The CORE Panel has landed! Go get ’em at Austere Provisions Company.
Archive | July, 2013
Review: SEREPICK Entry Cards
SEREPICK Entry Cards will look familiar to those of you who have followed JTT for a while. We have already reviewed the titanium versions of these cards that are exclusively available at ITS Tactical and Vigilant Gear. Titanium has certain benefits for this application but lower cost isn’t one of them. So, if you have been looking for a way to get the same functionality at a lower price, these new stainless versions may be just the ticket.
Overview
The SEREPICK Entry Cards are basically, complete lock bypass toolsets that are contained withing a credit card sized piece of stainless steel. They are made from stainless steel and are available in 2 versions: V1 and V2.
V1 contains 2 complete sets of Bogota Entry Tools: 2 Bogota Rakes, 2 Bogota Single Hook Picks, and 2 tension wrenches. These are all you need to bypass most locks and you essentially get two uses out of a single card.
V2 is for more advanced users and expands on the capabilities of the V1 by providing a single, more complete set including a Bogota Single, Double, Triple, Sabana and traditional hook along with a double sided tension wrench.
Both versions come with a clear plastic sleeve to protect the card and the contents of your wallet.
Observations from Use
I have reviewed many Bogota Entry Toolsets in the past and I am always amazed at the shallow learning curve that they provide. These sets allow beginners to bypass locks with very minimal instruction. As the user becomes more practiced and better understands the mechanics of what is actually happening in the keyway, they start to find that locks can be bypassed with increasing speed and ease. You can’t replace practice but you will likely have some luck with these sets even if you aren’t extremely skilled.
The most difficult part of bypassing locks, at least for me, is achieving the proper tension on the lock. Unfortunately, these sets may work against you just a bit in that area. The tension wrenches just don’t have the “touch” of a proper wrench or even the regular Bogota Entry Tools. That is to be expected though from a compact set like this that is only intended for emergency use. I prefer the wrench in the V2 set since it has a bit of extra length.
You should not expect the rakes to move through the keyways as smoothly as a regular Bogota Entry Tool. Those are basically hand worked to a high degree of polish. That is impossible with these sets since they are laser cut and intended to stay in the card form factor until they are needed. They do smooth out a bit initially as they are worked in the keyway.
If you have a set of normal Bogota Entry Tools that you can practice with but wish you could carry them in a very wallet friendly format, these are for you. If you do not already own a Bogota Entry Toolset, I wouldn’t recommend these since you will have to tear it apart to actually practice the techniques involved. Once these cards are dissembled, you can continue to use the tools but never put the card back together.
Wrap Up
SEREPICK continues to impress with these Bogota Entry Tool offerings. The Entry Cards represent an easy to use, easy to carry, and affordable lock bypass option.
Check out SEREPICK.com!
Trijicon/Bobro Tall Quick Release Mount for Compact ACOGs
If you happen to like Trijicon’s line of compact ACOGs, you probably know that many of the previously available mounting solutions are less than ideal. The previously available mounting solutions were either bulkier and heavier than necessary or sat low enough that they caused more shadowing from the front sight base than some prefer or threw off the BDC calibration of ACOGs like the TA33. Thankfully, there is now a mount available from Trijicon that gives you the best of all worlds.
The Tall Quick Release Mount for Compact ACOGs (AC12027) is manufactured by Bobro Engineering for Trijicon. It is the same height as the original TA60 mount (1.660″ from top of rail to center of optic) that is provided with many of the compact ACOGs but it is considerably more compact and also offers Bobro’s excellent QD capability. Bobro’s ingenious mounting system is robust, repeats zero, and self-adjusts to most 1913 rails. This mount is exactly what I have been looking for and I have one on the way for my TA33.
Check out the Tall Quick Release Mount for Compact ACOGs from Trijicon.
Mayflower R&C Adds Kryptek Typhon
Mayflower R&C recently announced that their product line is now available in Kryptek’s Typhon pattern. You can order through DS Tactical. Additional dealers may have the pattern soon.
Austere Provisions Company CORE Panel Update
I know from your emails that several of you are interested in the upcoming Austere Provisions Company CORE Panel. They will be available very soon. So soon, in fact, that Austere Provisions Company has added the product page to their site so that you can sign up to receive an email when it is available to be ordered (click the “Email me when Back In-Stock” link under the Add to Cart button).
