Archive | September, 2013

Review: Tough Hook

Hanging items like chest rigs, belt rigs, plate carriers, armor carriers, and packs can be a great way to stay organized… if you have the right hangers. You can’t hang a plate carrier with plates on just any hanger. A wire hanger will fold easily under the weight. Typical plastic coat hangers fold, buckle, and crack. Wooden hangers will often fail at the wire hook. So, is Tough Hook the right hanger? Read on.

Tough Hook

Overview

Tough Hook is the result of a successful crowd funding campaign to create a better solution for hanging, organizing, and transporting tactical gear. It features durable i-beam construction, a beefy hook, and an integrated carrying handle. Tough Hook claims that their hangers will hold up to 150 pounds but I happen to know that they will also hold the weight of a 215 pound man (though I wouldn’t recommend that as a long term situation).

Tough Hook is designed to work with tactical gear but it also works well with other heavy gear like scuba gear or hiking/camping gear.

Tough Hook Handle

Observations from Use

The absolute best thing about the Tough Hook, in my opinion, is the addition of the handle. I have other hangers that will handle similar amounts of weight but once I take them off the wire racks that I use to organize my gear, they are basically useless. The Tough Hook makes it easy to pull down a piece of gear and then carry it to its destination with the integrated carrying handle.

As I intimated before, the Tough Hook will hold quite a bit of weight. I wouldn’t recommend storing more than the advertised 150 pound guideline on the Tough Hook but I can testify to the fact that they will hold over 200 pounds of me without buckling, breaking, bending etc. They actually hold enough weight that you really need to be more concerned with what you are hanging them on that the hanger itself.

Tough Hook Thickness

The ends of the Tough Hook has large hook structures that keep gear from sliding off. I really like that feature because have other hangers that are durable but don’t have features that prevent things like the thick shoulder straps of a backpack from sliding off the ends.

I also really like how thick the designers made the Tough Hook, especially on the cross members where your gear actually hangs. If these structures are too narrow, they will start to crease and break down the padding in backpack straps and plate carrier shoulder pads. the Tough Hook designers made it wide where it should be and narrower at the handle so it still fits your hand. I can really appreciate that sort of subtle design work.

Tough Hook with PC

Wrap Up

The usefulness of most hangers end at the closet doorway. The usefulness of Tough Hook extends all the way to the range. Tough Hook lets you hang your gear until you need it and then carry it all the way to the range.

Check out Tough-Hook.com.

Just Add a Lower Receiver Package from PredatorARMAMENT

PredatorARMAMENT is offering a pretty slick AR-15 package that makes it easy to get everything you need and exactly what you want to build an AR-15. They call it the “Just Add a Lower Receiver” package because it has everything you need except the lower.

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The complete upper is one of very new and very slick Midwest Industries uppers that were profiled here on JTT recently. The package also includes your choice of a Magpul CTR or B5 Systems Bravo SOPMOD stock along with the lower parts kit and receiver extension. You can also add various other upgrades including some premium trigger group options and grip options.

Lowers are now readily available at pre-panic pricing so completing this kit will be very easy and when you are done, you will have a premium AR-15 for $1100-1200. Check out the Just Add a Lower Receiver package at PredatorARMAMENT.

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Aimpoint Hipster

I purchased my first Aimpoint M2 after some less than stellar experiences with other red dot sights (RDS). That M2 turned out to be the gateway Aimpoint for me and I have owned just about every RDS that they have come out with since including the M2, ML2, M3, ML3, M4S, T1, R1, and H1. They have basically become my default carbine optic thanks to their versatility, durability, and reliability.

A cursory look at any internet forum will show that the Aimpoint Micros are the hotness right now. They are great sights but the older Aimpoints, like the M2 and M3, are better… for me, at least. That’s right. I liked Aimpoints before they were cool, the Micros are too mainstream, and the older ones are better.

Throat punch me because I sound like some kind of Aimpoint Hipster.

Aimpoint Multiple Models

Aimpoints are Like Pizza…

Even when they are bad; they are really, really good.

I own 5 Aimpoint Micros and I think they have the best form factor of any Aimpoint. However, when I look through an Aimpoint Micro, I see an aiming point that looks more like a multi-pointed star than a dot. The dot appears even worse when using a 3X magnifier. This is due to my eyes, not a defect with the sight. I am sure I have some slight astigmatism or something like that and for whatever reason the Aimpoint Micros are not very forgiving of this. I can still use them to get hits on full size silhouettes out to 300 yards by turning the intensity down and just dealing with it as long as I don’t try to use them with the 3X Magnifier.

I want to like the M4 and M4S as well. They are probably the most durable Aimpoint to date (that is really saying something) and they run on AA batteries which is nice. I see the dot on the M4 and M4S better than I do on the Micros, but it is still less than ideal. These are also the largest and heaviest of the Aimpoints that I have tried. Their size and weight seems monstrous when compared to the Micro Aimpoints.

RDS

Oldies but Goodies…

The M3 and ML3 just work for me. I can see the dots on these models more clearly than those on the Micro or M4 series. The 4MOA versions seem especially crisp to me. They work extremely well with the Aimpoint 3X Magnifier. I know this is due to my eyes but I am not the only person that I know who has found this to be true.

I am not sure what it is about this type of Aimpoint but I have always found them to be crisper than newer models or at least more forgiving of vision deficiencies. This holds true for the Comp C3, M2 and ML2 as well so perhaps it has something to do with the similar body and lens styles of these models. I suspect that the PRO is the same way but I have never tried one with a 3X Magnifier to be sure.

It is not like you give up much when you go with one of the slightly older models. The M3 and ML3 have very good battery life. Aimpoint claims 50,000 hours on setting 7 but I wouldn’t know because I usually swap the batteries once every 2 or 3 years. The battery is a bit of an odd duck but I stack them deep and their lithium chemistry ensures a long shelf life.

They split the difference in terms of size and weight between the M4/M4S and the Micros. They weigh around 10-12 ounces depending on the mount that you choose. While that is roughly twice what an Aimpoint Micro weighs, it still represents a relatively lightweight sighting option compared to non-Aimpoint sighting options.

Best of all, they are still Aimpoints which means they will shrug off abuse, handle temperature and atmospheric changes with ease, adapt to changing lighting conditions, forgive just about any break in technique due to hasty or improvised shooting positions, and generally just endear themselves to you for the reliability.

Aimpoint Comp M3

Be an Aimpoint Hipster

The Aimpoint Micros are definitely the hotness right now and they are great sights, especially in low mount applications but that doesn’t mean they are right for you. You don’t have to make due with a sight (or any gear for that matter) that doesn’t work for you just because it is the current trend. Make your gear choices based on your needs, experience, and intended uses, not picture threads on a forum.

RE Factor Tactical Navigator Band

In case you haven’t noticed, RE Factor Tactical now has a full line of survival bands with unique features in addition to their well known Tactical Operator Band. The newest is their Navigator Band which features a Suunto Clipper Compass that is mounted on the side so it is visible during common tasks and a hidden handcuff key side release buckle.

Check out the Navigator Band from RE Factor Tactical.

RFNB-2

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