Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Holster Reviews...
Are now "Award Winning" Kydex-type holster reviews. Apparently nobody else entered, so I won by default. Still pretty cool though.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Kydex Part IV
Raven Concealment Systems
(yet another installment of my kydex reviews)
One of the deciding factors when I decided to buy my Sig was the fact that it came with night sights and an accessory rail, so a white light was easy to add. This here's a fightin' gun! (I've done some low/no light force on force without these, and needless to say, I'm convinced you need them on a carry gun, but that's another post for another time.)
Of course the sights are always there, but when you need the light, there's probably not going to be time to clip it on the rail and tighten up the screw. It's a huge benefit to have the light already attached to the gun as soon as you clear leather, er, plastic. So the search ensued to locate a holster maker that had a system that would accept my particular light/pistol combo. As I mentioned in the Blackhawk! review, there's not too many makers out there offering SigPro holsters, let alone a SP2022 with a Streamlight TLR-1 attached.
Then I picked up the Magpul Dynamics "Art of the Tactical Carbine
" series of DVDs, which feature a few of the offerings (primarily Kydex AR mag holders) from Raven Concealment Systems, available through The Malabar Front. I went over to their online shop, poked around a little, and found that they do in fact offer a SP2022 option for their Phantom Light Compatible Holster line, and they're customizable for a pretty good number of light options.
I ordered up a Tan one for my particular combo, plus their "paddle attachment," and sat back and waited. And waited. Apparently after "The Art of the Dynamic Handgun
" everybody and their dog was ordering Raven holsters. While I waited, I also inquired as to getting a mag pouch, since I didn't see the SP2022 as an option, and they responded with an address to send in a mag to get a holder molded up and sent out with my holster.
After about 50 days or so, my stuff finally came in. Not bad really for a currently heavily overworked custom kydex maker.
Both items consist of nicely molded Kydex halves either chemically glued or welded together, and reenforced with rivets. The rivets also work as attachment points for the various belt options(and boy are there plenty of options!) Their tan is a little darker than Blackhawk's tan, closer to "coyote."
The back of the holster is cut with a nice high sweat shield, and there is a rough pebbled texture over the entire outside of both, and a nice smooth interior. The exterior finish should keep most scuffs and scratches from showing, although I haven't managed to cause any on mine yet, although there is a smudge of blue paint on the holster(right by the light switch area) that I need to take a brush to... sometimes I'm clumsy and bounce into the wall carrying my laundry back upstairs.
Both came standard with belt loops, and I ordered the "paddle" hooks for the holster. Completely blanked on the hooks for the mag holder though, so now I'm doing the waiting thing again. While not a true paddle, the hooks attach at the top and have a nub(for lack of a better term) that catches the bottom of your belt. Overall the holster is nice and wide, and the hooks stick out from the side even more, spreading the weight out quite well. Occasionally they do dig into my side a little though, something a more traditional rounded paddle seldom does. They do accomplish the mission of keep the holster on your body when you draw, yet being easily removable without taking off your belt. The hooks also make this the highest riding of the three examples, which I guess could help in concealment, and it does snuggle in nice and tight.
The downside however is that it is easily the least secure feeling of any of the holsters, as far as retention goes. There is no real form of retention for the gun aside from the fit of the holster and gravity, and there is no tension adjustment. It hasn't been a problem for me yet, and the Magpul guys are quite often running around doing quite "dynamic" movements and don't have their guns falling out that I've seen, so for now it's just a "would be nice" but not necessary change I guess, but I wouldn't mind an unobtrusive screw on there somewhere to tighten things up a little.
Conversely, the mag holder is the most secure I've had other than a full flap pouch. There's a little dimple pressed into the kydex on the back side that catches in the mag catch hole. Oddly enough the first time I reloaded from this pouch on the range it was possibly the smoothest and quickest reload I have done on a pistol. No doubt that "custom" mojo rubbing off. I guess what I'm getting at is that while being very secure, this setup does not hinder your mag draw, so long as you use a sharp and deliberate pull.
Overall, it's a decent rig, and the number of attachment options definitely make it worth looking into. I'd also highly suggest it if you're running a light (and if you're gun has a rail and you're not, you should really think about it). Of course there's also the added cool points of having what is currently the hottest holster in the market and making people jealous at the range.
Their custom services are also fantastic, if you want a kydex holder for just about anything, they can do it (guns, mags, knives, flashlights, batteries, etc...)
Next up will be some more in-depth comparisons between the setups.
Part II - Fobus Holster and Mag Holder
Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa Holster and Mag Holder
Part V - Conclussions
(yet another installment of my kydex reviews)
One of the deciding factors when I decided to buy my Sig was the fact that it came with night sights and an accessory rail, so a white light was easy to add. This here's a fightin' gun! (I've done some low/no light force on force without these, and needless to say, I'm convinced you need them on a carry gun, but that's another post for another time.)
Of course the sights are always there, but when you need the light, there's probably not going to be time to clip it on the rail and tighten up the screw. It's a huge benefit to have the light already attached to the gun as soon as you clear leather, er, plastic. So the search ensued to locate a holster maker that had a system that would accept my particular light/pistol combo. As I mentioned in the Blackhawk! review, there's not too many makers out there offering SigPro holsters, let alone a SP2022 with a Streamlight TLR-1 attached.
Then I picked up the Magpul Dynamics "Art of the Tactical Carbine
" series of DVDs, which feature a few of the offerings (primarily Kydex AR mag holders) from Raven Concealment Systems, available through The Malabar Front. I went over to their online shop, poked around a little, and found that they do in fact offer a SP2022 option for their Phantom Light Compatible Holster line, and they're customizable for a pretty good number of light options.I ordered up a Tan one for my particular combo, plus their "paddle attachment," and sat back and waited. And waited. Apparently after "The Art of the Dynamic Handgun
" everybody and their dog was ordering Raven holsters. While I waited, I also inquired as to getting a mag pouch, since I didn't see the SP2022 as an option, and they responded with an address to send in a mag to get a holder molded up and sent out with my holster.After about 50 days or so, my stuff finally came in. Not bad really for a currently heavily overworked custom kydex maker.
Both items consist of nicely molded Kydex halves either chemically glued or welded together, and reenforced with rivets. The rivets also work as attachment points for the various belt options(and boy are there plenty of options!) Their tan is a little darker than Blackhawk's tan, closer to "coyote."
The back of the holster is cut with a nice high sweat shield, and there is a rough pebbled texture over the entire outside of both, and a nice smooth interior. The exterior finish should keep most scuffs and scratches from showing, although I haven't managed to cause any on mine yet, although there is a smudge of blue paint on the holster(right by the light switch area) that I need to take a brush to... sometimes I'm clumsy and bounce into the wall carrying my laundry back upstairs.
Both came standard with belt loops, and I ordered the "paddle" hooks for the holster. Completely blanked on the hooks for the mag holder though, so now I'm doing the waiting thing again. While not a true paddle, the hooks attach at the top and have a nub(for lack of a better term) that catches the bottom of your belt. Overall the holster is nice and wide, and the hooks stick out from the side even more, spreading the weight out quite well. Occasionally they do dig into my side a little though, something a more traditional rounded paddle seldom does. They do accomplish the mission of keep the holster on your body when you draw, yet being easily removable without taking off your belt. The hooks also make this the highest riding of the three examples, which I guess could help in concealment, and it does snuggle in nice and tight.
The downside however is that it is easily the least secure feeling of any of the holsters, as far as retention goes. There is no real form of retention for the gun aside from the fit of the holster and gravity, and there is no tension adjustment. It hasn't been a problem for me yet, and the Magpul guys are quite often running around doing quite "dynamic" movements and don't have their guns falling out that I've seen, so for now it's just a "would be nice" but not necessary change I guess, but I wouldn't mind an unobtrusive screw on there somewhere to tighten things up a little.
Conversely, the mag holder is the most secure I've had other than a full flap pouch. There's a little dimple pressed into the kydex on the back side that catches in the mag catch hole. Oddly enough the first time I reloaded from this pouch on the range it was possibly the smoothest and quickest reload I have done on a pistol. No doubt that "custom" mojo rubbing off. I guess what I'm getting at is that while being very secure, this setup does not hinder your mag draw, so long as you use a sharp and deliberate pull.
Overall, it's a decent rig, and the number of attachment options definitely make it worth looking into. I'd also highly suggest it if you're running a light (and if you're gun has a rail and you're not, you should really think about it). Of course there's also the added cool points of having what is currently the hottest holster in the market and making people jealous at the range.
Their custom services are also fantastic, if you want a kydex holder for just about anything, they can do it (guns, mags, knives, flashlights, batteries, etc...)
Next up will be some more in-depth comparisons between the setups.
Part II - Fobus Holster and Mag Holder
Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa Holster and Mag Holder
Part V - Conclussions
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Mexican Pirates...
Looks like they're acting up in some lakes along the Texas boarder. I wonder if you can get a pintle mount that goes in the sockets they have on fishing boats for the seats...
MHV
Monster Hunter Vendetta is available for pre-order on Amazon. Coolness.
If you haven't read the first one
, you're really missing out.
If you haven't read the first one
, you're really missing out.
GPS is getting an upgrade.
Starting with new satellites with better clocks. Accurate clocks are pretty important for the whole GPS thing to work, and improving their accuracy will significantly cut down on systematic errors, greatly increasing precision. The article does mention that the new satellites will triple the available signal, but not if that is due to more satellites in the constellation. I'm assuming that since they're slowly swapping them out one at a time that your current receiver should be able to pick up the new satellites. I'd guess that once enough of the new ones are up that you'd need a new receiver to take full advantage of the new signals. Sounds like it's going to take about 10 years to complete the upgrade though.
Of course all the articles I can find just keep rambling on about how the financial world relays on GPS... Seems Wall Street likes the insanely accurate clocks. Makes sense I guess, I just never heard of that use for them, we tend to concentrate on the geographic aspects of the system in all my classes.
Combine this with the supposed GPS logging of "doorsteps" during the current census (I don't think they're actually doing doorsteps, just a much more accurate log of street addresses) you can either put on your tinfoil, or revel in the fact that the Garmin or TomTom in your car will actually be able to tell you where a house is, instead of getting you within a couple blocks (it's not that the GPS is off, it's the current database. They just kind of arbitrarily distribute the numbers along the street since nobody's actually taken the time to collect the data till now.)
Anyway, I'ma done geeking for now.
Of course all the articles I can find just keep rambling on about how the financial world relays on GPS... Seems Wall Street likes the insanely accurate clocks. Makes sense I guess, I just never heard of that use for them, we tend to concentrate on the geographic aspects of the system in all my classes.
Combine this with the supposed GPS logging of "doorsteps" during the current census (I don't think they're actually doing doorsteps, just a much more accurate log of street addresses) you can either put on your tinfoil, or revel in the fact that the Garmin or TomTom in your car will actually be able to tell you where a house is, instead of getting you within a couple blocks (it's not that the GPS is off, it's the current database. They just kind of arbitrarily distribute the numbers along the street since nobody's actually taken the time to collect the data till now.)
Anyway, I'ma done geeking for now.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Kydex Part III
Blackhawk! Serpa
(Another installment of Fred's wonderful Kydex reviews)
So when I bought my SigPro 2022, I found that Fobus didn't make a holster for it. So instead of feeling sad, I used that as an excuse to get one of those high speed Serpa active retention holsters
. I had to get it straight from Blackhawk! since the SP2022 apparently isn't too common.
The SP2022 holster was only available in black (what is this? 1998??) although some of the more common gun options are also available in tan, like the 1911:
The Serpa line of holsters are actually made out of a carbon fiber composite, not kydex, so the material is a bit thicker, but holds it's shape pretty well, and is quite tough.
The holster comes with both belt and paddle attachments that screw on to the back and are adjustable for cant:
As I mentioned with the Fobus review, I'm a fan of the slight butt forward cant, so it's adjusted accordingly. It can be rotated even further forward, which would be beneficial if you spend a lot of time in the car. (Again, Wisconsin, so that's not really a worry for me...) The paddle has three claws to grab onto your belt, two on the holster side that are adjustable for belt width, and one on the inside as a backup in the even that the outside ones pop off or something (hasn't happened to me yet.) It's also nice and wide along the belt, spreading out the weight of the gun nicely. I'd say is the most comfortable paddle I've used to date, and with the thinness of the 1911 it's almost easy to forget it's there.
As noted, the Serpa is an active retention holster, there's a little claw deally that grabs onto the front of the trigger guard, and a button that needs to be depressed in order to draw.
The button is right where your index finger rests when you grab the holstered gun in a good firing grip, and aids in indexing it along the frame as you draw. It takes a little getting used to, but as with all things gun, practice plenty and it becomes a non-issue. There is no need to push the button when you reholster either.
The holster also extends the full length of the gun, protecting the front sight, and has a "speed cutout" around the chamber area, allowing you to begin to rotate the muzzle forward just a little sooner (at least in theory) but the only real benefit I've found with that is that I can see and feel the loaded chamber indicator on my Sig without drawing the gun. The holster also has a nice wide sight track, so there's some room for fancy big dot sights or whatever.
After a bit of range time my draw is just as fast from this one as it is from the Fobus, with the added benefit of a retention system.
There is a screw just forward of the trigger area allowing for some adjustment of the passive retention, however a chief complaint of the Serpa is that they do tend to "loosen up" over time, letting the gun kind of rattle around in the holster. It hasn't been too much of an issue with the 1911, but I did add some chunks of the fuzzy side of some stick on Velcro to the Sig's holster to tighten things up a little. It hasn't effected the draw, and has stopped most, if not all, of the rattling I was experiencing.
The mag pouch, on the other hand, is by far one of the most mediocre of products I've used. Like the holster it can be either belt mounted, or there is a clip you can screw on to give it paddle-like abilities.
The problem is that the clip snuggles down between the belt loops, so when on your belt it feels kind of wobbly and prone to rotation. Although it does feature a tension adjustment screw between the mags, something the Fobus lacks. It does hold the mags inside well, and I'm sure would be fine if purely belt mounted, but I don't like standing in the parking lot before class taking my belt off so I can leave the mags in the car, or worse, be seen putting the holder back on afterwards and have to talk to the campus police because of some stupid freshman's panic. (stranger things have happened on this very campus) I think it would benefit from a similar belt/paddle system as the holster rather than an integrated belt mount with belt clip seemingly added as an afterthought. For that reason alone I still just use the Fobus mag holder when I'm rocking the 1911.
So to sum things up, I've easily got more "miles" on the Serpa system than any other kydex, and have suggested it to anyone who's asked my opinion about it (and quite a few have.) For a bit more you get adjustable cant, active retention, and possibly even color options, what's not to like?
Part II - Fobus
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems
Part V - Conclussions
(Another installment of Fred's wonderful Kydex reviews)
So when I bought my SigPro 2022, I found that Fobus didn't make a holster for it. So instead of feeling sad, I used that as an excuse to get one of those high speed Serpa active retention holsters
. I had to get it straight from Blackhawk! since the SP2022 apparently isn't too common.The SP2022 holster was only available in black (what is this? 1998??) although some of the more common gun options are also available in tan, like the 1911:
The Serpa line of holsters are actually made out of a carbon fiber composite, not kydex, so the material is a bit thicker, but holds it's shape pretty well, and is quite tough.
The holster comes with both belt and paddle attachments that screw on to the back and are adjustable for cant:
As I mentioned with the Fobus review, I'm a fan of the slight butt forward cant, so it's adjusted accordingly. It can be rotated even further forward, which would be beneficial if you spend a lot of time in the car. (Again, Wisconsin, so that's not really a worry for me...) The paddle has three claws to grab onto your belt, two on the holster side that are adjustable for belt width, and one on the inside as a backup in the even that the outside ones pop off or something (hasn't happened to me yet.) It's also nice and wide along the belt, spreading out the weight of the gun nicely. I'd say is the most comfortable paddle I've used to date, and with the thinness of the 1911 it's almost easy to forget it's there.
As noted, the Serpa is an active retention holster, there's a little claw deally that grabs onto the front of the trigger guard, and a button that needs to be depressed in order to draw.
The button is right where your index finger rests when you grab the holstered gun in a good firing grip, and aids in indexing it along the frame as you draw. It takes a little getting used to, but as with all things gun, practice plenty and it becomes a non-issue. There is no need to push the button when you reholster either.
The holster also extends the full length of the gun, protecting the front sight, and has a "speed cutout" around the chamber area, allowing you to begin to rotate the muzzle forward just a little sooner (at least in theory) but the only real benefit I've found with that is that I can see and feel the loaded chamber indicator on my Sig without drawing the gun. The holster also has a nice wide sight track, so there's some room for fancy big dot sights or whatever.
After a bit of range time my draw is just as fast from this one as it is from the Fobus, with the added benefit of a retention system.
There is a screw just forward of the trigger area allowing for some adjustment of the passive retention, however a chief complaint of the Serpa is that they do tend to "loosen up" over time, letting the gun kind of rattle around in the holster. It hasn't been too much of an issue with the 1911, but I did add some chunks of the fuzzy side of some stick on Velcro to the Sig's holster to tighten things up a little. It hasn't effected the draw, and has stopped most, if not all, of the rattling I was experiencing.
The mag pouch, on the other hand, is by far one of the most mediocre of products I've used. Like the holster it can be either belt mounted, or there is a clip you can screw on to give it paddle-like abilities.
The problem is that the clip snuggles down between the belt loops, so when on your belt it feels kind of wobbly and prone to rotation. Although it does feature a tension adjustment screw between the mags, something the Fobus lacks. It does hold the mags inside well, and I'm sure would be fine if purely belt mounted, but I don't like standing in the parking lot before class taking my belt off so I can leave the mags in the car, or worse, be seen putting the holder back on afterwards and have to talk to the campus police because of some stupid freshman's panic. (stranger things have happened on this very campus) I think it would benefit from a similar belt/paddle system as the holster rather than an integrated belt mount with belt clip seemingly added as an afterthought. For that reason alone I still just use the Fobus mag holder when I'm rocking the 1911.
So to sum things up, I've easily got more "miles" on the Serpa system than any other kydex, and have suggested it to anyone who's asked my opinion about it (and quite a few have.) For a bit more you get adjustable cant, active retention, and possibly even color options, what's not to like?
Part II - Fobus
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems
Part V - Conclussions
'Nother gun cup.
Breda found another one. I need to actually pick up some of these for some giggles or if I ever get and office job... (shudder!)
Golf Meme
It's been making it's way around the gun blogoshpere lately, so I may as well jump in. The Firearm Blog linked an article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and being a semi-local paper (same state at least...) I figured I'd jump on that.
It's more about the "First Shots" clinics that National Shooting Sports Foundation set up a few years ago, but in the middle of the article they do break out some numbers:
It's more about the "First Shots" clinics that National Shooting Sports Foundation set up a few years ago, but in the middle of the article they do break out some numbers:
According to a study conducted by Responsive Management, 34.4 million Americans went target shooting in 2009.
For comparison, 28.6 million Americans golfed (a minimum of one round) in 2008, according to the National Golf Foundation.Yup, more people are target shooting than playing golf. Yet:
And unlike golf, shooting carries a negative stigma in much of mainstream America.Oh well, little bit of work to do yet I guess. But it looks like the program's headed in the right direction.
According to the NSSF, more than half (56% for handgun, 53% for shotgun) of the program's participants are first-time shooters.
Nationally, about 45% of attendees are female.
The leading reasons for attending the programs are to learn skills for target shooting and personal protection, tied at 68%.
Forty-three percent have subsequently purchased shooting-related equipment.
And nearly all (93% for handgun, 86% for shotgun) participants said they are likely to continue shooting.Especially that second one, a widely noted trend I sure hope continues. (especially since a girlfriend that shoots is way up on the list of wants...)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Kydex Part II
Fobus Holster and Mag Holder
(part of my Kydex-type review series)
My first foray into kydex, er plastic, just like many out there I'd expect. Fobus pretty much defined the plastic gun holder genre. Made of injection molded plastic, their stuff is affordable ($20 neighborhood
) and is very durable. The standard setup comes in either paddle or belt loop variety, and uses simple passive retention. The holster is molded to the contours of the gun, and has primarily grips the front of the trigger guard. It has a slight forward cant, which I like (some may not). There is an adjustable roto version available for a bit more
. Overall it has an even matte finish, and only comes in black as far as I know.
The paddle is pretty comfortable, and is secure, although it could be a little shorter. It's textured on the front, and has a thin rubber coating on the inside to keep it from moving around.
The holster snuggles up to your body pretty well, and carries the gun pretty well.
The draw is smooth, the inside is mostly slick(more on that in a second) and has a nice wide sight track, and reholstering is not much of a problem, the inside half of the holster is slightly flared at the top helping to funnel the gun into the holster. The holster grips the gun pretty well when it's inside, it's difficult to actually pull the gun out if the holster's not on your belt, and it tends to bind up if the gun is not pulled straight out, aiding in retention. The mag holder could be a little tighter for my tastes for the single stacks though (no experience with their double stack holders.)
The downsides of it are of course the lack of any active retention (may or may not be a big deal for you) and, at least on the 1911 holster, due to the "one size fits as much as possible" way they're made, the front end of the gun, including the front sight, is exposed on a full size 5" barreled 1911 since the holster's made for 4" or 5" guns. Fobus holsters are also known to mar the finish on some guns, like my Kimber for example:
It turns out the model number is molded on the inside of both halves of the holster. I don't know if Fobus has gotten around to doing anything about it, seeing as it's a pretty well known problem in the gun community, but I picked mine up three or four years ago. I also have one for my Walther P22, but the finish on that gun is holding up just fine.
Overall, I'm not disappointed with the Fobus goods. They're fantastic for their price, and make great range holsters if nothing else, let alone as a spare just incase your primary holster goes down for whatever reason.
Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems
Part V - Conclussions
(part of my Kydex-type review series)
My first foray into kydex, er plastic, just like many out there I'd expect. Fobus pretty much defined the plastic gun holder genre. Made of injection molded plastic, their stuff is affordable ($20 neighborhood
) and is very durable. The standard setup comes in either paddle or belt loop variety, and uses simple passive retention. The holster is molded to the contours of the gun, and has primarily grips the front of the trigger guard. It has a slight forward cant, which I like (some may not). There is an adjustable roto version available for a bit more. Overall it has an even matte finish, and only comes in black as far as I know.The paddle is pretty comfortable, and is secure, although it could be a little shorter. It's textured on the front, and has a thin rubber coating on the inside to keep it from moving around.
The holster snuggles up to your body pretty well, and carries the gun pretty well.
The draw is smooth, the inside is mostly slick(more on that in a second) and has a nice wide sight track, and reholstering is not much of a problem, the inside half of the holster is slightly flared at the top helping to funnel the gun into the holster. The holster grips the gun pretty well when it's inside, it's difficult to actually pull the gun out if the holster's not on your belt, and it tends to bind up if the gun is not pulled straight out, aiding in retention. The mag holder could be a little tighter for my tastes for the single stacks though (no experience with their double stack holders.)
The downsides of it are of course the lack of any active retention (may or may not be a big deal for you) and, at least on the 1911 holster, due to the "one size fits as much as possible" way they're made, the front end of the gun, including the front sight, is exposed on a full size 5" barreled 1911 since the holster's made for 4" or 5" guns. Fobus holsters are also known to mar the finish on some guns, like my Kimber for example:
It turns out the model number is molded on the inside of both halves of the holster. I don't know if Fobus has gotten around to doing anything about it, seeing as it's a pretty well known problem in the gun community, but I picked mine up three or four years ago. I also have one for my Walther P22, but the finish on that gun is holding up just fine.
Overall, I'm not disappointed with the Fobus goods. They're fantastic for their price, and make great range holsters if nothing else, let alone as a spare just incase your primary holster goes down for whatever reason.
Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems
Part V - Conclussions
Kydex Comparisons and Reviews!
Part I
Well, Kydex like... equal parts plastic, carbon fiber, and kydex to be specific. Anyway, They are just around the corner. I just shot a bunch of picks, and will be shortly putting up some reviews and comparisons of the three big name kydex holsters and pouches I've used over the last few years.
I'm gonna cover the standard Fobus, Blackhawk! Serpa, and Raven Concealment options, as well as mag holders from the same.
I'm not going to get much into the concealment aspects of them however, since I live in the great state of Wisconsin and that sort of thing is forbidden and I don't have any experience dealing with it. However I have used all three for open carry as well as range time.
You'll possibly notice that all the options are sporting the paddle option available for each maker, something also due to my location, since I am frequently removing the holster to go to class or other places I can't carry. I'll be going over the ups and downs of each makers paddle design.
Kydex vs. Leather
Of course one of the biggest thing that comes up when looking at a kydex rig is why should I go with kydex and not leather?
It's a pretty good question. Leather has traditionally been the top holster material, being very rugged, yet good looking. A properly fitted leather holster will snuggly support and protect your gun wonderfully. Plus they look great.
What's the downside? Well made leather holsters are expensive. There's a lot of work involved in making a nice leather rig, soaking and forming, shaping and tooling, gluing and sewing... a good leather holster that fits your gun nicely is going to be essentially a custom job.
Leather also needs to be cared for. It can get dried out and crack, or being an organic material, can start to rot. It needs to be moisturized and cleaned, and it's not suggested you leave anything steel in it for any extended period of time, as that moisture can lead to rust.
Kydex(and it's similar synthetic brethren), on the other hand, is much easier to work with, and generally cheaper in it's raw form than leather.
Kydex is also incredibly durable. I've scrapped mine along stuff that would have put quite an ugly scratch in some leather, and only lead to some paint transfer on the plastic. It also holds it's form, regardless of weather there's a gun in it. His can aid in reholstering, especially in an inside the waistband setup.
Kydex is also much more stable than leather. It's not going to dry out and crack, or get too wet and start to rot and degrade. If you leave it out in the sun too long the UV radiation can start to break it down, but same goes for leather (see earlier mention of cracking...)
The downside of course, is that leather just looks so much better, and some kydex has a tendency to mar the finish on some guns, something leather is much less likely to do.
I kind of think of Kydex as the working man of the holster world, it's tough, and great at it's job, but lacking in the style department.
I wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other, they both have their strengths and weaknesses.
Part II - Fobus Holster and Mag Holder
Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa Holster and Mag Holder
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems Phantom Holster and Mag Holder
Part V - Conclussions
Well, Kydex like... equal parts plastic, carbon fiber, and kydex to be specific. Anyway, They are just around the corner. I just shot a bunch of picks, and will be shortly putting up some reviews and comparisons of the three big name kydex holsters and pouches I've used over the last few years.
I'm gonna cover the standard Fobus, Blackhawk! Serpa, and Raven Concealment options, as well as mag holders from the same.
I'm not going to get much into the concealment aspects of them however, since I live in the great state of Wisconsin and that sort of thing is forbidden and I don't have any experience dealing with it. However I have used all three for open carry as well as range time.
You'll possibly notice that all the options are sporting the paddle option available for each maker, something also due to my location, since I am frequently removing the holster to go to class or other places I can't carry. I'll be going over the ups and downs of each makers paddle design.
Kydex vs. Leather
Of course one of the biggest thing that comes up when looking at a kydex rig is why should I go with kydex and not leather?
It's a pretty good question. Leather has traditionally been the top holster material, being very rugged, yet good looking. A properly fitted leather holster will snuggly support and protect your gun wonderfully. Plus they look great.
What's the downside? Well made leather holsters are expensive. There's a lot of work involved in making a nice leather rig, soaking and forming, shaping and tooling, gluing and sewing... a good leather holster that fits your gun nicely is going to be essentially a custom job.
Leather also needs to be cared for. It can get dried out and crack, or being an organic material, can start to rot. It needs to be moisturized and cleaned, and it's not suggested you leave anything steel in it for any extended period of time, as that moisture can lead to rust.
Kydex(and it's similar synthetic brethren), on the other hand, is much easier to work with, and generally cheaper in it's raw form than leather.
Kydex is also incredibly durable. I've scrapped mine along stuff that would have put quite an ugly scratch in some leather, and only lead to some paint transfer on the plastic. It also holds it's form, regardless of weather there's a gun in it. His can aid in reholstering, especially in an inside the waistband setup.
Kydex is also much more stable than leather. It's not going to dry out and crack, or get too wet and start to rot and degrade. If you leave it out in the sun too long the UV radiation can start to break it down, but same goes for leather (see earlier mention of cracking...)
The downside of course, is that leather just looks so much better, and some kydex has a tendency to mar the finish on some guns, something leather is much less likely to do.
I kind of think of Kydex as the working man of the holster world, it's tough, and great at it's job, but lacking in the style department.
I wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other, they both have their strengths and weaknesses.
Part II - Fobus Holster and Mag Holder
Part III - Blackhawk! Serpa Holster and Mag Holder
Part IV - Raven Concealment Systems Phantom Holster and Mag Holder
Part V - Conclussions
Looking for a Chest Rig
Looking for a very simple chest rig to hold 4 AR mags and 2 double stack pistol mags, not really much else. I've got a full out tactical load bearing vest with all sorts of crap on it, but I want something more streamlined for range use and whatnot, and of course within the means of a generally broke-ish college student.
Any suggestions? Oh, and Multi-cam would be teh cool these days. Most of my stuff is tan of some sort, and that's so last year.
Any suggestions? Oh, and Multi-cam would be teh cool these days. Most of my stuff is tan of some sort, and that's so last year.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Libertarianism
Say Uncle has some good points on it.
You meet someone, discuss Libertarianism with them and they’re all cool with the end the drug war and lower taxes stuff. But when you tell them that you’d end Social Security and Medicare, that you’d let gay dudes get married, people should own machine guns, and let the banks run amok, then you lose them. People like the cool parts of Libertarianism but not that other icky stuff that goes with it.Kinda sucks that people just don't want to take the time to actually figure out what it really is.
USP Thoughts and Impressions
Dan picked up an H&K USP 9mm for a good price brand new, so he was willing to overcome the whole "you suck and we hate you" thing and buy it. He almost didn't because of that, but he likes how it feels anyway, and they are pretty decent in quality, so more power to him.
I'll admit, it's a decent looking gun.
Look, Tupperware!
Overall, the fit and finish is quite nice, as you'd expect from something with H&K stamped on it, and it fit both of our slightly over-sized hands pretty well. It came with fixed sharp three dot sights, and handles and points pretty well. We didn't really do much accuracy testing, just a roughly kill zone sized target at up to 25 yards. (it was an impromptu evening range trip primarily to just blow of some steam... pretty well accomplished aside from the poor AR bolt...) Boils down to if it were a goblin, it would have been hurting.
Down to my opinions on it. I'm pretty meh. The checkering on the front strap is a bit too course and sharp for my likes (it's cut, er molded, at like 8 lpi...). The front strap has to be my biggest complaint. It sure provides a pretty aggressive grip, but just holding the gun hurt my fingers to the point of distraction. The grip is also much boxier than my Sig, and the muzzle flip is pretty snappy, more so than my Sig even without the light. (My only major complaint about the Sig.) On the other hand, Dan has been a revolver guy up till this point, so he didn't really notice the flip at all.
No malfunctions were experienced in the 100 or so rounds shot through it, where my (albeit much much dirtier) Sig had 2 stovepipes in the same amount of rounds. She needs a good scrubbing.
Another down side is the proprietary H&K rail, something Sig went away from by the time they got around to the Pro2022 series in favor of a 1913 standard rail. I'll never fully understand why some makers insist on their own system when there's a fantastic industry standard out there... and I'm not at all surprised H&K is one of them.
I'll admit, it's a decent looking gun.
Look, Tupperware!
Overall, the fit and finish is quite nice, as you'd expect from something with H&K stamped on it, and it fit both of our slightly over-sized hands pretty well. It came with fixed sharp three dot sights, and handles and points pretty well. We didn't really do much accuracy testing, just a roughly kill zone sized target at up to 25 yards. (it was an impromptu evening range trip primarily to just blow of some steam... pretty well accomplished aside from the poor AR bolt...) Boils down to if it were a goblin, it would have been hurting.
Down to my opinions on it. I'm pretty meh. The checkering on the front strap is a bit too course and sharp for my likes (it's cut, er molded, at like 8 lpi...). The front strap has to be my biggest complaint. It sure provides a pretty aggressive grip, but just holding the gun hurt my fingers to the point of distraction. The grip is also much boxier than my Sig, and the muzzle flip is pretty snappy, more so than my Sig even without the light. (My only major complaint about the Sig.) On the other hand, Dan has been a revolver guy up till this point, so he didn't really notice the flip at all.
No malfunctions were experienced in the 100 or so rounds shot through it, where my (albeit much much dirtier) Sig had 2 stovepipes in the same amount of rounds. She needs a good scrubbing.
Another down side is the proprietary H&K rail, something Sig went away from by the time they got around to the Pro2022 series in favor of a 1913 standard rail. I'll never fully understand why some makers insist on their own system when there's a fantastic industry standard out there... and I'm not at all surprised H&K is one of them.
Warm and Fuzzy II
80 year old kills armed intruder early this morning in Chicago.
And of course being Chicago, there's the possibility of the elderly vet being charged with possession of a handgun. Thankfully:
And of course being Chicago, there's the possibility of the elderly vet being charged with possession of a handgun. Thankfully:
A high-profile Chicago attorney has already stepped forward offering to represent the man pro bono if he faces charges for possessing a weapon.
"Self-defense isn't just a right, it's a duty," said attorney Joel Brodsky. "If this man is prosecuted for saving his own life it's not just a travesty, it's justice turned inside out."
Warm and Fuzzy
A piece of scum gets what he deserves. Complete with a post beating mugshot.
And in Alabama, some more victims double it. (More pictures!)
I love the inclusion of the pictures. Hopefully some more stupid pieces of crap decide to not take the chance to end up looking like them after reading about it.
(h/t Say Uncle)
The fight soon moved outside, where Nguyen's mother continued to batter the attacker's face with the shotgun. To, the mother, kept up her barrage until the man gave up and neighbors came helped keep him on the ground until deputies arrived.
And in Alabama, some more victims double it. (More pictures!)
The victims noticed that Taylor’s gun had no magazine in it and so was unloaded, Barnett said. They then decided to fight back, he said.
I love the inclusion of the pictures. Hopefully some more stupid pieces of crap decide to not take the chance to end up looking like them after reading about it.
(h/t Say Uncle)
The Debate That Won't Go Away.
Fox News on the "M4 Debate," complete with a "fact box" "comparing" the M4 and AK. Of course throughout the article they mention that the M4 is far more accurate, and that the AK is not the threat that they're worrying about at extended ranges. But I guess comparing the M4 to the AK makes for a better read or something. Of course they've also gotta make me cringe in the first paragraph:
The article also links to an Army Times article on the issue, which brings up the issue with barrel length and it's effects on the 5.56 ballistics.
For a more amusing read though, The Firearm Blog brings us yet another article from Fox (really, is this like this weeks "mess with the interns" subject? How many articles do you need?) that seems to have been "researched" by said interns in a drunken haze. Fox's "military analyst" brings us this gem:
I think this is one of those issues, that no matter what they decide on for a solution, there's still going to be an interweb full of Keyboard Generals tearing into the decision. 7.62 will have too much recoil, 5.56 is only making .22cal holes, if they pick 6.8 everyone will scream they should have gone with the 6.5... etc.
I'm going to wait and see how much effect the XM25 has over there before I really put too much thought into it.
The AK-47 uses a larger bullet, which leads to more kickback upon firing.At least they didn't follow that up with how big the "clips" are...
The article also links to an Army Times article on the issue, which brings up the issue with barrel length and it's effects on the 5.56 ballistics.
“Unfortunately weapon engineers shortened the M16’s barrel to irrational lengths,” Fackler said. “It was meant for a 20-inch barrel. What they’ve done by cutting the barrel to 14.5 inches is that they’ve lost a lot of velocity.”Something I've been saying for years. I think the Marines are on the right track with their M16A4s and heavier bullets.
For a more amusing read though, The Firearm Blog brings us yet another article from Fox (really, is this like this weeks "mess with the interns" subject? How many articles do you need?) that seems to have been "researched" by said interns in a drunken haze. Fox's "military analyst" brings us this gem:
Scales said the U.S. military simply needs to engineer a better weapon – he said the M8, a weapon that was under development before being halted several years ago, could be revived and improved for Afghanistan.You mean that XM8 abortion of a rifle that fires the same 5.56x45 round out of a whopping 12.5" barrel in the basic configuration? I think Fox needs to reconsider asking Mr. Scales for his opinions on small arms.
I think this is one of those issues, that no matter what they decide on for a solution, there's still going to be an interweb full of Keyboard Generals tearing into the decision. 7.62 will have too much recoil, 5.56 is only making .22cal holes, if they pick 6.8 everyone will scream they should have gone with the 6.5... etc.
I'm going to wait and see how much effect the XM25 has over there before I really put too much thought into it.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Broke mah bolt.
Busted a bolt in my mid-length tonight. Sheared off the two locking lugs closest to the extractor. I've put about 1,000 rounds through it, mainly Wolf, so I'm sure the steel haters will blame that. My uneducated eyes say it's a fault in the metal though, as those are no doubt the weakest lugs on an AR bolt, and the way they sheared just seems too uniform.
Thankfully my MOE grip has the spare bolt core, so I wasn't boned for the night. Dan said I took it quite well, just kind of a "Huh. That sucks." and tossed in the spare bolt. Good idea to have a spare on hand.
Will I keep shooting Wolf? Yeah. I've got a bunch of it, and my A2 has had a bunch more through it with no issues. I'll probably end up getting a slightly higher end bolt to swap in there though. Chrome plated and MP tested might be a good idea...
Thankfully my MOE grip has the spare bolt core, so I wasn't boned for the night. Dan said I took it quite well, just kind of a "Huh. That sucks." and tossed in the spare bolt. Good idea to have a spare on hand.
Will I keep shooting Wolf? Yeah. I've got a bunch of it, and my A2 has had a bunch more through it with no issues. I'll probably end up getting a slightly higher end bolt to swap in there though. Chrome plated and MP tested might be a good idea...
More Girls with Guns
Via Breda.
I'm all for it, heck, my most viewed post to date is all about girls and shooting. I'm all for this trend to continue.
I'm all for it, heck, my most viewed post to date is all about girls and shooting. I'm all for this trend to continue.
Over 10,000!
At some point last night the counter rolled past 10,000 visits. Cool. Of course I added that thing a few months (maybe even a year?) after I started this thing, so I'm sure the true 10,000th visit happened a while ago, but still, cool.
Alternative to sleeping mat chunks and 100mph tape.
Riser Stock Pouch for the M14/M1A. The M14's on my short list of "need but damn that's expensive" and I would have a hard time not setting it up as a SDMR. Plus it has a mag pouch on one side, and a see-through holder on the other side for your notes. Pretty good looking and handy design, if a little on the pricey side.
Shooting spree at Gun Range
I don't think the targets were "unsuspecting" though. They had it coming and they knew it.(I mean really... it's their whole purpose in life...)
Mil-spec Baking
ENDO brings us a link to the .pdf of the official DOD standards for Oatmeal Cookies and Chocolate Covered Brownies. So if you want tasty treats just like our troops get, there you go.
Personally, I like brownies way too much to want to read it...
Personally, I like brownies way too much to want to read it...
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