XTech Tactical, an aftermarket manufacturer of firearm accessories, has expanded its MTX line of products to include a 3-round extension for the Sig Sauer P365 10-round magazines with the MTX 365. The aftermarket extension makes the 9mm 10-round magazines into 13-round magazines while providing additional space for a better grip.
XTech Tactical has expanded its MTX family of products to include a 3-round magazine extension for the Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol. This durable magazine extension takes the 10-round magazine to a 13-rounder and includes a 17-7 stainless steel spring for flawless function. The exterior of the extension matches the aesthetics of the P365 nicely while giving the shooter extra grip space. [Photo credit: XTech Tactical]
Joining the MTX line that includes options for certain Smith & Wesson 9mm pistols and Heckler & Koch VP9 and VP9sk, the MTX 365 allows the user to easily maintain a complete grip on the firearms with a full purchase of the palm. Since its release in 2018, the Sig Sauer P365 9mm pistol has been extremely popular in the micro-compact pistol market making it the most modular concealed carry platform out there. But with the micro compact sizing, a good grip and extra rounds have been a challenge for users.
“We set out to solve a problem no one else has in making a multi-round magazine extension for the P365. While extending the magazine capacity is one element, there was no solution that allows the shooter to maintain an ideal grip while using the standard P365-sized frame. When the user desires to shrink the platform down, they can now simply swap out their magazine versus swapping their pistol frame. We have no doubt that the market will find our newest extender to be the ideal option on the market for the standard P365 frame” stated Jeremy Deadman, Director of Sales and Marketing for XTech Tactical.
The MTX 365 extender has a patented design that has inward-facing tabs that other tabs lack. It includes an extended 17-7 stainless steel spring for reliable function, while the overall aesthetics of the piece match the P365 frame. The MTX 365 also features the functional texture on the side panels for quick and easy extraction when necessary, according to XTech Tactical. The company also states that the MTX 365 has flawless function and will hold open the slide after the last round.
The XTech Tactical MTX 365 is said to be very durable since it is constructed with high-impact glass-filled Nylon 6. The 100% made-in-America magazine extension is available in black and has an MSRP of $19.95. The end-user is responsible for following all local laws, but the company will not ship the product to states where it is unlawful to possess it.
Patti Miller is one of the most awesome females in the tactical/firearm (or any) industry. Imagine a tall, hawt, dangerous Laura Ingalls Wilder type with cool hair and a suppressed blaster and you’ll be getting the idea. What’s interesting is that in addition to being a willing brawler and intrepid adventuress, she’s also an Ent/Ogier level gardener and a truly badass baker.
Multitasker, a company that supplies some of the best weapon-geared multitools, has upgraded its offerings to include a monopod baseplate compatible with Gen M3 PMAG, called the Gen3 Mag Pod. The Gen3 Mag Pod attaches to the bottom of the Magpul Industries magazines to create a monopod.
The Mag Pod monopod baseplate replaces the stock PMAG baseplate and offers additional stability for the magazine in a prone position. The design of the Mag Pod shows off Multitasker’s signature “forward bias” geometry with a wide and stable point of contact at the front edge of the PMAG. This is different from other options in that it doesn’t rely on balancing the mag on the back edge to stabilize the weapon.
Multitasker has released the Gen3 Mag Pod baseplate that is compatible with PMAGs. The Mag Pods replace the factory baseplate and add less than an ounce of overall weight. The Mag Pods give the shooter a stable point to rest the weapon on in the prone shooting position.[Photo credit: Multitasker]
According to Multitasker, the Mag Pod works effectively regardless of whether the shooting surface is level or not. The Mag Pod basepad is an over-molded Thermo Plastic Elastomer (TPE) that provides traction on hard or slick surfaces. The distinctive arched back includes a storage slot for Multitasker’s NANO/NANO2 micro-size optic tools. These items can be removed by using a 5.56 bullet to push the tool out. It gives the user a built-in storage option to secure the NANO tool on the primary magazine.
The Gen3 Mag Pod also provides the shooter with an extended forward section to grip the magazine to help with predictable reloads. The basepad features rear feet that are contoured to work exceptionally well with magazine pouches that utilize bungee retaining tabs. The Mag Pod weighs less than one ounce, so it does not add excessive weight to the system, whereas a bipod can add weight the shooter doesn’t need.
Since the Mag Pod replaces the factory magazine baseplate at 3” by 1.5”, the footprint is minimal along with the light weight. The one-piece design requires no manipulation before use and is intuitive to use, even for novices. The Multitasker Gen3 Mag Pod comes in sets of three and is available in either black or coyote tan. The Mag Pod has an MSRP of $27.95.
Patti Miller is one of the most awesome females in the tactical/firearm (or any) industry. Imagine a tall, hawt, dangerous Laura Ingalls Wilder type with cool hair and a suppressed blaster and you’ll be getting the idea. What’s interesting is that in addition to being a willing brawler and intrepid adventuress, she’s also an Ent/Ogier level gardener and a truly badass baker.
Taylor’s & Company, one of the leaders in importing of state-of-the-art historical firearms utilizing the latest innovative designs, has upgraded its Lifestyle Series of firearms to include the 1875 Outlaw revolver in 9mm. The company worked with Uberti to bring the exclusive iconic reproduction to the market.
The 1875 Outlaw revolver in 9mm is a solid reproduction of the 1875 Remington single-action revolvers, which in turn was a step up over Remington’s 1858 percussion model revolvers. The 1875 Outlaw will be available in two separate barrel lengths, a 7.5” and a 5.5” model, and feature a side-loading gate with an ejector rod housed inside the loading lever assembly. This makes loading, unloading, and reloading an easy motion for this 6-round capacity revolver.
The Taylor’s & Company 1875 Outlaw Revolver is a modern-day remake of the Remington revolver of old. Working with Uberti to deliver the 9mm revolver, the gun is available in either 5.5″ or 7.5″ barrels with walnut grips and a blued finish on the forged steel frame. (Photo credit: Taylor’s & Company)
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring this classic firearm reproduction to the modern gun enthusiast,” said Tammy Loy, Owner/CEO, Taylor’s & Company. “We wanted to offer this versatile caliber to broaden our audience and add a familiar caliber to a six-gun. The 1875 Outlaw is a perfect complement to our very popular Lifestyle Series. This 9mm with a classic revolver look is sure to be very popular with firearm enthusiasts that want the look of a historical pistol with the performance of a modern handgun.”
The 1875 Outlaw revolver has a smooth walnut finish on the standard-sized grip making it comfortable in the hand. According to the company, folks from the Old West would recognize the quality and performance of the updated 1875 Outlaw, citing the infamous Frank James as a user of a .45 caliber revolver during his outlaw carrier. Like the revolvers of yore, this 9mm has an all-blued finish on the forged steel frame.
The 1875 Outlaw revolver has a rear frame notch sight with a fixed front blade sight. Taylor’s and Company also offer its “Taylor Tuned” option meaning Taylor’s gunsmiths can custom tune the revolver to the owner as long as the firearm is in stock.
The Taylor’s & Company 1875 Revolver in 9mm matches with the company’s motto of “Where Legend Meets Performance” giving the modern shooter a historical reproduction to match their needs. Either length of barrel option of the 1875 Outlaw Revolver is currently available with an MSRP of $669.75.
Maybe you’re living in or traveling to a restricted state, or maybe you just want to shave a few ounces off your daily carry. Whatever your reason is for seeking out a lower-capacity handgun, Springfield Armory has you covered. The Hellcat Pro OSP is available in a reduced ten-round capacity, meaning you can keep running your Springfield favorite (or perhaps get your hand on one for the first time). The Springfield Hellcat Pro OSP is a defensive handgun that’s also optics-ready, making it the go-to pistol for many gun owners.
The Springfield Hellcat Pro is now available with a ten-round magazine capacity. (Photo credit: Springfield Armory)
Springfield Armory states the Hellcat Pro OSP with a 10-round capacity offers gun owners the performance of a bigger handgun along with what they believe is class-leading concealability. The 10-round Hellcat Pro is a compact pistol designed to maintain the slim, sleek profile of the original Hellcat for superior concealability. This pistol measures 1 inch wide and features slim-line grips, so it’s comfortable to shoot and accurate on target. It’s also made with additional mass in the slide and barrel to reduce muzzle rise and felt recoil, which can lead to faster (and more accurate) follow-up shots.
The pistol has a width of 1.0 inch, so it’s slim enough to conceal while remaining comfortable to shoot. (Photo credit: Springfield Armory)
This is a polymer frame pistol featuring Springfield’s Adaptive Grip Texture for a sure grip during live fire. This texturing process is seamless and pressure-activated and utilizes staggered pyramid shapes. Taller pyramids have flattened tops for the purpose of greater comfort during on-body carry while shorter pyramids are pointier and function best when the gun is being gripped for use.
This is an optics-ready pistol with a removable plate, so you can add your compatible red dot sight with ease. (Photo credit: Springfield Armory)
The Hellcat Pro OSP (Optical Sight Pistol) is red dot ready thanks to a slide milled with the Springfield Micro footprint, which is also compatible with Shield RMSc and SMSc footprints. Springfield designed the slide to for direct mount red dot sights to deliver the lowest mount possible. The gun ships with U-Dot sights that can be used to co-witness, should the shooter choose to do so. The standard iron sights are a tritium and luminescent front sight and a Tactical Rack rear sight.
This is a 10-round capacity pistol. (Photo credit: Springfield Armory)
This 9mm defensive pistol’s 10-round capacity is a great fit for numerous gun owners. The Hellcat has proven itself as a reliable, accurate pistol, and now it’s even easier to use for concealed carry. Guns ship with two 10-round magazines.
MSRP for the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro OSP with a 10-round capacity is set at $649.00.
When you’re carrying a holstered firearm, it isn’t only the holster that matters. Your belt matters, too. Whether you’re carrying concealed or openly a good holster won’t be enough without an equally solid gun belt. Nexbelt understands the importance of a rigid, reliable gun belt, and the NTAC-45 EDC Belt is specifically designed to stand up to regular wear. Even better, there are no holes, so even though it’s adjustable, it isn’t dependent on pre-punched holes.
The Nexbelt NTAC-45 EDC Belt is a hole-free system designed for both comfort and functionality. (Photo credit: Nexbelt)
Ratcheting Technology
According to Nexbelt, the NTAC-45 is a unique design made specifically for 1.75-inch EDC (everyday carry) belts. This belt utilizes the company’s proven ratcheting technology and has two tracks on the strap as well as two push-button buckle releases and two locking mechanisms for truly secure closure. The buttons work independently of one another to prevent accidental buckle release.
The belt works using a unique ratcheting system called PreciseFit. Using this, the wearer can adjust his or her belt in ¼ inch increments instead of the usual 1-inch adjustment of a traditional belt with a buckle. This ability to adjust a belt in ¼ inch increments is important for those practicing open or concealed carry. This is because having the right amount of tension to safely secure your firearm is critical. The belt is offered in black and fits up to a 50-inch waist.
The belt is 1.75 inches wide and adjustable in 1/4 inch clicks. (Photo credit: Nexbelt)
EDC or Competition Use
This belt was designed with IDPA, USPSA, and 3-Gun competitors in mind, but it’s useful for anyone carrying a holstered firearm. The 1.75-inch width is ideal to secure larger amounts of equipment to your waistline while remaining rigid and providing solid support. Solid shooting skills and firearm safety are not the only things required to compete. Competitions put you in a variety of scenarios and shooting positions, all with some level of stress. Your gun belt should be both comfortable and secure, and it should stay that way all day. The NTAC-45 does just that.
This belt is designed to help you perform at the level needed to compete and allows adjustments as you go. Whether you choose to loosen the buckle for relaxed comfort on the sidelines or tighten it up before the shot timer sets you sprinting, the NTAC-45 belt is a fantastic addition to your gear.
A closer look at Nexbelt’s patented system which allows a secure fit without the use of holes. (Photo credit: Nexbelt)
MSRP for the Nexbelt NTAC-45 EDC Belt is set at $99.99.
Burris Optics is stepping into a new realm with its Signature line of rangefinders. The line of rangefinders is said to help fill the gap between Burris’ advanced rangefinding riflescopes and the rangefinding archery sights. The Signature LRF 2000 reportedly gives fast results out to 2400 yards.
Burris has entered the rangefinder market with its Signature series LRF 2000 rangefinder. The unit has a rubber exterior with a sophisticated program inside for accurate data and feedback. [Photo credit: Burris]
According to the company, the Signature LRF 2000 is the perfect companion for the consumer’s Burris riflescope and it redefines speed in a rangefinder. It is designed to be useful in both firearm as well as archery situations and has different ranging modes to choose from with Auto, Sport, Hunt, or scan modes. The Auto mode displays the range of the target with the strongest return signal while the Sport mode goes for the closest target in a group. The Hunt mode displays the farthest range in a group of targets, which is especially helpful when foliage is also in the picture.
It is built with a rugged armored rubber exterior to ensure a solid grip regardless of the conditions and helps protect the system from light drops. Within the solid exterior is what Burris calls a sophisticated program and laser rangefinding system that is user customizable with real-time data and operation feedback for a higher degree of accuracy in any setting. The Signature LRF 2000 has a sealed nitrogen-filled chassis for waterproof and fog proof performance.
The Signature LRF 2000 from Burris has different display options and modes to choose from to match whatever the hunter needs. [Photo credit: Burris Optics]
The Signature LRF 2000 also allows the user to select the preferred display option for the data. The user can choose from line-of-sight (LOS) only, horizontal distance (HOR) only, LOS and HOR, LOS and angle (ANG) above and below horizontal, and HOR and ANG together. With the 7x magnification and HD glass, the rangefinder makes it easy to find targets and get accurate information up to 2,400 yards or 2,194 meters. The Signature LRF 2000 is accurate to within 1 yard at under 1,000 yards and within 2 yards over 1,000 yards.
Rounding out the features of the Signature LRF 2000 is an adjustable eyepiece that ensures a crisp focus for any shooter with its +/-6 diopter adjustment range. The Burris Signature LRF 2000 rangefinder has a battery life of 2000 ranges with 1 CR2 battery and has an MSRP of $360.
Tyrant Designs has updated its offerings for aftermarket pistol accessories, this time producing flared magwells for certain H&K VP9 and VP40 model pistols. This addition should make owners of those H&K happy to have another option for upgrades.
Precision machined from billet aluminum, the H&K VP9/VP40 Flared Magwells offers a simple and nonpermanent addition to help guild magazines in place smoother and easier. According to Tyrant, the flared magwell adds to the ergonomics of the pistol and in turn, helps increase loading speeds.
Tyrant Designs has given certain H&K owners another option for aftermarket options, specifically a flared magwell for some H&K VP9 and VP40 pistols. [Photo credit: Tyrant Designs]
Thanks to the aluminum construction, the VP9/VP40 flared magwells add very little weight and bulk to the pistol keeping the profile sleek and still able to easily conceal. The magwell acts like an OEM replacement and is shaped like a funnel to help guide magazines into place quickly and easily. The weight it does add to the pistol provides balance to the pistol and thanks to the one-piece design, the user won’t have to worry about losing pieces.
The anodized aluminum flared magwell can be secured in place with a set screw. The functionality of the piece and retention are aided by underside cuts on the piece but thanks to the design, magazines won’t get stuck.
Constructed from billet aluminum, the flared magwell is said to speed up the loading of magazines into the pistol and is available in different colors, including gold, black, grey, and other colors. [Photo credit: Tyrant Designs]
The Tyrant Designs H&K VP9/VP40 flared magwells are compatible with certain models, including the VP9, VP9L, VP9 Tactical, VP40, and VP40 Tactical. The magwell will not work with the H&K VP9 SK. The flared magwells are available in different colors including black, red, machined aluminum, grey, blue, and gold.
The Tyrant Designs H&K VP9/VP40 flared magwells are light but will not make the pistol imprint while concealed carrying or being used during competitions. The increased ease of reloading magazines with the H&K pistols means with some practice no-look reloading can be accomplished, according to Tyrant. The flared magwells have an MSRP of $69.95.
My wife and I have two traditions that intersected on our 10th wedding anniversary trip in 2021. The first tradition is to take turns planning out secret vacations—one of us is completely in the dark, trusting the other person to come up with a great vacation. During our 2021 trip, it was my wife’s turn to do the planning. The second tradition is attending one or two multi-day firearms-related training events per year. As a part of our 2021 anniversary trip, my wife scheduled us for the Black Ops Experience with Arizona Tactical Adventures. Based on that exposure, which we both truly enjoyed, we ended up scheduling a three-day Teams and Night Vision training with the same organization in 2022.
Mike Simpson of Arizona Tactical Adventures offers an awesome night vision package to anyone in the Phoenix area, but also can create a tailored training course to your personal needs.
The Black Ops Experience
My wife and I showed up at a nondescript building outside of Phoenix, Arizona for our scheduled appointment. The Black Ops Experience is designed to give anyone, at any level of skill, a taste of working in tight interior spaces (shoot house) with AR-15s using non-lethal paint-based simunitions, and monocular night vision. Our instructor, Mike Simpson, adapted the ‘standard’ package to incorporate some additional team tactical discussions not normally a part of the packaged experience upon hearing our level of training.
The two-hour experience included about an hour focusing on safety, simple tactics, and equipment orientation. The experience included tactical pants and shirts, plate carriers, eye protection, tactical helmets, AR-15s adapted for simunitions, and a PVS-14 night vision monocular. We covered basic low-light and close-quarter tactics as well as working as a duo. Ideally, a fire team consists of four or more, but we are more likely to work together as a team of two. The next hour was a series of no-light scenarios using the indoor configurable shoot house and engaging static targets in near-total darkness.
We talked more about the importance of working as a team, and I asked way too many questions about night vision. I would highly recommend the Black Ops Experience to anyone in the Phoenix, AZ area. It is an amazing experience, regardless of your skill level, if you are wanting to get a feel for using night vision. Mike is an amazing instructor able to tailor his message to the skill level of his students.
Out of curiosity after the class, we discussed what other training options Mike Simpson offered.
Transitioning and Customizing
Over the next few months, with Mike’s help, my wife and I both invested in night vision optics and IR lasers for our primary home defense ARs. We also decided to make further use of Mike’s facilities (indoor and outdoor) for a more focused multi-day training. We knew we wanted to further our own team skills and invited two close friends.
Through consultation with Mike, we came up with a range of training options. These included his standard pistol and rifle training courses, a multi-day course customized to include team tactics, outdoor building clearing, and more night vision and shoot-house work using force on force. Our group consisted of my wife (dedicated to training, an instructor, but newer to firearms compared to the rest of the group), a good friend (Marine and instructor), and me (Instructor with three decades of experience). We decided on the latter and ended up scheduling a 3-day training course with my wife and one of our two close friends. We flew out the day before the training and enjoyed Phoenix before checking into our resort suites arranged by Arizona Tactical Adventures.
3-Day Customized Training
Day one started early at the same indoor facility as The Black Ops Experience. Sight Alpha consists of equipment rooms, a training/lecture room, a restroom, and the adjustable shoot house with an approachable exterior. We discussed safety, gear, and the warrior mindset (focusing on fitness, emotional strength, and fighting spirit). We then geared up for the weekend, including adjusting our AR-15s, straps, helmets, and plate carriers for the next three days.
After gearing up, dry practice focused on different shoulder mounting techniques and fast transitions of the rifles from right to left. Next, we worked on communicating as a team, establishing control of an area prior to entry and methods of making entry to a potentially hostile building. The communication techniques and commands had been adapted by Mike to be easy and intuitive for civilians to learn and master, but also similar enough to commands used by LE and military to allow understanding regardless of where you received your training.
Then, we worked on threat identification and engagement prior to entry, team entry techniques, and fully securing each room. We continued with further scenarios to test our communication skills and techniques to safely and efficiently exit a building. Each scenario used static targets but had varying objectives, hazards, and layout changes of the shoot house. Finally, we ended our indoor session with a debriefing. We discussed adapting the skills we learned to civilian self-defense and after-action procedures of a defensive encounter.
Utilizing simunitions and a changeable shoot house, each scenario resulted in varied layouts, doors, rooms, and threats so that you were never sure what you were walking into.
After a delicious local lunch, we headed to an outdoor range to work on live fire with rifles and handguns. We began with basic fundamentals of rifle usage, longer distance shooting, the impact of a suppressor, and transitioning from left to right rifle mounting. We also worked on transitions to pistols from rifles and back again. The remainder of the afternoon was working as a team to engage targets (stacking), and the communication necessities to inform teammates of intention. We also applied the skills we learned in the shoot house to glass house scenarios, which consisted of a multi-room building with doorways laid out using poles and hi-vis materials to establish the walls.
Transitioning to live fire, we continued to put our skills to the test on the outdoor range working in pairs.
Day two saw us returning to the outdoor range and picking up with the glass house scenario drills. The drills continued to focus on the proper use of cover, working as a unit, and covering all areas of potential threats. We worked on single room, multiple room, and hallway entry and movement. We then transitioned from working in pairs to working as a three-person fire team in various roles. This included keeping overwatch, building approach, building entry, and controlling cleared rooms, and moving through multiple rooms. Continuing to build on these skills, we discussed entering and exiting a vehicle as a team and then conducted similar exercises starting from a vehicle—first dry and then live fire.
Day two had us working as a three-person team including vehicle delivery, building approach, entry, and clearing.
In all the scenarios we first discussed the tactics and potential issues of the scenario, and practiced the roles and situation dry. Once we had run through the training dry, we would then debrief and discuss safety. Once we felt confident and Mike did not see any safety issues, we would then proceed to practice the scenarios using live fire. As the afternoon proceeded into the evening, we broke for dinner and then returned to the range after sunset. Thus began the nighttime practice of our team skills and shooting with the night vision monoculars. If you have never shot ARs on steel at night under nothing but Arizona stars using night vision, this experience alone is worth the price of admission!
Preparing for the live-fire night vision portion of the training at the outdoor range. Our rental Jeep saw a lot of use during day 2!
On day three we returned to the indoor facility. We started the day with a deeper discussion of the importance of communication in working as a team successfully. We also reviewed the lexicon of commands we had built up over the last two days. We then discussed other tools including VR systems for further training in needed team-based skills. This discussion included demonstrations of various technologies. This review ended with a discussion of setting reasonable team training goals.
The remainder of day three was force-on-force drills using the ARs adapted for simunitions. Mike would set up a scenario for a team of two (lead and support) to work through. He played the role of the potential threat in each scenario. As two of us worked through the scenario and attempted to solve the problem, the third would be watching everyone’s moves and responses in the adjacent training room through closed circuit TV. After each scenario, we would debrief in the training room on what went right, what went wrong, and what could be done better.
After each debriefing, Mike would set up a new scenario and we would rotate roles. In this way, we conducted multiple scenarios, with outcomes such as non-firing use of de-escalation, ambiguous situations that finally turned violent, and a scenario that started with Mike firing on the current team with little to no warning. Each scenario required different responses and exposed weaknesses in our newly acquired skills. It was both humbling and thrilling to be able to practice. Each scenario was incredibly engaging, required different skills, and the debriefing sessions were very helpful. Once time was up (we were still hungry for more!) we conducted a debriefing of the three days as well as a discussion of future training opportunities.
Summary
All three of us were very impressed with Mike’s ability to break down complex information and appeal to three people of very different backgrounds. To be honest it is a rare instructor that can truly provide intense training, but also make sure it is accessible to all of those they are teaching. My wife and I have taken some great classes but have often had to adapt to the instructor to maximize what we learned.
Mike taught a great three-day course but adapted to what we were learning while making sure to engage all three of us. We thought he did a great job highlighting each person’s unique strengths while challenging us to work seamlessly as a team. It became truly evident why so much practice and repetition is necessary!
Additionally, though we were conducting advanced drills, the use of dry fire practice sessions and Mike’s continuous vigilance ensure a very safe environment when conducting the live fire drills. One critical takeaway was how much value is placed on truly thinking strategically before movement, while then still making the team’s movement smooth and deliberate. This mindset also assists in not rushing and creating unsafe conditions unnecessarily.
We also continued discussions of defensive and offensive tactics even during our breaks and meals and overall left the training with a lot of skills and techniques to integrate and practice. Overall, I can wholeheartedly recommend the two-hour Black Ops Experience to anyone who is interested in getting in some shoot house experience using night vision.
If you are looking for additional training reach out to Mike and let him work with you to design a great training experience crafted to your goals. Our goal during these three days was to learn how to better work as a team and we all expanded our skills and further learned how to work better together because of Mike’s instruction.
Whether you’re focused on hunting or target shooting it can be useful to have options to make your handgun more versatile. Although there are many ways to do this, one effective method is through the use of a pistol chassis. In fact, a good chassis system can even be used to convert a handgun into a truck gun. A common issue with selecting a pistol chassis is how model-specific they tend to be. It could be difficult to find a chassis made for your specific handgun. Donaustahl has the answer to that with the Odin 2, the second generation of their universal pistol chassis.
Donaustahl’S Odin 2 is designed to be a universal pistol chassis rather than one limited to only a specific model of handgun. (Photo credit: Donaustahl)
The Donaustahl Odin 2 is designed to be readily compatible with semi-automatic handguns with factory accessory rails located in front of the trigger guard. For guns without an accessory rail, there is an adapter available. According to the manufacturer, this system works with guns with barrel lengths up to 6 inches. A Picatinny rail atop the device itself makes it possible to mount a red dot sight to the system for greater versatility.
The system can broaden pistol applications substantially. (Photo credit: Donaustahl)
Features of the Donaustahl Odin 2 include:
Universal handgun compatibility.
Picatinny rail for the addition of optics for rapid target acquisition.
Vertical forward grip for improved control.
Adjustable stock so the system can be fit to the shooter.
Padded buttstock for comfort during live fire.
Easy setup and installation.
Provides user with broader options for pistol use.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with the laws regarding the use of a pistol chassis in your area. MSRP for the Donaustahl Odin 2 is not known at this time.
What do you think? Would you use an Odin 2 on your favorite handgun? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Kat Ainsworth Stevens is a long-time outdoor writer, official OGC (Original Gun Cognoscenti), and author of Handgun Hunting: a Comprehensive Guide to Choosing and Using the Right Firearms for Big and Small Game. Der Teufel Katze has written for a number of industry publications (print and online) and edited some of the others, so chances are you’ve seen or read her work before, somewhere. A woman of eclectic background and habits, Kat has been carrying concealed for over two decades, used to be a farrier, and worked for a long time in emergency veterinary medicine. She prefers big bores, enjoys K9 Search & Rescue, and has a Master’s Degree in Pitiless Snarkastic Delivery.
Having the correct red dot for defensive purposes isn’t just nice, it’s a must. The red dot sight mounted to your daily carry gun should be reliable, durable, and well-made. It should withstand serious use and include features specific to those who utilize an everyday carry gun. Vortex Optics is fulfilling that niche with the Defender CCW red dot sight, a carefully designed sight made to perform when you need it most.
The Vortex Defender CCW red dot sight is designed to be the ultimate sight for defensive purposes. (Photo credit: Vortex Optics)
The Vortex Defender CCW is made for versatility, meaning it’s designed for gun owners packing full-size, subcompact, and even micro-compact guns. It’s created for self-defense and is meant to give users an edge for speed and accuracy.
This red dot is ultra-compact and tough with a substantial sight window for more effective “both eyes open” shooting and improved peripheral vision. It also has a smooth, slim profile so it does not add unnecessary bulk to the gun while ensuring a snag-free draw.
The sight is rugged and designed to stand up to serious use. (Photo credit: Vortex Optics)
Features of the Vortex Defender CCW include:
Distortion-free aspherical lenses for improved clarity and superior color fidelity.
Shockshield polymer insert designed to protect the sight from hard use.
Fast-Rack textured front face to facilitate racking the slide under stress.
Adjustable brightness so illumination can be set according to the user’s needs and preferences.
Auto-shutoff for the purpose of extending battery life.
Motion activated so it’s on and ready the instant you need it.
Shield RMS footprint to eliminate the need for retro-fitting, extra plates, or drilling and tapping.
3 or 6 MOA red dot reticles are available.
The sight has a Shield RMS footprint, making it immediately compatible with most optics-ready platforms. (Photo credit: Vortex Optics)
The sight ships with:
1″ Shim Plate
Picatinny Mount
Rubber Cover
Lens Cloth
CR1632 Battery
Custom Tool
Commonly used mounting screw sets
The sight is made to be sleek and smooth so it doesn’t add unnecessary bulk to the gun. (Photo credit: Vortex Optics)
The Defender CCW is 1.6 inches in length and weighs 0.95 ounces. This is a truly lightweight sight, and despite its weight, it is built to last. The dot is currently only offered in red. Please note the motion-activated feature is designed for use in sleep mode, not when the optic has been shut down.
What do you think, is this red dot going to be the next addition to your carry setup? Tell us what you think in the comments section.
MSRP for the Vortex Optics Defender CCW is set at $249.99 for either the 3 MOA or 6 MOA model.
