80% TM Recon Frame

Do-It-Yourselfer 1911 lovers rejoice! Tactical Machining has just released a new 80% 1911 receiver – the 80% TM Recon Frame. The new 1911 frames are CNC machined from an investment casting of 4140 ordinance grade steel. It has some really slick features like a light rail and scallops on the frame as an index point for your thumb or index finger.

80 TM Recon Frame

As with any 80% receiver, there is some work to do. In this case you will need to machine the slide rails, hammer and sear pin holes, and barrel seat.

If you are handy, you can build yourself a modernized 1911 without having to do any paperwork.

Alternate Use for the OSOE Vehicle Visor Cover

OSOE makes something they call the Vehicle Visor Cover. I call it my mobile workbench. Sure, it works great in the way it was intended which is to be wrapped around your vehicle’s sun visor where it can serve to collect and organize gear that you want readily at hand. However, for the last year I have been using mine as a sort of mobile workbench for the range and I doubt I will ever mount it on a visor again.

OSOE Vehicle Visor Panel Work Space

I have a lot of gear pass through my hands to test. This often requires installing, uninstalling, and diagnosing problems right on the range. Whenever it is time to break out the tools and start working on items with small parts, there is the potential for loss of said small parts. The smart shooter will have some sort of solution on hand to mitigate this which is where some sort of portable workbench comes in.

The Vehicle Visor Cover has several features that make it excel as a mobile workbench. Some of these features were obvious to me when I first laid eyes on it and some I have realized through spending time using it in this way.

OSOE Vehicle Visor Panel Work Space Folded

It can be folded readily and doesn’t take up much space. It’s about the size of a soda can when folded. That is important if you already have a stuffed range bag or if you are just going to try to wedge it into the same case as whatever firearms you happen to be taking to the range. Since there is no set way that it folds, it can be folded or rolled in any way you need to fit the available space.

It has about 14 million elastic loops of varying size on it. These are great for retaining small parts that you don’t want rolling off the rickety old shooting benches that every range in America has. I use them to retain small springs, AR-15 bolts, magazine base plates, tools, or whatever else I don’t want rolling off into the grass never to be seen again. You can also attach MOLLE compatible pouches to the elastic loops so it is easy to add a multitool pouch or other useful tools.

OSOE Vehicle Visor Panel Work Space Up Close

The Vehicle Visor Cover comes with 3 pieces of 1” wide Velcro which are meant to be used to secure the cover to your vehicle’s visor. However, they also work very well for securing gear to the large Velcro field on one side of the panel. These can be used to secure larger objects like multitools.

OSOE Vehicle Visor Panel Work Space Velcro Strips in Use

There is also 2 large pockets behind the Velcro field that are good for storing items that you will likely use with the panel like a punch or two, picks, cleaning brushes, or whatever else you might need to fix a problem on the range. Additionally, I like to keep a magnet or two in this pocket so I can stick small metal parts right to the panel.

OSOE Vehicle Visor Panel Work Space Pocket

Between the elastic loops, Velcro retainers, and large slip pockets, you’ll never lose a small part on the range again. The Vehicle Visor Cover works so well as mobile workbench, you would think it was designed to be one.

20$Bandit Mini-Mini-Kit?

I’m a big fan of the Mini-Kit MK-7 from 20$Bandit. So, a picture that came across my desk recently piqued my interest. It would appear that 20$Bandit is working on a Mini-Mini-Kit!

20$Bandit Prototype

The Mini-Kit MK-7 is a great size to carry in another pack or possibly to wedge into a cargo pocket but it isn’t going to work in your front pocket. This new prototype looks like it will pack a lot of same functionality into a much smaller, more pocketable package.

I’ll keep you up to date on the progress of this prototype. In the mean time, check out 20$Bandit.

PHLster on Custom Philosophy

You will hear me trumpet small, custom gear makers frequently here on JTT in large part because of the advantages of working with them. They can do things that larger makers can’t, like help bring your idea to life. However, the best ones also use their expertise to help hone your design into something truly useful.

Jon at PHLster recently released a thoughtful video that talks through the intricacies of the customer/maker relationship. He speaks to the moral dilemma that many makers find themselves in when approaching these types of custom jobs and the obligations of the maker to deliver a useable product. I know makers are approached with off the wall ideas all the time. It is interesting to see how at least one established craftsman approaches these situations.

PHLster Blaster Holster PHLster Yoda Holster PHLster SBR Holster

ALG Defense EMR M-LOK

In a move that shocks no one but pleases everyone, ALG Defense just rolled out their M-LOK version of the excellent Ergonomic Modular Rail, otherwise known as the EMR. The EMR was pretty much begging for the M-LOK treatment!

ALG Defense EMR MLOK Close

The new EMR M-LOKs come in at an even lower price point though they do not include any rail sections. They are sold separately so you don’t have to pay for rails that you don’t need. Like the original, it is available in 10″, 12″, and 13″ lengths. The M-LOK version weighs slightly less than the regular EMR.

It looks like the best value on the free float hand guard market just added a bit more value. Check out the new EMR M-LOK at ALG Defense.

ALG Defense EMR MLOK

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