down the waist, and helped conceal the holster a tad bit better. It does make it slightly harder to get a good grip when drawing the pistol. So I went back to the way the Rhaegal came. But if you need ultimate discrete carry, that may be the way to go.

  Next up, is the quality. For the price you pay, I have never had a holster with as much attention to detail put into it. The Rhaegal is made from 0.080” thick kydex or boltaron. The thickness keeps the holster stable when drawing or reholstering. It also gives the pistol a positive “click” when holstering or when drawing the firearm out of the holster. The Rhaegal’s design gives it an undercut trigger guard feature. This undercut makes it easier to get a full grip, on the pistol, when drawing. But yet it still covers the trigger guard completely. The edges on the holster are the smoothest I have seen. Rough Cut explained how they do this. All I heard was, “lots of time is taken to do this”. The Rhaegal also came in a nice little cotton bag, just another little touch that Rough Cut adds in.

  Last up, is retention. I already mentioned the “click” when holstering and unholstering. But you also get adjustable retention. The 2 screws, in front of the trigger guard area, can be tightened or loosened to your liking. I have mine set somewhere in between tight and loose. I still get really good retention, in fact, if I hold the holster and shake it, the pistol stays in the holster. But yet it still has a really smooth draw to it.

  I literally have been wearing the Rhaegal everyday since it arrived. It took about a week for me to get used to it. It just rode in a different spot than my previous holster. After that initial week, I don’t even know I am wearing it. I wear it at 3 O’clock, but it can also be worn appendix also. Practice draws are way smoother than my previous holster. Reholstering is also super smooth. I have lots of practice draws with it, they are just as smooth today as when I first received the holster. The Rhaegal’s high sweat guard is rounded in a way that I do not notice it pushing on my side. This is a big plus, as I shy away from high sweat guards because I have not had good luck with them in the past. It is hard to put into words how well this holster carries and works. So you’ll actually have to trust me on this, it just does everything one would want a quality holster to do.

  One of the reasons to get an IWB holster is concealment. Well, since I am using a small pistol, the Rhaegal/pistol combo just disappears. I literally can wear this combo with shorts and a T-shirt. The comfort also helps. Since the combo is small and uses a DCC clip, I can wear it without a belt. I don’t recommend this, but I have done it without feeling like my holster was going to fall out/off. 

  Rough Cut Holsters did a great job with the Rhaegal. They make a bunch of other holster styles also. So if this little IWB rig isn’t what you want, well, they probably have you covered with something else. Their prices are very reasonable, especially when you see the quality you are getting. So far in my review career, this is the first holster company that I will be buying another holster from. So if that doesn't tell you how I feel about Rough Cut Holsters, I don’t know what will. Definitely go check out Rough Cut Holsters, and maybe tell them we sent you over.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality Kydex Inside the Waistband holster

Target Market:

Concealed Carry

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 0-20 degree adjustable cant  

  • Positive “CLICK” when holstering

  • Undercut Trigger Guard

  • Over-cut Open-face to Accommodate Threaded Barrels 

  • Accommodates Suppressor Height Sights 

  • Full Length Sweat Guard  Standard, others lengths are optional

  • .08 Kydex or .08 Boltaron

  • Multiple clip styles available

  • Optional patterns or colors

  • Optional optic cut

  • 100% Made in USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Plenty, check out here - https://roughcutholsters.com/

What others are saying?:

Jesus A.  5 stars on https://roughcutholsters.com/

Best holsters

Had a hard time finding holsters to fit my P80. These are perfect.

Link to other reviews:

None found

Price point:

MSRP = $45.00

Retail as tested = $63.00 

  • $13.00 for graphics

  • $5.00 for “claw”

I need it now! Availability:

Rough Cut Holsters

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Price

  • 0.080” Kydex

  • Super smooth edges

  • Great retention

  • Straight or 20 degree cant

  • DCC clip comes standard

Cons:

  • Pistol selection is limited for now

Score: 8.50 Great

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Mantis Blackbeard

  Right now, ammunition is hard to find. So training isn’t as easy. Especially with an AR style rifle. Mantis has helped to solve this problem with the Blackbeard. The Blackbeard is a drop in, dry fire, training system for your AR15. Most notably, is its ability to reset your firearms trigger.

  We all need a good dry fire training system. The Mantis Blackbeard is just that, at least in my opinion. What stands the Blackbeard out above other systems? You get to use all of your firearms systems. No changing the trigger, sights, safety, etc. Yes, you get to use your trigger and sight system. The Blackbeard comes with a drop in bolt assembly. Just remove your bolt and drop the Blackbeard’s in. Then charge the Blackbeard’s battery, which is in the shape of a 20 round magazine. Insert the battery like a normal magazine, and now you are ready to start training.

Target is 4” x 7”, rifle was around 3’ away for picture

  The Blackbeard I received, has a green laser. Mantis also has options for no laser, red laser, and an IR laser. I opted for green because I use red dot sights. That way I can see where I am hitting without confusing it as the red dot. Green also can be seen in bright light better. All the laser ones essentially work the same way. When you pull the trigger, a laser is emitted out of the barrel for a split second, 60ms to be exact. It is long enough for you to see where you have essentially “hit”. There is also a switch to turn the laser on all the time. This is for sighting the laser to your rifle. Or if you want to use the system like a laser bore sighting system. I also found that having a laser system allows you to use other laser training apps, on your phone or virtual training systems. There is also the non laser system, which only resets the trigger. I would pay the $20 more and get the red laser over the non laser.

  Battery life on the Blackbeard is fantastic. Charging is done through a micro-usb and takes some time to fully charge. At first I was trying to see how many trigger pulls I could get out of a charge. A week later I gave up. There are 5 LED’s on the battery to let you know how charged it is. Just push a little button/flap on the side and they light up. The battery also has some weight to it, about half of what a loaded 30rd AR mag weighs. It still helps to mimic the weight of a loaded magazine. The battery weight helps the rifle swing more like it would at the range or in a real life scenario.

  Since the Blackbeard comes from Mantis, it can be used with their other systems. If you happen to have any of the Mantis “X” series, it will integrate into these systems to give you all of the same information as usual. I didn’t have good luck with using my Mantis X10 along with the Blackbeard. I just couldn’t seem to get decent readings from the X10. The X10 would read the trigger reset, not the hammer fall. My guess was because the hammer doesn’t actually fall the full distance when using the Blackbeard. The Mantis X10 works great by itself, as does the Blackbeard.

  Something worth pointing out, the trigger reset is fast. Mantis says you can get 10 shots per second out of the mantis. That’s 0.10 second split times. I couldn’t override the Blackbeard’s trigger reset, but I am sure there is someone out there that can. 

  I used the Blackbeard in a variety of AR15’s. It worked in all of them. Everyone of them has a different trigger. The Blackbeard didn’t seem to care whose trigger it was, from mil-spec to a 1.5lb aftermarket. Besides the benefits of the Blackbeard being a dryfire system, It really shines in the ability to use all of your own personal hardware. Mechanical offset is noticeable with the Blackbeard. This gives you the ability to train it also. Because the laser shines out of the barrel, it is seen below your sighting system at short ranges. Just like in real life. So now you can practice sight holdovers, at close range, in your house. 

  The other thing I did with the Blackbeard was set up some training apps on my phone. These are the type that you set your phone up and it reads the laser on the target. The Blackbeard integrated into these also. Now I could see group sizes. These are just another way to help use the Blackbeard in your dry fire training.

  I have nothing but good things to say about the Mantis Blackbeard system. It is really a great training aid. I have had zero problems with it. It pretty much has a permanent home in one of my AR’s. The ability to use all of your personal hardware, and have trigger reset, is what it is all about. Definitely go check out the Blackbeard and Mantis. They really do make great training tools.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

AR15 laser training aid

Target Market:

Those wanting a dryfire rifle training system

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Drop in system for AR15

  • With or without Laser

  • Uses everything on your AR - sight, trigger, etc

  • Rechargeable battery that goes into the magwell

  • Red in color - so you know the firearm isn’t loaded

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Without Laser, Red Laser, or IR Laser

What others are saying?:

Rob D - 5 stars at https://mantisx.com/products/blackbeard-the-auto-resetting-trigger-for-ar-15

I had a minor issue with my Mantis Blackbeard, it worked great and then it locked up. I contacted customer service, Marcus was amazing and they replaced the unit in two days! The sign of a great company is not how they react when things go well. It's how they react when it doesn't.

This product is brand new and as such there will be teething pains. In my case it looked like a screw came loose.

The new unit runs fantastic and is very fast, I believe the company when they say it will cycle 10 shots per second. Great piece of gear for laser training apps / simulators. Perfect for today's ammo prices. I train in my house instead.

Link to other reviews:

Defenders And Disciples

Price point:

MSRP = $199.00 to $249.00

Retail = Same as MSRP

I need it now! Availability:

Mantis

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Uses your AR15 system

  • Drop-in

  • Laser for use with other training systems

  • Battery life

  • Trigger reset time

Cons:

  • Doesn’t interface very well with Mantis X system

  • No recoil

Score: 9.00 Amazing

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Stoeger Condor Field Over/Under 12 Gauge Shotgun

By Rusty Odom

  This is my review on the Stoeger Condor Over/Under Field grade shotgun in 12 gauge. First of all I am not a connoisseur of shotguns, I have your typical Remington 870, 887 Nitro mag, old Ithaca model 37, Mossberg 500, a few Mossberg clones like the Maverick and one made by them for Western Auto. These are all pump guns and of course I have a handful of NEF and H&R single shots break actions in various gauges. Even with all of these shotguns I might run 5 boxes of shells a year during hunting season and to let the kids bust bottles or whatever. I have in the past, way long ago, taken a tactical shotgun class, but I am sure those skills have diminished since. I really haven't practiced them in over 20 years. Most of my time on the Ole scatter gun is during early squirrel season, Turkey season and maybe a deer or hog hunt. 

  I am not a clay shooter nor a 3 gunner, so when I decided to buy a new shotgun, I wanted something that was versatile, dependable, won't break the bank and had a somewhat good lineage behind it. I like to buy guns that are dependable and not break the bank, ease of use and still have a little classic style about them. So while I was surfing the internet I ran across this one at Bass Pro Shops. The price of the shotgun at $399 is what really caught my eye as well as the American walnut stock. So with everything that I buy, I dive deep into doing my research and find reviews and or a better price. What I found out was what really surprised me the most is that Stoger is a subsidiary of Benelli and they are owned by Beretta. Stoeger also serves as an FFL for importing Uberti firearms which are a part of the Benelli/Beretta group. So at the price and the lineage that its Italian grandfather shotguns have, I figured this Brazilian shotgun had to be alright. 

  Upon purchasing the Shotgun I was not disappointed at all. It came in the normal cardboard box and upon opening it there was a plastic case that had the shotgun in it, broken down into two pieces. It is not a case that is lockable but it does a good job of storing the shotgun. What is included in the box is the gun itself, instruction manual and trigger lock. The bright walnut shine on the stock and forearm were remarkable, the recoil pad is average, the receiver is a great high blue polish. Everything had nice machined surfaces and the 28” vent rib barrel gave it a nice look with a pretty brass bead on top. The chokes that came with an installed IC and M, choke wrench tool included. The trigger on the Condor is a single trigger that switches between the top to bottom barrel after firing. It has auto extractors that do a nice job of displacing the shells when you break the action open. One thing I did notice is that the shotgun is heavy, but compared to other shotguns in the over/under class, it is close to the same weight. It weighs right around the 7 ½ pound mark on my scales. With a good sling for carrying it in the field you wouldn't be able to tell the difference in your favorite deer rifle on your back I wish I could talk to you about comb height or stock drop, but I don't have that lingo or expertise with shotguns. So what I can say, it feels good.

  When I started shooting this shotgun it was about the time that the “C one niner” ammo shortage started. I was lucky to buy 9 or 10 cases of various shotgun shells for the reason of stocking up, and who knows when other ammunition is going to be available. I started out shooting with Federal 2 3/4 “ #7 shot. I was just busting clays that were being thrown by hand. The shotgun swung well, the triggers took a bit to get used to. I think it was because I am not used to shooting an over/under. For some reason I wanted to try and pump it. This is just getting used to the manual of arms. I ran through a 100 rounds or so before I felt like I had the manual of arms down. For giggles I swapped over to S&B buckshot, this was fun, I was shooting from the low ready position and firing at targets 7 to 15 yards away. With the length of the barrel I wouldn't say it is the best home defense shotgun, but it will do in a pinch. I even took a few boxes of Federal 2 ¾ “ slugs to the range. I was hitting gallon size jugs at 50 yards with them. The gun, with its heft, will manage all types of ammunition with the proper choke tubes. Patterning of the shotgun showed that the barrels were pretty much the same. While shooting slugs they were close to a minute of deer at 50 yards. I was free hand shooting it with slugs, so I really didn't put the calipers on the target. I figured if I could see a hole I was ok. I recently took this shotgun hunting on a bear and boar hunt. While I didn’t kill anything with it, the shotgun was easy to manage. I found it very convenient, while getting in and out of the truck all day chasing dogs, to unload and load. 

  I would recommend  this shotgun to anyone that is looking for a budget priced shotgun, it can do most anything out there. You can take it to the range and shoot clays or trap, go on a squirrel hunt, or hunt birds of all types. If you are like me, and believe that a firearm is just another tool in your toolbox, you can use this shotgun to hunt deer, bear or hog. It might not be ideal for all of them, but it will work. Being that in the name it says “field”, I will take it to the field any chance I can get. If you are looking for something different , they also have it in a tactical model with a synthetic stock, and the ability to attach a red dot sight. They offer numerous models starting at $449 and up. So if you're looking for that nice looking do all shotgun, that sets it apart from the typical,  this is your gun. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Low priced Over/Under Field shotgun

Target Market:

The average shotgun owner needing an all purpose shotgun

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 12 gauge

  • 2-3/4 “ and 3” shells

  • 28” barrels

  • Overall length - 44”

  • Weight - 7.4 lbs

  • Comes with IC and M chokes

  • Vent Rib

  • Great fit and finish

  • Price $399

  • Sturdy built

  • Reliable

  • Classic Satin Walnut Stock

  • Classic brass bead sight

  • Nice blue color

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

12 gauge w/26” barrels,

20, 28, and .410 gauge

Link to other reviews:

Southern Extreme T.V.

Shooting & Safety

Price point:

MSRP = $449.00

Retail = $399

I need it now! Availability:

Bass Pro or Sportsman’s if anyone has any

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Reliability

  • Classic lines

  • Feels good while shooting

  • Swings well

Cons:

  • It is out of stock at this time 

  • It is a little heavy

Score: 8.00 Amazing

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Hiperfire PDI trigger

  Sometime around the beginning of 2020, Hiperfire contacted me about reviewing their new PDI drop in single stage trigger. Since I really like the other triggers I have from them, I suspected this one would be nice also. When it finally arrived in September, I was not disappointed.  

  The Hiperfire PDI is their latest “drop in trigger” system for AR15 style rifles. They even make one specifically for the Sig MCX platform also. Usually when I think of a “drop in trigger”, I think of the cartridge style, where all the parts are contained inside a cartridge, that just drops in where the trigger assembly goes. The PDI is slightly different. It is essentially a cartridge style, but with the hammer spring feet extending forward, like a standard GI trigger assembly. Installation is pretty straight forward for anyone used to dealing with AR triggers. It also comes supplied with an anti-walk pin set. 

  If you have ever seen a Hiperfire trigger, you know that they look a little different than a normal trigger. The PDI is no different. It uses a curved trigger with a “backbone”. The backbone consists of a toothed section on the back of the trigger shoe. One of the purposes of the backbone, is to install their “Hipershoe”. The Hipershoe is an adjustable finger pad that can be moved up or down, depending on user preference. Using the Hipershoe will also allow slight adjustments in trigger pull weight. If you move it down, it slightly lowers the trigger pull weight. Moving it up slightly increases the pull weight. The drawback to this is, may it be ever so slight, that more creep is added to the pull, when the pad is in the lower positions, and more trigger pull weight is added when in the upper positions. I only really noticed this when shooting slowly, as in precise aimed shots. The Hipershoe also helps individualize the trigger, by placing the shooter's finger in a better location for him or her. 

  One of my favorite aspects of the PDI trigger is it’s hammer energy. Lots of aftermarket triggers reduce the hammer strike energy to lower the trigger pull weight. Not the PDI trigger. It has Mil-strength hammer strike energy. What does that mean for you? Well, it means that you will probably never have a misfire because the hammer didn’t hit the primer hard enough. My sample PDI worked with every type of ammunition used, from steel cased .223 to 9mm and even .22LR. 

  My Second favorite aspect is the trigger pull weight. It comes in at a 2 lb fixed pull weight. Yes, 2 lbs. When I first installed the PDI, it measured 2-¼ lbs, but with some use, came down to the stated 2 lb weight. As mentioned earlier, the weight can be finely adjusted by moving the Hipershoe up or down the trigger face. When I say slightly, I get about ¼ lb difference in pull weight, from the top setting to the bottom setting. My least favorite aspect of the PDI, also includes trigger pull. There is quite a bit of initial creep in the trigger before it releases. When shooting fast, it is not really noticeable. But, when shooting slow, precise aimed shots, it is annoying. As the Hipershoe gets moved farther down, for the lightest pull available, this creep gets more noticeable. The trigger reset has to be mentioned. It is very positive, that trigger snaps back way better than I expected, basically like a standard mil-spec trigger. 

  The PDI trigger can also be used in Pistol Caliber Carbines (PCC’s). The design has a hammer collision bumper and disconnector crash protection. This allows the hammer to reset properly under the harsh direct blowback of most PCC’s. PCC’s tend to bounce hammers from their harsh recoil impulse, especially with lower trigger weights. Thankfully, Hiperfire has alleviated this with their PDI trigger. I ran the PDI in a 9mm PCC. I had zero times where the rifle went more than one round per trigger pull, something I can’t say about other PCC triggers I’ve used.

  I used the PDI in just about every type of situation I could think of. It ran flawlessly in all of them and was a joy to use. Since I don’t use this trigger for slow fire, the creep was not an issue. The trigger pull weight is just awesome. I am able to shoot super fast double and triple taps, thanks to the PDI. This applies to 9mm, .223, and .22LR. I even use it with the “Blackbeard” system from MantisX. I really do think this trigger improved my speed on follow up shots. I even dropped the rifle with the PDI in it, and it still works as if it were brand new.

  The Hiperfire PDI drop in trigger is everything they say it is. I just can’t get over the 2 lb pull weight in a drop in trigger system. Yes, it might be $180, but it’s not the highest priced drop in out there. If you are looking for a good AR15 trigger, for PCC or anything else, definitely go check out Hiperfire and the PDI.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Smooth, light, drop in trigger for AR15”s

Target Market:

Those wanting a nice drop in trigger that will work in just about any AR configuration

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • MIL-Grade Hammer Strike

  • H&M BLACKNITRIDE Finish

  • Hammer Collision Bumper

  • Disconnector Crash Protection

  • Disconnector Spring Crush Protection

  • Curved Trigger Bow with a Backbone

  • HIPERSHOE

  • Drop in assembly

  • 2 lb trigger pull weight

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

SIG MCX, Titanium-Nitride or Titanium-Carbon-Nitride coatings 

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars on Brownells

WELL DESIGNED

I installed the trigger in a Quarter Circle 10 PCC and would comment the second trigger pin was a little tight to get through the hole. Not saying this is a problem just an observation. The trigger breaks between 2.5 and 3 pounds and has a nice feel. The reset is short and is very audible. No failures or problems after 500 rounds (practice and 2 gun match). I feel the trigger is a good value, appears to be well made, and should hold up to the demands a blow-back bolt places on a trigger.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found at the writing of this

Price point:

MSRP = $180.00

Retail = $171.00 at Brownells

I need it now! Availability:

HiperFire or Brownells

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Hammer Energy

  • Pull weight

  • Hipershoe

  • PCC compatible

  • Great reset

  • Ease of installation - drop in

  • Comes with anti-walk pins

Cons:

  • Creep in trigger

  • A little on the higher price side

Score: 8.50 Great

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Axeon MDSR-1

  I was looking for a red dot to put on top of a new build and was wandering around the Axeon Optics website. I didn’t need anything special, just something that I thought would hold up. Axeon really did have what I was looking for. It was the Axeon MDSR-1 red dot. The MDSR-1 appears to be built for modern sporting type rifles, so here we are.

  The MDSR-1 is not a red dot you would put on a fighting rifle. But, it wasn’t designed for that. It is however a great little red dot for trips to the range or varmint hunting. I say this, not because it isn’t well built, but because it has a 3 hour auto off function, not something I like in a fighting red dot. As mentioned, I mounted this little 1x20 red dot on an AR rifle and it works great! The MDSR-1 would also be right at home on a 22 rifle, something like a 10/22 for instance. Since it comes with both a standard low mount, and the co-witness hi mount, you can pretty much put it on whatever you wish.

  The specs on this little red dot are pretty nice too. The battery life is 30,000 hours on a single cr2032 battery, so I’ll be retired by the time it wears out. It has 11 brightness adjustments operated by up/down buttons on the top of the optic. The “up” button also turns the sight on. It weighs in at a measly 4 ounces. Axeon also provides see-through flip up lens caps, and they are pre-installed.

  Probably my favorite aspect of the MDSR-1 is the 2 moa dot size. The dot is crisp, even for me. But with the 2 moa dot, I can pick it up faster than a 1 moa dot. A 2 moa dot is still small enough for me to have some precision. The Axeon has ½ moa adjustments to get you on target. The little caps, covering the adjustment knobs, are made to be flipped over and used as the adjustment tool. This isn’t just an Axeon thing, but I do appreciate this little bonus. 

  I ended up using the MDSR-1 more than expected. At first glance, I thought the little 20mm optic might be a bit small. It is not. My eyes looked right through it every time I shouldered the rifle. There is a little bit of halo effect when the dot is turned up high. I see this halo where the edge of the glass meets the housing. It is noticeable, but actually kind of gives it a circle dot feel. On my first range session with the little red dot, I had the dot start blinking under recoil. I pulled the battery and bent the terminals some. This fixed the problem and it hasn’t come back, so I chalk it up to being made somewhere outside of the US. I don’t know how many rounds are through this red dot, but it’s probably over 500 when I write this. It has held zero. I even had to hit this particular rifle with a rubber mallet, because my .22lr kit didn’t want to be removed. The sight’s zero and battery terminals, held up to the “literal” beating, so I figure it’s good enough for its intended purpose.

  For a reasonably priced red dot, the MDSR-1 has been really good. At around $100, I got way more than I expected. Crisp dot, lightweight, long battery life, what more could you really ask for in a sporting red dot. Go check out the MDSR-1 if you're in the market for a decent red dot in this price range.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Modern sporting rifle red dot

Target Market:

Those wanting a small red dot for range and hunting use

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 1x20mm

  • 2 MOA dot

  • 11 brightness settings

  • 3 hour auto off

  • Weight - 4 ounces

  • See through flip caps

  • 30,000 hours battery life

  • Includes standard and riser mounts

  • ½ MOA adjustments - adjustment caps double as adjustment tool

  • Uses 1 - CR2032 battery

  • IP6 waterproof

  • 800g shock rating

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Nothing found

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found with Google search

Price point:

MSRP = $129.99

Retail = $106.17 on Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

Axeon or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Size & weight

  • Crisp dot

  • Includes riser mount

  • Battery life

  • Flip caps

Cons:

  • Auto shut-off

  • Had to tighten (bend) battery terminals

Score: 7.50 Good

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Favorite Link:  Gun & Gear Cult   


Discreet Carry Concepts belt clips

  Those familiar with me might describe me as a holster snob. This isn’t because I want to “flex on the poors” but with the plethora of holster manufacturers out there there’s really no reason to use a subpar holster. 

  One thing I’ve been super unhappy with are the mounting attachments available for concealed type holsters, more specifically, AIWB holsters. I’ve tried them all; from fomi clips, rcs struts, spring steel, ulticlip, soft loops, j-hooks, you name it. While some are far superior to others none offer the level of security, concealability, and comfort I desire. I’ve lately just defaulted to soft or “pull the dot” loops as they are the most secure but they lack in ease of use and concealment. 

  This is why when Discreet Carry Concepts (DCC) came out with their line of holster clips, I was curious but not very enthusiastic. Well, wrong I was. I have three DCC equipped holsters and don’t see myself ever going back to any other attachment method. As of the time of writing I am retrofitting the last two holsters I actually use with DCC clips and by the end of the month I won’t have a holster in rotation without them. 


Holsters currently equipped include: 

Armadillo concealment lux 

2 black rhino concealment custom pieces 

  One of the black rhino’s is exactly how it came from the company and the other two holsters were retrofitted with the clips by me. I currently have a Henry holster spark awaiting them and a philster spotlight that until recently wasn’t able to accept DCC clips but that is a whole review in itself. 

  The clips are super secure, in fact if I had to point out a con it would be they aren’t the easiest to get off. But not unmanageable and in my opinion no worse than soft loops. And if you think about it, the holster’s clips’ job is to securely attach the belt/pants. So ease of removal isn’t very high on my priority list. I have three different types as of writing but behind the belt variants and a monoblock that works over a belt or behind the belt. 

  The holster isn’t going anywhere. It is attached, it’s more secure than any metal or plastic clip I’ve tried and on par with soft loops if not a tad more secure because movement of the holster is practically nonexistent. It stays where you put it. And the best part is they are more low profile than even the thinnest of clips to include the terrible fomi clip. No more printing from the attachment point. 

  Installation is straight forward. If you own a screwdriver, you can install  these. I would use loctite or some kind of thread locker because I’ve had screws on holsters back out many times without it. I loctite everything. 

  The behind the belt style clips are a tad more challenging to put on the pants but it’s not rocket science and the monoblocks are pretty much as easy as those stupid fomi clips. The monoblock can be used with or without a belt. Seriously, it’s just as secure either way. While use without a belt isn’t fun with my g19 or g17 with the LCP it’s fantastic. 

  Long story short, every holster I use will have these or I just won’t use that holster. And they don’t break the bank. That’s always a nice plus. 

FIREARMS INSIDER REVIEWS - 8 KEY POINTS

CLAIM TO FAME:

Low profile secure holster attachment 

TARGET MARKET:

Concealment of iwb specifically aiwb holsters 

FNBS (FEATURES & BENEFITS OF THIS PRODUCT): 

  • Firmly holds the holster in place 

  • Low profile with little to no printing 

  • Durable spring steel 

  • Can be retrofitted to most holsters 

 WHAT OTHER AESTHETIC OPTIONS OR FINISHES ARE AVAILABLE? 

Black or black with no logo

There are several belt sizes, ride height, configuration and cant options available 

What others are saying: 

From bigtexoutdoors.com

Brendon B. - 5/5 stars

Great for keeping the holster extra concealed w/o printing

Link to other reviews:

Recoilweb.com

Price point:

MSRP = $4.99 - $11.99 for the clips

$3.50 for hardware 

I need it now availability: 

Discreet Carry Concepts

Select holster manufacturers 

Our Rating:

Pros:  

  • Low profile

  • Very concealable. 

  • Secure attachment

  • Cost

Cons:

  • Can be hard to remove

  • Catch on clothing during draw (I’ve not personally experienced this through thousands of draw and multiple classes, but I’ve see one or two people talk about this online. So it’s worth mentioning) 

  • Cost depends on your holster setup

 Score:  8.5 Great

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GunSkins

  Being curious, I had to try out some of the GunSkins vinyl wraps. I am always one that likes to tinker with firearms. So, the GunSkins were right up my alley. The skins are a vinyl wrap, similar to what one might “wrap” a vehicle in. These wraps come in almost any pattern or print one can imagine.

  When I inquired about an AR15 skin, I was also encouraged to get a pistol skin. Since GunSkins was sending me the products for free, I didn’t say no. They recommended I install the pistol skin first. Maybe to increase my learning curve, or maybe to just have me try both out. Either way, that’s exactly what I did. The pistol skin is “Proveil Victory”, which is an American flag pattern. I opted for the “Prym1 Black Out” skin for the AR.

  Installation is not particularly hard, but it does take patience. To install the skin, you will need a few items. These include: A heat gun or blow dryer, a razor knife with lots of extra blade, some kind of squeegee (I used an old credit card), a way to degrease the firearm (I used non-chlorinated brake cleaner), and a piece of foam to aid in pressing the vinyl into crevasses. If you decide to take on installing a GunSkins, definitely go watch their install videos.

Before trimming

After trimming

  Patience is needed as the install takes a bit of time. In the GunSkins kit, are the pre-cut vinyl pieces, and some generic pieces. For a pistol slide, for instance, peel the “slide” piece off, and then lay it down on one side of your slide. Press it down, then stretch it slightly to fit the non-flat surfaces. Add a tiny bit of heat (from the heat gun) to stretch it around. DON’T use too much heat, or the vinyl can split and melt. After a little practice, you will know how much heat to use to “pull” the skin around hard to reach places, like sights. I used a little too much heat going around the rail section of the pistol, so I know what can happen. In the pistol slide case, you just then work the material around the slide with heat when needed. Going around the sights was probably the hardest part. Just take your time and maybe have the install video handy to keep looking at. When everything is where it is supposed to be, then you can trim the extra off with a sharp hobby knife. Sharp is the key point, which is why having a bunch of sharp blades handy is key. Doing the frame is similar, it just takes even more time.

  The AR skin is more complicated, but only because it has more pre-cut parts. Since I have the tools, I removed the freefloat handguard to make it a little easier. One of the good things in the AR skin, is the pre-cut pic rail pieces. I used this on the 15” handguard. It worked well. There is not enough rail section vinyl to do the rail and the receiver, but that was okay for me. Especially since the vinyl adds some material to the rails. This makes accessories not fit properly all of the time. Since I was mounting a red dot on this rifle, not having enough to cover the receiver, worked out well. The skin went on much better than the pistol. Probably because I had done the pistol first. Or, more likely, because I knew that it was a time consuming project. 

  The GunSkins look good. Even if you have minor wrinkles or screw ups, they can only be seen close up. Trust me, neither the pistol or AR I did came out perfect. The camouflage style patterns don’t show the flaws as much as some other patterns, imagine that. I do have a few dislikes about the GunSkins. They make the grip extremely slick. It’s not as big of a problem on the AR grip, but is a nogo for me on the pistol. The skin is also pulling up around the beavertail section on the pistol. I tried to reheat it and press it down, but it keeps coming up. On the pistol skin, kydex holster wear is a problem. Especially around the trigger guard, at least for me. There is also a little wear around the rear of the ejection port, but not near as bad. The AR, on the other hand, doesn’t get put in a holster, so it has worn extremely well. The GunSkins are a good quality vinyl, not cheap thin stuff, so they also help protect the firearm. 

Grip strap and beavertail area not sticking

  For something like a hunting rifle, the GunSkins may be just the ticket. Since the skins come in so many different camouflage patterns, choosing the right one for your environment is easy. Having the ability to inexpensively throw some camo on your rifle for that once in a lifetime hunting trip, priceless. The skins will also help protect the rifle in the elements, either from scratches or rain and snow. When you return, you can leave the skin on, or just peel it off and have your firearm back to original.

  GunSkins might be a good option. Especially if you're like me, and like to experiment with different firearm accessories, this is a good way for you to put some flair on your firearm. Installation takes time, but isn’t difficult. There are so many different options to pick from, it might actually take longer to decide which pattern, than to complete the install. Go check out the GunSkins website, maybe they have the pattern you are looking for.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Do it yourself vinyl wraps for firearms

Target Market:

Those wanting a protective pattern for their firearms

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Multiple Patterns

  • Pre-cut shapes

  • Stretches into and around odd shapes

  • Removable 

  • Waterproof non-reflective matte finish

  • Made in USA

  • Lifetime warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

GunSkins Patterns

What others are saying?:

PISTOL:

4 / 5 stars on Amazon

Makes grips very slick.

First , it is much more difficult to apply correctly the first time than the manufacturers video

Leads you to believe. Maybe by the 5th or 6th one you could do it fairly easily, not the first one, not difficult just more so that it first appears. It looks great on the gun , would be great for a display, but it makes it much more difficult to rack as it has a slick finish, same for grips, makes them slick. I put this on my Glock 43, my EDC, not sure I will keep it on, have to go to the range and see. Maybe will

put one on that’s not for EDC.

They don’t emphasize you need a VERY sharp blade to trim it easily, it’s pretty tough material.

They also don’t emphasize about not trimming too close to the mag release, be generous or it makes it sticky, mag doesn’t drop, trimming has to really be fine tuned. You also have to trim both sides of the release button( both grip sides) to prevent sticking.

RIFLE:

4 / 5 stars on Amazon

Take your time!!

This is an extremely well made vinyl wrap for your AR. Take your time and make sure you have plenty of extra blades. Watch the videos on YouTube for installation instructions. It doesn’t hold up well to bumps and usage but it does protect the original finish underneath. Take your time and use a piece of egg crate foam to press into small crevasses.

Link to other reviews:

Gear-Report

Price point:

MSRP =

Retail = Same price on Amazon

I need it now! Availability:

GunSkins or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Multiple patterns available

  • Protects firearm finish

  • Looks nice

  • Quality Vinyl, not the cheap thin stuff

  • Pre-cut for hard to do places (rails, safety, mag release, etc)

Cons:

  • Makes firearm slick

  • Lengthy installation time

  • Holster wear

  • Stretched parts don’t stick as well

Score:

Rifle - 7.00 Good

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Pistol - 5.50 Mediocre

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Favorite Link:  Gun & Gear Cult   

Canik TP 9 Elite SC

 By: Rusty Odom  

 This review is on the Canik TP-9 Elite Sub Compact 9mm in Tungsten grey. I purchased this pistol after hearing that it was optic ready, I had been looking for a small sub compact pistol that was optic ready and without having to have a slide cut or purchasing another slide, this pistol fit the bill. To start off with I was looking at several other sub compacts and had purchased a Glock 43x. With my aging eyes I have recently got into the optic red dot game on pistols. Before buying this one I looked for slides or having the slide cut on the 43X, it was going to cost me about the same price to purchase a new firearm and a red dot to boot. So I bought it, and who doesn't need a new firearm. 

  So I found this pistol on Palmetto State Armory’s website for $399.99. This pistol is around the same Size as the Glock 26 and the Springfield XD-S Mod 2, coming from the factory with a 12 round magazine and a 15 round extended magazine. It also comes with extra magazine floor plates, flat and pinky curved. The box that it comes in is a very nice injection molded box, with tools and screws for mounting the optic. The box also contained a holster that can be configured for OWB or IWB carry, the holster is not that bad, it is not on par with a lot of other high end holster makers but it will do for range use. The barrel has a Nitride finish and the slide is Cerakote over the Nitride. It makes for a very pleasing look, compared to some of the plain jane black brick looking pistols on the market. It really does set this pistol apart from the others. The box also has a second backstrap to change for your comfort. I am still running the one that came installed on it because it fit my hand naturally. The slide has front and rear serration, a loaded chamber indicator, ambidextrous slide release and a reversible mag release. 

  Specifications of this pistol: 9mm, 4.19” barrel, overall length 7.28”, height 5.27” and weight is 1.77 pounds. The pistol does feel a little heavier than a Glock 26, because it is. It is 7 ounces heavier, an overall longer length around ¾ of an inch. It is close to an inch taller and a ¼ inch wider. 

  Despite its size the gun is very concealable. I am carrying it in a Crossbreed hybrid AIWB holster with its optic cut. I have been carrying this almost everyday for over 2 months, it rides very well and with the proper gun belt you wont get any sag, or grip stick out, like you do with some larger pistols. The draw of the Canik is so natural, it almost reminds me of a 1911 style when you point. It just falls in place and the sights jump right out at you. All of the controls can be assessed with one hand manipulation. Also I am running the Swampfox Sentinel red dot that is a RMSc shield footprint. I have noticed that it is easier to get the dot on target with the sub compact size than it is with a Full size Glock with an optic. Like I said before it is a natural pointer. 

  Now if there is one part of this pistol that has to be praised and talked about, it has to be the trigger. It is a short reset single action that is crisp with little to no creep. I have numerous wonder 9mms and they all have the same problem, the triggers are terrible. The trigger ranks right up there with my Grey Ghost match flat faced trigger that I have in one of my Glocks, and the best part is I didn't have to buy it and add it in. The trigger breaks at about 4.5 pound, and the reset is great. You can hear and feel it when it does reset. It makes for very fast follow up shots. The one thing I always look for when buying a firearm is how the trigger feels and the sights. That brings us to the next part. The sights are factory Warren tactical with a red rear and green front fiber optic front. These sights are nice and crisp, they just stand out when you present the pistol into the shooting stance. When co witnessed with a red dot, it just makes this little sub compact that much more admirable.

  I ran this pistol with Tula 115 grain FMJ ammo, before everyone gets in a tizzy, it is from Turkey which I believe is an old combloc country so it should be at home eating this. I would have preferred to run brass ammunition through it, but with the ammo shortage I was just glad to be able to pull the trigger and it go bang and I did not have to make the pew pew noise myself and have a child hit the steel target with a hammer for impact. I put a full 500 rounds in the pipe, at a range of 7, 10 and 25 yards. Running the dot on the pistol made for fast target acquisitions when drawing from the holster. The recoil is no different than that of a Glock 19, I was able to get a decent grip with the 12 round mags with the flat pads. When running the 15 round magazines it was even more pleasant to shoot. The set up reminded me of the FN 509 tactical that has the red dot and extended magazine. I had no malfunction, it ate the steel cased ammo and I didn’t even notice any shavings or wear in the extractor area. 

  The Cank TP-9 Elite sub compact is a game changer. I am not what you call a Glock fanboy but I am more invested in that platform then any other, so I would have to say that out of the box this firearm has everything you could want or need even more so than the Glock. There is no need to replace the trigger, change out the sights, stipple the grips or have the slide machined. It really does have everything you could ask for in a modern day carry pistol. I love the pointability of it, the sights are excellent, the optic cut great, and the fact that it rides well in a holster rounds out this little package. It comes with a plethora of items in the box for mounting an optic, changing the back strap, a holster, cleaning kit etc. So this would make a great starter pistol for someone looking to get into concealed carry, a range or home defense firearm. I forgot to mention that it does have an accessory rail to mount your favorite light, laser or bayonet to. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Sub-compact 9mm pistol

Target Market:

  • New handgun owners

  • Anyone wanting an optic cut pistol

  • Concealed carry

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Optic cut

  • Great trigger

  • Small package

  • Snag Free

  • Interchangeable back strap in 2 sizes (small and large)

  • Blackout rear and phosphorous front white dot sight

  • Reversible magazine release

  • Accessory under-barrel rail

  • Tungsten Cerakote over nitride slide finish

  • Match grade nitride coated barrel

  • Small parts and internal components nitride or high-wear nickel-coated

  • Comes with two magazines: one 12rd + optional finger rest base plate and one 15rd with extended baseplate

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

With Shield sms2

What others are saying?:

Nothing found

Link to other reviews:

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2020/2/13/review-canik-tp9-elite-sc/

https://aliengearholsters.com/blog/canik-tp9-elite-sc-review/

Price point:

MSRP = $429.99

I need it now! Availability:

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Factory optic cut

  • Fiber optic sights

  • Great trigger

  • Complete starter carry package

Cons:

  • Heavier than comparable pistols 

  • Magazines are hard to find

  • Magazines are pricey

Score: 9.00 Amazing

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Angry Bear Arms RMR tall sight kit

  A lot of people are switching to a red dot optic on their handgun. Because of this, they most likely will need a set of back up iron sights that can be seen through the optic. This is where Angry Bear Arms comes in. They make inexpensive sights for Glock and M&P pistols in various sizes from short to extra-tall. The tall RMR set was the one sent to me for review. 

  Angry Bear Arms has quite a few options when it comes to sights. All are made from US sourced steel and made in the USA. The sights have a black nitride coating, so they should last a very long time. What makes the sights stand out, is the $40 starting price for a set. The option I chose for review was the - Glock RMR Cut, Tall profile, Fiber Optic Serrated Sight Kit. Price on it is $45.95 and is from their “Bear Bones” line. This line only comes with the front and rear sight, front sight screw, rear sight set screw, and the red and green fiber pipes. Other kits they make come with a sight tool and/or various front sights of different heights. Those are more geared for someone who wants to get a precise impact point with their chosen ammunition.

  The RMR tall kit is basically for use as a low witness back up for the red dot sight. The sight notch base just barely sits above a recessed mounted red dot. Hence the RMR in the name. I am using a Holosun 507C with them, and it works great. The Holosun is recessed into the slide, and must be for these sights to work. Angry Bear does make a MOS extra tall sight for red dots that are not recessed. 

  Installation is pretty routine. Take out the old sights, install Angry Bear Arms sights. Since these are Glock sights. The rear sight is dovetailed in, so a sight pusher, or some other way of sliding the sight into place, is needed. Angry Bear also has a set screw, that screw down from the top of the sight, to help hold it in place. The sight hasn’t moved on me, or do I think it ever will. The front sight is screwed in from below. I used blue (242) loctite on the screw to help keep it from backing out. As with all Glock style front sights, don’t over torque the screw. Since the front sight is fiber optic, now one must install the fiber rod into the sight. I chose green, they supply red also. Green was chosen because it is not the same color as the red dot optic. Take a lighter, or something hot, and heat the end of the fiber up. Then just press on it a little to swell it out. Slide the rod through the front sight, from back to front. The fiber should stop when it hits the swollen part. Then cut the other end off, leaving a little bit of room to heat it up. Then, when hot, press the end to swell it and hold the fiber in. Angry Bear Arms supplies enough fiber for you to mess up a few times. Now you can go shoot the handgun.

  These sights have pretty much everything I want in a sight. The rear notch is just wide enough to allow the right amount of light on each side of the front post. I really do like the sight picture. Yet the front sight is narrow enough to give good accuracy. I opted for the serrated set, which puts some nice horizontal lines on the face of the front and rear sight. This helps cut down on glare, either from the sun or a flashlight. Yes, it really does cut down the glare over smooth sights. The rear sight has been smoothed out on every corner of it. This is a nice touch for the price and it will keep it from wearing on your clothes. The front side of the rear sight is straight and flat. This would give you a good purchase to rack the slide off of something like a table, etc. This would only work if there wasn’t a red dot in front of it. The front sight is nice and square, giving a really good sight picture. One can’t really dehorn a front sight like you can the rear. I definitely would use these RMR tall sights without an optic. They are a nearly perfect sight picture for my taste.

  If you're in the market for a quality, inexpensive sight set, go check out the Angry Bear Arms sights. I could not be happier with the form and function of the set I received. Next time I get a new slide, I definitely know where I’m headed to get some sights.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Tall sight for use with recessed red dot optic

Target Market:

Those needing a back up iron sight for use with a red dot

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Serrated front and rear sights

  • Fiber optic front

  • Red and Green fiber included

  • 0.305” tall front sight

  • 0.310” tall rear sight

  • All steel construction

  • Black Nitride coated

  • Made in USA

  • Available for Glock and M&P

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different heights, non-fiber optic, kits with 3 front sight options 

What others are saying?:

Nothing found

Link to other reviews:

Black Diamond Guns & Gear on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP = $45.95

Retail = $35.95

I need it now! Availability:

Angry Bear Arms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Good sight picture

  • Fiber Optic front with Red or Green fiber

  • Inexpensive

  • Serrated for glare reduction

  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Not always in stock

Score: 9.00 Amazing

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Favorite Link:  Gun & Gear Cult

Timber Creek Enforcer Build KIt

  By now, everyone knows that you can do just about anything to an AR style rifle. Timber Creek Outdoors can definitely help you with that. They have their Enforcer Build Kit. The Enforcer Kit is a complete upgrade kit for your modern sporting rifle. Besides basic black, the kit comes in a variety of colors, some anodized and some Cerakoted.

  To be a little different, I asked for the Enforcer kit in purple. The purple is one of the anodized colors that Timber Creek offers. I like the look of anodizing, as it has that “high gloss” look. This purple does not disappoint. The anodizing is spot on and all the different parts match. Matching anodizing, from batch to batch, is not super easy. But Timber Creek pulled it off.

  Down in the FNB section, it shows what all comes with the Enforcer kit and it is a lot. I’ll go over most of the parts individually, at least the important ones. All of the parts come in one nice box. Small parts are in bags, in the buffer tube. On the back of the box is essentially a parts break down, and where those parts go. I also put together a list of what else is needed to complete a full rifle. Some of these parts can also be purchased from Timber Creek, like the barrel and castle nut, these additional parts are as follows:

  • Castle nut

  • Buffer and recoil spring

  • Trigger

  • Bolt catch

  • Mag catch

  • Upper/lower

  • Buffer retaining pin & spring

  • Barrel 

  • Stock

  • Gas tube

  First up I’ll start with the lower receiver small parts. The extended mag release has a nice little downward curve to it and isn’t too large. I really liked it’s function as it isn’t any higher than the standard mag release, it just sits back closer to the trigger finger. TC’s oversize trigger guard is wider also. It’s pretty oversize, so much so that I think a Sasquatch could get his finger in there. Then there are the take down pins. They add color, but are undersized in the kit I received. They wobble around and make the upper to lower fit, fit loosely. I had standard pins in this kit before, and they didn’t have these problems.  Maybe not a small part, but it attaches to the lower, is the mil-spec 6 position buffer tube. It does not, however, come with a castle nut. A QD endplate is also included.

  Also included for the lower is an ambi safety selector. This safety is reversible, meaning that it is either 45° or 90°. I was happy to see this, as I like 45° safeties, so that is how it was installed. Two selectors are provided, one is about standard length, the other one is shorter. This is pretty standard for ambi-selectors. They attach to the safety selector piece with some allen head screws, I did use a little Loctite 242 when installing them. I wasn’t sure how I was going to like the shape of the safety, it is a kind of tear drop shape with serrations . After using it, I do really like it, especially the serrations. These serrations let my thumb know that it is in contact with the safety.

  The Timber Creek pistol grip is one of their oldest products. As with all of the Enforcer kit parts, it is aluminum and CNC machined. They skelontonized the grip to save weight. It has a finger rest/stop at the heel to help prevent your hand from sliding off. There is also a beavertail for comfort. Plus some grooves on the front to aid with grip. In my opinion, the grip is a little on the slick side. It is very comfortable, but needs a little more texture to help me grip it. 

  Next we move on to the upper receiver. Only two small parts here, the dust cover and forward assist. The dust cover adds a nice contrast to the upper. The one supplied doesn’t like to stay closed. If you bump the rifle too hard, installing a magazine for instance, the door flips open. The forward assist works as expected. It has checkering on the face of it for extra grip, just in case you have to use it.

  Timber Creek’s Enforcer charging handle is a work of art. It has ball bearings inside it, thus giving the handle arms super smooth actuation. The oversize handles stick out a bunch on either side, making it truly ambidextrous. By making the handles so large, one hand operation is extremely easy. Even if one were to mount a large scope, they would have easy access to the charging handle. The handles are slightly curved forward with grooves on the front face. Pretty much eliminating your hand from slipping off during use. I personally would have liked Timber Creek’s small charging handle to be in the kit, as this one is just a tiny bit too big for my liking. It is, however, an excellent charging handle.

  Probably one of the most notable parts in the kit, is the 15” Ultralight Enforcer handguard. This handguard is super skeletonized and weighs nothing. If you pick it up by itself, without the barrel nut, it is like picking up air. The complete handguard assembly weighs something like 7.6 ounces with the barrel nut! Since it is the ultralight version, the handguard has a short rail at the front and back instead of running all the way across the top. I really like these style of handguards, as I never use the middle of the pic rail anyhow. There is a unique “Timber Creek” curve at the nose of the handguard. This curve is useful to keep brush and stuff from getting caught in it out in the field. Plus, it looks pretty good also. Now, if you need to attach anything else, the handguard has M-Lok slots running along the top, sides, and bottom. There are also QD holes for attaching slings and such. These are the good ones that have anti-rotation cuts every 45°. There are five total. One on each side, at the front and rear of the handguard. Then there is one on the bottom rear, just in front of the clamping system. Timber Creek uses a clamp system, with some extra set screws, to hold the handguard on. There are also wings, that extend over the upper receiver, to help keep it from rotating. I think the clamp system works just great, so the probably didn’t need the wings. But, extra insurance is always a good thing. For as light as this handguard is, there is less flex in it compared to other lightweight handguards. At least that’s my experience with the same length ones that I have used. The Enforcer lightweight handguard is well worth the price of admission.

  To round out the kit, Timber Creek throws in their muzzle brake and gas block. The gas block is low profile to fit under the handguard. It is the two set screws on the bottom type and about an inch long. It looks goog, and works great. The “Heart Breaker” muzzle brake is a two chamber style, with two holes on the top to reduce muzzle climb. The chambers are heart shaped, hence the name. I was hesitant about this brake at first. Yes, the brake proved me wrong. It works way better than I had ever imagined. It is really loud, but that was expected. My daughter even mentioned the lack of recoil while using it. Instead of a crush washer or shims, the Heart Breaker comes with a locking jam nut. Think of it as a nice little bonus in the Enforcer kit.

  Now that all the parts are pretty much covered, here’s my thoughts. If you value quality parts, these are top notch. Timber Creek did an awesome job with most of the stuff in the kit. I really enjoy shooting this rifle, it handles so nice with the lightweight parts. The rifle in the pictures weighs in at 6 lbs 14 ounces with the red dot. But, it uses everyday standard internals and a 16” heavy profile barrel (lightweight barrel would save roughly 8 ounces). The handguard and ambi-safety are probably my 2 favorites. They just work great.

  The Timber Creek Enforcer Build Kit is a great upgrade. If you are looking to build a new rifle, add color, or just upgrading your old one, the Enforcer kit is pretty much a worthwhile option. One might think it is a little pricey, but you are getting quality parts. These parts would definitely cost you more if you were to buy them individually. Definitely go check out Timber Creek Outdoors and all of their stuff.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Complete accessory kit for AR style rifles

Target Market:

AR builders, those wanting to accessorize their rifles

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 15" Ultra-Light Handguard – MLOK

  • Enforcer Oversized Ambidextrous Charging Handle

  • Forward Assist

  • Billet Dust Cover

  • Enforcer AR Pistol Grip

  • Oversized Trigger Guard

  • Ambidextrous Safety

  • Extended Magazine Release

  • Takedown Pins

  • QD End Plate

  • Buffer Tube

  • Low Profile .750 Gas Block

  • .223 Heat Breaker muzzle brake

  • Pins, etc included for supplied parts

  • Made is USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black, Blue, Red, and Orange anodized

Burnt Bronze, Flat Dark Earth, OD Green, and Tungsten Cerakote

What others are saying?:

Nothing found on the “kit”, just individual parts

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found on the “kit”, just individual parts reviews

Price point:

MSRP = $749.99

Retail = $599.99 at Palmetto State Armory

I need it now! Availability:

Timber Creek, Black Bag Resources (call and mention Gun&Gear Review podcast), or Palmetto

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Color, Color, and more Color

  • 45 or 90 degree safety

  • Handguard

  • Lightweight

  • Jam nut for compensator included

  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Takedown pins slightly too small

  • Port door doesn’t stay closed

  • Castle nut not included

Score: 8.00 Great

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Favorite Link:   Gun & Gear Cult


MatchPoint Ultimate Holster pack

  When I was searching around for a holster, I ran across MatchPoint USA. MatchPoint has a hybrid, adjustable holster system that looked interesting. Instead of just sending me the holster system, the sent me the Chest Carry Holster pack and some extras. I’m only going to review the Ultimate Holster Pack, as I don’t use chest holsters. The Ultimate Holster pack really is only missing the straps and a mounting plate, when compared to the Chest kit.

  The MatchPoint holster system is a hybrid style holster. That means that it has a backer system and then a shell that attaches to the backer. The shell is basically ¾ of the holster and is compression molded from Boltaron (a brand of kydex) . It then mounts to the backer using Chicago screws. The MatchPoint Ultimate holster system comes with two backers. One is a smaller size, think just slightly larger than the holster. The second one is larger, like is typically seen with most hybrid style holsters. For inside the waistband (IWB) carry, the system comes with a FOMI belt clip and 2 overhook belt clips. If carrying appendix, only one of the overhook clips is needed. These overhooks are also intended to be used on the larger backer. Also included are their Infinite Carry Loops, these allow using the system for outside the waistband (OWB) carry.

  If you want adjustability in your holster, the Ultimate holster pack is for you. The backer is made from a proprietary material that has the life properties of injected molded plastics, but with the flexibility of leather, they call it Comfortuf 420. My favorite thing about the MatchPoint system is it’s almost infinite options. Because the backers, both the small and large, are made with holes everywhere, you can adjust the holster as you see fit. If you want it to ride higher, lower, have more or less cant, just move the shell and/or clips to a different position on the backer plate. One could literally spend hours adjusting the system, I did.

   I’ve had the MatchPoint holster for about three months. I have carried off and on with it using a TimberWolf small framed pistol (it uses Glock holsters). Both using the wider/larger backer as a standard style hybrid holster, and the smaller backer. I didn’t  try it appendix. Both ways of carrying worked fine. The large backer was a little longer than I liked, but one could always cut the backer to a smaller size and then hit it lightly with some heat to smooth it back out. I ended up using the small backer to carry it strong side IWB. I started with the FOMI clip, but then ordered some of MatchPoints “Push to Lock” soft loops. Soft loops don’t conceal as well, in my opinion, but they work better than the FOMI clip for me. As for concealment, the Matchpoint isn’t the most concealable. It is not bad, just a little “blocky” for my taste. When I had the holster in the “hybrid style” with the large backer, it did conceal a little bit better. I think the lack of concealability is due to the squareness of the outer plastic shell. The carry loops for OWB worked well. I think they would shine on a solid kydex OWB holster. 

  With the Ultimate Holster pack, came some other extras. The kit included an “accessory mounting plate” or “A.M.P.”. This plate has 1.5” belt loops at both ends. It’s a little over 6” long and a little over 2” wide, but it includes numerous holes, just like the backers. The accessory plate, and the other things discussed in this paragraph, are all made from Tufmax 720. The Tufmax is much stiffer than the Comfortuf, but still has a little flex to it. The A.M.P. can be used to mount mag pouches, a knife sheath, a tourniquet, or anything else you might want on your belt. Not included in the Ultimate pack, but included in the Chest kit, is the “tactical mounting plate” or “Tac-AMP”. This is also another multi hole adapter, but this one is made to hook onto MOLLE/PALS webbing. It measures 5”x3” and has 200 holes. The Tac-AMP attaches with a cool slot system, so no tools are needed to get it on or off. This slot mounting system is very secure, and can be a pain to get on and off. I mounted a kydex holster to the panel, and then installed it in a backpack that has MOLLE inside it. Even with a full size pistol in the holster, the Tac-AMP system doesn’t move. One can also put some shock cord on the Tac-AMP to attach items to it, like a pen, flashlight, etc. MatchPoint also sent me a TAC-Book. The TAC-book is 2 Tac-AMP plates with hook and loop wrapped around 3 of the attachment slots, thus making a book. I personally haven’t found the perfect use for it yet, but MatchPoint has some good ideas on their website.

  If you are into adjustability, or just want something with all the options, the MatchPoint Ultimate Holster Pack might be right up your alley. But, only if you are right handed and have a Glock. The Ultimate holster would work good for someone who likes to experiment, or those not sure how they want to carry. The options with this system are endless, as are the options with most of MatchPoint’s products.  Go visit their website, they have a lot of good information on these holster systems.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Multi adjustable holster system

Target Market:

Those wanting a comfortable holster with any option they can think of

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Multi adjustable holster system

  • Flexible backing

  • Mounting holes everywhere

  • OWB loops

  • FOMI clip

  • Overhook belt clips

  • 2 different backers

  • Accessory Mounting Plate 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

All parts available individually

What others are saying?:

Nothing found

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found worth noting

Price point:

MSRP = $49.95 as reviewed

Retail = $34.95 - $79.95

I need it now! Availability:

MatchPoint USA

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Made in USA

  • Multi adjustable

  • Price

  • Impervious to oils or sweat

  • Flexible backing

  • Open holster design for different barrel lengths

Cons:

  • Shell / Holster is a little bulky

  • Only fits right hand Glock style pistols, for now

Score: 7.00 Good

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Favorite Link:   Gun & Gear Cult





iSCOPE System

  I first saw the iSCOPE adapters at the NRA Annual Meeting.  The concept is simple, attach iSCOPE to the scope, attach the phone to the holder and view the target using your phone.  The primary difference from other systems is the iSCOPE allows you to use almost any phone with their adapter.  This is handy for Android users as most adapters are designed for iPhones.  This means you do not need to buy a new adapter when you get a new phone. 

Steps to install:

  1. With the adapter off the scope, place the phone in the holder and roughly adjust it so the camera is centered in the viewing port.

  2. Tighten the screws so they will loosely hold the phone and remove the phone.

  3. Place the adapter on the scope and tighten the four outer screws equally so that the scope ocular lens is centered in the iSCOPE viewing port.

  4. Open the camera app on your phone

  5. insert the phone in the holder and center the camera so you can see through the scope to the target.

  6. Tighten the screws

  7. You can start taking photos.  

  When I started taking photos I noticed that they were a little blurry which was due to the camera being moved when pressing the capture button.  This was easily corrected by using the 3-second delay to allow the camera to stabilize before taking the picture.  An additional item to consider is that the photos taken are only as good as the scope, tripod and camera you are using.  

  I have been using the iSPOTTER during range sessions for about a year and have found it to work very well.   This allows me to look at the target without needing to squint through the eyepiece of a scope.  I can take a shot and then glance over to view the point of impact on the target.  The iSPOTTER allows me to record shot order by taking pictures between shots which can be reviewed when I get home. 

  I tried an older phone with the scope and found that the clamps which secure the phone activated the capture button causing it to take photos continuously.  To prevent this some phones will allow you to turn off the capture button.  If this is not an option consider Inserting a toothpick next to the capture button to relieve the pressure from the clamp.  

  I also purchased the iSCOPE adapter designed for rifle scopes but found this to be less effective than the iSPOTTER.  This fits over the eyepiece of the scope and allows the same ability to attach a variety of phones.  The iSCOPE allows you to slide the camera to or away from the lens to adjust for the magnification level used on the scope.  I tried sliding the phone close to and farther away from the scope lens while using scope sunshades but nothing seemed to work. Although I did get some interesting photos of the inside of the scope.

  The iSCOPE is designed to be used on a hunting rifle in the woods.  When I tried using it at the range it felt a little odd as I could not get my cheek on the stock and have a comfortable view of the target with the phone about an inch from my eye.  For me, this would not be a practical way to view the target while hunting with the rifle.  In addition, I can see the phone getting hung up on branches, brush etc. while walking through the woods, not to mention, if your phone’s batteries run out, the iSPCOPE will need to be removed.  

  The downfall to this system is the screw caps that hold the adapter head to the scope fall off and are easily lost.  If you go to their web site you can get a Hardware Replacement Kit for $14.99 which contains 8 screw caps and 6 rubber bands.  The screw caps are basically nylon washers with felt pads glued on one side.  A quick trip to Home Depot located the washers at 4 for $.99 and some felt from furniture moving kits looks like it could be adapted for use to prevent the iSCOPE from sliding or marking your scope.  Just glue the felt to the washers and bingo!  DIY replacement screw caps.  

What i have learned from using this:

  • Use the countdown/delay timer to take photos

  • If the holder activates the buttons on your phone use a toothpick (or something similar) to stop it.

  • Take sequential photos to see how your shot pattern progresses. 

  • Turn off timeout feature on the phone.

  Overall the iSPOTTER is a great addition to my range bag and gets lots of positive reviews at the range but the iSCOPE is less useful.   

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Universal phone adapter for spotting and rifle scopes. 

Target Market:

Anyone who wants to use their phone with their scope.

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Fits a wide range of scopes

  • Fits a wide range of phones (including Android phones)

  • Easy to set up

  • Can easily take photos through your scope 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black

What others are saying?:

iSCOPE review from their website:

 4 of 5 stars

It is somewhat difficult to get set right on the scope but once. Place it is awesome! My only complaint is the adjustment screws have felt pads on the inside that have already fallen off after 3 uses and now it can scratch your scope. Great product for hunting with little kids!

Link to other reviews:

Nothing Found  

Price point:

iSCOPE - $139.99

iSPOTTER - $119.99

I need it now! Availability:

iSCOPE

iSPOTTER

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Support a wide range of phones and scopes

  • Can take photos of targets while at the range

  • Do not need to squint through the eyepiece of the scope to view the target.  

Cons:

  • Screw Caps are easily lost and costly to replace.

  • iSCOPE is not as useful as advertised

Score:

iSCOPE - 6 OKAY

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iSPOTTER - 8.5 GREAT

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Tasmanian Tiger TAC Modular SW Pack 25

  Ever since Tasmanian Tiger products have been distributed in the USA, I have wanted to check some of their stuff out. Well, the time has come. I requested the TAC Modular SW pack 25 for review. This is from Tasmanian Tiger’s discreet line. So from the outside, it just looks like an everyday 25liter backpack.

  When the TAC pack first showed up, I was really impressed with the quality. It is made from 700D Cordura , and is tough. I tried to scuff it up with a screwdriver. I couldn’t even tell where I had tried to fray it. 700D has the wear resistance of 1000D but the weight of 500D. It has 3 compartments, 2 of which have lockable YKK zippers. The 2 main compartments run the full depth of the bag. The 3rd is a smaller one that is on the top front, mainly made to hold pens, notebooks, glasses, and various smaller items. Of course the TAC pack has padded shoulder straps, a padded back, and even a padded removable hip strap.

  Where the TAC pack really shines, is inside the 2 main compartments. The front one completely unzips and can be folded out for ease of access. On the front fold down piece, there is a zippered mesh pocket that takes up about a third of the flap. The other section of that flap has 2 loop strips to attach stuff. As you look inside this opened up pack, you will see a hook and loop padded divider. This divider has 4 strips of 2” wide loop fastening sewn to it. The inside, sides, are lined with a loop MOLLE panel. I really like the loop MOLLE panel because one can use it a multitude of ways, plus it is pretty stiff to support heavier items. Since I mentioned the padded divider, it is removable to allow the 2 main compartments to become 1.

  The second main compartment, which I call the back, because it is the side that is against your back while wearing the pack, also fold down completely. There is no side MOLLE loop panels, unless the divider has been removed. Instead, the whole fold down panel has the loop backed MOLLE panel! The pack comes with a so called universal holster to attach to this. As with most anything called universal, it kind of sucks. So I took a Matchpoint panel, attached a real holster, and made my own. Tasmanian Tiger does mention the holster supplied is really only for transportation, but I think they should have just omitted including it. This compartment also has the pocket for the back support. The back support is a semi-molded plastic with an aluminum spine running down the middle. You can form this to your back pretty easily. In with the backer is also some closed cell foam for padding. Toward the top of this compartment, are slots, one on each side, to allow a bladder hose or wires to go through.

  Time for the back area and straps. The part of the TAC pack that rests against your back is also padded. The padded panel is attached in a way that makes it so one can use it like a large pocket. Sliding something in from the top. It does have side openings at the bottom to  allow the hip strap to be attached, so it isn’t a true pocket. The hip strap attached inside this “pocket” via hook and loop. The hip strap is padded, has large zippered pockets on each side, and is about 4” wide. The hip strap can hold an AR magazine in each pocket with room to spare. It is very comfortable, but I took it off because I am not carrying huge amounts of weight. The shoulder straps are about 3” wide and very well padded also. They have some curve to them so they won’t rub on your neck. As one would expect, they also have quick adjust straps on both the top and bottom for extra adjustability. An adjustable chest strap, with some elastic for give, helps to hold the pack firmly. The straps also have quick release buckles, in case you need to get the pack off quickly. Over these quick release buckles, is an elastic cover, that can be slid over to keep them from unclasping at the wrong time. 

  The outside of the pack is pretty generic. This is exactly like a discrete backpack should be. On each side is a pocket, that has loop inside it. The loop allows you to actually keep something attached inside it, like maybe some magazine carriers. It will hold a double mag AR pouch. There is a small single zippered pocket at the bottom front, then the top one mentioned earlier. Now all the way at the bottom, is a zipper. Inside this zipper is an orange panel. The panel is half covered in loop. It can be pulled out and attached to the pack. When attached, it can be used as an identifier by attaching patches to the loop panel or just as a signal. There is a tiny Tasmanian Tiger logo carefully hidden by one of the straps, this is the only noticeable feature, and most people won’t even see it. On the top and bottom sides, there are also some tabs to attach shock cord or paracord. Just a little something in case you might need to strap something else onto the pack. There is also a carry handle at the top of the pack. A pretty useful feature if you don’t want to hoist the bag onto a shoulder for short movements.

  I have been using the TAC pack 25 for around 3 months now. It’s been loaded up with ammo and taken to the range as a range pack. I’ve thrown clothes in it for short trips. Basically I have done everything I could think of to this pack, short of dragging it behind a truck. It is the perfect size for travelling, It might even be small enough to count as a personal item on airlines. The comfort is amazing. Having an actual spine makes it useful for heavier items. It is a little narrow to fit my level 3A soft backpack insert into, but it can be crammed into it if needed. The MOLLE hook and loop panels are spectacular. It might be a little heavy for some, at 3.75lbs, but I didn’t think so. The way the compartment panels unzip and fold out, might make it a useful medical backpack. 

  I’m very pleased with the Tasmanian Tiger pack. It does everything I need. Plus, in today's climate, having a backpack that is discrete, is a huge plus. Nobody will look at it and think, “maybe he has a gun in there”, instead they will just go about their everyday business and pay you no mind. Go check out the TAC Modular SW pack 25 and see for yourself.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Discrete duty grade backpack

Target Market:

Anyone needing an everyday use  backpack with all the options

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 25 liter volume

  • Padded Back Carrying System with aluminum spine

  • Large zip opening with easy access to the main compartment

  • Removable, padded hip belt

  • Hip belt with zipper pockets

  • Carry Handle

  • Lockable zippers

  • Deep top pocket

  • Insert pockets on both sides with hook and loop inside

  • Cable port

  • Large MOLLE hook-and-loop panel inside

  • Signal flag with hook-and-loop integrated in the bottom

  • Main compartment with detachable divider with hook-and-loop closure

  • Extra small TT Logo to remain covert

  • 3.75 lbs empty

  • 22” x 11” x 7”

  • 700 denier Cordura 

  • Lockable YKK zippers

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Olive and Coyote

What others are saying?:

Nothing found

Link to other reviews:

Pine Survey

Price point:

MSRP = $239.00

Retail = $199.95 at Mad City Outdoor Gear

I need it now! Availability:

Mad City Outdoor

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Discrete

  • Excellent size

  • Removable Hook & Loop MOLLE panel / divider

  • Carry handle

  • Lockable zippers

Cons:

  • Hard to find

  • Removal/Installation of hip strap

  • Supplied holster

Score: 8.50 Great

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Favorite Link:  Gun and Gear Cult

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