Navigation

Archive | July, 2011

Review: White Sound Defense H.R.E.D.

By on July 8, 2011 in Guns, Reviews, Tactical Gear

The HRED from White Sound Defense is a direct replacement for the Glock extractor depressor assembly that is designed to provide more reliable extraction. This functionality has become especially relevant as Generation 4 and later Generation 3 Glocks have been experiencing reliability issues that seem to stem from inconsistent extraction.

The HRED (bottom) is a complete redesign of the standard extractor depressor assembly.

How It’s Different

The HRED differs in several ways from the Glock OEM extractor depressor. It isn’t different just for the sake of being different. Each difference represents a purposeful redesign to enhance reliability.

The HRED comes with White Sound Defense’s heavy duty extractor spring. This heavier spring provides more tension than the stock spring. It is ground flat on the ends to ensure that they do not bind or misalign. This spring is available separately for use with the factory extractor depressor unit.

The most obvious difference between the OEM parts and the HRED is that the OEM parts insert with the short end toward the rear of the Glock and the HRED inserts with the short toward the extractor. This is done to shift the mass of the unit so that the movement of the slide assists the plunger rather than working against it.

The entire HRED unit is made from stainless steel. It has a larger diameter than the stock part so that it resists movement and binding in the extractor depressor channel.

Every material, dimension, and function was scrutinized and tweaked for reliability during the creation of the HRED.

Does it Work?

I installed the HRED in my Glock 17 Generation 3 RTF2. This particular G17 was produced sometime in early to mid 2010 as far as I can tell. It has experienced no stoppages through just over 600 rounds but it did exhibit some very inconsistent extraction. It would kick one piece of brass way over my shoulder like it should and then the next would dribble out of the ejection port and flop onto my forearms. This seemed to happen with several different types of ammo. The weak extraction seemed to happen about 1 in 5 times.

After the installation of the HRED, I have seen consistent extraction. In fact, I haven’t had a piece of brass hit my forearms since the installation. I have just over 400 rounds on the G17 since I installed the HRED without any stoppages. Stoppages seems much less likely now that the G17 is ejecting consistently.

Does it work? It has worked for me so far. For what it’s worth, several users are reporting online that the HRED alone has cured the reliability issues that they were having with their Gen4 9mm Glocks.

Installation is simple using the included diagram and easy to follow instructions.

Conclusion

Is the HRED the cure for your Glock reliability woes? It might just be. It is certainly a well designed and well executed unit that could even help improve the reliability and durability of Glocks that aren’t having issues. I am impressed with the results that I have witnessed from the HRED. As with any new part, only time and testing in your particular firearm will tell the whole story.

You can read a far more technical and detailed description of how the HRED works at White Sound Defense’s website.

S.O. Tech Mission Go Bag Flap

By on July 7, 2011 in EDC, Survival, Tactical Gear

The S.O. Tech Mission Go Bag (MGB) is a well known bag that has proven itself to be capable of carrying everything from office essentials to vital fight sustaining gear. The owner of the MGB has a myriad of accessories available to them that can really enhance the function of the bag. One of the newest such accessories is the Mission Go Bag Flap (MGBF).

The MGBF is a flap that gives the MGB a more low profile look by covering the PALS webbing on the front of the bag. It acts as a flap much like any other messenger bag or briefcase might have. In addition to helping the bag blend in, it also adds a good sized vinyl map window and pen loop.

Image is property of S.O. Tech.

This is a really clever solution that lets the user and mission determine how to configure the bag. I would love to see more manufacturers offer flaps like this for their bags.

Check out the MGBF on S.O. Tech’s website.

Just for Fun: “Banana Clips”

By on July 7, 2011 in Other

The term “banana clip” is an erroneous name for the curved magazines that are used in many different types of magazine fed rifles. The term has been co-opted by anti-2nd Amendment groups in order to spread fear and misinformation. In the end, it only shows their ignorance since banana clips aren’t clips at all. They are magazines. Yes, there is a difference.

Before I ruin your mood, let me change gears. This post isn’t really about anti-2nd Amendment groups or semantics. It is about something a whole lot more fun than that. This post is about the Banana Clip banana hangers made by “Kmanator” who obviously has a great sense of humor. He is a regular on several online forums and an eBay seller. He makes plasma cut metal items like signs and the Banana Clip banana hanger.

The banana hangers are made to look like famous rifles like an AR-15 or AK-47. Their is a hook located on the magazine area of the rifle that is used to hang your bananas. Hanging bananas helps them ripen evenly without all the soft spots and bruises that occur when they sit on the counter. But really, do you care that hanging is better for bananas than laying them on the counter? No. This banana hanger is just for fun.

Check out the banana hangers and all the other cool stuff in Kmanator’s eBay auctions.

PS – If you want further proof that Kmanator has an awesome sense of humor, check out his zombie-ready AK Battle Axe stocks. Sure, its impractical, but you still want one.

SAR Global Tool E&E Knife Prototypes

By on July 6, 2011 in EDC, Knives, Survival

SAR Global Tool is always creating some innovative piece of gear that could save your tail in a bad situation. The latest design is a very small, compact, and simple knife that is designed to take up as little space as possible in your survival kit, BOB, or E&E kit.

These E&E kit prototypes are ground from .090″ thick CPM 154 steel, so they should hold an edge well and resist rust as they sit packed away in a kit. They have a 1.5″ cutting edge and are only 3″ in overall length. The blade has a sort of angular sheeps foot shape that should offer plenty of cutting power in a small package. The tip looks to be very fine which is a plus on a small knife that will likely be used for many detailed tasks.

The coolest thing about these little knives is the sheath. It lays very flat so that it fits anywhere and it features 3 grommets so you can carry it many different ways. What really sets the sheath apart is the orange kydex panel. This panel can be used as a close range signal panel or marker. I have found that having something that is highly visible like this can be a land nav aid in dense under brush. When the undergrowth is too thick to take an azimuth to a landmark farther than a few feet in front of you, it can be helpful to send someone ahead with something visible so that they can become your land mark. You direct them verbally or visually to your azimuth and then walk to them.

This knife is small and simple but it comes with the kind of innovations that you would expect from a rescue professional like Spencer at SAR Global Tool. You can purchase your own on the SAR Global Tool blog. While you are there, check out the incredibly slick, patent pending Eclipse Signal System.

Mystery Ranch Streetfighter

By on July 5, 2011 in EDC, Tactical Gear

The new Streetfighter from Mystery Ranch is one of the smallest packs in their line. It is designed to excel as a jack-of-all-trades, general purpose pack. It would be at home on the hiking trail or a cross country flight.

Even though this pack is small, Mystery Ranch didn’t skimp on the suspension. The Streetfighter features their excellent Futura Yoke which mean you can pack the Streetfighter until the seams are bursting without fear of overloading it.

It features 2 exterior water bottle sleeves which I really like because it frees up the interior for cargo and protects the contents from spills. If you prefer to use a hydration bladder, there is an interior sleeve that will accommodate one. There is also an interior accessory pocket and external panel pocket with internal organizer that will help keep you keep your small items squared away.

The Streetfighter boasts 1150 CU-IN of capacity. That sounds small but that is kind of the point. I should also note that, in my experience, Mystery Ranch tends to underestimate their pack’s capacities.

Navy blue and yellow are the only colors available now but there will likely be some more subdued colors in the future. Black and OD green have been mentioned. Hopefully coyote brown and/or Multicam will make the cut as well.

You can check out the new Streetfighter on Mystery Ranch’s website.

Powered by WordPress. Designed by Woo Themes