Author Archive | Matt

Lone Wolf Distributors Glock Extractors

Glock handguns, especially the 9mm models, have had some very public reliability issues recently. Generation 3 and 4 Glock 17s and 19s that were made starting in 2009 have exhibited extraction issues that have been attributed to changes in the extractors. These new extractors may or may not be the issue but several people are reporting that Lone Wolf Distributing’s (LWD) Glock Extractors have cured their reliability woes.

It appears that the new potentially problematic extractor first showed up in the Gen4 Glocks and found its way into the Gen3 Glocks as early as 2009. The LWD extractor is based on the earlier Gen3 extractors with the loaded chamber indicator which proved to be a very capable and reliable extractor.

If you have a 2009 or later Gen3 or Gen4 Glock that is experiencing reliability issues, you might want to look into the LWD extractors as a potential fix. You can find the extractors on the LWD website.

Troy Battle Mag Destructive Test

Troy Industries posted a video of their new Battle Mags being put through some destructive testing. The magazines pass all the tests that are shown in the video. I am not sure that this type of testing really tells you much about the product but it interesting to watch – especially since you catch a glimpse of a Multicam Ford Expedition.

New Headlamps from Princeton Tec

Princeton Tec’s (PT) headlamp lineup boasts two new additions. One is made for big boys and one isn’t.

The FRED is a new take on PT’s popular Fuel headlamp. There are two main differences between the FRED and its predecessor, the Fuel. The first is the replacement of one of the white 5mm LEDs with a single red 5mm LED. The second difference is that the FRED always turns on in low red mode. These two features combined ensure that the users dark adjusted vision will not be disrupted when the light is turned on and they serve to mitigate the risks of an accidental light discharge in a sensitive situation. The FRED features 4 output modes: low red, high red, low white, high white.

Princeton Tec FRED

The new BOT headlamp is not for you. Its for your kids. It features the same great compact form as the PT Byte but, unlike the Byte, it features 2 5mm LEDs. There are four different bright colors to choose from which are sure to please even picky kids. There are 2 output modes: low and high. I would have loved to have had a real PT head lamp that fit me when I was a kid.

Princeton Tec BOT

New Version of “The Chart”

Rob S. from TacticalYellowVisor.net just released the latest version of “The Chart”. The Chart has been the source of a lot of controversy (mostly from people who missed the point) but I find it to be a tremendously valuable tool.

“Mil-spec” is an over-used and over-simplified term that is often tossed around by manufacturers that have never once thought of actually building to a specification, let alone a military specification. Most consumers will never educate themselves as to what mil-spec really means and why it is important. The result is that the majority of “mil-spec” carbines on the market really aren’t made to spec at all. The Chart gives an organized look at the features that actually make a carbine “mil-spec” and allows you to compare how various manufacturers stack up. There are no judgements made – just a whole lot of valuable information.

The information comes from the manufacturers themselves. Rob must have spent a ton of time gathering and organizing all of this. Many manufacturers are not represented on the chart. That is because they have either chosen not to provide information or because they just haven’t provided it yet. If there is a manufacturer you want to see on the chart, tell them to contact Rob.

The best way to access the chart is to view the conversation on M4Carbine.net. You can also view the explanation of all the features listed in The Chart on TacticalYellowVisor.net.

Review: Zulu Nylon Gear MOLLE Visor Panel

We all have various pieces of gear that we keep in our vehicles. That gear may be for navigation, EDC, survival, or even just convenience. If all of that gear ends up piled into your glove box or center console, then it isn’t very useful to you. Gear is most useful when it is stored in a place that is easily accessed and well organized. Some gear, like seat belt cutters or glass breakers, are completely useless unless they are immediately accessible. Keeping your vital gear accessible and organized is the exact purpose of the MOLLE Visor Panel (MVP) from Zulu Nylon Gear (ZNG).

The MVP is no ordinary MOLLE panel.

The "back" of the MVP features slot pockets.

When open, the MOLLE panel, slot pockets, and hook and loop tabs are visible.

Overview

The MVP is a 12″x6″ wrap around panel that can be adapted to fit nearly any vehicle’s sun visor. The panel adjusts to fit the sun visor via 3 large hook and loop tabs that provide several inches worth of adjustment. One side of the panel features 2 deep slot pockets and the other side has 3 rows by 8 columns of MOLLE webbing.

The MOLLE webbing side looks like any other MOLLE panel until you take a closer look. There are a couple of surprises on this panel that make it far more versatile than any other panel on the market. You will find loop material in between the MOLLE rows and the upper and lower MOLLE webbing rows are actually made from heavy duty elastic! These two additions allow the panel to accept more than just MOLLE pouches. The loop material allows you to attach hook backed pouches or patches. The elastic MOLLE rows make it easy to stow small items securely, even without a pouch! The number of items that can be attached to this panel in one way or another will boggle your mind.

The panel also features sets of elastic webbing loops in 3 locations that are useful for securing items like flashlights or chem-lights. There are 2 sets of 2 loops on each end of the MOLLE panel and a set of 3 loops on the leading edge of the slot pocket side. The set of 3 loops are long enough to secure even longer lights like the 3xAA Maglights and they position the light so that it can be accessed, even if the visor is in the up position.

Loop material allows you to attach pouches or patches.

The versatile webbing set up lets you attach things like these Multitasker Tools in variety of ways.

Fit and Finish

The MVP is extremely well made. The stitches are straight and even. The edges are taped to prevent fraying and to give a clean look. Everything is reinforced where it should be and the materials themselves are all very durable. I expect that this will be the last visor panel you ever have to buy. It is just very clean work overall.

Mounting

Mounting the MVP is extremely easy. First, give some thought to how you will orient the MVP based on which way you want the slot pockets to face and the items that you place a priority on accessing. It is easiest to attach MOLLE pouches before you mount the MVP on your visor. Wrap the MVP onto your visor with the loop tabs facing into the passenger compartment (not forward toward the engine compartment) and attach the tabs loosely. Finally, tighten each hook and loop tab individually until the MVP fits tightly on your visor. This thing doesn’t even need to come with instructions. You can look at it and figure it out.

The MVP can handle just about any AA, AAA, or CR123 powered light. Like this Surefire E-Series...

This 3 AA Maglight...

Or this chem-light.

It really excels with task lights like the Inova 24/7 and especially the Princeton Tec MPLS Switch.

In Use

I have used the MVP in my truck for about a month now. In that time, I have been rotating various pieces of gear and combinations of gear on and off the panel to try and learn what works best and what doesn’t work at all. I ended up taking pictures for this post in three different sessions because I was constantly thinking of other things that the MVP could hold. It is great for holding admin gear like pens and small pads but you will find yourself scheming about a million other things it can hold.

Something that I learned early on is that you don’t want to over load the panel. The visors in my truck would hold quite a bit of weight and still stay up – at least when your vehicle is sitting still. Once the vehicle is moving, an over loaded visor will begin to sag into your line of sight. You can stow a lot of stuff on your MVP, but only testing when the vehicle is actually moving will tell the whole story about how much weight you can really hold.

The MVP excels at organizing your lighting. I found that I could figure out ways to attach nearly any AA, AAA, or CR123 powered flashlight I own to the MVP. The MVP also handles chem-lights with ease. I also found that task lights like the Inova 24/7, Streamlight Sidewinder and the previously reviewed Princeton Tec MPLS Switch could be mounted in ways that made them useful for illuminating the passenger compartment. The MVP is especially useful with these types of task lights since the red LED can be used to illuminate maps or documents without causing glare on your windshield at night. A chem-light positioned in one of the sets of elastic loops could be used to illuminate the interior of the vehicle. There are just tons of ways to make the MVP work efficiently with your lights.

The MVP can handle a wide variety of survival gear.

Larger knives like this Spyderco Endura work best clipped in the slot pockets.

Smaller knives like this Boker Plus Keycom can be clipped to the MOLLE webbing.

Don't forget that items can be store under the MVP as well. These Bogota Entry Tools are discreetly pinned inside the MVP.

The MVP is a great place to tuck a revolver speed strip.

I found that the MVP was great for carrying small pieces of survival gear – especially vehicle specific gear like a belt cutter or glass breaker. I easily attached a SAR Global Tool Eclipse Signal System for day and night signalling. Several methods of fire making like Bic lighters and fire steels could easily slide under the elastic MOLLE webbing. A Fresnel lens could be stowed in the slot pockets. You could even stow a flat folding water bottle like those from Platypus and some water treatment tablets on board.

The slot pockets on the MVP are the perfect place to store relatively flat items like maps or other documents. You need to be mindful of the thickness of the items that you store here because items that are too thick can prevent the visor from “locking” in the up position. In my truck, I was able to get away with items that are slightly thicker like a small pre-packaged poncho, an emergency blanket, and a signal mirror. I also keep some of the previously reviewed Waterford Press guides stashed in the pockets. The pockets are a bit too deep to store something like a business card or a parking garage ticket. It would be nice if there was a smaller business card sized pouch or a small slot in the side of the panel to quickly for smaller documents. However, I was able to simply wedge a parking garage ticket under the panel itself where it was held relatively securely.

Don’t forget that you can store things under the panel as well. I used the space to discreetly store my previously reviewed Bogota Entry Tools. I also found this useful for storing larger flat items that wouldn’t fit in the slot pockets like large maps.

The MVP can be easily detached from your visor if you need to leave your vehicle. You could even transfer the whole panel to your EDC (every day carry) bag or use it to carry several items that would be cumbersome on their own in the event that you have to leave your vehicle on foot. It serves as a sort of mini-BOB (bug out bag).

The slot pockets can store relatively flat things like these ESEE Navigation Cards or a Rite in the Rain notebook...

A poncho and emergency blanket...

Maps and Waterford Press guides...

Or even some gloves...

Conclusion

If you have gear that you keep in your vehicle for convenience or emergencies, the MOLLE Visor Panel from Zulu Nylon Gear will help you keep it organized. This, like every other design that comes from ZNG, show Joel’s gift for innovating a stale design in a way that makes it more functional, more visually attractive, and more versatile. There are other visor panels on the market but none with the amount of thoughtful design, innovation, and versatility that can be found in the MOLLE Visor Panel.

You can purchase your own MOLLE Visor Panel at Zulu Nylon Gear’s website.

Disclosure: This product was provided to me for review, free of charge, by Zulu Nylon Gear.

 

 

 

This is how the MVP looks in my truck. I tuck my sunglasses into the empty elastic loops on the left.

The back holds a map, some guides and an Inova light.

 

 

 

Powered by WordPress. Designed by Woo Themes