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Archive | November, 2011

Tactical Handyman: “Scotch” Tape Light Diffuser

By on November 18, 2011 in Flashlights, Tactical Handyman

This may be the simplest Tactical Handyman DIY post yet but it is a pretty handy trick. I am going to show you how to do something that you already have around the house, transparent “Scotch” tape, to enhance the functionality of your flashlight.

Many LED flashlights today have beams that are too narrow for certain tasks. Sometimes it is more important to have a diffused light that lights abroad area. A narrow beam is great for illuminating objects in the distance but not as helpful if you are trying to look at a map right in front of your face or do a task at arms length like reassembling a rifle in the field. Fortunately, you don’t have to buy a new light to get a wider beam profile. All you need is a bit of tape (not duct tape, surprisingly).

Here is what you will need:

  1. A thin bladed knife with a fine point
  2. Transparent tape with a frosted finish aka “Scotch” tape

Instructions

The procedure for applying the tape is simple. Apply some tape to the lens of the flashlight then carefully trim the tape to size with your knife. That’s it.

It is extremely easy, but there are some cautions to keep in mind:

  • Many lights have plastic lenses, so use a very light hand when trimming the tape to avoid scratching the lens.
  • Use quality tape. Cheap tape will leave more residue and will lose its stickiness over time.
  • You may also want to change the tape every once in a while. Some tapes can become tacky or brittle over time.
  • I wouldn’t try this on weapon lights that are mounted near the muzzle. The tape can melt so I would hate to see what hot gasses coming from the muzzle would do to it.

If you want to retain some of your light’s throw, you can cover just a portion of the lens with tape. This will diffuse part of the beam but leave the rest of the beam untouched. You can also try layering the tape to diffuse the beam even more but keep in mind that you are losing output with each layer.

Next time you are frustrated with the narrow beam of your flashlight, try this quick and dirty trick to diffuse your light. It is a really only a temporary fix, but it works. Try it.

 

SSV Tactical Holster from FirstSpear

By on November 17, 2011 in Guns, Tactical Gear

Sometimes the best way to make a new piece of gear is to combine features from proven pieces gear. It doesn’t hurt if there is a dash of innovation thrown in for good measure. That is certainly the case with the SSV Tactical Holster from FirstSpear.

Safariland’s SLS holsters have been the standard by which all other tactical holsters are measured for years. The SLS retention system has proven to be fast, durable, and reliable and the holsters have adapted well to the increasingly more common use of tactical lights. The SSV Tactical Holster starts with the proven Safariland SLS holster and adds a couple of innovative features to make an entirely new holster.

The most obvious of those innovative features is the nylon wrap on the kydex holster body. The nylon helps to quiet the rattles and thumps that can sometimes happen with these holsters. It is also a really clever and extremely durable way to apply a camo pattern like Multicam to the body of the holster. I typically apply some rattle can camo to my Safariland holsters but this method of using nylon will stand up to far more abuse. Long after any type of paint coating has worn off, this nylon wrap should still be going strong.

The SSV has a unique hybrid mounting system. It uses the UBL which is a very popular mounting option from Safariland for good reason. It lowers and offsets the holster just enough to clear a MOLLE belt or backpack hip belt without extending the draw stroke any further than needed. However, in my experience, the UBL can allow the holster to pivot on the belt slightly during the draw stroke which can cause the gun to bind. This seems to be more pronounced with handguns with a tactical light attached. When I was using a Safariland with UBL, I had trained myself to pull the butt of the gun in during the draw stroke which ensured a smooth straight draw. First Spear cured this issue by adding a leg strap to the holster. This ties the holster down and prevents it from rotating which prevents binding. The leg strap is removable if you prefer to use the holster without one.

From top to bottom, the SSV Tactical Holster looks sorted out. It is new, but, thanks to its use of the Safariland SLS holter body, it is also already proven. This is exactly the holster that I would build if I had the forethought and resources to build one. I am seriously impressed. I might be the first one in line when this is finally available to order.

Check out the SSV Tactical Holster from FirstSpear.

Strike Hard Gear AK-47 Chest Rig

By on November 16, 2011 in Tactical Gear

In the past, it was a real challenge to find modern AK-47 load bearing gear like pouches and chest rigs. Fortunately for American AK shooters, there are more options than ever and the list seems to be growing constantly. Add the Strike Hard Gear AK-47 Chest Rig to that ever growing list.

This chest rig has some interesting features that set it apart from other rigs that I have seen. It holds 4 magazines in integral shingle type pouches across the front of the rig. Strike Hard Gear also sells an optional 4 magazine shingle that is designed to bolt right onto the front to expand the capacity to 8 magazines. I really like this expandable approach.

Like many chest rigs on the market, this one has storage inside the body of the chest rig. This storage can be used for everything from a tube of lithium grease to keep your AK running smooth, to maps, pens, first aid gear, or whatever else you need. However, the AK-47 Chest Rig from Strike Hard Gear breaks this storage pouch into 3 separate compartments – 1 large and 2 smaller. The largest pouch is in the center of the rig, behind the magazines and is large enough to carry 4 additional magazines. The two smaller pouches are on the outer edges of the rig and can be used to secure a radio or handgun to name a couple of items.

This rig also features full MOLLE coverage for adding additional pouches, shock cord magazine retention, and a padded “X” harness with plenty of adjustment. This looks to be a really full featured rig for the price.

You can check it out at the Strike Hard Gear website.

A-TACS FG

By on November 15, 2011 in Tactical Gear

I am not sure that I have ever seen a more anticipated camouflage pattern than A-TACS FG which was officially released today.

The A-TACS FG (foliage green) is not simply re-coloration of the original A-TACS pattern. It is a new pattern that incorporates the same design features of A-TACS but the pattern has been designed to work better in temperate climates. The same “pattern within a pattern” and depth of field that you have come to love from A-TACS is still intact. In spite of the emphasis on green in the new pattern, it still appears to be quite versatile with plenty of lighter greens, tans, and browns. It is an impressive effort.

The BCS Plate Carrier Cumber in A-TACS FG can be seen in this promotional image.

There is already a host of manufacturers on board to create A-TACS FG gear and there are none better than Beez Combat Systems. In fact, their excellent Plate Carrier Cumber can be seen in many of the recently unvieled photos of A-TACS FG. You can already order BCS gear in the new pattern on their site so check out their full line of armor carriers, chest rigs, and other tactical gear.

Check out A-TACS FG on the A-TACS website.

TacStrike Gift Certificates

By on November 15, 2011 in Tactical Gear

If you are as unimaginative a gift giver as I am, you probably love giving gift certificates. If you are a shooter, you would probably love to get a gift certificate from TacStrike. The good news is that now TacStrike is offering gift certificates in denominations of $25 up to $1000.

Now all you have to do is successfully drop enough hints to the wife and kids to ensure that a TacStrike gift certificate ends up under the Christmas tree with your name on it.

You can purchase the gift certificates on the TacStrike website.

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