Jerking the Trigger

GT Cobra Series Buckles from ITW Nexus and AustriAlpin

By Matt on March 15, 2013 in Tactical Gear

The AustriAlpin Cobra Buckle has become a staple in the tactical gear industry. It is used extensively in gear like belts, slings, and even packs and bags. Cobra buckles are so easy to use and cool looking that they are often used in ways that are complete overkill and that is exactly why I expect the new GT Cobra Series Buckles will be a huge hit.

The new, all polymer GT Cobra Series Buckles are the result of a collaboration between AustriAlpin and the leader in plastic hardware, ITW Nexus. It will be manufactured right here in the USA.

There isn’t a speck of metal in the GT Cobra Series Buckles and it still boasts a 500 pound-force tensile load. The plastic construction will keep costs down, make less noise, weigh less, and allow the colors to more closely match other plastic hardware (Black, Tan 499, Coyote Brown, Foliage Green). They will be available in 1.5”, 1.75”, and 2.0” sizes and both slider and loop versions.

I suspect that if the price is right on these, you will start to see them integrated into an even broader range of products than the 7075 aluminum Cobra Buckles. I can’t wait to see where these turn up. Check out ITWMilitaryProducts.com.

ESEE Map and Compass Basics Course – Free Resource

By Matt on March 15, 2013 in Preparedness, Survival, Tactics and Training

Map and compass skills are somewhat perishable. If you don’t use them from time to time, you can start to lose them. Everyone needs a refresher course once in a while. Thankfully, the good folks at ESEE Knives/Randall’s Adventure Training were kind enough to put the presentation that they use to teach basic map and compass skills online for the benefit of humanity. If you are a seasoned pro or a just a beginner when it comes to land nav, it will be well worth your time to read through these slides.

Check out the Randall’s Adventure Training Map and Compass Basics Course.

Frank Proctor Performance Pistol DVD Update

By Matt on March 15, 2013 in Tactics and Training

We recently mentioned the upcoming pistol training DVD coming from Frank Proctor of Way of the Gun and SuperSet Media Group (SMG). I now have some additional details about the DVD and a new extended trailer has been released.

SMG has stated that the content will be released for on demand down load at some point after the DVD is released. This will be done via Vimeo and should be a nice option for those of you who want to be mobile with the video. You could even take it to the range for a practice session.

You can pre-order the DVD at the Way of the Gun’s online store. It looks like a tremendous resource. Check out this new extended trailer.

Review: Multicam MPIL from Battle Systems LLC

By Matt on March 14, 2013 in EDC, Preparedness, Survival, Tactical Gear

At JTT, we love the Marker Panel, Individual, Lightweight (MPIL) from Battle Systems LLC. They are just so simple to use, so compact and lightweight, and so functional that you can’t help but love them.

Background

Battle Systems told me a few months ago that they were working on a new version of the MPIL that would have only one high visibility side while the other side would be camouflaged. This new version was being made specifically for the needs of some military users who may need to signal within visual range of the enemy. I don’t really have to worry about such things so, at the time, I wondered if the Multicam MPIL would be as useful to me as a non-military user. After actually having one in hand for a while, I think I might actually like it better than the original – at least for some uses.

In Use

The original MPIL stays true to its bulkier, heavier predecessor, the VS-17 signal panel, in that it has an orange side and a pink side. The Multicam MPIL replaces the pink side with Multicam. For the military user, this means that they can flash the orange side quickly and then lower their visual signature immediately with the Multicam side. Its uses for the civilian user were less apparent to me until I actually had one in hand. Once I was able to use one, I found one use that I liked it for so much, that I might like it even more than the standard MPIL…

Now you see me…

I knew from past experience with the MPIL that it could be lashed to just about any pack easily with the Poli Binas that can be purchased with the MPIL. However, with the original MPIL, you could only choose to cover your pack with a high visibility color. Now, with the Multicam MPIL, you can cover your pack with either a high visibility color or camouflage. This ability has application for the hiker and hunter alike.

The hunter can camouflage just about any civilian pack no matter how loud the color of the pack is. This means you can turn your favorite hiking pack into your favorite camouflaged hunting pack in seconds. Basically, every pack is a hunting pack with the Multicam MPIL.

If you are like me, you don’t like to stand out in the woods, even when you are just hiking or camping. The Multicam MPIL lets me start at the trail head with a normal looking backpack and then attach the MPIL as a camo cover once I am in the woods. I just keep the Poli Binas positioned on my pack so I can quickly clip the MPIL in place.

If you get into trouble and need to be seen or if you need some additional blaze orange coverage while you are hunting, you can simply flip the MPIL over to expose the orange side. It turns your pack into a passive signalling system. You will be visible even if you can’t move. You could do this same thing with the original MPIL but you couldn’t “turn it off” without stowing the panel. The Multicam MPIL lets you keep the MPIL staged on your pack either actively concealing you or actively raising your visual signature.

Now you don’t…

Wrap Up

The new Multicam MPIL might be the best MPIL yet. A tweak as simple as replacing a high visibility color with a camo pattern has really added some great functionality. I still prefer the original MPIL for some uses like in a vehicle emergency kit or a cold weather kit but if I am headed into the woods, I reach for the Multicam MPIL.

Check out the Multicam and standard MPIL on BattleSystemsLLC.com.

St. Patrick’s Day OD Green Sling Sale at Blue Force Gear

By Matt on March 14, 2013 in Guns, Tactical Gear

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and Blue Force Gear is having a sale on their OD Green Vickers Combat Applications Slings (VCAS). The unpadded and padded versions with Acetal slider are on sale for 25% off.

I own 4 of the padded version of this sling. I like BFG’s OD Green color because it is less saturated than your typical OD Green color and it has a bit more gray in it. It is a more smokey, medium tone that doesn’t stand out as much. This unique color comes from the fact that the St. Patrick’s Day slings all start out tan and are individually dipped into green beer one pint at a time by tireless BFG craftsmen. It is an expensive process because each green beer can only be used for 1 sling and then must be discarded (but I hear that most of them don’t make it to the drain, if you catch my drift). I’m only kidding about the green beer dipping. Or am I?

Check out the St. Patrick’s Day OD Green Sling Sale at Blue Force Gear.

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