Archive for Reviews
Review of the BLACKHAWK! Be-Wharned Knife
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I just posted a review of the BLACKHAWK! Be-Wharned knife over at GunsHolstersAndGear.com. If you are looking for an excellent self-defense or duty knife, this one is worth looking at.
Cyclops Universal Flashlight Holder from Helios Systems Review
Posted by: | Comments(Ed. note: This review is a follow up to the Cyclops introduction posted last month by Aaron.)
Gary Grundy of Helios Systems was gracious enough to allow me to test and evaluate one of the Cyclops. For testing I used my Safariland duty rig and my tactical vest equipped with the Molle system. I selected five commonly used police flashlights: the Blackhawk 9-volt Falcata; the Streamlight Poly Stinger; the Surefire Z2; the Surefire 6Z; and the Blackhawk Gladius. All of these flashlights have a thumb activated on/off button for tactical use.
During the testing, I found the smaller Z2, 6Z and the Gladius are held more snugly by the Cyclops than the larger lights. However, the location of the front strap leaves only about 1.5 inches of the Z2 and 6Z, and about two inches of the Gladius, exposed at the top of the Cyclops to grab for withdrawal. With the “halo” headrest this made a secure grip even more difficult than open top style carriers. Withdrawing these two flashlights was not impossible but was awkward, as I was only able to get two fingers on the Z2 and not quite three fingers on the Gladius. I consider myself as having average-sized hands (usually a medium or large glove size) so someone with larger hands might have even more trouble with retrieving these two particular flashlights from the Cyclops.
Helios Systems Cyclops Universal Flashlight Holder
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Helios Systems developed and is now shipping the Cyclops universal flashlight holder. The Cyclops is a belt mounted device designed to hold and carry a wide variety of duty/tactical flashlights.
At the 2010 SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas I came across Gary Grundy at the Helios Systems booth. Grundy introduced me to the Cyclops Universal Flashlight Deployment product that Helios Systems has produced. The concept for the Cyclops is that a user can have different flashlights without having to worry about having a separate flashlight carrier to house the different flashlights.
Just looking at the Cyclops you can immediately notice its unique retention design and shape. The Cyclops looks like an orthodox cross or maybe even a Christmas angel. Attached to an oval-shaped base that houses the retention clips on the back side of the Cyclops, the rear frame is predominately a narrow vertical strip of self-lubricating nylon. But about 3/4 of the distance to the top of that narrow strip, the rear frame extends out in an open-arms shape about two inches from center line in both directions. This creates the rear strap. The head of the rear frame also flares out in a kind of halo-like appearance.
Steyr SSG 08 Sniper Rifle Review
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Most of those who recognize the name Steyr immediately think of the Steyr AUG series rifles with their unique European minded design that sets them apart from most patrol rifles used in the United States. That design creates a very sleek profile that places the rifle’s magazine to the rear of the trigger assembly and generates a profile like no other.
Designed to meet the strict specifications of the Austrian Special Forces, Steyr rifles make a bold statement of excellence in the tradition of European engineering. And what many may not know is that Steyr has made a strong bid in the American market with its Trussville, Alabama manufacturing plant. Now the Steyr AUG rifles sold in the United States will be manufactured in the United States in a partnership with Saber Defense. Some parts are still manufactured in Austria, but more and more these rifles are becoming home grown.
What many people might not know is that Steyr (officially Steyr Mannlicher) is also the producer of high quality sniper rifles. The latest release is the Steyr SSG 08, available in .308 Winchester and 300 Win Mag. This rifle incorporates many of the latest trends in mission ready sniper rifles. For instance, the Austrian engineers have used light weight aircraft aluminum in the stock, as well as highly durable synthetic components to keep the rifle’s weight easily manageable.
Federal v. Remington .308 Ammo Comparison: One Sniper’s View
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If you are a part of the law enforcement marksman (sniper) community then any discussion on ammunition selection will almost exclusively focus on the .308 caliber, 168-grain Match King boat tail hollow point (BTHP) cartridge. The 2007 American Sniper Association Annual Report cited the .308 caliber, 168-grain Match King BTHP as being the “preferred ammunition” for police marksmen “based primarily on its accuracy and consistency”. The Federal Gold Medal cartridge has, for many, been the preferred police marksman cartridge. This cartridge produces consistent match grade quality with the convenience of being factory made.
However, with the current state of the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the uncertainty felt by many Americans about the Administration’s views on the 2nd Amendment, a shortage of ammunition of all calibers and types has occurred. This drain on the available ammunition supply has caught many police departments and individuals off guard and has required them to reevaluate ammunition selection and training requirements to accommodate the circumstances faced by all.
