The Grey Ghost Gear Stealth Operator and Lightweight Assault Pack in Kryptek Highlander that we mentioned previously are available now in extremely limited numbers.
Better-Mag S&W .22 Rimfire Magazine Adapter from Redi-Mag
The Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 is an excellent .22LR training rifle in part because it has great magazines. The mags are inexpensive, reliable, easy to load, and have a bolt hold open feature. Redi-Mag seems to like the M&P 15-22 magazines as well because they created the Better-Mag S&W .22 Rimfire Magazine Adapter.
The Better-Mag S&W .22 Rimfire Magazine Adapter is a simple insert that can be secured in the magazine well to allow you utilize M&P 15-22 magazines in your .22LR AR-15 trainer. It fits any trainer that uses a standard AR-15 lower. So, if you use a dedicated .22LR upper or a conversion kit, this should work for you.
Check out the Better-Mag S&W .22 Rimfire Magazine Adapter at Redi-Mag.com.
Sneak Peek: WARFIGHTER Padded Battle Belt from Shellback Tactical
Details are sparse at this time but Shellback Tactical has provided a sneak peek of their WARFIGHTER Padded Battle Belt. The new belt will be shown at the 2013 SHOT Show which is just around the corner. If they can build in the same quality and value that they built into the Banshee PC, this should be a solid belt.
AR500 Omega Armor Plate Carrier from Beez Combat Systems
Beez Combat Systems (BCS) has released additional information about their AR500 Omega Armor Plate Carriers. The new details include side plate carrier details and a padded spacer system.
The spacer system consists of padded strips that Velcro onto the back of the carrier. This provides padding for the heavy steel plates and additional airflow. The Velcro strips will also allow the carrier to attach to a future BCS soft armor carrier. You can read more about the design and see detailed pics at the Beez Combat Systems Blog.
Check out the AR500 Omega Armor Plate Carriers on BeezCombatSystems.com.
Review: OC Tactical Hearing Protection Cover
Electronic hearing protection is one of the best investments you can make if you do a lot of training. Nothing beats being able to hear range commands and instruction while simultaneously blocking out loud sounds that can damage your hearing. However, the pads that come on the headbands of many headsets seem to be an afterthought that weren’t designed for the realities of high volume training.
I have a Sordin headset that has a leather (or leather like) cover that gets nasty when exposed to rain or sweat, so I contacted Mike at OC Tactical who is well known for his Hearing Protection Covers.
Overview
OC Tactical Hearing Protection Covers look pretty simple but there is a lot going on underneath the nylon. The main structure of the Hearing Protection Covers is made from either coated 330D or 500D nylon. This keeps the weight down while offering a durability upgrade versus the original covers.
The underside of the covers, which is the part of the cover that contacts the wearer’s head, has a Dri-lex pad that is backed with foam. This provides a bit of low-profile padding and moisture wicking to keep the wearer comfortable.
All of the edges are bound with folded nylon material and they come standard with a 5”x1” strip of Velcro on the top for affixing a name tape. However, since OC Tactical is a true custom shop, the Velcro can be left off if you don’t need it.
Installation is easy. You just fold the cover around the headband of your hearing protection and it secures with Velcro. Depending on the model of hearing protection that you are using you may or may not need to remove the original pad. OC Tactical makes covers that are sized to fit over the thin leather covers found on some Sordin models which means you don’t have to cut off the original cover. In fact, OC Tactical has patterns for any model of Sordin headset, many Peltors, and the Howard Light Impact Sport headsets.
Observations from Use
The first thing that you will notice when using these covers is that they offer an immediate improvement in comfort. A little bit of padding goes a long way here and they handle moisture much better. That goes for moisture from your head in the form of sweat and moisture from weather conditions.
I shoot with a bunch of guys who use Sordin hearing protection so it is really nice to have my headset immediately identifiable by the cover. OC Tactical offers a staggering amount of color and camo pattern options so you shouldn’t have any problem making your headset stand out.
I did find that the cover bunched up a bit when initially installed due to the fact that the cover is a straight piece of material being installed on a curved headband. However, it relaxed and wore in over time. There are still some bunches but they are minimal and I don’t notice them at all when wearing the cover.
Wrap Up
I wasn’t at all happy with the leather-like cover on my Sordins. OC Tactical’s Hearing Protection Covers were a great solution for me. I already made the investment in quality hearing protection so it made sense to go all the way. I highly recommend these covers.
Check out the OC Tactical Hearing Protection Covers on OCTactical.com. The site says they are out of stock, but they can be ordered.