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Post By admin

SIG P365 Holster Options for your Every (365) Days of Carry

What is the best Sig P365 holster? What is the most comfortable Sig P365 holster? These aren’t rhetorical questions. The Sig P365 is without a doubt one of the most revolutionary handguns we’ve seen in the concealed carry market, though the subsequent Hellcat has been giving it some competition. The article you’ll read below was originally published about a year ago (August 2019). Since that time, many other holster companies have released a Sig Sauer P365 holster option (or more than one) Some we’ve written about (like the Tenicor Velo, below). Some we haven’t (yet). Some we won’t. 

 

 

• SIG P365 Holster Releases & News

• Tenicor Velo: AIWB P365 Holster Review

• Pike’s Picks for Best SIG P365 Holster

 

 

 

Sig P365 Holsters in the News

Brock Trautman

 

DeSantis Gunhide Slim-Tuk Holster for SIG P365 with Streamlight TLR-6

DeSantis Gunhide Slim-Tuk Holster for SIG P365 with Streamlight TLR-6

DeSantis Gunhide Slim-Tuk Holster for SIG P365 with Streamlight TLR-6

May 2021. DeSantis just expanded its IWB Slim-Tuk holster options by adding the fit capability to accommodate the Streamlight TLR-6 light. It’s an ambidextrous IWB holster made of Kydex with the DeSantis tuckable 360° C-Clip, which affords the wearer unlimited mounting options. 

From DeSantis:

This new enhancement to the Slim-Tuk style that now fits the TLR-6 is sure to be a great hit as we continue to see illumination tools becoming brighter and smaller, providing deep concealment and versatility. We already have a fitment for the Glock 43 with the TLR-6 and will be adding even more Slim-Tuk fitments for other illumination tools in the weeks to come. Stay Tuned!

The retail price is $34.99 (at the time of this writing).

 

 

 

Tenicor Velo: Reviewing a Sig P365 Holster

50 Shades of FDE

SIG P365 Tenicor holster

Carrying concealed is the only way I carry a firearm when I am off duty. While my methods have changed over the ten years or so of my career, the fundamental requirements of a good holster have not. So while the pistols have gotten smaller and holsters have become less leather, more Kydex, the features required of a quality holster remain consistent: features you’ll find well-developed in the Tenicor Velo Sig P365 holster.

When I first began carrying, it was usually a Compact or Subcompact platform. I normally carried at the four o’clock position with a button-up shirt to effectively conceal it all.

SIG P365 holster from Tenicor.

What you see up top is my current EDC setup when using the Velo. here’s a close-up of the holster, weapon, and mag “pouch” (holder). It’s discreet, with plenty of ammo on board.

Now I carry a Sig Sauer P365, with a 12 round extended magazine in, along with two spares for reloads. Depth of pocket allowing, I can also carry an extended 15-round P365 mag. That’s quite an impressive loadout, considering what a small-framed individual was once restricted to. This is made possible by the small overall size of the pistol and a good holster. Happily, there are a couple of options that fit that description, and they allow me to wear t-shirts again.

I was using a rig from another brand when I first began carrying the Sig P365. It was a decent holster, but I was still printing with the grip. It used plastic clips, which were okay, but I repeatedly experienced movement as I wore it throughout the day (the amount depending upon my activity).

When Tenicor added the P365 to their lineup Velo holsters, I immediately wanted to try it out — and it’s been my AIWB holster (Appendix Inside the WaistBand) ever since. Well, my choice of any EDC holster for that matter.

Holsters may seem virtually identical, but that’s far from the case. The Velo, with its distinctive look and muzzle wedge, has many features not to be found on other holsters. That wedge, for instance, looks weird, but it serves a very important purpose — it pushes the grip of your pistol into (toward) the body, which helps keep it from printing.

Another unique and highly effective feature of the Velo, at least in my experience, is the Tenicor T1 belt clip by Discreet Carry Concepts. These are hands down the best clips I’ve ever had on an AIWB holster…or on any holster for that matter.

Plastic clips work acceptably well, but they often allow an entire holster to move around while you’re going about your day — and they’re rarely as durable as the quality metal versions. T1 clips from Discreet Carry Concepts are thin, lightweight, very low profile and have incredible tension. That tension feels as aggressive today as it did when I first began using the holster.

In fact, having a good EDC belt (which should be a must-have as a part of your carry setup) isn’t as necessary as it might be with otherwise due to the Velo’s clips. I’ve used a variety of belts with the Velo and sometimes without a belt at all. The holster has always performed just fine as long as the pants or shorts had enough material in the waistline.

That said, a good belt is always going to be my preferred foundation of carrying.

That is how strong the T1 clips are, and that allows for many more options wardrobe-wise. That, in turn, means that there are even fewer excuses reasons not to carry.

Tenicor Velo Sig P365 holster, EDC loadout

Tenicor Velo Sig P365 holster as a part of a complete EDC loadout (though you can’t see the medical component from this angle). It’s good to have enough gun, but you should have a TQ or some combat gauze or something immediately accessible to patch holes on you.

I have carried my P365 in the Velo for over a year now, the vast majority of the time off duty, and unless someone comes up with something startlingly better it’s going to remain what I use. The Velo + P365 makes for a tight, light, compact option that’s easy to conceal no matter what you wear. Though at first, the muzzle wedge wasn’t very comfortable against my body, after a few days of wearing it that discomfort went away. I have driven on long road trips with it and I am comfortable during the entire 3 to 4-hour ride. That’s actually similar to my first experience carrying appendix fashion for the first time overall — the comfort level improved over a short wear period, and I quickly realized the advantages it gave.

The T1 clips are very effective at staying put and keeping the holster in place. Unlike any other holster I’ve used, I’ve never had to worry about it slipping or falling out. Retention is solid, and I am confident that my pistol is secured until I make the conscious decision to draw it.

SIG P365 in a Tenicore holster, concealed.

There’s a Sig P365 under here — no, it won’t fit an iron or a steamer. Concealed means concealed.

 

Tenicor holster for the SIG Sauer P365

T1 Clips are some of the best!

Tenicor did an excellent job at designing and manufacturing a holster system that is very concealable, safe, lightweight, and durable. They have since made updates to the design with the body contour that evolved from the wedge and a few other features.

The Velo works as advertised and if there is one thing that I could come up with as a con, it would be the price. A Velo setup with the T1 clips will run you $95. Good kit costs money and this is no different. This particular holster has lasted me over a year and is showing no signs of wear or reductions in retention with the clips or of the pistol. It is a high-quality product that Tenicor stands behind 100% and will do a full refund if purchased direct.

The Velo lets you carry your EDC pistol discreetly, safely and will work with pretty much anything you decide to wear. With the increase in shootings in public places, it’s never more important to have a pistol on you (if you can do so legally) so that you’ll have a fighting chance if you’re caught up in an incident where you need it.

For more information check out the Tenicor website.

 

Carry a Sig P365?

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Stock: Blackpoint Tactical

Blackpoint Tactical left hand AIWB holster for SIG P365

GunMag Warehouse carries this one for the wrong-handed: it’s the Blackpoint Tactical left-hand AIWB holster for the SIG P365.

 

 

Sig P365 Holster — This Guy’s Top Five

Travis Pike

The P365 is the size of a single stack 9 with the capacity of a double stack 9. The gun has of course been quite popular with the concealed carry market and I carry one myself. This has led me to discover a series of Sig P365 holsters, some of which, of course, are better than others. Here are five I feel specifically partial to.

1. Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0 

If you want to go full kydex, the Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0 is the route to take for the standard grip frame. This appendix carry design comes with two belt clips, but a single clip can be used for a more traditional appendix carry setup. I personally preferred the strongside IWB setup and the Bravo Concealment rig conceals without effort. 

A SIG P365 holster by Bravo Concealment

A Sig P65 holster of choice: the Torsion 3.0 holster is a good Kydex option for AIWB (Appendix Inside the Waist Band) carry.

The design is set up to accommodate a threaded and extended barrel and will also function with raised suppressor height sights. With a growing P365 aftermarket it makes sense that some folks have suppressed their P365 for range time. Having P365 holsters to accommodate this is a nice touch. The Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0 has an adjustable cant and adjustable passive retention. 

The Torsion 3.0 is a well-made holster that is plenty comfortable and has that satisfying click when the gun is holstered. The Torsion 3.0 is currently only available for the standard P365 model, but I would expect an XL model to come forward soon. 

 

Sig Sauer P365 9mm 15-round magazine. GOT MAGS?

 

2. Crossbreed DropSlide 

Crossbreed is well known for their hybrid style holsters and they produce both IWB and OWB models. They produce an absolute ton of P365 holsters. The Crossbreed DropSlide is an OWB model that is cut not only to accommodate the P365, but also TLR 6 equipped P365. This is one of the few light-bearing models I could find without a 6 to 9 week lead time. 

A comfortable P365 holster from Crossbreed.

The Crossbreed DropSlide for SIG Sauer P365 is an OWB model that is cut not only to accommodate the P365, but a TLR 6 equipped P365 as well…cuz it’s good to have a light! (WML and handheld f you can.)

I’m an OWB kind of guy. I typically find it the most comfortable means to carry a gun and my large frame also makes it easy for me to conceal an OWB gun. The DropSlide design cuts the leather low to make it easy to get a comfortable grip on the gun and draw with speed. 

The DropSlide bends around the body and allows the holster to conform to the body. It conceals very well and the DropSlide’s custom-molded frame keeps things comfortable and keeps the gun secured. I can carry my SIG p365 with a Streamlight TLR 6 and do so very comfortably. 

 

P365 Micro-Compact 9mm 12-round magazine. GOT MAGS?

 

3. Alien Gear ShapeShift 

The Alien Gear ShapeShift Holster system is designed to be an all-in-one holster option. It utilizes interchangeable shells that allow you to swap holsters and carry techniques. You can swap between OWB models, appendix holsters, hybrid IWB, shoulder holsters, car holsters, MOLLE rigs, pocket holsters, and more. With one shell you can purchase the expansion packs you need and want. 

A P365 holster: the Alien Gear "Shapeshift".

Alien Gear’s ShapeShift Holster system is based on interchangeable shells so you can swap holsters (and change up carry techniques).

Alien Gear and their ShapeShift system was an early adopter of the P365 and allowed shooters to have nearly any option they wanted for their P365. The ShapeShift system isn’t perfect, and won’t satisfy all people with their designs. However, they do offer a multitude of options that other holsters companies do not. 

Being able to carry my P365 on a belly band, or a shoulder holster, or even on my ankle isn’t always necessary but they do open up options for those niche situations in which you need a niche means to carry. I tend to stick to the IWB model for a tuckable carry option. As far as P365 holsters go this will cover every use you can imagine. 

 

P365 Micro-Compact 9mm 12-round magazine. GOT MAGS?

 

4. Clinger Holsters V3 

The V3 No Print Wonder from Clinger Holsters is a modular holster system that mixes leather and kydex but not in a way that you’d expect. The V3 No Print Wonder P365 holsters use a solid polymer base with leather wing attachments. These wings allow you to carry the gun in an OWB or IWB configuration with just a flip of the hardware. 

This model is from "Clinger Holsters".

This is the V3 No Print Wonder from Clinger Holsters: it’s a leather-and-Kydex modular holster system, but not the sort of hybrid you might expect. Another recommended option for those of you who need a Sig Sauer P365 holster.

The IWB hardware gives you a strongside IWB holster that does what its long name says. The design doesn’t print and is superbly secure and comfortable. OWB hardware gives you something akin to a pancake-style design. It keeps it tight to your body. 

If you remove the wings and add a large clip to the body of the polymer holster then you now have an appendix holster. The Clinger Holster V3 allows for a multitude of carry options in a low profile and lightweight design. On top of all that modularity, you can also adjust both cant and ride height to maximize concealment and comfortable draw. 

 

P365 9mm 10-round magazine with extension. GOT MAGS?

 

5. Black Label Products Appendix Holster 

Black Label is the only company I’ve found that produces a full kydex P365 holster for the Icarus Grip Module I keep my P365 situated in. This gives them a major advantage to me in this list. This appendix rig offers me a small, lightweight, and unobtrusive holster for carrying my P365 with the Icarus Grip Module. 

Appendix carry Black Label holster for that little SIG.

It’s good for the Icarus Grip Module Sig P365XL too — thin, well-made, and comfy, it’s the Black Label appendix carry Sig Sauer P365 holster option for concealed carry.

 

The Black Label appendix rig does offer you adjustable cant as well as an easily adjustable ride height. Unlike many other appendix holsters, the Black Label holster system doesn’t have a claw. Instead, it has an integrated bump on the outward-facing portion of the trigger guard. This pushes the holster back for complete concealment. It has an integrated sweat guard but is a minimalist design. 

The Black Label Appendix holster is thin, well made, and quite comfortable. It will also fit the new P365 XL with the Icarus Grip module as well. The Black Label Appendix holster comes from a small company, but they seem to be one willing to innovate. The holster is also available in a multitude of colors, including black, Tiffany Blue, Krypteks, Multicam black, and many more. 

 

Find it: the P365 Sig P365 Icarus Grip Module.

 

Sig Sauer P365 Holster Choices and you

This is a gun designed to be carried day in and day out. It’s called the 365 for a reason. The P365’s aftermarket is growing rapidly and holsters are one small portion of that aftermarket. Who else carries one? If so, what is your preferred choice of Sig Sauer P365 holster?

Let us know if there are any holsters we should check out.!

 

 

Find this article’s holsters here:

Bravo Concealment: https://www.bravoconcealment.com/

Crossbreed: https://www.crossbreedholsters.com/

Clinger Holsters: https://clingerholsters.com/

Alien Gear: https://aliengearholsters.com/

Black Label Holsters: https://blacklabelholsters.com/

 

 

This has been a collaborative effort by two or more members of The Mag Life contributor team: to wit, a JWOT (Joint Writing Operations Team). We’ll advise which specific contributors in the text of the article. Subscribe to GunMag TV and follow GMW on Instagram, @gunmagwarehouse. Connect on Facebook, /gunmagwarehouse/.

CategoriesGun Reviews
Post By admin

The Jericho Pistol — Israel’s All-Steel CZ 75

The Israelis and their domestic firearms production has made some seriously awesome contributions to the world of firearms. We got the Uzi, the Galil, the Tavor, and of course, the Jericho series of handguns. Unlike the other aforementioned firearms, I feel the Jericho series of handguns is nowhere near as respected or as appreciated. Admittedly, the Jericho pistol series does what most middle eastern and Eastern European handgun manufacturers do and just copy the CZ 75.

IWI Jericho pistol

Sleek, sexy, and dangerous looking. Oddly enough in film and media the IWI Jericho pistol is often used by the bad guys.

Well, kind of. The Jericho came from the year 1990 and has been imported under various other names. This includes the Uzi Eagle, the Desert Eagle, the Baby Eagle, and obviously as the Jericho. Israeli Weapon Industries tried to cash in on the popularity of the Uzi and Desert Eagle titles. The Jericho does have a passing resemblance to the Desert Eagle with the triangular muzzle end. Other than that and the fact they are both semi-auto handguns, the two guns have nothing in common.

What’s a Jericho?

Israeli’s Jericho pistol is a service pistol. A gun designed for military and police use primarily, but like most guns, it can be regulated to concealed carry by the dedicated. My particular model is the all-metal variant, stamped Desert Eagle Pistol, and is a 9mm variant. It features a Picatinny rail, a DA/SA action, and a slide-mounted safety.

IWI Jericho Pistol that resembles Desert Eagle.

The Jericho has the shark-like front end that resembles the Desert Eagle just a bit.

There are tons of variants of the Jericho pistol. This includes polymer frame models, various calibers, including the now-extinct proprietary .41 AE. Safeties have varied between frame- and slide-mounted designs. Most modern variants sport rails, but early models did not. Jerichos also come in full-size, compact, and subcompact sizes.

Narrowing exactly what the Jericho is, is tough to do. Too many varieties that vary widely, under a wide variety of names, make it tough to say these specific features make the gun a Jericho. There are many Jerichos, but this one is mine.

Run it Down

My big, hefty Jericho pistol weighs a stunning 2.8 pounds unloaded. It’s a hefty girl, like one of those body-positive types that occupy Instagram. I like all metal guns, and I don’t mind heft by any means. The Jericho is easily one of the heaviest 9mm service pistols I’ve ever handled. It’s heavier than the Glock 17, the Beretta M9, the S&W 4506, and 1911 Government models. Heck, it’s even heavier than the CZ75B.

IWI Jericho pistol with CZ 75 magazine

The Jericho utilizes CZ 75 magazines, which are robust, well made, affordable, and plentiful.

This full-sized beast chambers the 9mm round and, as a CZ 75 clone, luckily utilizes CZ 75 magazines. People love Glock magazines, but they should appreciate CZ 75 mags. These magazines are extremely common, well made, and affordable in varying capacities.

I typically prefer decockers over safeties, and when I have to deal with safeties, I prefer frame mounted. Some Jerichos use a frame-mounted safety, but mine does not. Luckily, since this is a clone of the CZ 75, the slide is super short, and the slide-mounted safety is easy to access with just the thumb. The safety is also a decocker, so there is no lock and cocked carry with my Jericho variant.

Gives You Wings

The safety does act like wings on the slide. Since it’s so small, there is very little slide to grab. The safety adds a little extra grip material for slingshotting this bad bay into action. The slide release/slide lock is my very favorite. Mostly because my sausage thumbs do not pin it down and render it useless, it’s also my favorite because it’s massive and very easy to hit and send the slide roaring home.

slide mounted safety

The slide-mounted safety acts as wings to grip the teeny tiny slide oh so much better.

A huge beavertail at the rear end protects the webbing of your hand and allows you to choke up nice and tight on the gun. Combine that with the hefty weight and the low slide mass, and you get a very comfortable shooting gun, but more on that later.

slide release

Look at this slide release. It’s massive and easy to activate.

IWI fit simple rubber grips to the gun, but they are interchangeable. Plenty of wood, metal, and polymer options exist. Heck, you can even get the grip Spike used on his Jericho from Cowboy Bebop.

….But How Does the Jericho Pistol Shoot?

Like a kitten, it shoots and handles like a kitten. Saying recoil is minimal doesn’t properly describe how this gun handles. It’s super soft and easy to control. You’ll experience very little muzzle rise. All that weight, that high grip, and that low slide mass results in a very easy-to-control firearm. This gun, alongside my CZ 75B, are my favorites for new shooters.

Once a new shooter moves past a 22LR handgun, the CZ75 and Jericho give them a soft shooting centerfire handgun. It takes some of the scary out of the act of shooting a gun and gives them something with a little more oomph than a 22LR.

Desert Eagle stamp on slide

Look closely and you can see the Desert Eagle markings on my Jericho.

The trigger is very much OK. It’s a contradiction in many ways. The double-action trigger pull gives your finger a workout. It’s extremely heavy and long, although I’ll give credit where credit is due and say it is smooth. The single-action trigger provides a much better experience. It has a slight take up, and then a short ball, and Boom—the gun fires.

It gets an OK rating because, well, a rough double-action trigger combined with a great single action makes an OK overall trigger. The big spurred hammer is easy to cock manually, and single action is how I suggest you chase the dragon with this one.

IWI Jericho pistol double action, single action

A DA/SA design gives you a heavy freaking trigger for the first, but a very light and crisp trigger for the single-action design.

When I compare my CZ 75B to my Jericho, I’d say that the CZ 75B has a better double-action trigger but a worse single action. Although, the CZ 75B still has a very nice single-action trigger.

Heavy Is Good

Heavy is reliable, heavy is capable, and the Jericho pistol is all that. It’s quite reliable and chews through the worst ammo I have on hand to include Winchester Forged. Winchester’s Forged ammo is made by the dwarves Tula fired for QC issues.

IWI Jericho pistol

I really need some of those Spike special Cowboy Bebop grips.

It even shoots crappy ammunition straight. My 50 yard 10-inch gong test was easily passed with the Jericho… well, as long as I used the single-action trigger. The double-action proved itself capable enough to hit headshots at 20 yards. I think with lots of double-action-only practice, I could get better at it, but I’m not there yet.

IWI Jericho pistol

The Jericho is a striking pistol that gives you excellent ergonomics and accuracy.

When you steal a little from the CZ 75 series, you better steal the ergonomics. Luckily, the Jericho possesses those same fantastic ergos. The grip slides into the hand and feels like it’s meant to be there. The curves and humps provide a glove-like fit and make the weapon quite comfortable to hold and shoot.

You can reach the controls without changing your grip. Swapping mags, disengaging the safety, and sending the slide flying home are all very easy to accomplish. IWI knocked it out with the Jericho and kept the features that made the CZ 75B such a legendary gun.

IWI Jericho pistol

This gun has taken an absolute beating but keeps on kicking.

Ping Pow Pew

Why the gun industry clamors over the latest Glock but ignores the awesomeness that is the Jericho series befuddles me. The Jericho doesn’t pull punches and delivers a very capable fighting pistol outfitted with fantastic ergonomics, excellent accuracy, and brilliant reliability. Plus, if you ever run out of ammunition, you can beat someone to death with it.

 

 

 

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s instructor.

CategoriesSkills and Gunhandling
Post By admin

A Dry Fire Magazine? Train at Home

One of the things I spend the most time on at the annual NRA Annual Meeting is scouring the exhibit halls for new and innovative products. This year, I ran across a previous acquaintance. I had forgotten about this Dry Fire Mag until we crossed paths again in the midst of 81,000 of my closest friends at the recent Indy NRA meeting and expo. It’s a dry-fire practice aid that falls squarely into the “Why didn’t I think of that?” category, and it’s arguably a simpler and more efficient solution than a dry fire pistol.

I tell every shooter I work with that a few minutes a day of dry-fire practice is the single most effective thing that can do to improve their shooting skills. How many adopt that practice, even occasionally? I don’t know, but I suspect it’s about the same percentage as people who floss their teeth daily and following the wash-rinse-repeat instructions on hair shampoo.

The problem with dry fire

One reason that dry-fire practice is about as interesting as watching C-SPAN on mute is that it requires artificial gun manipulation if you use a semi-automatic pistol. After all, the whole point of dry-fire practice is to work on the trigger press repeatedly. Each time you press the trigger on a semi-auto, you have to reset the trigger and striker so you can do it again. That requires at least a partial slide rack. Worse yet, if you have a magazine inserted, you have to be careful not to rack too far or else you’ll have the release the slide, too.

There are three problems with these slide racks between shots. First, it’s a pain. Second, you can’t practice multiple shot scenarios, not even two in a row. Third, it arguably develops what tacti-ninjas call “training scars.” Those are training habits that result from doing something in practice you would never do in real life. While I don’t know of a real-world case, it’s conceivable that in the heat of the moment, a frequent dry-fire racker might start racking the slide after every shot. Whatever you think about reason number 3, the first two are enough to warrant finding a better way.

This article originally ran in 2019. It has been updated and republished.

Dry Fire Mag

The Dry Fire Mag works by intercepting the trigger bar with its own spring system to provide resistance and reset. This allows the user to train with an actual EDC weapon, vs. a “dry fire pistol” like NLT’s SIRT gun. 

One solution: Dry Fire Mag

Enter the Dry Fire Mag. This nifty invention replaces the magazine in your Glock or Smith & Wesson M&P with this one and you can press your trigger until you become Max Michel or Julie Golob. It works by housing a spring assembly that intercepts the trigger bar on the way back. In fact, it doesn’t even require the slide to be in place to operate. Obviously, you wouldn’t practice that way, but the point is that the system doesn’t use the firing pin, so no wear and tear there. You can also adjust the Dry Fire Mag to match whatever the pull weight is on your current trigger.

It’s a nifty solution for safe and at-home practice.

Dry-Fire Magazine Edit

September 2020

There are options to the Dryfire Magazine. Though they remain popular, not everyone is impressed with the idea (citing the danger of negligent discharge). One of the most obvious alternatives is the SIRT gun, which has been a staple in many a “training arsenal” for years and is certainly worth looking at. There are others, as well. MantisX can be used with your phone, the LASR program will run on your laptop, the Glock E-Trainer allows you to drop the trigger without having to rack the slide for reset, the Coolfire Trainer Laser Recoil System has received interesting reviews, Airsoft guns for training are readily available (though often reviled, it’s a good tool), and there are always good ole’ snap caps. Jacob Paulsen wrote an article about some of these and other options on ConcealedCarry.com.

Looking for additional perspective on the Dry Fire Mag? Read about it on 8541 Tactical or Justified Defensive Concepts.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t use the Dry Fire Mag. Just know there are options. Some of those are listed below.

Note: some of the links below are derived from various affiliate programs. Should you purchase something using one of the provided links GunMag Warehouse will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Find the Dryfire Mag: https://www.dryfiremag.com/. They even have an Amazon store. On IG, @the_original_dryfiremag, and on FB www.facebook.com/DryFireMag/.

• Next Level Training/SIRT:; , on Amazon, Instagram @nltsirt, on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelTrainingLLC/.

• MantisX: https://mantisx.com/, on Amazon, , on Instagram #MantisX, and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MantisFTS/.

• Glock E-Trainer: https://www.glocketrainer.com/home1, , , and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gloketrainer/.

• Airsoft Guns/AEX: https://www.airsoftextreme.com/, on Instagram @aexairsoftextreme, and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AEXSuperstores/.

Tom McHale is a committed learning junkie always seeking a new subject victim. As a lifelong student of whatever grabs his attention on any particular day, he thrives on beating rabbit trails into submission. In between his time as a high-tech marketing executive, restaurant owner, and hamster cosmetology practitioner, he’s published seven books and nearly 1,500 articles about guns, shooting, and the American way.

CategoriesAccessories
Post By admin

Build a better brainbucket: Bump Helmet Optimization

Helmets — we wear them to protect one of the most important organs on our bodies — the brain. There is a specific helmet for nearly every aspect of life, stemming from sporting activities to construction to warfighting. I’ve written many reviews on Ballistic Helmets over the years and the technology has improved vastly during that time. Long gone are the days of the Protec skateboarding and snowboarding helmets that were very popular with special operation forces who needed or wanted a lightweight helmet to mount their night vision devices. Many companies like Ops-Core have stepped up and developed “Tactical Bump Helmets” that were designed specifically for low threat and training missions for the special operations community and those technological updates are now available to everyone in the law enforcement and civilian sectors.

The term or classification “Bump Helmet” describes them pretty well…they protect your head from impacts or bumps. They are non-ballistic, meaning they won’t stop a ballistic threat from either bullets or high-speed fragmentation. They are made of high-impact polymers or carbon fiber and this makes them very lightweight in comparison to their ballistic counterparts. They usually have air vents, which makes them a lot cooler to have on. They vary in the level of impact protection based on the padding system that is in place. Basically, they have all the features identical to the ballistic version, just a lot lighter and more comfortable in every way.

This article originally ran in August 2020. 

So what are bump helmets used for?

The special operations community uses them for parachuting, maritime, vehicle, training operations (search and rescue teams all over the world wear them during training and missions), rock climbers, recreational shooters — especially those who run NODs, and basically anyone who needs some blunt force trauma protection. With all of the current events with civil unrest, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have one just in case you need to get out of a bad situation that couldn’t be avoided. We’ll get more into that later.

Bump helmets are relatively inexpensive, starting around two hundred dollars and going up from there. Like any other piece of kit, you get what you pay for. I have both a budget and a high-end setup. I figure it’s a good idea to have more than one, so I can have different applications as well as a spare for my wife or kid to use, especially in an emergency.

Bump Helmet Optimization - Ops-Core

The Ops-Core Fast SF Carbon Helmet works well as a bike helmet too.

In general, all bump helmets are lightweight and have an NVG shroud for mounting NODs, light, or camera. There are many manufacturers, typically armor companies, that make a bump version of their ballistic offerings. I will go over both of my setups and the accessories that I have on them as well as other available options that I have seen and done research on. When it comes to protection from blunt force trauma, having a good padding system is important to absorb the impact before it reaches your head.

With the advances in helmets, companies that make accessories started to design their products for use on helmets. The good thing about all of the accessories that go on helmets is, for the most part, they are modular and simple to install and remove. When ordering, make sure you use the sizing guidelines and go with the larger helmet if you’re close to the limits on a certain size. I have a small head and medium-sized helmets are usually perfect for me.

Budget Bump Helmet Setup

Hard Head Veterans: ATE Bump Helmet. $199.99

Hard Head Veterans: ATE Bump Helmet, $199.99 as of this writing. Though it might seem counter-intuitive, there are many occasions where a “brain bucket” would be useful, if not literally a lifesaver. 

Hard Head Veteran’s or HHV for short, makes an affordable high-cut ballistic helmet, which is currently in the second generation of their ATE (above the ear) ballistic helmet. I have an early version of the Gen2 ATE. Not long after the Gen2 was released, HHV started working on a non-ballistic version, the ATE Bump Helmet. It has most of the same features as the ballistic version with a double-layer padding system, MLOK rails, NVG shroud, and magnetic chin strap. The difference is obviously the lighter weight and thinner profile as well as air vents to assist in airflow.

I have on them, my Peltor Sport Tactical 500 headset attached via the HHV Rak adapter kit. Depending on what I am using the ATE bump for, I usually leave it slick as I can attach a marker or light very quickly and easily. This helmet gets the job done and is very comfortable to wear. The inner padding does cover some of the air vents and therefore restricts airflow throughout the helmet when worn. It is also on the softer side when it comes to padding, with the two layers installed. It does the job in blunt force trauma protection.

For the price, the ATE Bump helmet is a great entry-level helmet and is very capable. Since I have two setups and this being the lower end, it is my back up and readily available for my family if the situation dictates that it is necessary for them to need a helmet whether it’s for recreation, range use, or emergency.

High-End Setup — My Primary Bump Helmet

It is the non-ballistic version of their new Fast SF Ballistic Helmet, which is already very lightweight, one of the lightest I have tried on. I got to wear the ballistic version briefly at SHOT Show 2020 in January. This is therefore the latest version of their Carbon Bump helmet and features a new blend of composite materials and Carbon Fiber. It shares a lot of the features from the Fast SF Ballistic with the same super high cut profile, the new Modular Bungee Shroud, and ARC rails. The new materials make it stronger than the previous offerings and that adds to the price. This one, in my opinion, is the high-speed, low-drag — or the Ferrari of bump helmets.

Since you can’t have holes in a ballistic helmet for obvious reasons, the bump version can and does. The vented lux liner in the Fast SF Carbon matches the vent holes, giving unrestricted airflow to help with cooling. The pads are stiffer and hold their form much better than the ones in the HHV.

Ops-Core FAST SF Carbon Composite bump helmet interior padding.

The exterior of the Fast SF Carbon matches its ballistic counterpart with the unique velcro pattern throughout the helmet. It breaks up the shape of the helmet and lowers the IR signature as well as provides more options and surface area to attach certain accessories.

Ops-Core Fast SF Carbon Composite Bump Helmet exterior with velcro for accessory attachment.

Ops-Core is part of Gentex Corp and has been on the leading edge of helmet technology and has produced a ton of accessories for its Fast line-up. The Fast SF Carbon is compatible with all of the Fast accessories that include a variety of face shields, goggles, and mandible guards.

For hearing protection, I use the Ops-Core AMP headset with the NFMI earplugs. Together, they offer 33-34db NRR protection, which is unheard of. I am currently working on a separate review of that system, so stay tuned for that. The AMPs are unique in design and can be worn as a headset underneath a helmet or with a rail-attached kit that can be attached to the rear section of the ARC rails.

Ops-Core Fast Composite bump helmet with AMP headset and NFMI earplug.

The ear cups attach to the arms with a gimbal, allowing full articulation and keeping the best seal possible. Transferring from headset to the rail kit takes a few minutes tops and requires no tools, which is a feat in engineering and design. The sound quality gives you excellent situational awareness with 3D hear-through, meaning you can tell exactly where the source of each sound is coming from. I prefer to have the AMPs attached to the helmet.

For most applications, I will have the Fast SF Carbon with the AMPs attached and either my prescription glasses or Mk1 for eye pro. At the minimum, I’ll have the Helstar 6 on the top rear of the helmet for IFF or visibility on the range. Lights can be attached on a case by case basis.

Ops-Core Fast SF Carbon with AMPs stowed. Oakley SI M-Frame Alpha for Eye Pro.

High-End setup. Ops-Core Fast SF Carbon with AMPs stowed. Oakley SI M-Frame Alpha for Eye Pro.

Ops-Core bump helmet with AMPs and eye protection.

The author with the Ops-Core Fast SF Carbon and AMPs along with Oakley SI M-Frame 3.0. Range Setup.

Bump Helmet Accessories

Helmet Covers

You may want a helmet cover to add for storage and velcro if your helmet doesn’t have enough to attach markers etc. Covers will protect your helmet from scratches and dings. You will cover the air vents and restrict some of the cooling features. Every helmet manufacturer usually has its own covers available. Agilite Tactical makes high-quality covers for ballistic and bump helmets. Make sure you get the correct cover specific to the bump version as they are thinner than their ballistic counterparts or go with the bridge, which will adapt to whatever helmet you’re running.

bump helmet with cover and accessories

Illumination

Having a hands-free light is not a bad idea. You can mount most flashlights to the rails of your helmet. Princeton Tec makes specific lights that’ll go directly on your rails or attach to the NVG shroud.

Ops-Core Bump helmet with AMP, SureFire M300V, Thyrm Variarc mount, and Helstar 6.

The Princeton Tec Charge Pro comes ready to attach to the ARC rail and includes numerous mount adapters to work with other helmets. It takes a CR123 battery and has a 55-lumen white floodlight when you hold down the activation button. You can choose the max bright color LEDs. I got the red and they turn on with a push of the button. There are two brightness settings and you can toggle them by pressing the button. The red light will save your night vision and the light head is attached to a flexi-neck that can be articulated to the position you need it to illuminate.

The old-school Surefire HL1 Helmet light can be mounted to an ARC rail with an adapter. It gives you visible and IR lights as well as an IFF marker. You can also mount your Surefire Scout or X300 using Picatinny ARC mounts adapters.

The Thyrm Variarc is a low-profile ARC rail adapter with some Picatinny slots. It can be rotated in eight different positions where other mounts are limited so a certain degree of manipulation. I have my Surefire M300V attached to it with the Impact Weapons Components Thorntail Picatinny mount.

Markers

Depending on your specific application, having a visual marker (a technical term for light) could be helpful to allow your friends to find you using either visible or IR signals. CORE Survival Helstar 5 and 6 are multifunctional markers that were made specifically for helmets.

Ops-Core Bump Helmet with AMP headset and Helstar 6 multi-function light.

Helstar 6 on an Ops-Core bump helmet.

CORE Survival Helstar 6 in Visible Green mode. Taken with Sionyx Aurora Color Night Vision camera.

CORE Survival Helstar 6 in Visible Green mode. Taken with Sionyx Aurora Color Night Vision camera.

Hearing Protection

Having electronic ear protection is never a bad idea. Especially if you plan on taking it to the range. Since it’s mostly uncomfortable wearing them underneath, attaching them to the rails is not a bad way to go. You can mount Peltors pretty easily with adapters like the Unity Tactical Mark Kit, if you run MSA Sordins, then you’ll need the SARA adapters and some assembly is required.

The downside of having them attached to the helmet is that they’ll most likely be a permanent fixture since moving them back and forth to the headband is a pain in the ass, to say the least, with most headsets out there. That is unless you have the Ops-Core AMP headsets, all you need is the arm attachment kit and you can place the headset over in about a minute’s time.

The AMPs from Ops-Core quickly attaches to your helmet without any tools, unlike any other headsets available.

The AMPs from Ops-Core quickly attaches to your helmet without any tools, unlike any other headsets available.

Eye Protection

Protecting your ability to see is important, the simplest solution is to wear some ANSI rated glasses. However, having eye pro attached to your helmet guarantees that you’ll always have them with your helmet — kind of like having headsets attached. There are several available and are usually specific to the manufacturer of the helmet. Most times they are not compatible with other makes.

I run the Ops-Core Mk1 performance eye protection. They are ANSI Z87.1 rated and were designed to work in conjunction with helmet systems. The Mk1 is metal framed and has a flat profile that makes them less likely to snag on comms cables or straps.

Oakley Ballistic M-Frames are another great option for eye protection. I have had many throughout the years and they work well under helmets.

Ops-Core Fast SF Carbon Bump Helmet with AMPs headset, Oakley standard issue M-Frame Alpha eye protection. set up for search & rescue operations or range training.

The author with the Ops-Core Fast SF Carbon Helmet and AMPs in place. Oakley Standard Issue M-Frame Alpha for eye protection. Solid setup for search & rescue operations or on the range training.

Camera

If you’re doing some action sports, you may want to record some cool footage for later. You can mount a GoPro using adapters that will fit the NVG Shroud. I currently don’t run a camera but I may do so in the future.

Take note that a helmet is only so big and the total surface area is limited even if you have a huge noggin. You are also limited by rail space. Everything, no matter how light it is, adds weight and in some cases becomes a snag hazard. Many of these accessories are not compatible in conjunction with others. You’ll have to make the determination on what you actually need to have on it, just like setting up a Carbine, plate carrier, or any of your gear. It is very mission dependent and only you should know what you need and what you don’t.

Practical Uses for the Bump Helmet

Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters can happen at any time. No matter where you live in the states, there’s a possibility of being affected by a natural disaster. Whether it’s a wildfire, earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or landslide, you would benefit a lot by having a bump helmet or two.

The first responders that conduct search and rescue operations are certainly wearing some kind of helmet. It may take them some time to come and rescue you and everyone else around you when disaster strikes. If you have a family and people dependent on you for their safety, you are no good to any of them if you are down. I am definitely not a doctor but I am confident that blunt force trauma to the head, in any case, is a bad thing and can incapacitate you therefore not allowing you to help your loved ones.

During these events, you may have to go through uneven terrain and obstacles, which increases the probability of you banging your head simply trying to get to someone or getting out of a bad spot. In other events like a hurricane or tornado, the chances of getting hit with flying debris increase drastically and a helmet can absorb a lot from an impact.

If you’re setting up your bump helmet for these situations, from some of the accessories that I have listed above, I recommend having a flashlight and a visible marker. You want to be able to have a hands free light to have full use of your hands in order to see where you’re going and be able to climb, crawl, or move things out of your way. This is also important if you need to render medical aid. The bump helmet increases your survivability and effectiveness in these conditions.

Civil Unrest and/or Riots

If you’re a first responder and aren’t issued a riot helmet with a face shield, maybe it’s a good idea to invest in your own safety PPE or personal protection equipment, as long as you wouldn’t get in trouble doing so. I would hope that if your employer wouldn’t care if you do and they’re not providing it for you. The usual-issue riot helmets in most cases absolutely suck. They’re either repurposed equestrian helmets or military surplus PASGT or ACH (if you’re lucky) with a face shield attached. They are heavy, dirty, and probably not personally issued to you so they’re passed on to whoever’s up on the line and most likely not sanitized. If you’re an officer on the front line, you probably don’t have the option to use your own. If you’re an EMT or firefighter, you might have more leeway and a bump helmet would definitely help protect you from x, y, and z thrown at you while you’re trying to do your job.

A face shield is something that would be useful in protecting your eyes and face from whatever is thrown at you. Having a marker and light would be the other optional accessories that can help with visibility with your partners and having hands free illumination to tend to patients.

Range Use

If you’re fortunate enough to have access to a range in the nighttime hours, which I do sometimes, whether you are running night vision devices or not, having a bump helmet with a marker is a must-have piece of kit. It keeps you and everyone safe by allowing everyone to know where everyone is. Chem lights tied to your hat or shirt work too, but why not have a helmet that can increase your capabilities with having ear pro and lights attached? When you’re doing admin duties or changing targets downrange, having a hands free light source is very helpful.

Everything Else

As you can see, a bump helmet is very versatile and modular to fill many hats, pun totally intended there. It has many more practical uses than a ballistic helmet and outside of the uses I already mentioned above, you can use it for sports to include mountain biking, hiking, water crafting, off-roading, and many more. Hell, I’ve worn one while doing tree trimming around my house and that has saved me from a concussion or two. I can really go on and on with this topic, as there are so many options and accessories available today. I will most likely do a follow up on those in the future.

Doesn’t matter which one you go with, you get the features and capabilities that you pay for. Either way, they can be a very practical part of your kit that you will most likely get your money’s worth out of.

Be safe during these times of uncertainty and being prepared goes without saying.

Addendum

In the wake of the massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, it is yet another reminder as to the importance of having PPE ready to go. A similar incident happened in the city of West, Texas where a fertilizer plant blew up. Many of these types of facilities are in close proximity to residential communities and all it takes is some negligence for a horrible accident to come about.

A bump helmet would be crucial for any first responder and everyone in the vicinity of a blast zone where encountering broken glass and compromised infrastructure is an inevitable result from the blast and shockwave. Simply trying to exfil from the area can present problems an be a challenge to navigate.

If you’re responsible for others, ie your family or coworkers, you will be going back into hazardous areas to get them. Power might be taken out so you can expect to be in the dark. Having a light on your helmet would assist you with the lack of light. Eye protection, preferably wrap around style like the Oakley Standard Issue M-Frames will protect your eyes from debris and secondary explosions if that were to happen.

Also having multiple helmets for other members of your family will prevent them from getting injuries during your egress from the area. Helmet markers will make you visible to rescue workers and help you get extracted if you get trapped or stuck. Although it’s not the focus of this article, I cannot stress enough with knowing basic first aid or TCCC and having a med kit with you everywhere you go.

Read more articles by Fifty Shades of FDE.

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Fifty Shades of FDE is a full-time LEO in California with about a decade’s service in a very large metropolitan agency. He’s a husband, father, and firearms enthusiast. He is a supporter of the Second Amendment and a proponent of law-abiding citizens’ right to defend themselves with concealed carry permits. He runs his @fiftyshadesofFDE page on Instagram and writes gun/gear reviews on www.fiftyshadesoffde.com – when he’s not writing for The Mag Life, of course.

CategoriesRange Gear
Post By admin

The 7 Best Ways to Use HSGI Tacos

What is an HSGI Taco? Well, it is an expandible universal mag pouch designed for versatility, incorporating a number of features that make it unlike any other magazine pouch on the market. This includes using a combination of shock cord, polymer brackets, and heavy-duty nylon to construct a rugged, expandable magazine pouch. The unique HSGI Taco design makes these pouches incredibly useful and here, we’ve gathered the seven best ways to use them. 

universal mag pouch HSGI taco

Originally published August 2020.

1. Magazines… DUH

HSGI Tacos are magazine pouches so guess what? They hold magazines. In fact, these are some of the best magazine pouches on the market. They expand and contract to meet your magazine’s carrying needs.

The rifle magazine pouches stick you with 5.56 style magazines and allow you to carry AUG, G36, Mini 14, and of course AR 15 magazines. 

HSGI double rifle mag pouch.

HSGI double rifle mag pouches.

HSGI Taco Mag Pouch

HSGI Tacos. Expandable magazines pouches, rifle and pistol.

The pistol magazine Tacos seemingly fit nearly every pistol magazine you can toss at them This includes your favorites like Glock and 1911s, and expands into CZ, FN, Ruger, and so on and so forth. The only pistol magazines it would seemingly have issues with are ultra-short pocket pistol magazines. If you need something to carry a wide variety of magazines then the HSGI Taco mags are hard to beat. 

HSGI taco double mag pouch with rifle mags.

HSGI taco double mag pouch with rifle mags.

FN mag pouch

FN mag pouch.

Glock magazine pouch from High Speed Gear.

Glock magazine pouch.

 

2. Tools 

Tools is a good term for things that are tactical, but not exactly magazines. HSGI Taco pouches are expandable and this allows for uses beyond simply stashing magazines. The Taco universal mag pouch is a great way to carry a variety of useful tools. 

HSGI Tacos pistol magazine pouch holding flashlight.

The pistol magazine pouches are excellent for carrying flashlights, and even larger knives. This includes my butterfly knife, the Lucha, as well as OTF knives for quick and easy access.

HSGI Tacos. The pistol magazine pouches are great for holding knives. Image of taco with butterfly knife.

The rifle Tacos can carry CAT Tourniquets and even multi-tools. The Tacos can hold it all.

HSGI rifle taco holding a CAT tourniquete

battle belt loadout with HSGI tacos

Battle belt loadout with HSGI tacos.

3. Uhmmm Can Kinda Hold a Flask 

I’m not gonna say I went around my house trying to see what I could fit in a Taco universal mag pouch. I’m also not going to say I didn’t do that. 

HSGI Tacos can be used as flask holders - sort of.

With that in mind, if you try hard enough and really try and squeeze it in a flask will kinda, sorta fit into a rifle Taco. Now, I’m not saying a flask is a tactical necessity, but I’m not going to say it’s not. From cleaning wounds to calming nerves, anything over 40 proof can be pretty handy. You can also set fires, loosen up sources, and you can even clean with it. It’s handy, and not just a problem some people think I have.

4. Tacos for Tacos? 

A problem I admittedly have is Tacos. Not HSGI Tacos, but real Tacos. A quick look at my waistline will tell you I love Tacos. Imagine if you will. You hit the range, the field, or perform a mission and you get snacky. Your stomach is growling and in that situation, a PMAG isn’t going to help you. 

HSGI Taco holding a real taco.

A supreme soft taco most assuredly will. HSGI Tacos have no issues fitting actual tacos should the need arise. 

5. Oh, and a Ton of Snap Bracelets 

You got a bunch of kids you barely like? Well, a great way to get back at them for bein’ children is to hit them with an off-brand snap bracelet. You see, off-brand snap bracelets more than often than not don’t snap very well. You can hurt them a good bit with these dollar store snap bracelets. If you have to disperse a birthday party’s worth of children the HSGI Pistol Taco magazine pouch can fit a ton of Snap Bracelets in it. You can disperse them at the cyclic rate.

HSGI Taco pistol pouch snap bracelets

6. Candy, Too 

Let’s say you drop off all those snap bracelets and now you got an empty Taco pouch. Well, you are at a birthday party so you might as well start stealing all the candy. You’d be pleasantly surprised by how much candy you can squeeze into a pair of Tacos. Like, way more than you think. Enough to allow a dentist to purchase a new Benz. 

HSGI taco, expandable magazine pouch, holding candy

High Speed Gear Reflex

Found this on Insta: apparently @brandon__rich throws licorice in his HSGI Taco universal mag pouch when he’s at Alliance Police Training.

 

7. Can Hold One of those Tall, Girly Beer Cans 

I totally didn’t just shove this last one in here last minute because my girlfriend likes Spritzers and Leinenkugels. However, the rifle Taco easily fits the tall, weird can, and makes it quite convenient to wash down that Taco you’re carrying around. 

HSGI Tacos can hold tall skinny beercans like this Leinenkugels.

Tacos for Days 

HSGI Tacos mag pouches are excellent pieces of gear. These things are well made, easy to use, and perfect for a wide variety of tasks. While GunMag Warehouse may be known for selling tons and tons of magazines we also sell you the means to carry them. And the means to carry a Taco. 

HSGI taco universal mag pouch collection and gear

HSGI taco and Slim Grip padded belt.

HSGI tacos on Slim Grip padded belt.

HSGI Taco pouches LE Blue. universal mag pouch

HSGI Taco mag pouches in LE Blue.

MultiCam Black HSGI Taco Pouches, universal mag pouch

MultiCam Black HSGI Taco mag pouches.

The 7 Best Ways to Use HSGI Tacos

 

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s instructor.

CategoriesNew Gun Releases
Post By admin

Two New Magazine Extension Kits for VP9 and VP9SK

In the last couple of weeks, XTech Tactical released two new magazine extension kits, one for the full-sized VP9 and one for the subcompact VP9SK. Both kits increase the capacity of factory mags by two rounds, and they only take a few seconds to install.

Yesterday, Daniel did this video installation demonstration. Watch how he installs the kit components to convert a factory VP9 15-round magazine to a 17-round mag.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXt3cJ–q3c

Here are the two kits.

HK VP9 & P30 9mm 15 to 17 RD Conversion Kit

With this kit, you can increase your 15-round VP9 factory mag capacity by two rounds, as shown in the video above. 

VP9 magazine extender kit components

This kit includes the new base plate, spring button, and follower.

VP9 magazine extension kit from Xtech.

The kit uses the factory magazine spring & body.

From XTech:

XTech Tactical has released its VP9/P30 9mm Magazine Conversion kits for the Heckler and Koch VP9 & P30 9mm. The kits convert factory H&K 15rd and XTech Tactical 15rd magazines to 17rds. The kits are MADE IN THE USA and are $17.95.

The kit includes a follower, spring button and base plate and will add two rounds to existing 15d magazines. The kit will not add rounds to the VP9 17rd magazines. The kit can serve as a direct replacement for damaged factory base plates.

VP9 Magazine Extender Kit Specs

•It Fits the HK VP9 and P30 9mm

•For use with 9mm 15 round magazines – use factory spring

•Converts factory HK magazine from 15 to 17 rounds

•Tool-free, easy installation

•Made in the USA

•Uses factory spring & body (Not Included)

•MSRP is $17.95

 

HK VP9SK & P30SK 9mm 10 to 12 RD Conversion Kit

This kit makes it possible for you to quickly convert your factory 10-round HK VP9SK magazine from 10 to 12 rounds. The company says this conversion kit has been found to work very reliably with the HK factory magazine spring and body. 

HK VP9 magazine extension kit

Here’s what you get with the kit: a follower, spring button, and base plate.

 

XTech Tactical Magazine Extender kit for VP9SK

The kit uses the factory spring and magazine body.

The design permits quick conversion of the factory magazine from 10 to 12 rounds. The company says this conversion kit has been found to work very reliably with the HK factory magazine spring and body.  

From XTech:

XTech Tactical has released its VP9sk/P30sk 9mm Magazine Conversion Kits for the Heckler and Koch VP9sk & P30sk in 9mm. The kits convert factory H&K 10rd magazines to 12rds while also providing a much-improved grip of the pistol. The kits are MADE IN THE USA and are $17.95.

The kit includes a follower, spring button and base plate and will add two rounds to existing 10rd magazines.

The magazine extender is less overall length and size than the H&K factory finger extension while offering the user 2 additional rounds.

The kits are in stock and shipping!

VP9 SK Magazine Extender Kit Specs

•It Fits the HK VP9SK and P30SK 9mm

•For use with 9mm 10 round magazines – use factory spring

•Converts factory HK magazine from 10 to 12 rounds

•Tool-free, easy installation

•Optimal ergonomics for recoil control

•Made in the USA

•Uses factory spring & body (Not Included)

•MSRP is $17.95 (at the time of this writing)

 

Stephanie Kimmell is the firstborn daughter of Missouri’s Pecan King, worthy scion of a Vietnam veteran sailor turned mad engineer-orchardist-inventor-genius. With a BA in technical writing, she freelances as a writer and editor. A Zymurgist greatly interested in the decoction of fermented barley and hops, she is in many ways a modern amalgam of Esther Hobart Morris, Rebecca Boone, and Nellie Bly. She hunts, fishes, butchers, and cooks most anything. When not editing or writing, she makes soaps and salves, spins wool, and occasionally makes cheese from cows she milked herself. Kimmell is a driven epistemophilic who loves live music and all sorts of beer.

CategoriesGun Reviews
Post By admin

The Sig Romeo1Pro — Sig’s Latest Duty Ready Red Dot

I can’t keep track of Sig’s new releases. They seem to have a constant stream of new guns, optics, suppressors, P320 grip modules, and optics coming out. One of the latest is the successor to the Romeo1, the Romeo1Pro. Sig gave the Romeo1 a few upgrades that most duty and serious competition shooters demand.

What exactly did Sig change about the full-size Romeo1? Well, let’s dive in.

Romeo1Pro vs. Romeo1

In a world where we already have the Romeo1, you might be asking what the point of the Romeo1Pro is? The Romeo1Pro provides a noticeable difference in performance and outclasses the Romeo1 everywhere but the price.

The Romeo1 packed 5,000 hours of battery life, and the Romeo1Pro quadruples that with 20,000 hours. Plus, the Pro model utilizes a new point-source emitter to provide a much brighter dot than the Romeo1. Both offer ten daylight brightness settings, but the Pro gives you two-night vision settings.

Sig Sauer P320 with Romeo1Pro red dot sight

Wanna be faster? More Accurate? Increase your potential range? Get a red dot on your handgun.

The Romeo1Pro weighs .02 ounces more. It’s slightly longer but also slightly thinner. The difference is fractions of an inch, so it’s hardly noticeable. The Romeo1Pro also comes with a big stainless steel shield that adds a hefty layer of protection to the optic. It adds some weight and bulk but is completely optional. I’ll rarely say no to an extra layer of protection.

The Romeo1Pro Broken Down

If window size matters, then you’re gonna love the size of the Romeo1Pro window. It’s 30mms and massive in design. It’s seriously huge and wide. It fills your vision, and to me, a big window makes the dot easier to find if you goof your presentation.

Sig Romeo1Pro red dot sight 3MOA dot visible through sight window

The 3 MOA dot is highly visible and very easy to see.

Shooters can choose between 3 MOA or 6 MOA reticles, and the optic comes in black or FDE. As a heads up, the Romeo1Pro does not fit Romeo1 mounts. Sig infused the MOTAC system into the Romeo1Pro.

Sig Romeo1Pro red dot sight 30mm window

A 30mm Window gives you an easy-to-find dot.

This motion-detecting technology will automatically shut the dot down after it sits stationary for two minutes. The dot will fire back to life as soon as it detects movement. Movement can be as little as the vibration of a car. The lens has a very visible blue tint.

To the Range with The Romeo1Pro

I had a Sig AXG who needed an optic to fill that slot. What better choice for a Sig pistol than a Sig optic? As you’d expect, the Sig Romeo1Pro dropped on the AXG without issue. The footprint changed between the Romeo1 and Romeo1Pro. Sig moved to the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint, which makes sense when you consider the Army’s new M17 is cut for the DPP.

The Romeo1Pro will fit on SIG M17 and M18 pistols, all Pro-Cut pistols, and X series guns. The AXG fits the Pro-cut series guns and makes mounting the optic quick and easy. SIG also includes a tool to make zeroing the optic very easy. The tool can also store a spare battery, which is also very handy.

Sig Romeo1Pro top loading battery

A top-loading battery provides easy access to the optic and makes it easy to swap batteries.

The turrets feature Sig’s new TruHold Lockless Zeroing System. The TruHold system uses twin adjustment springs that ensure you keep your zero for round after round and for bump after bump. The turrets have a handy little reference line for making adjustments. If you use the line, you can visually see each adjustment.

That’s kind of handy when wearing hearing protection on a range with multiple shooters. You don’t have to rely on hearing and feeling the click to see what adjustments you’re making. It’s a smart design that makes zeroing quick and easy. I’m using the 3 MOA variant, and a 6 MOA version is also available.

Sig P320 muzzle flash in the daylight

Capturing muzzle flash in the daylight is a real hassle.

While zeroing, I messed with the brightness settings. The big steel shroud does make it a little harder to reach the buttons, which is annoying. The dots provide a very tactile and audible click with each press. That fancy new emitter and that bright blue tint provide a super bright red dot. The highest setting is too bright, even for high noon in Florida.

Hitting Steel

My wonderful wife provided me with an awesome set of steel targets. They consist of a 25% IPSC target, an 8-inch gong, a 6-inch gong, and a teeny tiny 4-inch gong. I can’t resist not trying to shoot all four targets as fast as possible.

steel targets

Oh hey little buddy, how you doing?

With the Romeo1Pro in place, I cleared the rack on my first try. After that, I put the 3 MOA dot on the little 4-inch gong, and at 15 yards, I was able to keep that piece of steel rocking and rolling. With iron sights, I’d hardly be able to even see the small gong, much less hit it.

steel targets

Ouch, sorry I shot you.

To keep the lead and steel warfighting, I stepped back all the way to 50 yards. At this range, I wasn’t ready to kill my ego trying to hit the 4-inch gong, but I would light up the IPSC and 8-inch gong. I went ten for ten on these moderate-sized steel targets. The Romeo1Pro features a super clear and crisp red dot that makes it easy to see against the steel targets.

I went for the 6-inch gong, and while it was a good bit smaller, I could still decimate the gong. I had to shoot a little slower and let the target stop rocking a bit, but I could still go five for five with it.

Sig Sauer Romeo1Pro red dot sight on P320 pistol

A Sig on a Sig, what’s not to love.

Again, the red dot makes this relatively easy. Handgun red dots like the Romeo1Pro allow you to utilize the true potential of your handgun. They take you well beyond what your iron sights are capable of.

As a Dot

3 MOA sits on the small side of red dots for a handgun. Many would probably prefer a dot this small on a long gun, and the 6 MOA variant on a handgun. With that being said, the bright dot design and the clear lenses of the Romeo1Pro provide a reticle that’s plenty easy to see.

Sig Romeo1Pro steel hood, control buttons

The steel hood provides excellent protection to the optic but makes the buttons tough to reach.

Even when it comes to fast shooting, the dot never flickers or fails. Switching between targets results in no reticle blur, and the circle stays circular. It also never flutters between shots, which poorly made dots often do. It can be somewhat unnoticeable if you do not specifically look for it. I tried some hot +P defensive loads, and I couldn’t get it to flicker with those either.

With a target focus, getting the dot on target takes almost zero effort. I can pop that bad boy up and get it on targets, both big and small, with ease. I ran a few snapshot drills with headshots with zero issues. The dot was also easy to find. As long as my presentation wasn’t garbage, my poor targets suffered from it.

Durability Testing

Sig claims the hood adds an extreme level of durability to the optic, so I went and tested that out. I threw the Sig AXG, equipped with the Romeo1Pro.

Sig RomeoPro1 durability test throw.

Catch!

I just threw it away from me several times. Then I dropped it three times, once on each side and once on top.

Sig Romeo1Pro durability test drop

Sorry Romeo, but I had to drop you…more than once.

I then tested it to see if it held zero. I wasn’t surprised when it did because these tosses and drops didn’t even scratch the finish. Sig also brags about the RomeoPro1 having an IPX7 rating, so I dropped it in a Tupperware container full of water for 30 minutes.

Sig RomeoPro1 red dot sight submerged in water for waterproof testing.

Let’s see exactly how waterproof this little Sig optic can be.

When I finally pulled the Romeo1Pro out, I found a fully functioning red dot. As I type this, it’s sitting in the dish rack drying off.

Sig AXG with Romeo1Pro red dot sight drying in dishrack after being submerged in water for waterproof testing.

The things I do for you people. They mostly drive my wife crazy.

In Living Color

The SIG Romeo1Pro red dot provides shooters with a full-sized mini red dot. This big honking red dot provides shooters with a massive window, a very bright and very clear dot. It’s easy to use with excellent controls and is very easy to zero. You can go smaller for concealed carry purposes, but for home defense and competition use, the Romeo1Pro presents a much better option than the original Romeo1.

Sig AXG with Romeo1Pro red dot

Optics are all the rage these days. What do you think? Let us know below.

It’s a very capable red dot that stands up to the rigors of heavy use and stands with the big boys of the optics world as a competent contender for your handgun.

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s instructor.

CategoriesSkills and Gunhandling
Post By admin

Shoot gooder: 3 ways to aim a pistol

Aiming a handgun has a lot with where you put your focus. In the Skills and Gunhandling video below, Shaw demonstrates how to aim a handgun using three different methods. Each method has its advantages, so it’s worth it to learn about all three. The actual name of the video is 3 ways to use your sights. Most of us have been taught how to aim a pistol using the usual “accepted” way of accurately acquiring the sights by focusing on the front sight blade before putting accurate rounds downrange. As you’ll see, however, there are a couple of other ways. 

This article is from October 2019.

How to Aim a Pistol

1. Hard Sight Focus.

Focus on the front sight. That’s how most of us are taught. We’ll talk about that briefly, then discuss a couple of other methods.

how to aim a pistol, hard front sight focus

Chances are if you’re reading this, you know the drill. Focus hard on the front sight blade, center it in the rear notch with an equal amount of space to either, and flush across the top — then take that sight alignment, focus hard on the front sight, superimpose it over where you want to hit, and press the shot.

how to aim a pistol and shoot accurately

This is not a hard front sight focus – but it is a viable option for shooting accurately under certain circumstances.

2. Hard target focus.

A hard target focus doesn’t really involve the sights at all. It depends on skill level and training and is very situational (range, backdrop, etc. – which really is any shooting, but it’s even more critical here). Aiming a handgun with this method involves, as the name implies, a hard focus on the desired target area. Though the sights are not directly referenced in this shooting style, body alignment and weapon position in relation to the target are important.

how to aim a pistol, hard target focus

Aiming a handgun. Soft front sights, soft rear sights, but aligned and superimposed over the target area - it works well, particularly for those who have corrected vision.

Aiming a handgun with soft front and rear sights that are aligned and superimposed over the target area works well, particularly for those who have corrected vision.

3. Target Focus with Soft Front Sight

This final method for how to aim a handgun is particularly effective for shooters wearing progressive (not transition) lenses, bifocals, trifocals, or the like. It does not involve a hard focus on the front sight, but rather is an alignment of soft front and soft rear sights, superimposed over the target before pressing the shot (i.e. aligning a blurry front sight instead of a blurry rear sight). This means you’re effectively using the front and rear sights much like you would a red dot sight.

Aiming a pistol, target focus with soft front sight.

Watch the Video, and Subscribe to GunMag TV!

Up Next: Aiming a Handgun with Bifocals and Trifocals

how to aim a pistol, aiming a handgun with bifocals, trifocals, and transition lenses.

Reminder from the beancounters: If you’re looking to make a change (or upgrade) your firearm, we have several varieties of pistol sights available at GunMag Warehouse.

 

GunMag TV

GunMag Warehouse is developing a badass YouTube channel. Take a minute and check it out.

GunMag TV: the GunMag Warehouse YouTube channel

Josey Wells is a former military man who spent most of his career assigned to 11th Special Forces Group and JTF-6 (including a little work with Coronet Nighthawk in its final days and a couple of OEF-CCA missions), moving on to a civilian billet around the time JTF-6 transitioned to JTF North. He is an intemperate gambler who enjoys shooting 2-Gun Action matches (though he never seems to win any). Formerly a SOF team leader with the Triarii, Wells currently works “GFC Violent Persuasion Services” serving as an advisor to an SMU south of the US-Mexico border, and lets us use his name for some of our basic news posts because “Admin” is boring. Like many other fictional characters, the Missouri native is capable of frequent and improbable feats of valor.

CategoriesAccessories
Post By admin

How Buffer Weights Affect Bolt Performance

What do you get when you mix, match, and switch buffer weights and suppressors? Does it make a difference? How does each combination affect bolt velocity?

Those are the questions that SilencerCo tackled when they played with various buffer weights with and without two different types of suppressors.

Two questions emerged that needed to be answered.

The first was to find out how different buffer weights affected the bolt velocity, from the 3-ounce standard H2 buffer found in the M4 and most off-the-shelf AR-15s to the much heavier HX that weighed in at almost 9 ounces. Even though it may seem obvious that the heavier buffer would slow down the cycle rate, they had to be sure and had to set a baseline for the next part.

The second question was to find out how the gas-trapping characteristics built into various suppressors affected the bolt carrier speed with the various buffers, from lightest to heaviest.

Gathering the Data

First up was the M4, shot 18 times, each with a different suppressor (or no suppressor) and buffer weight. It was shot once with each of the five buffers, first with no suppressor and then with each of the two suppressors. The first suppressor was a Saker .556 designed for the AR platform’s standard caliber. The second suppressor was a larger bore .45 can that allowed for more gas to escape.

Suppressor

Suppressors are a great way to reduce noise, but they can also affect buffer performance and cycle rate.

As expected, there was quite a difference in the performance of each buffer, especially when the suppressors were added. The tighter tolerance .556 retained more gas, thereby barely slowing down the bolt. The wider .45, which allowed more gas to escape the muzzle, had less effect on the bolt velocity.

But does the barrel length make a difference? To find out, they switched to an MK 18 with a 10-inch barrel to see if the extra six inches in the M4 made a difference. Their conclusion? Nope, not a bit.

MK18 used in buffer weights suppressor science testing

Barrel length can also play a role in suppressor and buffer performance.

The key differentiator in both cases was the buffer itself.

It came as no surprise to anyone that heavier buffers slowed down bolt velocity, but it was interesting to see just how much it mattered. Even the slightest weight difference affected performance quite a bit. However, their conclusion was that even though the chronograph showed significant performance differences, the average shooter would be unaffected by the change in velocity.

The biggest finding as far as suppressor performance is that the decibel reduction is virtually identical regardless of buffer weight. Again, this is not a huge surprise, as the amount of gas making the bang is not dependent on the buffer, but this experiment solidified that conclusion.

Check out the science for yourself in the SilencerCo video. And when you’re done, check out our selection of M4 mags and accessories for your AR.

Read more about SilencerCo in the archives.

Want more Gun Mag Warehouse? Follow us on Instagram @gunmagwarehouse

David Workman is an avid gun guy, a contributing writer to several major gun publications, and the author of Absolute Authority. A logophile since way back, Workman is a quickdraw punslinger and NRA RSO and Certified Pistol Instructor. He helps train new shooters on basic handgun skills and CCW requirements and is a strong advocate for training as much as practicable. “Real-world shootouts don’t happen at a box range.”

CategoriesRange Gear
Post By admin

Top Five Beretta M9 and 92FS Magazines

Before we jump into a discussion of M9 magazines, I’ll admit I’m a bit of a Beretta fan. Ironically, my love of the brand began with a Taurus—a PT92—that was used as a prop in the 1996 Baz Luhrman Romeo and Juliet film. Such a kickass take on the classic–the gas station gunfight alone was worth the price of admission.

The second gun I ever bought was a decommissioned 92FS from a police department. And over the years, I’ve owned several. The fanciest was a stainless 92 that I had rebuilt by Wilson Combat into a 92G—the greatest of all 92 variants. That remains one of my favorite guns of all time, but I gave it away to a friend who felt even more love for it than I did.

As far as handling goes, the Beretta 92FS is easy to control.

As far as handling goes, the Beretta 92FS is easy to control.

I regularly carried a 92 for years—right up until I bought a Sig P226.

The 92FS, or in this case a gun that’s stamped M9, is still a rock star. And it remains in my range rotation.

Feeding the 92FS

When I bought this gun, it came with a couple of weedy magazines. The 92FS is not a small gun, and the grip is absurdly large by contemporary standards (thanks to the screw-on grip plates). 13 round magazines in this gun feel oddly insulting to the M9’s legacy. Yet they exist. And I think there might be some lingering mag capacity laws out there that make the 10 round, and 13 round, and even 15 round magazines worth knowing about.

But I like the 20s. More on that in a moment.

Beretta M9, target, shot group.

I may have more time behind the trigger of an M9 than I do any other handgun.

Shooting the 92FS

Beretta builds a solid pistol. The reason I liked the Wilson upgrade—and the P226, too—is that the traditional safety lever functions as a decocker. As I’m not one for external, manual, slide, or frame-mounted safeties, this makes shooting both of these guns that much faster for me.

The Beretta shoots flat.

It shoots flat. This shot is of my 13-year-old shooting it.

And the 92FS flies. The balance of the frame’s weight with the skeletonized slide works well for me. I can hold it down very flat, even with +P 9mm. This is a gun that I can run fast, and a gun that I can run accurately.

Beretta 92FS. That brass is hardly ejected and I'm 100% back on target.

This is the same gun in my hands. That brass is hardly ejected and I’m 100% back on target.

The balance of the M9 continues to impress me. I’ve been carrying the P226 for a while now, but sometimes I think I should put the old Beretta back in the daily rotation as my go-to full-sized pistol.

Beretta M9 muzzle rise

This is about all the muzzle rise I get, even one-handed.

But what about the M9 magazines?

As soon as I picked up this gun, I knew I’d need some new mags. The 15 round mag isn’t bad—but there’s so much more room in there. They even have to stamp the steel in on the sides to keep the capacity limited.

Beretta M9 magazine stamped to restrict capacity.

The equivalent of a dowel in a shotgun’s tubular magazine.

The 20 round mags are the sweet spot for me. The increase in capacity doesn’t change the balance, and I’ve yet to have a mag malfunction on me.

I find that you either love the 92FS or hate it. I'm on the love-it side.

This is a 20 Round mag from Mec-Gar. These are my favorites, and the ones I carry in the M9.

For me, the winner is the 20 round mag from Mec Gar. I really like the bumper, and I’ve used these in this gun for more than three years now with no hiccups. Mec-Gar makes solid mags (and often mags the mags that are sold with guns as “factory” mags).

Mec-Gar Plus 2 heavy bumper adds a touch more length to the M9's grip.

The heavy bumper on the end of the Mec-Gar Plus 2 adds a touch more length to the M9’s grip.

If you want a solid flush-fit mag, Beretta makes good 18 Round mags. 18 seems to be the nice middle ground between the 13s and 15s but is still not 20.

Beretta M9 magazines: 15 rounds, 20 rounds, and 30 rounds.

15 rounds, 20, and 30. I love the increase in capacity with these.

Beretta also makes 20 round mags. These are not as compact as the Mec-Gar but are still good mags. The middle mag in the image above is a 20 round mag. It protrudes from the grip by more than an inch, so has a collar that extends down over the baseplate. This is a bit of insurance—the last thing you want is for the rounds to exit the wrong in of the magazine.

Bigger M9 magazines?

The 30 round Beretta factory mag is a serious upgrade to the M9 capacity.

The 30 round Beretta factory mag is a serious upgrade to the M9’s capacity.

The really long dudes are Beretta 30 round mags. These are extendo-long. 30 rounds add a bit of weight to the bottom of a 92, but not so much that the gun isn’t manageable.

The 30-round M9 magazines are great for the range. Carrying them is awkward, of course, but this isn’t really a magazine built for EDC or even duty. But if you hate reloading on the range, this is the mag for you.

As you stack these 30-round Beretta M9 magaziness with cartridges, the springs can get stiff.

As you stack these mags with cartridges, the springs can get stiff.

As the fine print on the GMW pages note—these mags will fit more than the M9. Any of the Berettas—the 92FS, 92D, 92F, 92G, 92 Brigadier, 92 Elite/EliteIA/Elite II, 90-Two in 9mm, 92 Billenium, 92 Combat Combo, 92 Stock, 92 Vertec, 92 Type L (Inox, Carry), even the CX-4 Storm (with 92FS adapter). The same design has been in use now for many years, and will likely pull forward into new designs. It works well—why monkey with it?

Close up of followers in M9 magazines.

Some followers help close up the body of the mag. Others leave a small gap where range garbage can get it.

You can’t really go wrong.

All of the M9 magazines that I’ve seen are steel. There are stainless bodies, but they’re very rare. Much more common is the powder-coated steel, or the blued bodies.

Sig P226 mags have the mag-catch much higher on the magazine body--but they're still easy to confuse.

Sig P226 mags have the mag-catch much higher on the magazine body—but they’re still easy to confuse.

And don’t get confused with the multitude of other mags that are built off of similar designs. I have numerous unmarked mags for my Sig P226 that look almost identical. Many are even made by the same companies. The only visible difference is the mag-catch location, and I often have to check both in guns, just to remember which is which.

David Higginbotham is a writer and editor who specializes in everyday carry. David is a former backcountry guide in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and Boundary Waters Canoe Area who was a college professor for 20 years. He ultimately left behind the academy for a more practical profession in the firearms industry and was (among other editorial positions) the Managing Editor for a nascent Mag Life blog. In that Higginbotham helped establish The Maglife’s tone and secure its early success. Though he went on to an even more practical firearms industry profession still, he continues to contribute articles and op-eds as time and life allow.

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