Insanely Practical Guide to Gun Holsters

Thompson Center Dimension Is Bisexual – Or More?

The new Thompson Center Dimensiongoes both ways, if you know what we mean. You know, plays for both teams. Switch hits. Do we really have to spell it out for you?

OK then.

Karl from Thompson Center gave us the full tour at SHOT Show 2012 and here’s the scoop.

In short, with the TC Dimension, you can swap barrels, bolts, and scope to different calibers without changing point of impact.

Translation: If you’re huntin’ hogs, put on the “C” group barrel and bolt which gives you .270 Winchester and .30-06, for example. Smaller game? Swap our for the “A” group and try .204 Ruger or .203 Remington.

Thompson Center has created the ultimate Garanimals rifle. Pick a barrel, magazine, and bolt set by letter category – A, B, C, or D – and go to town. No trips to the range to re-verify zero – it just works. Same point of impact. Guaranteed match. Just like the kids clothes. No more embarrassing moments on the hunt when you brought mis-matching parts, or clothes for that matter.

Pretty In Pink: Guns and Zombies of SHOT Show 2012

Everyone and their undead brother was participating in the gun and shooting industry “zombie pink-alanche” at SHOT Show 2012. From guns to gear to accessories to clothing, pink was on full display.

New from Smith & Wesson is the pink camouflage pattern M&P 15-22 pictured here. We’re all for it, mainly because Smith & Wesson is not following the “any color of your choice as long as it’s black or pink” route. They’re actually tracking closer to the “any color of your choice” route. New M&P 15-22’s are available in a broad variety of configurations and colors. Our favorite was the Magpul MOE customized version although the RealTree camo model will make an excellent woods gun. And it looks great.

Zombies were everywhere as well. From Zombie targets to edged weapons to cleaning kits (keeping your Zombie defense gun clean is a no brainer after all), everything you can imagine had a zombie specific version. A little much some say, but our take is different. If Zombie this and that brings more people into the shooting sports arena, we’re all for it. Simple as that.

Although we have yet to see a full pink Zombie on the trade show floor, we did spot a 3-dimensional bleeding Zombie target sporting pink lingerie. We’ll keep you posted on further developments.

SOG Slim Jim: Thin Is In For 2012

SOG displayed the brand new SOG Slim Jim assisted-open folding knives at SHOT Show 2012. Due to be in the market during the second quarter of the year, SOG claims the Slim Jim is the thinnest folder on the market.

The combination of bumps, cutouts and texture made this knife surprisingly easy to grip with confidence and the feel was sturdy and solid.

The Slim Jim offers a 3.18 inch blade while the larger Slim Jim XL sports a 4.18 inch blade.

The one thing that was a moderate turn off for us was the manual safety latch. It allows one to lock the blade closed, or provide an extra lock for the open position. It seemed somewhat finicky to us and we really don’t like a lock preventing the blade from opening when needed. The SOG representative indicated that there may be some enhancement to the lock mechanism prior to shipment.

SOG would neither confirm nor deny existence of the rumored SOG Origami knife, said to be even thinner than the Slim Jim.

How Much SHOT Show Bling Does the 5.11 COVRT 18 Hold?

How much SHOT Show bling can the 5.11 COVRT 18 Backpack hold without exploding?

  • 5.11 Tactical media kit – Rubberized USB drive for impact resistance in tough literary assault conditions
  • EyeShield Fact Sheet from Field Optics
  • Invitation to a special pre-screening of the Movie Act of Valor (coming out in theaters February 23rd) And yes, the movie is pretty awesome. Lot’s of hardware.
  • SilencerCo T shirt, size 2XL. Vegas food is a little on the rich side you know.
  • Colt’s Manufacturing USB drive media kit
  • (3) cardboard tubes containing 19 personalized and signed posters of trade show models for the nephews. It’s for them. Really.
  • Surefire E2 Defender light
  • Packet of HOT Hands hand warmers
  • (2) SWR T shirts, size large
  • Blade-Tech 2012 printed catalog. We’re in it, with a quote about the durability of the Looper Brand / Blade-Tech kydex reinforced belt
  • Backup printed SHOT Show pull-out floor map. You never know when your smartphone, SHOT Show navigation app, or the show floor wireless could go down – leaving you lost and stranded on the trade show floor for days.
  • (3) 5.11 Tactical hats
  • MacBook Pro – 15 inch
  • Macbook Pro power adapter kit
  • Passport
  • (4) Bass Pro gift cards
  • Nail clippers
  • (2) pads of SilencerCo Loud Mouth tear off targets
  • Advil bottle. Should have brought seven or eight of these.
  • Jar of Top of the Food Chain dry rub
  • (3) screening passes to see Act of Valor
  • SilencerCo 2012 printed catalog
  • Pocket lens cleaner kit from Field Optics
  • Box containing (3) EyeShields
  • Large stack of My Gun Culture business cards
  • Wallet stuffed with receipts. This boondoggle is tax deductible after all.
  • Fancy ink pen. Didn’t use it. Not even once.
  • Tide to Go Pen – used to remove coffee stains from a white shirt prior to a 9am meeting with Smith & Wesson.
  • CZ-USA Press Kit on CD-ROM
  • Standard iPhone USB cable and wall charging adapter
  • USB cable for the Mophie Juice Pack battery case (iPhone)
  • (2) pairs iPhone earbuds. We always carry a backup. Remember, 2 is 1, and 1 is none.
  • LuckyGunner.com gift cards
  • Stack of My Gun Culture publication profile brochures to help convince folks to subject themselves to invasive and silly My Gun Culture interviews
  • Extremely cool Act of Valor T shirt
  • (2) spare 123A batteries for the Surefire
  • Gargoyles Eyewear Striker ballistic defense glasses to protect against overly aggressive free bling seekers
  • $5.42 in loose pocket change

Not too shabby. And we didn’t even use the QuickTact accessory straps or side access Backup Belt System compartment.

There was more than one occasion where we wished we had used the flex cuff attachment points

1911 x 0.85 = ?

Ok, so 1,911 times 0.85 is… Carry the one…

Browning 1911-22!

Browning supplied several of its new 1911-22 models for Media Day at the range during SHOT Show 2012.

Yes, this handy little .22 looks just like a full size 1911 fresh out of a one way Wonka TV trip, but it’s far more than a plinker that only looks like its big brother.

The 1911-22 is in fact a scaled down 1911 inside and out. 85% scale to be exact. It’s identical operation to a 1911 with the exception of the lockup of the barrel. The .22 round does not need a tilting lock breech so this pistol is a blowback design.

Oh, and it’s a hoot to fire.

Shot Show Surprise – Slidefire

One of our Shot Show 2012 highlights was meeting the Slidefire crew and test firing their slick creations at Media Day.

The Slidefire system is essentially a stock / grip replacement that makes your semi-auto AR, AK-47, or AK-74 rifle act a whole lot like a full auto version of the same. User installable in minutes on the AR platform, slightly more difficult on AK’s, the Slidefire system requires no special permits, tax stamps, or groveling at the local Sheriffs office.

Technically speaking, you’re still only firing just one shot with each pull of the trigger with the Slidefire. The system simply uses recoil and creative design to help your finger pull the trigger really, really fast.

Look for more on this soon. We’re going to get our fingers on one and test it out in depth.

TSA Challenge: 5.11 Tactical Gear vs. Regular Luggage

Just arrived back in the home town from SHOT Show 2012 only to find that 3 out of 4 pieces of our regular luggage were searched by TSA. The 5.11 very tactical looking gear we carried through the checkpoints sailed right on through.

Conclusions? We have no idea, but would bet lunch that TSA at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas is going to run out of “We molested your luggage” cards today and tomorrow.

Guns, Silicone Implants, and Regret

The annual Glock party at SHOT Show 2012 was quite the event. Interestingly it was help in the same facility as the annual American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery convention, so one could say that the place was stuffed with polymer frames.

About 1,000 customers, partners, media, and friends of Glock attended the first class event which featured fabulous food representing four major markets that Glock serves: North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Local entertainment and locale specific giveaways added the an already festive and spirit-filled atmosphere.

But the highlight of the event was the raffle of a custom Harley Davidson motorcycle. One catch – the winner needed to be physically present at the end of the party to win. Don’t tell that to Don D. whose name was drawn. He left before the big moment. After much encouragement from the crowd, the prize went to the second name drawn.

Sometimes it pays to close the party.

Coonan .357 1911-ish

Coonan has a bunch of new models out this year: compensated, colored, digital camo patterns and the like.

Why a 1911-ish style .357 Magnum you ask? Because we still can in this country. It’s cool and I can’t wait to shoot one. Unfortunatey, the NSSF folks frowned upon my desire to test fire one in their SHOT Show establishment.

The grip is about 1/4″ deeper than a 1911 to allow room for the long .357 Magnum cartridge. I was still able to get a proper grip with medium dude-sized hands. Compared to a revolver, you can expect about a 25 feet per second increase in velocity due to no cylinder gap gas loss in the semi-auto design. Oh, and you can shoot .38 Specials put of it. Same magazine even.

Got Saiga?

ATI has a slew of new products to enhance your Saiga, Remington 870, AK-47, AR, or just about anything else out there. The pistol grip and stock set for the Saiga caught our eye…