Archive | Reviews

Review: LAG Tactical Warrior Holster and Single Pistol Mag Carrier

By Matt on December 19, 2013 in EDC, Guns, Reviews

Many of the Kydex holsters that are available today are fairly similar so it takes something unique to stand out from the crowd. In an industry where you wait for 8 weeks or more to receive a holster from the hottest Kydex benders, LAG Tactical’s business model certainly helped them stand out to me.

About LAG Tactical

LAG Tactical does business a bit differently than other Kydex benders I have dealt with in that they keep a large inventory on hand. This is possible in part due to the fact that they keep two lines of Kydex moving at all times. One is a production line that is extremely functional but without some of the hand finished touches. These are available through various retail outlets. The other line, available directly from LAG Tactical via their website, is a custom line. This line picks up where the production line leaves off, providing a truly hand finished holster.

The result of having both lines side by side is that they aren’t waiting for your order to make a holster. Chances are, they already have what you want made up, ready to hand finish, and send to you in as little as 1-2 business days (guaranteed in less than 2 weeks). As someone who has dealt with the extremely long wait times that are typical in the Kydex holster industry, this is what initially sparked my interest in LAG Tactical.

About the Gear

I have been using LAG Tactical’s Warrior Light Bearing Holster and Single Pistol Mag Carrier extensively now for several months and I am very pleased. The positive experience started when I had my holster and mag pouch in hand in about 1 week. I am not special. Most of their orders ship in as little 1-2 days.

Warrior Light Bearing Holster

The Warrior Light Bearing Holster is a typical 2-piece pancake design. The two pieces of .060” Kydex (a .093″ thick version is available too) are joined with eyelets with a spacing pattern that allows you to mount various types of belt hardware and adjust for cant and ride height. LAG Tactical carries hardware to allow you to use this holster inside or outside the waistband.

The fit and finish on this holster is excellent. The edges have the closest to flawless hand finishing that I have seen on a Kydex holster. The eyelets are well set without any flattening or breakage. There are no shiny spots to indicate over-heating during the molding process and no lightened spots to indicate the Kydex wasn’t hot enough when pressed. My Glock 19 with Surefire X300 can be installed and removed easily with very good retention, no rattle, and a solid “click” when it nestles into place.

I like holsters that retain the handgun in one place only – on the trigger guard or on the light as is case here. I can see that LAG Tactical went to great pains to block off the their mold so that this would be the case. The result is a perfect click in and click out without all the drag associated with a holster that is trying to grab every little ripple, ridge, and depression on the gun it was molded too. This holster is SMOOTH. The only issue is that whatever they used to block off the mold doesn’t leave the neatest appearance in the mold lines on the holster. This is purely aesthetic but worth mentioning in a market where tightly defined mold lines are often seen as a sign of quality. LAG Tactical does everything right in regards to molding, it just doesn’t look as clean as it could with a dedicated mold tool being used to block off the light. Let me repeat that this holster is perfect functionally so I am really picking nits here.

The hardware that LAG Tactical offers for both their IWB and OWB attachments is thick, bent Kydex. While it has held up fine for the last several months, I have not had the best luck with this type of hardware in the past. It can start to become brittle at the bends. I would like to see them go to a molded hardware solution for some extra peace of mind. Again, the hardware that came with the holster is still going strong and performing well. This is just a suggestion based on past experience.

One thing that I have really come to like quite a bit is the flared edge on the holster’s opening. LAG Tactical does this with all their Kydex gear including the single mag carrier that I will mention later and it serves as a sort of funnel to make reholstering or retaining a magazine easy. I was initially concerned that it would make hooking the rear sight on the edge of the holster more difficult but that isn’t the case and in fact it may actually be a bit easier. This funnel is a signature of LAG Tactical. It sets them apart and it is very functional.

Single Pistol Mag Carrier

I don’t have a lot to say about the Single Pistol Mag Carrier other than it works and it has become my go to magazine pouch in large part because of the previously mentioned flared opening that makes inserting a magazine so easy. That is handy when you are reaching under your covering garment blind to try to retain a partially depleted magazine.

It rides very close to the body and provides very good retention of the magazine. It also displays the excellent attention to fit and finish seen in the Warrior Holster and uses the same OWB hardware. I ordered the carrier for a G17 magazine and it is a great height to accommodate G19 magazines as well.

Many of these mag carriers are pretty much the same. The flared opening is just enough of a functional improvement to make this one the best of those that I have tried.

Wrap Up

Between the short lead times, the excellent hand finishing, the clever flared openings, and the effort spent on ensuring proper retention, it is easy to recommend LAG Tactical’s holsters and gear. If you don’t have 2 months to wait for your Kydex gear, look up LAG Tactical.

The LifeProof frē Turns Your iPad into a Range Worthy Companion

By Matt on December 4, 2013 in EDC, Reviews, Tactical Gear

That’s right. This is a iOS accessory review on a “tactical” blog. I assure you that this is here for good reason. Today’s smart phones and tablets are ridiculously useful on the shooting range but they are often not built to withstand the rigors of outdoor use. A quality case is a must.

I have been in the habit of taking my iPad Mini to the range with me so I can create packing lists, document review items, use ballistic software, and take notes right there on the spot. It has become indispensable for this blogger. I have had a few cases in the last year, all of which were fairly expensive and claimed to offer protection against the elements. All of them were too bulky, not water-resistant enough to be useful, and the worst of them actually started to crumble after less than 30 days of use. I was pretty much ready to be rid cases all together. I basically tried the LifeProof frē as a last resort.

I have now had the LifeProof frē longer than all the other cases combined. It has seen rain, mud, dust, the inside of range bags, the inside of ammo cans, daily time in my EDC bag, car dash boards, and even some use by toddlers. It still looks new. I have no complaints about the protection that it offers. It has proven itself to be head and shoulders above the other cases that I tried in terms of durability.

What I find most amazing about the frē is that it is able to offer a tremendous level of protection (water resistant to 6 feet, dust proof, drop resistant to 4 feet) without adding much bulk. An iPad Mini still feels like an iPad Mini when it is wearing the frē. The case weighs very little (4.64 ounces) and actually feels kind of flimsy until you lock both halves of the case together. Once it is put together, it has a reassuringly solid feel and is actually difficult to take apart.

The back of the frē actually has a hard, clear plastic panel that has a sound chamber (for lack of a better term) built in. It actually seems to slightly improve the sound of the Mini’s speakers or at least does a good job of redirecting more of the sound to you.

The headphone and Lightning ports are both covered. The headphone port is covered with a rubber plug that, mercifully, is anchored to the frē so I don’t lose it. The Lightning port is covered with a small hinged cover that has a soft membrane on it that seals against the case when closed. It works well enough to keep rain out and I was able to submerge it in a sink full of water (with iPad removed). The speaker ports are also covered with a water resistant membrane.

The frē comes with a shoulder strap that seems to be reasonably well made and is easy to attach but I never use it. A wrist lanyard would be more useful for me. It also has attachment points for various accessories like a smart cover which I purchased. The smart cover isn’t great but it protects the screen from scuffing and makes a decent stand for when I am typing. The cover that I purchased seems like it should be about 1/8” longer so it would close properly and it doesn’t stay closed like other smart covers. The frē is great but if you don’t need the stand functionality of the smart cover, I would just skip it.

I found that the frē actually improves how the iPad Mini feels in my hands. It adds some additional thickness and over-molded rubber grip makes me feel less like I am going to drop the thing all the time.

There are always trade-offs with a case like this. The integral screen protector is very clear and the screen still looks pretty good but it glares a bit. The buttons are all accessible but the top button is a pain to hold in for longer than a split second which makes powering down or resetting a little more difficult. These things just come with the territory on this style of case and are worthwhile trade-offs in return for the protection that is offered.

Bottom Line

The frē has turned my iPad Mini into the range companion that I always hoped it could be. It shrugs off rain and dust and it protects from impacts, all without adding a ton of extra bulk. Tablets and smart phones are becoming increasingly useful tools on the range but you need a case that is up the task if you really want to get the most out of them. LifeProof’s cases have proven that they are at least up to whatever I can throw at them.

Check out the LifeProof frē for the iPad Mini and other devices.

Review: IWC QD End Plate RL

By Matt on December 2, 2013 in Guns, Reviews

I have been using AR-15 end plate sling mounts for a long time. They offer an excellent compromise between mobility and stability when used as your rear attachment point with a two point sling. I started with the excellent fixed loop Burnsed Loops from Daniel Defense and eventually migrated to end plates with QD sling swivel sockets. In all that time, I have tried several different end plates and the QD End Plate RL from Impact Weapons Components (IWC) is the best of them.

The QD End Plate RL is CNC machined from billet steel and Black Manganese Phosphate coated. Some laser cut or stamped steel end plates tend to have rough, uneven edges. That isn’t the case with the QD End Plate RL.

IWC makes them thicker than similar steel end plates which makes it easier to stake properly. There is plenty of “meat” that can be pushed into the staking notches on the castle nut. I have several aluminum end plates and they can be staked but staked aluminum can’t match the security of staked steel.

Most QD end plates aren’t rotation limited because they generally don’t need to be. The castle nut and receiver extension will prevent a normal sized swivel from completing a full rotation. However, smaller d-ring shaped swivels have been introduced that will not catch on the castle nut and end plate so IWC incorporated rotation limiters. The ability of the QD swivel to swing from side to side is one of the best things about QD end plates so I am thankful that IWC placed their rotation limiters to provide a wide range of motion.

The truth is that this isn’t that much different than other QD end plates on the market but little things like the extra thickness and the CNC machining make it better. It also helps that it happens to be one of the most reasonably priced options. When it comes time to stake your end plate (and you should be staking your end plates), you will be glad you used an IWC QD End Plate RL.

Check out the IWC QD End Plate RL and for forget to use the discount code “triggerjerk” for 5% off your purchase.

Sneaky Bags – New Bags and Exclusive JTT Discount

By Matt on November 29, 2013 in EDC, Reviews, Tactical Gear

My friends at Sneaky Bags tell me it is going to be a big year for them and after hearing what they have in store, I am inclined to believe them. They just rolled out two new bags, the Trick or Treat (ToT) and the Shoulder Utility Bag (SUB), and they are offering an exclusive 25% off coupon code to Trigger Jerks. Enter the code “BK-FRI-25” at checkout to receive 25% off the new products from Sneaky Bags or SERT products.

NOTE: The discount code is now working again. Have at it!

ToT

The ToT looks like a standard messenger bag or satchel style briefcase but it boasts the ability to carry a broken down SBR/AR Pistol (Medium) or a broken down 14.5″ carbine (Large) along with other features that actually let you fight out of the bag once the carbine is deployed.

I can’t stress enough how much this looks like a typical bag that I would see daily working in an office environment. This is the large. The medium would be even more convincing.

This organizer is located in a front slip pocket on the flap.

Opening the flap reveals a huge compartment with a massive 18″ x 8.5″ MOLLE/Velcro field. There is a mesh pocket in the flap and two mesh pockets in the front of the compartment. You can organize a ton of mags, first aid gear, etc. in this pouch and fight directly out of it if you have to.

The bag fits this broken down BCM 14.5″ midlength AR with a pinned muzzle device. It will fit some SBRs, PDWs, and smaller AR Pistols without having to break them down. A padded divider is included.

The back of the bag has a deep concealed carry pocket. The hangun can be placed much deeper than shown. The opening stays shut very well without the need for a zipper or Velcro to slow your draw stroke.

The rear of the bag has 2 removable waist strap mounting heights and a removable bungee matrix for storing bulky items like a jacket. 2 straps are included so that you can convert the ToT into a backpack.

SUB

The SUB is the most multifunctional bag that this new iteration of Sneaky Bags has released yet. Those of you who remember the old school Sneaky Bags will immediately be familiar with this bag. It is essentially a chest rig in the form of of a messenger bag. The SUB can carry your primary and secondary magazines, first aid kit, flashlight, etc. in a way that they are immediately accessible. It even has a built in dump pouch. Even if you don’t load it down with your carbine support gear, it’s internal MOLLE and Velcro organization make this a versatile bag to be used for everything from a BOB, to an EDC bag, to a dedicated trauma bag.

The Sneaky Bags logo can be removed and replaced with this ID carrier. It covers the only tactical looking feature of the bag and looks much more low profile.

The SUB opens wide when the flap is pulled back. The flap is sewn on in such a way that it lays open easily. It can be tucked behind the bag if you need to work inside the bag.

The front pistol mag/admin pouch has a flap that can closed on itself to stay out of the way and elastic loops to keep you organized.

The dump pouch feature is back! Early Sneaky Bag users will remember this. When it isn’t catching your spent mags, it works well for storage.

The interior is a thing of beauty. There is Velcro covered MOLLE webbing on the back wall and a large Velcro field on the front. There is also a generous slip pocket.

The MOLLE webbing on the sides is sewn in a way that makes it look less like MOLLE webbing. This is a great location for a water bottle holder. I would probably prefer to have the holder built in for a lower profile appearance.

The rear of the bag has 2 removable waist strap mounting heights and a removable bungee matrix for storing bulky items like a jacket.

Wrap Up

The quality on both these bags is excellent. They are both fully lined with pack cloth, have fully bound seams, top notch materials, and plenty of attention to detail. Sneaky Bags uses some very rigid close cell foam through out to give the bags structure and conceal/protect the contents. The same foam also makes their shoulder straps very comfortable because they not only have padding but also some structure.

The only issue that I had with the bags has already been addressed. The waist straps do not offer a lot of adjustment range on their own so it was difficult to get them as tight as I would like. Sneaky Bags will now be including an extra buckle with the bags that can be used to tighten the straps an extra 18″.

Check out SneakyBags.com. Don’t forget to use the exclusive discount code “BK-FRI-25”.

NOTE: The discount code is now working again. Have at it!

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.

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Archive | Reviews

About LAG Tactical

About the Gear

Warrior Light Bearing Holster

Single Pistol Mag Carrier

Wrap Up

Bottom Line

ToT

SUB

Wrap Up

Overview

Observations from Use

Wrap Up