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Review: Trident Concepts TACOST – Pistol 1

By Matt on November 21, 2013 in Reviews, Tactics and Training

If your range trips lack any kind of planning, performance standards, or measurable and repeatable processes, you aren’t training to your full potential. This is part of why instruction from a professional trainer is so invaluable. They don’t just teach you how to shoot. They teach you how to train.

Unfortunately, you can’t always have a noted professional trainer, like Jeff Gonzales, on the range with you to cook up effective drills and enforce humbling standards. You can, however, keep a little bit of the wisdom that Jeff has gained over years of service as a Navy SEAL and training countless trigger pullers along with 52 of his drills tucked away in your back pocket.

Overview

TACOST, at its simplest, is a deck of cards. You can play War, Poker, Go Fish or whatever. It is an actual deck of cards. However, instead of girly pictures or cats doing ridiculous things, these cards have an efficient, standalone drill printed on each one (a total of 52 drills in all). The drills are broken down into 4 disciplines, one for each suit: Marksmanship, Speed , Baseline , and Dry Fire.

The purpose of the Marksmanship and Speed drills is obvious. The Baseline drills are sort of like diagnostic drills. They combine elements of all the other groups and provide a measuring stick for performance improvement over time. The Dry Fire drills actually include some live fire so they are really intended to be completed on the range.

Observations from Use

I have used the TACOST deck on the range a couple of times now and it is tremendous. It is hard to imagine a more portable way to carry around drills like this other than maybe a smart phone app (hint, hint). I typically don’t carry the entire deck. I like to shuffle the deck as I prepare for a range trip and pick a few cards randomly. Picking the cards at home as I prep for the range trip ensures that I can gather everything I need for the drills and choosing them randomly ensures that I am not cherry picking the drills that I am good at (you know, the fun ones).

The drills generally have low round counts. You could get 3 or 4 drills out of 2 boxes of ammo and probably have some left over. The round counts are low but the training value is high. You can really get a lot of training in few rounds.

The best thing about TACOST is the intuitive approach to training that it offers. By breaking the drills into 4 fundamental groups, Jeff has built in structure and instilled a clear idea of what you are working toward in each drill. The standards for each drill at listed on the card which makes enforcing those standards and tracking progress over time very easy. Everything you need to get the most out of each round sent down range is laid out on the cards and organized in an intuitive way. The Baseline drills give you an overall sense that the Speed and Marksmanship units don’t exist in a vacuum by tying them all together.

Wrap Up

You are about to start hearing a lot about “perfect stocking stuffers.” Well, forget all the other stuff you hear, TACOST is the perfect stocking stuffer. It is an easy way to bring structure, focus, variety, measurability, and repeatability to your training. It also happens to be pretty challenging at times. I like to call it “The Deck of Humility.”

Check out TACOST at Trident Concepts.

Review: Trijicon TA33 – The Most RDS-Like Magnified Optic Available?

By Matt on November 18, 2013 in Guns, Reviews

This review is going to be a little different than most. I will spend just almost as much time talking about other optics as I will the Trijicon TA33 ACOG which is the subject of the review but please bear with me. I have a point… I think.

The holy grail of carbine optics is an optic that provides red dot sight (RDS) like speed and performance coupled with the ability to ID targets and shoot effectively through most or all of the useful range of the 5.56 cartridge. As with anything we hang on our carbines, the grail optic should also be as compact and lightweight as possible. Most shooters immediately think of low power, variable magnification optics like a 1-4X style scope largely because of the ability to dial the magnification down to 1X which they assume will offer the most RDS-like experience.

I think they may be barking up the wrong tree or at least missing some of what makes an RDS great. The most RDS-like magnified optic is not a variable power optic at all. It is a compact, lightweight, fixed 3X magnification scope called the TA33 ACOG from Trijicon. It might not be the grail optic but it is a real gem.

There is More to an RDS Than Just 1X

I have written before about how the reason the RDS is the default optic for fighting guns is not just that it is 1X. It has just as much to do with the fact that the RDS has long eye relief (basically infinite) and the most forgiving eye box possible. This is what makes it forgiving of the awkward positions and the less than ideal shooting situations that come with defensive shooting. This point is largely missed or ignored by novice shooters.

That is not to say that you can’t be fast with a 1-4X (or 1-6X/1-8X). You certainly can, especially if you choose your 1-4X optic wisely and practice. When you are standing or walking through a course of fire, you likely won’t see much difference at all in your times between a 1-4X and an RDS. However, when you add in some awkward shooting positions, a full on tactical tuxedo (plate carrier, chest rig, etc), and barrier shooting you can start to see the RDS rise to the top. This is due to how forgiving the RDS is of the inconsistent eye placement that comes along with this type of dynamic (forgive me for using that tactical buzzword) shooting.

When you are standing, it is easy to drop your eye into more or less the same position every time behind an optic. Now go to prone. You will likely find that you are now closer to your optic. The same goes for barrier kneeling. Go to some form of roll-over prone or supine position. Your eye is now probably offset to the optic slightly (or at least you are straining to get it centered) and it is probably either closer or further depending on the position. None of this matters with an RDS but with a magnified optic, you have eye box considerations to deal with. It takes time to hunt for that sweet spot to place your eye behind your optic. That is time that would be better spent shooting if you optic allows it.

If your shooting involves awkward positions like this, you will be thankful for the forgiving eye relief and eye box. Photo credit: Eric H

Enter the TA33 ACOG

The TA33 may lack 1X capability but it makes up for it with a variety of eye catching reticles along with the most forgiving eye box and eye relief of any magnified optic I have ever tried. It also happens to be extremely lightweight, compact, and durable like an RDS. It even has a few other little tricks up its sleeve that further cement it as the most RDS-like magnified optic available.

The eye relief on the TA33 is absolutely amazing. It is useable from as close as roughly 1″ to as far as 7”. That sort of eye relief is utterly amazing and while it isn’t the infinite eye relief of an RDS, it is might as well be for the way a carbine is used. If you can get your cheek on the stock, you can probably get a sight picture. This forgiving eye relief means that whether you are nose-to-charging-handle or shooting from your back, you won’t have to spend time hunting for the proper eye relief.

The eye box is equally amazing. There is a massive area behind the TA33 that will still allow a full sight picture through the optic. Even when you are so offset that the view through the optic is partially or even fully blacked out, the eye catching reticle is still visible and will allow you to get a hit at shorter distances. Let that sink in a bit. Even when the view through the TA33 is obscured because your eye placement isn’t perfect, you may still be able to see the reticle and get a hit.

We have established that the TA33 is forgiving in terms of eye relief and eye box but the RDS comparisons don’t stop there. The TA33 weighs around 10 ounces if you replace the heavy TA60 mount that Trijicon includes with the optic. That is about 4 ounces more than a Micro Aimpoint (6 oz) and about 2 ounces less than full size Aimpoints (12 oz). It is typically at least 6 ounces lighter than most 1-4X style optics with their mounts. So, even its weight is very RDS-like.

It also happens to be very compact like an RDS. It is about 6” long and 1.25” wide at its widest point (the objective end). Compare that to the 10+ inch length of a typical 1-4X optic.

FOV: Buzz Kill or Blessing?

Right about now, you are pretty fired up about the TA33. You are probably already cruising the Trijicon website and pulling out your credit card when… your TA33 buzz is killed by the field of view (FOV) numbers that you are seeing listed in the specs (3.7 degrees, 19.3 feet at 100 yards). Step down off the ledge. It isn’t as bad as it looks. It is definitely tight (the tighest of any optic I have owned) but the limited FOV actually works in the TA33’s favor. Let me explain.

A magnified optic with a 1x setting lets you shoot with both eyes open easily because the image through the optic is close enough to what you see with your unaided eye that your brain can stitch the two images together. In that sense, 1-4X optics are very RDS-like. However, the TA33 has a fixed magnification of 3X. The image that you see through it is vastly different than your unaided eye and your brain will not stitch them together but it can rapidly switch between them or even ignore it all together!

The limited field of view coupled with the compact size and generous eye relief of the TA33 are actually what make it so fast up close. The compact size and long eye relief ensure that you can see around and past the optic to allow for a fuller view of what is in front of you beyond the TA33. The limited field of view through the TA33 gives you less visual input when you are up close which makes it easy to ignore the view through the optic and look past it (target focus) with both eyes open, super imposing the bright reticle on your target, like you would with an RDS. It is essentially works like an occluded eye sight that you don’t actually have to occlude.

If you do need to take some time to refine your shot, you simple allow the eye behind the TA33 to focus on the image through the optic. It happens in a flash, especially if you practice. This is basically what Trijicon calls the Bindon Aiming Concept (BAC). It can be done with just about any optic made but Trijicon has basically mastered it with their eye catching reticles. I have owned TA31 and TA11 ACOGs which are both great in their own way, but the smaller overall size and tighter FOV really lets the TA33 excel at the BAC over those models. The TA33 is the BAC fully realized.

Other Considerations

The above has really focused in on the RDS-like quality of the TA33 which is really just scratching the surface. There are a few other things about it that I should note:

The available reticles are all very usable. My favorite is the horseshoe since it seems to offer the best compromise between precision and speed.
The BDC reticles are more of a guide than a hard and fast rule but I have found them to be accurate enough to get hits on steel at extended distances.
The glass in the TA33 is typical Trijicon glass which is to say it is bright and clear from edge to edge. The TA33 is a 3X30 optic so it has a massive 10mm exit pupil which allows it to excel in low light.
Some people tend to recoil in disgust at the price of ACOGs. I have never understood that. They are not inexpensive but they are so good optically, that they have always struck me as a solid value compared to other optics with similar quality glass.
A number of manufacturers make replacement mounts for the TA33 and I highly recommend that you pick one up. Some of them will bring the total weight under 10 ounces and the pick of the litter is the Bobro high mount that is sold through Trijicon. It preserves the OEM mount height which helps the BDC match up better and helps clear a fixed front sight base.
The TA33 is one of the few ACOGs that can accept normal scope caps. That is a huge plus if you want to protect your investment and especially if you want to use it as an occluded eye sight in close quarters or low light situations.
One of the best things about ACOGs that no one talks about is their integrated mounts. I like that I don’t have to worry about leveling them.

The TA33 certainly isn’t perfect…

Trijicon’s dual illumination system is one of the best things about ACOGs and one of the worst things about ACOGs at the very same time. It is great because it doesn’t need batteries and because it self-adjusts pretty seamlessly… to a point. If you are in a dark area, looking out into a light area, you might find that your reticle washes out. The same is true if you are trying to use in close quarters with a flashlight. I find that the circle dot is eye catching enough when “blacked out” to help but it still takes a moment to find the reticle. This is part of why so many shooters use offset iron sights or an offset red dot sight in conjunction with their ACOGs.
I already covered that the tight FOV can be played as a strength of the TA33 but there may be times when you will wish you could see more through the optic.
The TA60 mount that the compact ACOGs like the TA33 come with is not a great fit for such compact, lightweight optics. The quality is good and it is bull strong but it is massive and heavy. You can knock almost 2 ounces off the 11.64 ounce total weight by purchasing an after market mount and gain QD capability. That said, even with the TA60, this is far lighter than most magnified optics.

Wrap Up

The TA33 may not have a true 1X magnification setting but I think that an argument can be made that it is the most RDS-like magnified optic available based on its compact size, low weight, extremely forgiving eye relief, and massive eye box. It deftly straddles the line between RDS and variable, low magnification optic in way that no other optic can. Its extreme versatility makes it a solid choice for the general purpose carbine. The TA33 is my favorite ACOG made to date.

Eventually, I would like to try one of the TA44S 1.5×16 ACOGs to see where it fits in and how it performs versus an RDS but for now, my long time love affair with the TA33 continues.

Check out the Trijicon TA33 ACOG at Brownells.

Review: Combat Optic Tool from Patriot Products AZ

By Matt on November 11, 2013 in EDC, Reviews, Tactical Gear, Tactics and Training

If you are serious about training, you probably roll up to the range with more than just guns, ammo, and safety gear. It takes a lot of different tools to ensure an efficient trip to the range and all those tools add up quickly in terms of weight and bulk. Thankfully, there are tools like the Combat Optic Tool that are designed to save you from stuffed pockets and bloated range bags.

Overview

The Patriot Products Combat Optic Tool is a multi-function range tool that is compact enough to be carried on a keychain. It is made from 316 stainless steel with a matte finish and features a handful of tools that you are probably already carrying seperately including a self adjusting 3/8″ / 10mm box end wrench, an Aimpoint Micro adjustment tool, a rounded flat tip driver, and a bottle opener. Its weighs 1 ounce and is 3 1/4″ long.

Observations from Use

Most of my rifles have Aimpoints or ACOGs mounted on them. Most of those optics are mounted in LaRue Tactical Mounts. That means that whenever I head to the range, I have multiple tools with me to adjust the zero on those optics and the tension on the mounts. At a minimum, those tools consist of a flat head screw driver (or something similar) and one of the box wrenches that LaRue Tactical includes with their mounts. Now, I can just tuck the Combat Optic Tool into my gear.

I especially appreciate the Combat Optic Tool when it is time to zero a micro Aimpoint. Aimpoint Micros have tiny turrets that require the use of the turrets caps to adjust. The caps are so small that they are a pain to fish out of your pockets or to keep installing and removing when you need to make an adjustment. The Combat Optic Tool lets me stow the caps in my range bag so they aren’t lost and make my adjustments with the tool instead. That sounds like a small thing but I find it to be extremely convenient.

The flat head driver on the Combat Optic Tool has a rounded shape which matches the dished shape of most slotted turrets better than a typical flat head screw driver. The curved shape also makes it possible to use on optics with smaller slots like the compact ACOGs.

The box end wrench is designed to self-adjust to a range of sizes that are typically found on QD optic mounts. It can be used on LaRue Tactical, GDI, and ADM mounts (though ADM mounts rarely require a wrench).

So far, I have used the Combat Optic Tool to:

Adjust the zero of H1, T1, Comp M3, and Comp M4S Aimpoints
Adjust the zero TA33 ACOG
Adjust the tension on multiple LaRue Tactical mounts
Adjust windage on various rear sights
Remove the battery cap on Micro Aimpoints
Start stubborn take down pins
Adjust the pivot on a Zero Tolerance 0200 folding knife
Pry staples out of target uprights
Hang from an inner strand of paracord like a plumb bob for some quick and dirty scope leveling in the field
Scrape my boots
Other stuff that I don’t remember right now

Basically, this is the type of tool that you lets you improvise a bit. I have taken to carrying it with a Multitasker Series 2 and a selection of bits to match the fasteners on my gun. I can basically replace all the tools that I used to carry to the range with this combination.

Wrap Up

The Combat Optic Tool saves me time, space, and weight. It replaces multiple tools that I was already carrying. I consider it money well spent. In fact, I plan to order a couple more to stow in my range gear.

Check out the Patriot Products AZ Facebook Page.

Review: Magpul PMAG 40

By Matt on November 5, 2013 in Guns, Reviews

I have heard that, internally, Magpul is saying that the PMAG 40 is the best magazine that they have made yet. That is really saying something considering the success of the entire PMAG line. I have now put just over 1000 rounds through a group of three PMAG 40s that I purchased when they were released and I haven’t seen anything that would cause me to disagree with Magpul’s assessment.

Magazine reviews are generally pretty boring – especially when the magazines that are being reviewed work as intended which is the case with the PMAG 40s. The PMAG 40 is a 40 round capacity version of the venerable PMAG that is just over 2″ longer than a 30 round capacity PMAG. I had zero feeding issues. They always locked the bolt back. They fit every receiver I tried. They have been durable enough for me. That is the boring stuff that has already been talked about in just about every review. So, in this review, I intend to go a little bit off the beaten path because, while reliability is essential in a magazine, it isn’t what makes the PMAG 40 special.

One of the first things that I noticed when using the PMAG 40s is how nice it is to be able to stuff them with two full boxes of ammo. Sure, that may be a small thing, but it is nice to not have to put a box and a half into each magazine like you do with a 30 round magazine. Those left over half empty boxes bother me. Again, this is a small thing. On to more notable details…

You can’t help but notice how well these magazines handle. You would think that magazine might become ungainly as the length increases but that really isn’t the case with these. They have a ton of surface area to grip so moving them around is easy. They aren’t so much heavier than a 30 round magazine that they feel burdensome. One of the better attributes of these magazines may be that they really just don’t merit much extra consideration than a 30 round magazine.

Those of you who plant the magazine on the deck when you go prone (which is hopefully all of you) will be pleased to note that you can still get quite low with the PMAG 40s. You can get lower than you would with a tradition elbows-under-the-rifle style prone, though obviously not as low as with a 30 round magazine. Several people that I shoot with have noted that they actually prefer the PMAG 40 to 30 round magazines for use as a monopod. I think I can notice that it is slightly less stable to use the PMAG 40 as a monopod versus a shorter 30 rounds magazine, but it may be in my head. Suffice it to say, they work extremely well as a monopod.

I was initially worried about finding pouches that would fit the PMAG 40s. It turns out that those fears were largely unfounded because several of my current pouches adapted well to use with the PMAG 40. The HSGI Taco pouches hold them surprisingly well. I used them on my belt in multiple training days that had me shooting from awkward positions and on VTAC barricades. The Tacos never dropped a PMAG 40 in spite of some pretty sketchy shooting positions. Esstac’s KYWI and regular adjustable magazine pouches all work well with them. UW Gear’s deep mag pouches work great if you tuck the top flap in behind the magazine (obviously, the flap won’t close over the magazine). I haven’t had any reason to go out and purchase a pouch specific to the PMAG 40s yet though it wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Finally and perhaps most subtly, the best thing about the PMAG 40s is that you can get same amount of ammo into three of them, that you can in four 30 round magazines. If you are used to using a “battle belt” you may understand why that is significant. I have generally found that placing any more than two primary magazines on a battle belt is unwieldy. The mag pouches take up too much space, the weight causes the belt to shift in strange ways, and movement generally becomes hindered. I cap my battle belt at two primary magazine reloads. That means that with two PMAG 40s on my belt and one in the gun, I can have 120 rounds on tap with fewer reloads, less weight, and less bulk than carrying the same amount of rounds in 30 round magazines. This alone makes the PMAG 40s notable for me.

PMAG 40s are reliable. They seem to be durable or at least durable enough for me. Yes, they hold 10 more rounds than most magazines and all that makes them a good magazine. However, it is all of the little ancillary details that make them a great magazine. Excuse me while I go order a few more.

Check out the PMAG 40 at Brownells!

Review: ROSCH Works SL1 Sight Light

By Matt on November 4, 2013 in Flashlights, Guns, Reviews

There are products that I come across once in a great while that display an exceptional attention to detail. These are the products that make it obvious that the manufacturer gave thought to even the seemingly mundane details. Every choice, from the materials used, to the design of certain details, to the parties involved in the creation of the product, were scrutinized and can be explained so thoroughly that, while there may be differences in preference, you can’t be anything but impressed. The ROSCH Works SL1 Sight Light is one such product.

Overview

In the simplest terms, the SL1 is weapon mounted light with an integrated front sight. It is designed to be mounted on the 12 o’clock (top) rail of an extended railed hand guard to provide both a sight for aiming and illumination. By combining the front sight and weapon mounted light, the end user saves bulk and weight (only 3.2 ounces).

The SL1 is machined from 7075 T6 aluminum which is overkill for a flashlight and I mean that as a compliment. It is Type III hard anodized and then Cerakoted (except for the head which lacks the Cerakote, more on this later). Steel parts, like the screws and front sight are nitrocarburized (AKA Melonite, etc) to make them all but impervious to rust and to provide a matching black finish.

The rail clamp is designed to fit on standard Picatinny rail and is integral to the body of the light. In looking at pictures, some have assumed that the clamp is separate from the light but it is not. It is actually an integral part of the light’s body. The LED head and tail cap are removable.

The SL1’s LED head was co-developed by Gene Malkoff of Malkoff Devices – a giant in the arena of LED flashlights. His finger prints are all over the design and can be seen clearly in features like the fully potted electronics which means that the entire LED head is assembled and then filled with epoxy to render it one solid, nearly indestructible part. It provides a steady 250+ lumens for 50 minutes (emphasis on the +, more on this later) with several hours following of diminishing but useable light.

The SL1 is powered by a single CR123A battery which is provided. ROSCH Works also provides the hex wrench necessary to mount the SL1 and adjust the front sight, along with a sight elevation tool.

Observations from Use

Before I get too deep into my observations from using the SL1, it would be a good time for me to mention that I have written about the advantages and disadvantages of mounting your weapon light over the bore before. If you are unfamiliar with the concept it might be a good time to catch up.

The fit and finish of the SL1 is excellent. The finishes are all evenly applied and attractive. The tail cap and head threads operate smoothly and they were clean and had lubrication applied right out of the box. The LED is well centered in the reflector and the reflector is clean. The light just exudes a solid, well-made feel with obvious attention to detail.

Preparing the light for use is extremely easy. I chose the mounting location based on my typical grip location on my carbine. The switch should fall easily within reach of the support hand. You simply remove the cross bolt with the supplied hex wrench, slide the light onto the desired rail position, and then reinstall the cross bolt. The installation process should be familiar if you have ever installed any other clamp style rail mounted accessory.

Zeroing the SL1’s front sight was especially easy because I was using it to replace the front sight on an already zeroed carbine. I simply removed the old sight and then co-witnessed the new front sight to the red dot optic that remained on the carbine. It is always prudent to confirm actual zero once you get to the range, but careful co-witnessing should get you very close. The front sight consists of a threaded post that spins in a hole in between two protective “ears.” The ears are clamped together via a screw and nut. You loosen the screw to allow the front sight post to spin and tighten the screw to lock it in place. ROSCH Works provides a tool that makes turning the front sight extremely easy.

Operating the light is easy. The twisty style tail cap is simple and intuitive. I like to turn it tighter until the light comes on and then back it off just far enough that the light can’t be activated by pressing anywhere on the switch other than the button. In this position, the switch travel is short enough to be easy to activate and the risk of unintentional activation is minimized. I have had no issues with the light activating during recoil. The tail cap is very well designed with a short fence around the button to protect it from accidental activation.

The SL1’s beam pattern is just about ideal thanks to its Cree XPG2 LED under a lightly textured reflector. It has a central hotspot with a corona that gradually tapers down in intensity. The corona is quite bright and does a great job of giving you a broad picture of a dark room. The beam is optimized more for closer indoor work rather than long range outdoor work and hence the beam is more flood than throw. In fact, the SL1 has the widest beam of any weapon light that I own. However, in spite of that wide floody beam, it is still able brute force enough light to identify targets at 50 yards and even get enough light to engage a target to as far as 100 yards. The light is very white with a slightly cool color temperature and minimal depth perception robbing harsh blue tones or sickly looking greenish tones.

I compared the SL1 to several other lights with similar manufacturer’s claimed outputs. It compared very favorably and, though I can’t confirm it with any sort of measurement, it definitely seems to be putting out more than 250 lumens compared to other lights. This is pretty typical of Gene Malkoff’s lights. He often undersells the output rather than risk not living up to a claim.

The SL1 is a good enough weapon light that it is easy to lose track of the fact that it is a really excellent front sight as well. The protective ears around the sight are shaped properly to prevent distraction. The front sight is slightly tapered and narrower than a standard front sight which I like very much. It is also round with no set detent positions so it is basically infinitely adjustable. It is also very, very easy to sight in.

The SL1 is impressive in its compact dimensions. It is just 3.5″ long which is relatively short to begin with. However, when you add the fact that the front sight is integrated, you can start to get a sense of how much space the SL1 saves. The weight savings are equally as impressive. The light and sight set up that I replaced with the SL1 was already one of the lightest available at just 4.5 ounces (3 ounces for the light and 1.5 ounces for the sight). The SL1 weighs just 3.2 ounces and replaces both. More importantly, it is arguably a better light and a better front sight than what it replaced.

To give you an idea of the attention to detail that went into the SL1, you need to understand some of the minute aspects of the light that were considered. Here are some examples:

The reverse polarity protection is actually physically built into the light. The positive end of the battery can’t make contact if the battery is inserted backwards.
According to ROSCH Works, the SL1 has been “bashed into walls, dropped on concrete, tested for repeat zero, evaluated on numerous ranges at night, and so forth,” to test it.
7075 T6 aluminum was chosen to minimize the chances of a ham fisted users stripping out the cross-bolt threads by over tightening.
The clamps are actually designed to make thread locker unnecessary by providing constant tension on the cross-bolts (but thread locker is provided with the SL1 for those who, like me, use it impulsively).
ROSCH Works makes their own screws and bolts! They chose hex key screws because “You can set the torque to an approximation of 28 in-lbs without a torque driver just by tightening “hand tight” using the small handle of the hex L first and then the long handle 60 degrees (2 hours) beyond that.”
The lens is recessed to protect it from muzzle blast and is made from tough optical acrylic with AR (anti-reflective) coating based on Gene Malkoff’s experience with LE and Military users over the years.

I find this level of detail amazing and impressive.

If I could change one thing, I might do something to knock down the glare on the front sight’s protective ears. They are mostly flat and can catch a bit of glare in the right situation. A little bit of glare can make them difficult to see past since they are fairly broad compared to some protective ears.

Additionally, while I generally prefer to use momentary activation for weapon light use, I have become a firm believer in a well executed forward clicky switch so that some form of constant on is easily accessible. Much of this opinion has been shaped by LEO friends in metropolitan areas. Most agree that “flash and move” is best but when you are picking your way through a derelict home with piles of junk and excrement all around that present the potential of real, physical harm… you turn your light on and leave it. To be fair, this is a preference and thankfully, ROSCH Works already has additional switch options in process.

Wrap Up

The ROSCH Works SL1 is a notable development for adherents of the 12 o’clock mounted light. It is extremely rare that a piece of gear combines two other pieces of gear and manages to actually improve both. The SL1 is a great weapon light, a great front sight, and together, it feels like something entirely new. This is a tremendous product.

Check out the SL1 from ROSCH Works.

The SL1 and 200 lumen INFORCE WML have similar beam profiles though the SL1 is wider and brighter (SL1 on left, WML on right, 5 feet from off-white wall).