October 6th, 2020: Cloud Defensive, an All-American lighting solutions and accessories manufacturer unveils its newest product – the REIN. The REIN (Rail mounted Environmental IllumiNator) is the most powerful, durable, innovative, and complete weapon light system on the market. It features a field serviceable lens, a field-serviceable tail cap and an electrically isolated dual-switching capability for redundancy. It works with all existing (Scout type) light mounts, and it has the world’s first 3rd generation Light Control System (LCS) including a proprietary remote switch with tail-cap integration, oriented precisely for weapon-mounted use. All REIN units ship with a custom made charger and battery as well.
The REIN is Cloud’s sophomore release into the market, following their OWL (Optimized Weapon Light) from late 2018. Much like with the OWL Cloud wanted to introduce an industry leading product (that was made in-house) and redefined what a weapon light should be. With the following specs the REIN will be hard to beat, and even harder to copy:
MSRP: $314.99 Standard Kit/ $369.99 Complete Kit
Lumens: 1,400 REIN/ 1,300 REIN Micro
Candela: 60,000 REIN/ REIN Micro 55,000
Runtime: 120 mins REIN/ 35 mins REIN Micro
Battery (included): 18650 REIN/ 18350 REIN Micro
Weight (complete): 5.29 oz REIN/ 4.97 oz REIN Micro
Remote LCS switch: Available for both on product page
Colors variants: Black (available now)/ FDE (available 11/15)
“After 2 ½ (long) years of research, development, and re-investing into our manufacturing process, we are humbled to bring you this carefully crafted weapon-light. Our goal with this product was not to simply offer another weapon mounted light, but to introduce a product that would question why other options have been the standard for so long. The goal of the REIN project was to take the notion of a traditional weapon light and rework that in such a way that we elevate the performance and eliminate the liabilities found in typical systems. To ensure consistency and quality with this level of innovation, we take pride in producing our products in-house. It would have been easier to pick up a catalog and order one from a “white-label” manufacturer, but that’s not why we decided to start this journey. We truly believe in designing a better product, building it ourselves and servicing our customers with a level of performance that is unheard of. We also pride ourselves on the customer service front, maintaining the highest level of availability to our customers. Cloud is here to help. We’re here for you. And we’re just getting started. – Sean McCauley (CEO/ Cloud Defensive).
Effective immediately, the REIN is live and ready for sale. For more information on Cloud Defensive and our products go to www.CloudDefensive.com
SEREPICK is now offering a Bump Key 3 Pack and Bump Hammer (sold separately). Insert spooky, October-appropriate, “bump in the night” joke here.
The Bump Key 3 Pack includes three of the most common key types in the Kwikset KW1, Master M1, and Schlage SC1. They are all cut from brass key blanks.
If you have every tried bumping a lock, you’ll likely know that it takes some technique but that the right hammer can really help. The hammer offered by SEREPICK is designed to offer the sharp rap needed while reducing the likelihood of damage or marring to the lock.
Do want that Spiritus cache at a Condor price tag? Stickthison has you covered. Their new patch will let everyone know that you’re not poor or at least obscure the fact that you might be poor. If nothing else, it’s funny.
You may recall that I reviewed the S2Delta 1-4X24 Carbine Scope last year and, in my opinion, it was the best budget low power variable optic (LPVO) available… especially since it retails for less than $200 on Amazon. That optic is a true competitor to the biggest players in the budget optic space at an incredible price… with Prime shipping to boot! What do you do to top that? Well, you bring out a 1-6X24 version of the same optic with all the same strengths and, while you are at it, you improve your already great reticle.
I was fortunate to get to spend time with the first and only production unit of the new 1-6X24 Carbine Scope which should be newly available at the time of this writing. The following are my thoughts based on that time in which I was instructed not to baby this optic in spite of the fact that it was the only production version in S2Delta’s possession at the time!
I am going to frame this review in the context of the 1-4X version of this optic which I am more familiar with having owned 2 of them. This also seems appropriate given my impression that this 1-6X24 is very much an improved version of the 1-4X24.
In my opinion, the original 1-4X24 is a great budget optic on the strength 3 features that S2Delta majored on: Reticle, Glass, and Turrets. The clear emphasis on these perceived quality features are all clearly present on the new 1-6X24 version (or in even improved in one case).
Reticle – The reticle in the 1-6X is the same trend busting reticle that I loved in the original 1-4X. Most ranging/BDC reticles on the market are floating reticles with thick, eye-catching elements rings or horseshoes. S2Delta’s reticle takes the time-honored approach of providing a finer (but still eye-catching) reticle with full crosshairs to draw the eye to the aiming point. This provides a balance of speed and precision that I appreciate.
I describe my experience with this reticle in-depth in my original review so I won’t spend many more words on it here other than to say that the reticle really benefits from the new 1-6X format. This SFP reticle appears larger and more legible at 1X (which corrects the criticism by some user’s that the 1-4X can be hard to read due to its small size). It is an excellent and thoroughly modern reticle and this is the best iteration of it to date.
Turrets – I know from talking to S2Delta that they wanted to convey the quality of these optics through the parts like the turrets and magnification ring with which the user interacts. The magnification ring, with its included removable throw lever, turns smoothly (even more smoothly than the 1-4X that I have on hand). Like the 1-4X, the turrets are particularly noteworthy in how positively and audibly they click through their adjustments. These optics have very nice turrets.
When I first received the optic (along with a borrowed Geiselle mount from S2Delta), I leveled and mounted the scope with the intent of starting my testing with a box test. The 1-6X passed that test and I was glad to have that kind of bench shooting out of the way. The positive action of the turrets makes this kind of diagnostic task less painful.
Glass – Finally, the optical quality is still good enough that I think the 1-6X punches above its weight class. My impressions were that the 1-4X is slightly brighter and possibly a bit more clear from edge to edge but the 1-6x is no slouch. The additional magnification is welcomed.
The glass is brighter and clearer than two other older LVPOs from other large US-based brands that cost more than twice as much. The 1-4X showed similar performance so this was not surprising. I am not trying to say this is going to be better than premium glass, just that it performs well in its class and better than you might think with its price tag. This is still a budget optic but it clearly benefits from the impressive improvements that many Asian OEM optics have seen in optical quality recently. This glass will not hold you back.
Other Observations – One thing that I particularly liked about the 1-4X, was the generous eye relief and eye box. I would say that the 1-6 may take just a bit of a step back in this area. The eye box isn’t tight or difficult to deal with but my impression is that it was not as forgiving as the 1-4X.
The 1-6X retains the neat fluted diopter ring of the 1-4X and the scope cap that interfaces it. This seems like a small thing but it allows the user to set their diopter ring and then mark its location by installing the scope cap with the hinge in a reference position. This effectively witness marks the diopter ring.
I put just over 300 round through two different rifles with this optic installed. During that admittedly small round count, it performed well. I didn’t do anything too crazy with it though it did get tipped off my truck unto the ground and some rocks at the range. This resulted in a hard knock to the scope cap. I confirmed that it held zero after this and noted that it did scrape some anodization off the scope caps.
Wrap Up
The retail price on the new 1-6X24 Carbine Scope is higher (currently $359) than that of the original 1-4X but it is still available from Amazon which is convenient. This price plants it firmly in the budget optic category where it delivers a compelling list of features that make it VERY competitive.
The 1-4X24 is still available at a steal of a price and still represents what might be the best value in this space. The 1-6X24 rounds out the S2Delta Carbine Optic line with an improved, slightly more premium option for those who love the reticle but want a little more from their optic.
You can check out the 1-4X24 and 1-6X24 Carbine Optics at the S2Delta website (the 1-6X should be listed shortly if it is not already): S2Delta.com
