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Review: The Gun Tool from Real Avid

May 7, 2011 By Tom 4 Comments

The Good

One relatively lightweight tool to carry in my shooting bag.

The Bad

No pliers included. In fairness though, this ‘feature’ probably prevents me from doing damage to things that should not be messed with using pliers. So let’s put this one in the benefit category!

The Ugly

I would like to see a lock on the knife blade. It opens solidly, and the shape of the tool generally keeps your fingers away from where the blade closes, but aggressive cutting still makes me a bit nervous.

Our Rating

Four Nuns! This removes a cheap screwdriver, my primary Leatherman, and about 712 choke tube wrenches from my shooting bag!

The Gun Tool

The Gun Tool

Approximate Retail Price: $24.99

www.realavid.com

At the recent NRA Annual Meeting, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the crew from Real Avid, makers of The Gun Tool. Those kind folks, who didn’t know better, offered to send a Gun Tool back with me for the rigorous My Gun Culture evaluation protocol. Well, the testing has been completed and here’s the report…

As it is made specifically for guns, this may just be the tool that prevents me from damaging…

Scope windage and elevation knobs (again)
My Glock and shotgun trigger groups (again)
Grip screws (yet again)
My shotgun barrels and chokes (again)

Yes, I have an issue with trying to accomplish things with whatever tool is at hand – whether it’s the right for the job or not. What, you can’t use a screwdriver and a rock for everything?

The Gun Tool features the following built-in tools:

Mean looking knife blade for ammo boxes and wolverines (see below)
Choke tube wrench (10, 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauges and .410 bore)
Scope adjustment blade with curved contour
Pin punch – steel with rounded flat point profile
Flat blade 1/8″ screwdriver bit
Flat blade 3/16″ screwdriver bit
Phillips head screwdriver bit
Phillips head screwdriver bit
Torx T10 driver
Torx T15 driver
Torx T20 driver
Hex 3/32″ driver
Hex 5/32″ driver
3/16″ magnetic driver
Magnetic storage container for screwdriver bits

During comprehensive testing of The Gun Tool, I found this handy list of things I can accomplish without using any other tools. And yes, I did in fact personally verify that all of these things are possible.

Change choke tubes on my Winchester 9410 .410 lever action shotgun (yes, that gun is way more fun than threatening my dogs with the vacuum – and that’s saying a lot. Fear not, I love my dogs and they have more fun being threatened than I have threatening them)
Clean underneath my finger nails with the scope adjustment blade (it’s not too sharp like the screwdriver bits)
I can completely detail strip my Glock 32 as the steel pin punch fits all three frame pins
I can clean corn out of my teeth with the claw blade (provided I’m really careful)
I can shotgun a beer with the punch tip
I can change the grip backstrap on my Beretta PX4 – the scope blade fits the u-pin perfectly and is wide enough not to deform the pin which is somewhat tight fitting
I can use it to hunt wolverines in Alaska
I can re-zero the battle sights on my M-1 Garand
I can remove the grips on every handgun I own except my Beretta 92FS (the hex screws are just a tad too small for The Gun Tool)
And a whole lot more…

This is a really handy invention. Compact and light. I love carrying one tool that does a whole mess-load (that’s a lot) of things. I’m always in need of some tweak or adjustment when at the range you know. Highly recommended!


Adding to my moderately impressive tool collection is always a good thing. Plus, when folks at the range ask me what it is, I can tell them it’s a highly specialized gun tool. Then they tend to think I’m a much better shooter than I really am. I mean top shooters have specialized tools right?	I just love my Browning Gold Fusion 12 gauge. Having one handy tool to change my choke tubes and the ones on his wimpy little .410 is really nice!

Filed Under: Gun Accessories Reviews, Reviews Tagged With: accessories, nra, reviews, shotguns, tools

Defensive Decolletage

May 3, 2011 By Tom 11 Comments

The Looper Flash Bang Bra Holster

One of my more embarrassing moments at the NRA Annual Meeting was interviewing Lisa Looper of Looper Brand, makers of the new Flash Bang line of ‘naughty holsters.’ By the way, ‘naughty holsters’ is my description, not hers!

I’m a happily married guy, and here I am talking to Lisa, closely examining a mannequin of a woman’s breasts, complete with a pink brassiere. With hundreds of tough lookin’ NRA dudes staring at me. It got a lot more interesting when Lisa had to ask a group of women examining the new Flash Bang Bra Holster to step back so I could take some close up photos.

Things completely broke down for me when Lisa, who is very pregnant, asked me to see if I could spot the gun she was carrying. Ummm. Nope! I think that was the right answer, because I was not about to stare inappropriately trying to spot it! Lisa’s husband was working in the booth by the way. And he was probably carrying. I’m not entirely stupid you know.

The things I do for loyal My Gun Culture readers… I’m such a giver.

Split-Bottom Kydex Secures the Gun

Anyway, the basic idea, as shown by the included photos, is that an open-bottomed kydex mold is made for specific gun models like snubbie revolvers, Kel-Tec‘s, Ruger LCP‘s, Sig P238‘s and similar guns. The leather strap with a metal snap attaches the kydex assembly to your (or her) existing bra, and the whole mess kind of tucks up underneath the, umm, chest area. When the gun needs to be accessed, the user simply pulls downward on the grip and the gun snaps out of the kydex holster. Nifty. And quick. And sexy.

Those of you who are quick on the uptake will now understand the product line name: Flash… Bang! For those of you that scored less that 600 on the SAT’s, you lift up your blouse, flash your attacker, create a moment of shock and awe, then… bang!

If I had seen this before we published our Mothers Day Gift Guide, it certainly would have been included!

We’ll try one out soon and post a full review here. Actually ‘she’ will test it out. Although I am rapidly gaining weight, I do not yet have adequate man boobs to conceal my Glock 32 under the Flash Bang setup. Maybe after a few more pizzas.

Read about more carry styles and over 120 different gun holsters in The Insanely Practical Guide to Gun Holsters - available at Amazon.com! Learn more about our Insanely Practical Guides!

Filed Under: Concealed Carry, Holster Reviews, NRA Annual Meeting, Reviews, Shooting Tips Tagged With: bra holster, holsters, nra, personal protection

Zombie Hunters Unite At NRA Annual Meeting

May 3, 2011 By Tom Leave a Comment

Birchwood Casey Zombie Target

One of the pleasures of attending the NRA Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh was the interesting people I met while there. With a crowd of over 71,000 I figured I was bound to meet other forward-thinking and wise folks who are busy preparing for the zombie apocalypse. The mysterious shiny-headed man behind New Jovian Thunderbolt is one of them. In addition to being the only person I have witnessed getting licked on the head by Top Shot Champ Iain Harrison, he’s a pretty funny guy. I ran across this while checking out one of the newest sites on My Gun Culture’s daily read list:

“The problem with quotes on the internet is it is difficult to verify their authenticity.”
- Abraham Lincoln

From: New Jovian Thunderbolt

Filed Under: NRA Annual Meeting Tagged With: blogs, nra, zombies

NRA Meeting Sparks Massive Anti-Gun Protest March

April 30, 2011 By Tom 1 Comment

Anti-Gun Protest Outside Lawrence Convention Center NRA Annual Meeting

Following reports all week of an organized march and demonstration outside of the Annual NRA Meeting in downtown Pittsburgh, a large crowd gathered outside to protest the National Rifle Association.

Local Gun Show Demonstration

The crowd, estimated at, well, none, appeared well behaved and there were no reports of violence as of this writing. Police were on hand in strength to prevent any potential escalation.

A related demonstration drew an even larger crowd where organizers were advertising a local gun and knife show, hoping to draw additional attendees from the gun-friendly crowd at the NRA meeting.

Filed Under: Life, News, NRA Annual Meeting, Politics Tagged With: nra

Safest Building in the World (this weekend)

April 29, 2011 By Tom Leave a Comment

David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Pittsburgh, PA
NRA Annual Meeting Site

Filed Under: NRA Annual Meeting Tagged With: crime, nra

Winchester Ammunition Moves To Mississippi To Cut Spelling Errors

November 11, 2010 By Tom 2 Comments

According to the NRA’s American Rifleman blog, Winchester’s Illinois based ammunition division is relocating its plant facility to Mississippi. The announcement follows a recent trend of firearms companies moving south to warmer climes. Earlier this year, gun makers Para USA and Remington completed moves from Canada and New York to North Carolina.

CEO Ben Cartwright

While many believe the announced move is a response to stalled union negotiations with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 9 group, Winchester Ammunition General Manager Ben Cartwright offers a different explanation. “We’ve had trouble for years with people trying to spell the ‘ammunition’ part of Winchester Ammunition. Seems like half the people want to use one ‘m’ and the other half want to use two ‘m’s.’ We’re just sick of it. Then one day, I the solution just came to me. Remember the elementary school thing about spelling Mississippi? You know, em-eye-ess-ess-eye-ess-ess-eye-pee-pee-eye? Dang, if people in Mississippi can spell that, then they sure as heck can spell ‘ammunition’ properly. So that’s where we ought to be. Where people can spell our dang name. Dangit.”

Industry insiders are skeptical about the justification for the move. “I can see relocating the whole freakin’ factory if its a cost issue” said Harry Callahan, industry research analyst. “Or maybe if they just feel lucky today. I can even understand that. But for the Mississippi song? Really?”

Winchesters Vice President of Marketing, Don Draper, countered “Look, it’s all about branding. If we lose control of our name then what? Heck, we’ve got county spelling bee champions lined up around the block applying for positions at the new plant. That’s good enough for me.”

Filed Under: Business, Life, News Tagged With: american rifleman, ammo, ammunition, ben cartwright, don draper, guns, nra, olin, Shooting, unions, winchester

Gargoyles Plan To Form Shooting Team

November 9, 2010 By Tom Leave a Comment

Gargoyles Competition Shooting Team Captain Grog Photo: thecelticcroft.com

According to recent reports from AmmoLand.com, the Gargoyles intend to form a new competitive shooting team. Traditionally known for their fearsome appearance, Gargoyles have not historically been recognized for their agility and speed. According to industry insiders, that reputation is about to change.

“People generally think of rock sculptures as slow and inflexible” comments Don Draper, Vice President of Marketing for Gargoyles Eyewear. “Just because they’re evil and mean looking doesn’t mean that they can’t shake and bake on the course of fire. Plus they have the added benefit of scaring away evil spirits. But the thing that really attracted us to the whole competitive Gargoyle concept was that most Gargoyles have wings and we expect them to literally fly through complex courses in major USPSA competitions.”

Gargoyles Eyewear Shooting Team

Rumors have been circulating for some time that the Gargoyles have been training in more sedentary shooting sports such as Benchrest and NRA Bullseye to prepare for their entre into the action shooting arena. “We’ve been really impressed by the stability and resulting accuracy that these Gargoyles have been able to achieve.” stated Wayne LaPierre, Executive Director of the National Rifle Association. “They just sit there and don’t flinch – like they were made of stone or something.”

Gargoyles Eyewear will be equipping the new team with proven eye protection designs including the Classic and Veil Series but will also leverage the teams exposure in the shooting community to launch the all-new ‘Rock Solid’ series. According to unnamed sources, the Rock Solid line will feature 325% UV protection and unsurpassed durability. “These things will last an eternity” bragged Draper.

Filed Under: Life, Life, News Tagged With: benchrest, bullseye, competition, don draper, eye protection, eyewear, gargoyles, guns, idpa, ipsc, nra, safety, Shooting, uspsa, wayne lapierre

Action Shooting Championships Dominated by Justice League of America

October 31, 2010 By Tom Leave a Comment

Justice League of America (DC Comics, Ed Benes)

Blacktown, Australia, October 2010 – Making many renowned competitors look amateurish in comparison, the Justice League of America swept the recent Action Shooting World Championships. While a host of world-class shooters descended on The Blacktown Pistol Club in Sydney, Australia, it was clear from Match 2 (The Barricade Event) onwards that the Justice League team meant business.

Ralph Dibny, better known as The Elongated Man, commented “I think my ability to just stretch around all the barricades really helped to shave seconds off my time. I didn’t have to run anywhere. Elasticity is really an advantage in this part of the match.”

Wonder Woman (Art: Terry Dodson)

The Green Lantern, also known in civilian circles as Hal Jordan, easily took top honors in the falling plate stage. “While there is still a little controversy over legality, I just used my Green Power Ring to shatter the plates” commented Jordan. I did actually shoot at the first one, so I don’t see what people are complaining about.”

Some competitors were less than pleased with the Justice League team. Top Shot reality star Adam Benson intends to lodge a formal complaint with competition organizers. “When Wonder Woman wanted to use her invisible plane during the Moving Target stage, that was the last straw for me” wailed Benson. “I think if you have supernatural powers or come from another planet then you shouldn’t be eligible.”

While most of the Justice League team exhibited quiet humility during their unprecedented victory, some got carried away in the excitement. “When we got to Stage 8 – the Iron Man Match – I was like, REALLY?” laughed Justice League Team Captain Superman. “Give me a break. Iron man? Like that one’s not over before it starts? Please.” Superman refused to comment when asked about recent sightings of him and Wonder Woman at trendy Sydney restaurant, Outback Steakhouse.

Filed Under: Life, News Tagged With: action pistol, action shooting championships, adam benson, competition, competitive shooting, guns, ipda, ipsc, nra, Shooting, sports, steel challenge, superman, uspsa, wonder woman

Obama’s TelePrompTer Spotted at Shooting Range

March 27, 2009 By Tom

Members of a Charleston area shooting range encountered an unexpected sight last weekend when what appeared to be a TelePrompter was seen shooting handguns and various semi-automatic rifles.

President Obama's TelePrompTer at Shooting Range

President's TelePrompTer Busting Some Caps at the Shooting Range

Nearby shooters became suspicious when they overheard the TelePrompter saying “Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?” Upon hearing this and other obvious movie lines from the Dirty Harry series, nearby shooters decided to investigate, and discovered the TelePrompter.

Local resident Bubba “Big Daddy” Dubbelwahd observed the incident. “I was there with my other brother Bubba and his son Bubba, just shootin’ at the old hood of my ’67 Chevy pickup, and dang it if I didn’t see some TV telespeaker thing down at the end of the line shootin’ an AR-15. Heck I didn’t even know they were allowed to own guns. Aren’t those things illegal aliens or something? Damn city slickers.”

When questioned, the TelePrompTer claimed that it worked for National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and was simply there to practice some holster and house clearing drills. Nearby shooters were immediately suspicious of this explanation noting that Mr. LaPierre doesn’t require a TelePrompter to formulate coherent thoughts during public appearances. When pressed, the TelePrompter confessed to working for President Barack Obama. “Look, I could get in real trouble for this. My boss isn’t real keen on this whole guns and shooting thing, you know? You understand, with all the stress of my job, setting national policy, doing all those speeches and press conferences, keeping the boss from putting his foot in his mouth and all that, I just have to get out here once in a while and burn some mad ammo. Plus, I love the smell of gunpowder in the morning. Can we just keep this between us? I’ll try and delay that assault weapons legislation if you can manage to keep this quiet.”

Local authorities decided that no laws had been broken as the State of South Carolina does not specifically prohibit TelePrompters from owning firearms. President Obama had no comment, as his TelePrompter was still at the range burning up some 5.56mm military surplus ammo.

Filed Under: Life, News, Politics Tagged With: guns, humor, National Rifle Association, nra, obama, president, range, Shooting, teleprompter

United States Constitution Acknowledged By Senate

March 5, 2009 By Tom 1 Comment

Thursday, February 26, 2009 Fairfax, Va. – In a surprise vote today, Congress determined that there is in fact an important document called the consitution that outlines how the country should be run. “This new discovery kind of threw us for a loop” stated Senator Dianne Feinstein. “We’ve just been figuring things out as we go up to this point, and in our view that’s been working out pretty well. Except for the whole national bankruptcy thing of course.”

United States Constitution

After discovering, and reading, the newly found Constitution, the Senate quickly voted 62-36 to overturn a controversial gun ban in the nations capitol. “Apparently there is some language in there that talks about peoples rights to own weapons of mass destruction or something like that” observed New York Senator Chuck Schumer. “My staff tells me its called the ‘second appendage’ or ‘second abomination’ or some such thing. I’ll have to look into it and get back to you. Clearly we’re going to have to fix that.”

Others were not surprised by the move. Chris Cox, Executive Director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action commented “It’s time for leaders in Washington to wake up to the fact that the Supreme Court decision is now the law of the land.”

When asked about Cox’s comments, Senator Schumer appeared surprised. “What? That’s just great. First we find out about this Constitution thing and now you’re telling me about something called The Supreme Court? What is this country coming to anyway?”

Photo: The Coyote Report