Lowa Zephyr Mk2 GTX

Archive for January, 2016

U.S. Elite Gear – Velocity Systems SCARAB Light Plate Carrier

Wednesday, January 27th, 2016

The Velocity Systems SCARAB Light Plate Carrier is showcased here by Mike Baldwin, the U.S. Elite Product Expert. From the shoulder straps to the inside padding, the SCARAB LT is an excellent choice for all you mofo’s looking for an awesome plate carrier. Together with Mayflower’s Gen V Chest Rig, this is the perfect combo.

SCARAB LT + GEN V CHEST RIG REVIEW

Click to view video

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www.us-elitegear.com/brands/velocity-systems

Post SHOT Show Wrapup – OTTE Gear / LenzO Mobile Device Housing

Wednesday, January 27th, 2016

This phone case from LenzO was at the OTTE Gear booth. The waterproof housing protects your mobile device down to 100m, yet, through an ingenious set of levers, allows you the use of your camera for underwater photos and video.

Lenzo shared this demonstration video of the case with me.

Post SHOT Show Wrapup – Primary Weapons Systems PicMod

Wednesday, January 27th, 2016

  
PWS displayed this new rail system with their new attachment option dubbed PicMod which offers both Mil Std 1913 Picatinny rail space with embedded KeyMod attachment points.  

  
www.primaryweapons.com

The Safariland Group Unveils Groundbreaking Armor at SHOT Show

Tuesday, January 26th, 2016

The Safariland Group Unveils Groundbreaking Armor at SHOT Show Safariland continues to innovate with armor purpose-built for performance and comfort

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Click to view .pdf

ONTARIO, Calif. – The Safariland Group (‘Safariland’) today debuted the all-new Safariland® Armor collection, a complete line of ballistic panels and carriers built for performance. Designed to integrate together, to perform, move, flex and respond as the body does, delivering unprecedented protection, comfort and fit, the line is being revealed at the 2016 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, from January 19-22. By reinventing existing armor solutions from the ground-up, Safariland Armor will change the way officers think of and wear armor

The Safariland Armor collection is comprised of five distinct panel designs that work universally with all the carrier models to meet any department’s need and budget. Each ballistic panel is developed with high-performance materials and technologies and feature cuts that maximize coverage and maneuverability. The new carrier lines, in both covert/concealable and overt/external designs, utilize advanced materials and performance fabrics to work with the body and maximize comfort in a large range of styles to cover duty, tactical and mission-specific needs.

“For us, success is every saved life,” said Todd Mackler, Vice President, Armor. “Forming a holistic system, we are taking armor to the next level of performance. Every detail has been considered: scalability, durability affordability and comfort to meet the demanding needs of both male and female officers.”

Each of the five panel packages are the best of wearability and stopping power – unparalleled performance based on actual field wear-testing.

SX – Flagship design that is one of the thinnest, lightest, and strongest ballistic products available on the market.

Summit™ – Utilizes advanced and exclusive materials that deliver exceptional ballistic performance while providing the ultimate in comfort and flexibility.

Xtreme® – A versatile and flexible package featuring 100% aramid based material that features advanced perimeter stitching for all-day comfort and performance.

Monarch® – A hybrid design that balances value, blunt trauma, and special threat ballistic performance.

Prism® – Combines advanced materials and design to protect against both stab and ballistic multi-threats.

The new Safariland Armor carriers introduce a system customizable for the individual officer, interchanging perfectly with every ballistic panel and carrier.

The ultra-concealable Covert, or concealable carriers, prioritize ergonomic designs, lightweight fabrics and contoured stitch lines. The carriers in the Covert line – Models P1, F1, M1 and E1 – feature high-performance laminated four-way stretch fabric and cooling spacer mesh liner. Further, an anti-microbial liner to inhibit odor causing bacteria is included on the F1, M1and E1.

 The Overt carrier options, worn externally, feature traditional and load bearing styles for versatility, fit and adjustability. Among their many features, the V1 and U1 overt carrier models encompass a hidden gun pocket, Velcro®-adjustable shoulders and ribbed channel-spacer cooling mesh. Each of these models is offered in either front- or side-opening options for officer preference. Further, the V1 models feature laser cut webbing for attaching equipment.

A unique product within Safariland Armor’s product line, the HyperX™ is a scalable solution that exemplifies the next generation of armor. This integrated system, consisting of a performance base layer T-shirt made of stretch fabric that moves and flexes, and a ballistic carrier, both have soft armor plate pockets for enhanced coverage and protection. The sleek, athletic styling and performance materials offer exceptional comfort and flexibility for all day wear.

Through Safariland’s years of experience and collaboration with leading manufacturers in ballistic technology, this armor is engineered for better compositions and designs integrating ballistic performance and human performance. Best-in-class industry partners include TexTech Industries, Teijin Limited, DuPont Kevlar, Honeywell International Inc., SAATI and Barrday Protective Solutions.

www.safariland.com/bodyarmor

Post SHOT Show Wrapup – 2016 Magpul Catalog

Tuesday, January 26th, 2016

The 2016 product catalog from Magpul is now available. New clothing will be released this Spring.

 

Click on cover to view .pdf

www.magpul.com

Post SHOT Show Wrapup – CGS Group Pandora Firing Device

Tuesday, January 26th, 2016

A government customer approached Artesia, New Mexico-based CGS Group to create a replacement for the current issue Mk 54 Mod 1 firing device. Although, they have concentrated for the past decade on crafting highly accurate long range rifles, they gave it a go. The result is the PANDORA, a Handheld Dual Firing Device, the safest, most user friendly mechanical firing device in existance today. Safety was paramount in the concept phase as the Mk 54 can be dangerous to use. CSG Group integrated a simple, easy-to-use design into a compact, 4.4375″ x 2.5″ x 0.875” envelope that weighs in at just 9.4 ounces.

PANDORA is simple to assemble/disassemble, easy to clean, and features a unique modular design. Remove two T9 Torx screws on the rear of the device and push in the guide rod protruding into the rear plate and slide the rear plate out of the device. The guide rod/spring, trigger pack, and mounting plate will slide out of the housing allowing you to slide in a different mounting plate for various methods of attachment and features.

Mounting plates are available which will attach the PANDORA to a pole arm for breaching windows or similar stand oV use, for mounting to a MIL-STD-1913 rail, for attaching two PANDORA devices back to back, or for a plate with Velcro or similar for attaching to a plate carrier. PANDORA will fit in an M16 magazine pouch for carriage and the Pic Rail plate can be carried on a carbine’s rail or on your kit via an ITW Pic Rail to PALS Adapter. A rear plate is also available which features a non-electric shock tube cutter.

Below, you can see PANDORA paired with the issue Mk 54 Mod 1 it was designed to replace. When you take a look at the Mk 54, you get an idea of how the decixes work to ignite a charge.

PANDORA is striker fired and offers an immediate restrike capability in case your charge doesn’t detonate on the first try. Just release the trigger and try again as many times as necessary. The enclosed design keeps the works protected from debris and the firing channels are separated with each striker having its own sear for true independant striker movement.

PANDORA has many different safety features. The only time the device is ever cocked is when the user is in the process of firing the device. Using a double action only striker fired method of operation is what allows for this feature. But when it’s not in the process of firing, the strikers don’t rest on the primers of the non electric shock tube. The strikers are constantly held back behind two striker block plungers at all times ensuring the strikers won’t protrude into the primers unless having been immediately fired. As the trigger is being pulled to the rear, near the end of its travel the trigger moves the striker block plungers out of the way of the striker. When the sears in the trigger pack release the strikers they can now go forward and strike the primers uninhibited. Once the strikers hit the primers they are immediately locked back behind the striker block plungers by a striker return spring on each side. These all function to keep the user safe even if the external safety slider switch is in the fire position. PANDORA will never fire unless you want it to fire.

I expect a great deal of interest in PANDORA’s new, safe alternative to the currently issued Mk 54 Mod 1.  

www.cgsgroup.com

Mel Terkla Joins Wolfpack Gear

Tuesday, January 26th, 2016

This is fantastic news for an old friend of mine!

  
Mel Terkla has signed on with Wolfpack Gear in San Luis Obispo, CA to help design a new line of Tactical and Adventure backpacks. Wolfpackgear.com is one of the leading manufacturers of wildland firefighting gear in the country. Mel had been in semi retirement for the last year and a half after being let go from Kifaru, but decided he wasn’t done designing backpacks, and after much research, reached out to Mike Oberndorfer the owner of Wolfpack Gear. It just so happened that Mike wanted to start a new line of backpacks and was looking for a designer, and after meeting up, there was a mutual agreement that fate seemed to bring them together to make it happen.

Mel Terkla was the one that helped start the Tactical division at Kifaru back in 2002 and headed up design and sales for over 12 years. He is accredited with getting the Kifaru brand known and respected in the industry and will be bringing those credentials to Wolfpack Gear. Look for a mid summer launch of the new line that will be announced on the Wolfpack Gear website and Facebook page. There will also be a forum in the future on the website for questions and answers, updates, photos, and feedback. To those that know Mel personally, you know customer service will be second to none and he can be reached now for any questions or discussion about the new gear at mel@wolfpackgear.com .

Post SHOT Show Wrapup – Aimpoint Magnifiers

Tuesday, January 26th, 2016

 During FirstSpear’s Range Day, we ran across Aimpoint’s new magnifiers.  Below is the Aimpont press release which offers additional information but we’d like to clarify something we put out last week.  Turns out there are professional grade magnifiers in both 3x and 6x versions while the commercial variant is only offered in a 3x model. 
Las Vegas, NV – January 19, 2016 – Aimpoint, the originator and worldwide leader in electronic red-dot sighting technology, has announced the addition of three new accessory magnifiers to their product line. Designed to work in conjunction with the company’s electronic reflex sights, these new magnifiers are being offered in 3X and 6X magnification, in both a standard grade for use by civilian shooters, as well as professional grade models.

The new Aimpoint magnifiers feature diopter adjustment, allowing each optic to be individually adapted to the operator’s eye. All are protected by shock absorbing protective rubber covers that also provide an ergonomic grip surface. The Aimpoint magnifiers may be used with the company’s quick-detach TwistMount™, or with the newly launched Aimpoint® FlipMount which allows the magnifier to be quickly flipped in or out of the optical axis, or removed from the firearm completely.

“These magnifiers open up some interesting new opportunities for users of Aimpoint sights.” said Matt Swenson, VP of Sales at Aimpoint Inc. “Our standard grade 3X-C is a great magnifier at a very reasonable price point. On the professional side, the Aimpoint 6XMag offers 50% more magnification than existing US military combat optics, and allows an operator to quickly transition back to their non-magnified Micro T-2 sight for CQB.”

www.aimpoint.com