SHOT Show 2017 Part One


SHOT show 2017 kicked off like every other show I’ve attended…  chaos thinly disguised as enthusiasm in multicam.

Notable products part one:

BE Meyers MAWL:

Got hands on with the MAWL for the first time. It’s all it’s been made out to be and more. The IR designator/illuminator market just got turned on its head and the future is very clearly a departure from the traditional rail mounted box.

BFG MARCO (aka tactical pez dispenser):

The crew at BFG, thanks to help from our very own Roland and Raven concealment, have made a dispenser for chemlites that no one knew they needed until they saw it.  The concept is simply a box that holds 30+ 2″ chemlites with a footprint smaller than an M4 30 rounder.  The design incorporates mounting holes that will allow attachment to just about any system you’re currently using.  The beauty of the MARCO is that in the space of 4 standard chemlites you can now carry enough to handle clearing an industrial complex.

Nightops tactical DTNVG:

Nightops tactical is providing a dual tube solution that incorporates the ability to lift an individual tube out of your line of sight without folding the entire unit up.  This also means that the unit sits almost completely flat against the helmet when not in use, no more tactical antlers.  Expect more info on these soon.

Outdoor Research Infiltrator:

Outdoor research debuted the then unnamed Infiltrator jacket last year at SHOT.  Think of this as the 21st century version of the hard shell jacket.  It incorporates goretex stretch panels in key articulation areas of the jacket including the underarms, rear shoulder yoke and base of the hood.  The jacket promises to be 100% rain proof and still provide the mobility you demand from soft shell solutions.  Prices are not set in stone but expect to see these hit the market for $400 good guy pricing.

Foursevens sentinel WC1:

Foursevens debuted their 600 lumen XC1 killer.  The unit is both smaller and lighter than XC1 and the output appears to be on par with their claims. The switchology is similar to what we have seen from the inforce offerings and would take some adaptation before becoming intuitive, but hey Surefire didn’t exactly do any favors by changing the status quo with the XC1.

Trijicon 1-8x accupower:

Trijicon seems to have gotten the message about the importance of daytime brightness, the green reticle I looked at has 11 power settings the brightest of which is noticeable brighter than previous accupower models.  Didn’t get any specs on weight but this thing doesn’t feel or look any bigger than the VCOG 1-6 or other industry standard 1-6 offerings.

Night Vision Quick Focus Caps

Using NVG’s for a multitude of Law Enforcement tasks presents some challenges from typical white light jobs. One of those challenges is that the NVG is focused at a given distance, typically at infinity. The problem with this is when you need to see or examine something at close range. This requires that the NVG … Read more

Tactical Tailor Tahoma Tote Rucksack Review

Author’s note: This pack appears to have been renamed the “RR2600 Assault Malice Pack” according to Tactical Tailor’s website. There appear to be no differences according to their descriptions and display images, however this has not been confirmed by Tactical Tailor as of the time of this publishing.  There’s no place like home, and if … Read more

Speed Costs Money……

Speed costs money, how fast do ya wanna go

 With the election upon us, it seems as if everyone now wants to buy, buy, buy firearms and gear “just in case.”  Which is cool, but not the way I would go. A firearm is a tool. That’s all. Much like a wrench or a ratchet. As such, quality is more important than quantity. There is not a pro team in any racing series that uses the 101-piece toolset from your local box store. There is a reason for that. 

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Weapon System Visual Signature Reduction aka “spray painting your rifle”

“(Camouflage) is the use of materials and techniques to hide, blend, disguise, decoy, or disrupt the appearance of military targets and/or their backgrounds” – Army ATTP 3-34.39, Camouflage, Concealment, and Decoys “Target indicators: anything a Soldier does or fails to do that could result in detection.” – Army FM 3-22.10, Sniper Training and Operations I’ll … Read more

NicKydex AIWB Roland Holster Review

***UPDATE 12/10/2019 – We have received multiple reports of slow to nonexistent follow up on orders. Use at your own risk.*** Before we begin, let’s set some baselines to see if this review will be relevant to you. This was not a scientific, standards base, control group study. It is my opinion based on the … Read more

Emerson Knives: A Critical Look

Emerson Knives Inc. and the custom knives of Ernest Emerson enjoy a strong reputation in professional circles. Emerson folding knives in particular are considered by many to be the epitome of what tactical knives should be. I was an Emerson user (hard user) and fan for over a decade, beginning in 2001. I owned both … Read more

LE use of NVG for Warrant Service – One Cop’s opinion.

I have been a SWAT dude for over 20 years, during that time I have seen huge advances in tactics, techniques and procedures as well as gear and supporting equipment. Indeed, I tell new guys that I wish I was starting my SWAT career today versus being at the end of it. We have come … Read more