Review

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Fusion XF-Pro

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Fusion Firearms

XF Pro Review

  I am a huge fan of new, feature rich, handguns at an affordable price. When I say new, I don’t mean just another Glock clone or Sig remake. Fusion Firearms has brought out a new compact handgun that is packed with features. It is the Fusion XF-Pro 9mm. They were gracious enough to send the Black and Bronze version out for this review.

  When you first see the Fusion XF-Pro, you notice a bunch of things. First is that they designed it to be an all metal handgun and the machining on the outside is just perfect. Next you notice the aluminum grip panels it uses. It came with the bronze camo ones installed and an extra set of all black grip panels. More important is that the XF-Pro uses common Glock magazines. It comes with 2 in the box. After that, you notice that it is optics compatible and comes with the plates you need. There is also a cleaning kit and some empty brass test shells in the box.

  The Fusion XF-Pro’s frame is made from aluminum. This gives the compact pistol some weight. It weighs in at 33.4 ounces with an optic and empty magazine, or around 31 without an optic. The XF-Pro’s frame design looks like a CZ-75 and a Glock had a kid. The backstrap dips in at the top, like a CZ-75. But then the grip kind of resembles a Glock. Both the front and rear backstrap have some curved lines on them for grip. It runs a large squared trigger guard with some texture lines on the front. Then there is a 3 slot picatinny rail for mounting lights or whatever. The magazine button is raised and only on the left side. The grip panels have small golf ball style dimples. Probably the coolest feature of the XF-Pro is the machined in thumb rest on the left side of the frame. At least if you are right handed, because on the right side of the frame is some indexing texture for your trigger finger, not another thumb rest. 

  Fusion did a nice job of designing the slide on the XF-Pro. It has front and rear angled serrations. These serrations look good, plus they are useful. I would personally like them cut a little deeper. That way you can grip them better if your hands are wet or muddy. The top of the slide has a cut out for a ported barrel. Fusion sells a ported barrel for the XF-Pro, if you want some extra recoil mitigation. On each side of the port cutout is also some very aggressive texture. This is so you can get some grip, if you need to rack the slide on a table or barricade. The XF-Pro slide also has some side window cuts that allow you to see the bronze Gen 4 Glock compatible fluted barrel. Both the barrel and slide have a Tennifer finish.  

  As we move back on the slide, you will find a cutout for mounting optics. Fusion uses a plate system for the XF-Pro. It comes with 2 plates. One is for an RMR footprint optic. The other is for Truglo, Docter, Meopta, Insight, or Vortex footprints. I would like to see a RMSc plate, but since there is an included RMR one, I don't need it. I mounted the new Primary Arms RS-10R and one of their Classic series to the XF-Pro. Both mounted up easily with the supplied RMR plate. The optics sit really high with the plate. Even slightly higher than the slide. This makes it so that back up iron sights will not work with an optic, even suppressor height ones. However, even if you could get high enough sights, the XF-Pro uses 2 different types. The rear sight uses a Glock dovetail and the front uses a Novak dovetail. Fusion, please make them compatible with both a front and rear set from something that matches. Maybe a Sig or Springfield cut if you want to keep a front dovetail.

  Trigger pull is important to some people, I am one of those. The Fusion XF-Pro has a decent trigger for a striker fired handgun. It is a flat face style with a little hook at the end. It also uses a trigger safety. Both of these make it function, and look, very much like a Glock trigger, but better. It has a long take up stroke that is a little grainy. But after the initial take up, the trigger hits a short wall that breaks pretty clean. Reset on the trigger is pretty good. You can shoot the trigger from reset if you like, and that shortens the pull a bunch. My sample has a 4.75 pound pull. It started out around 5 pounds but works its way down a little. In all, it is a pretty decent trigger. To go along with the trigger is a striker indicator on the rear of the slide. A nice touch to let you know that the firearm is ready to fire.

  Performance on the XF-Pro is decent. I really liked shooting the pistol. The all metal construction just shoots so nice. I have only had one problem with feeding and I fed it various different types of ammunition. That one malfunction was a stovepipe malfunction, with cheap 124 gr ball ammo, and that was in the first 50 rounds. The gun seems to run just about anything I put in it. After that, it has gone another 900 without any problems. The thumb rest really helps get a good grip to help reduce some muzzle rise. Having the texture on the other side lets you know when your finger is not on the trigger. However, I do have a few complaints about the XF-Pro. When mounting an optic, it just sits too high above the slide. Does it affect anything? Not really, but it is hard to pick up the dot because of this. Next is that the grips are a little slick and could use more texture. Since it comes with 2 sets, I would like one of them to have a more aggressive texture. The XF-Pro also has a “tail” on the back of the grip frame. This tail makes some mag extensions not work in the gun. Lucky for us, all the extended Glock style magazines work. Another problem with the XF-Pro is that there isn’t any holster compatibility. It needs a special holster because of the thumb rest sticking out on the left side. Before I put the optic on the XF-Pro, I found the iron sights to be very useful. The serrated blacked out rear and white dot front worked well. Another feature I really like is the magazine release button. It is extended and makes dropping mags super easy. Thus making reloads quick. The Fusion XF-Pro is a fun gun to shoot.

  The Fusion Firearms XF-Pro is a nice sporty compact handgun. It has a lot of nice features that you will only find in higher priced handguns. Coming in at $550 makes it a good deal. Using Glock magazines and a few Glock parts makes it a win for anyone that already has Glocks, and if you don’t, the magazines are cheap. If you are in the market for a new handgun, I would check out the Fusion XF-Pro and see what you think.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Newly designed, aluminum framed, pistol that takes Glock magazines

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a compact pistol

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 9MM

  • Magazine Compatibility: Glock magazines

  • Construction: All bar-stock materials, precision CNC machined

  • Barrel: 4" fluted Glock Gen 4 compatible, Tennifer finish

  • Sights: Fixed combat sights, optic-ready with RMR and others  included

  • Trigger: Competition flat-face, one-piece steel milled

  • Grip: Interchangeable panels, Bronze Camo & Black included, aluminum & poly construction

  • Frame: Aluminum with tactical rail, Sure Grip checkering, Thumb rest, hard coat finish

  • Slide: Pro Serrations, Pro Window Cuts, Tennifer Finish

  • Recoil System: Full metal, Glock Gen 4&5 compatible

  • Overall Length: 7.29 inches

  • Weight: 26.5 oz / 1.66 lbs

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Black or Chrome

What others are saying?:

Christopher at fusionfirearms.com

Excellent pistol

This pistol is awesome. Received today and went straight to the range to shoot some freedom seeds. 200 rounds and smooth as butter. Only critique I have is wishing this came with a magwell like the XP pro did!

Link to other reviews:

Gammage on YouTube   

GB Guns  

Price point:

MSRP = $549.99

Retail = $500.00

I need it now! Availability:

Palmetto State Armory or Guns.com

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • All Metal

  • Shoots nice

  • Takes Glock magazines and barrels

  • Thumb rest

  • Trigger pull

  • Comes with optic plated

Cons:

  • Not ambidextrous

  • Optics sit extremely high

  • Slick grips

  • Holster compatibility 

Score: 7.50 Good

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TCRT Targets

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TCRT Target

Review

  If you are into shooting, you understand the need for good targets. Reusable targets have always been an interest of mine. Who doesn’t want a target that lasts thousands of rounds? TCRT targets makes some of those reusable targets. They also make target stands to hang those targets. TCRT sent me one of their Torso Target Packs, which includes the target and target stands.

  I have used a bunch of reusable targets, but the TCRT ones are different. Or at least the Torso target one is. All of these types of targets claim to be “self healing”, which they are. So when you shoot the target, the bullet passes through and only leaves a very tiny hole. I’m a big fan of Torso style USPSA targets, which is basically what the TCRT one is. TCRT’s Torso is a solid rectangle rubberish target. TCRT then supplies a template to paint or draw on the USPSA target zone lines. What I really like about the TCRT Torso is how thin and lightweight it is. I used to have another brand, and it was over twice as thick and weighed a lot more. Physically, hanging and carrying the TCRT Torso is much easier. 

  The TCRT targets can be shot with just about anything. Rifles, pistols, you name it, they have probably been shot by it. These targets will take 400 rounds of 5.56 per square inch. So unless you are using a precision rifle, or can just shoot that good, you shouldn’t wear them out for a long time. I have shot mine with 308, 45acp, 9mm, 22lr, 556, and probably others. It still is going strong. You can even shoot the TCRT targets at point blank range without damage. It even makes a cool pattern on the target. 

Point blank range with 9mm

  TCRT’s Torso target is made to be painted. Which is part of the reason they include the stencil to mark out the zones. By painting the target you can see where the bullets are hitting. When the paint over the target gets shot, it produces a small splatter mark. Think of one of those bullet hole stickers, because that’s what it looks like. This makes it easy to see where you are hitting. When you get too many holes, just paint over them and start over. An advantage to paint is that you can use different colors if you want to. Different colors on the target can make training better or just more fun.

  Since TCRT sent the “Target Pack”, it comes with their RangeFlex Rack Stand Kit. This Rack Stand kit is TCRT’s target stand. The Rack Stand comes with 2 feet assemblies and 2 cross bar brackets. However, it does not come with the wood 1x2’s. The 1x2’s are used for the feet, uprights, and the crossbar. Instructions on what length to cut the 1x2’s are included. The feet brackets each get a 1x2 for the support legs, or feet. They also each get an upright. The 1x2’s, in all the brackets, are held in with bolts. Just snug them down, or tighten them with a wrench, once you get the wood placed where it is needed. The top cross bar is the same, it just doesn't have the extra spot for the feet. You don’t necessarily need the top crossbar with the Torso target, but it does help with some support. The cool thing about the Rack Stand kit is that it is modular. You don’t need to just make it the width of the Torso target, you can make it much wider. This is where the top cross bar brace does its job. Make the stand wide and you can hang a bunch of the round TCRT targets from it. The possibilities are pretty much endless. 

  The TCRT Torso target did everything one would expect it to do. I set it up, which is really easy using the Rack Stand kit. Then I just clamped the target onto the sticks. The Torso target doesn’t come with clamps, I bought mine at Harbor freight, but TCRT has a 4 pack for $10, so just add them to your cart when you are buying a Torso target and save yourself the hassle. I have painted the target different colors at various times. Colors tend to show hits better than white, since the target itself is a whitish color. I have shot the crap out of the Torso target and it doesn’t even look very used. I know it has at least 2000 rounds through it, mostly 9mm. The only problem I ran into was with the target stand. The leg 1x2’s tend to twist in the bracket sometimes. So instead of being straight, they are more “V” shaped instead of an “H” shape. I never had the stand fall over, so maybe it is just my OCD. The Torso target and stand are easy to pick up and move as a one piece assembly. So moving it around the range is easy to do. I really like the different target possibilities that the TCRT Torso target gives me.

  If you are in the market for a reusable target system, which you should be, the TCRT Torso Target Pack might be it. It comes with target stands, a USPSA/IPSC style reusable target, and a stencil to mark out the scoring zones. Just add some paint and 1x2’s and you are ready to hit the range. Being able to use the TCRT Torso target for years to come is probably its best attribute. So head over to TCRT and check out all their targets.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Reusable Torso target and stands

Target Market:

People who dislike buying targets over and over

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

Target:

  • Re-usable

  • Comes with paint stencil

  • Rated for 400 rounds of 5.56 per square inch

  • Weight - 9.5 pounds

  • Dimensions - 15 × 20.7 × .5 in

  • UV and water-resistant

Stand:

  • Modular

  • Lightweight

  • Easy  Setup

  • Countless Configurations

  • Uses 1x2 wood sticks

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Hanging Round targets or Combo deals

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $175.98 for the bundle

$138.99 for just the Torso target

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

TCRT Targets

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Can take many hits

  • Easy to see hits when painted

  • Doesn't weigh a lot

  • Clamps to target stands

  • Comes with stencil 

  • Target stands are easy to set up

Cons:

  • Target is wider than standard USPSA one

  • Target stand feet tend to twist in base

Score: 8.00 Great

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Timber Creek Sig P320 Grip Module

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Timber Creek

P320 Grip Module Review

  Timber Creek Outdoors manufactures a ton of nice aftermarket parts. Their new Full size P320 grip module falls nicely into this category. As with most Timber Creek (TC) products, they come in all the fancy colors. I decided to go pretty plain, on the one they sent, and chose Tungsten as the color. 

  I had been looking at aluminum grip modules for the P320. So when Timber Creek came out with one, I definitely wanted to try it out. The metal grip modules just make the P320 feel and shoot differently. I opted for the “Full” size grip module. Timber Creek also has the “Pro” version and a “Carry” version. 

  The Full size TC P320 frame is what you would expect. It is a full length frame. So the dust cover and pic rail extend out to the end of a full length P320 slide. It also has a full length grip. So full size 17 round magazines are the minimum. The Sig 21 rounders also fit and look good in the TC grip module. 

  Continuing on with the TC grip module, we have the grip itself. The grip is slightly wider than a factory medium size Sig grip module. The TC measures 1.25 inches wide. However, it has some subtle grid style texture on the sides of the grip. On the frontstrap are some horizontal lines. Then on the backstrap, there is a frag pattern. I can definitely feel the frag pattern when gripping the pistol. The TC grip module also has a huge undercut trigger guard. The trigger guard also has an extra undercut in it so one can get your support hand up higher. There are also some small lines on the front of the trigger guard for indexing. The huge undercut is one of my favorite features on the TC P320 grip. Lastly, TC machined in a pretty decent mag funnel inside the grip. I might have done it a little larger, as there is some more material that could be taken off. But either way, reloads are pretty easy with the TC grip module. 

  One advantage, or disadvantage, the Timber Creek P320 grip module has is its weight. It weighs in at 6 ounces more than a factory Sig grip module, or the Wilson Combat one I have. This weight helps reduce muzzle rise and recoil. Since my full size P320 is not a carry gun, I like the added weight. 

  Installation on the TC grip module is fairly straight forward. It installs just like any P320 grip module. Empty the firearm, drop the magazine, remove the slide, Remove the slide stop, lift the front of the fire control unit (FCU) up, and remove the FCU. Installation with the new Timber Creek grip module is just the reverse order. It really is that easy to install your new TC grip module. 

  Overall I thought Timber Creek did a nice job on the full size P320 grip module. I still shoot the Sig better than a bunch of other pistols. The grip module didn't seem to affect the shoot ability. It did seem to cut a little muzzle flip so I could get back on target faster. This was expected with the little bit of added weight. The grip module is a little larger than the factory medium size ones so the TC grip module didn't fit my hand as well. Nothing against it, just my small hands. I was a little disappointed in the lack of texture, the grip still seemed to move around a little. I would like more, or at least a sharper, texture. That Undercut trigger guard really lets you get a high grip on the pistol which really helps with a P320. The magwell does help with finding where to put those reloads. Quick mag changes were super easy. Now a quick FYI, the TC grip module does not come with a mag release. So you will have to take your old one out, or just buy a larger aftermarket one. Even with those few complaints, I really like what TC did with their P320 grip module. 

  If you are looking into getting an aluminum P320 grip module, the Timber Creek one might be worth taking a look at. After all, you can get it in all the pretty colors, even purple. The grip module is very well machined, in house, at Timber Creek's facility in Springfield, Oregon. Definitely try to get your hands on one and see if it is right for you. You can check the “Pro” version out on TC's website. The “Carry” and “Full” size ones are not on their website just yet. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Aluminum Sig P320 grip module

Target Market:

P320 users that want a metal framed pistol

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Aircraft grade aluminum 

  • Full size P320 grip module 

  • Available in 10 colors 

  • Undercut trigger guard

  • Textured frame

  • Full length picatinny rail

  • Made in USA 

  • Lifetime warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Carry and Competition grip modules, all in a ton of colors

What others are saying?:

Nothing much found

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $449.95

Retail = $350 ish

I need it now! Availability: 

Optics Planet or AT3 Tactical

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Weight

  • Color options

  • Undercut trigger guard

  • Full length pic rail

  • Made in USA

Cons:

  • Slightly larger grip size

  • Does not come with mag release

  • Not very aggressive texture

  • Manufacturer's website lacks specifications 

Score: 8.00 Great

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Hi-Point 995P

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Hi-Point 995P

Pistol Review

  Hi-Point firearms has come out with a new pistol. At least that is what it is technically called. I like to call it a pistol caliber pistol (PCP) since it is similar to a pistol caliber carbine (PCC). This new pistol is their 995P. The 995P is a pistol version of the Hi-Point 995 carbine, hence the “P” at the end. One could technically call it a large frame pistol.

  The new Hi-Point 995P looks a lot like its bigger brother, the 995. The major differences are a shorter barrel. Now at 13.25 inches instead of the carbines 16 inches. The 995P is also threaded ½-28 to accept a 9mm muzzle device or a suppressor. Since it is now a pistol, they cut off the stock and replaced it with a picatinny rail adapter. So it looks like a short carbine, but is really a pistol.

  A little more on the new picatinny rail adapter on the 995P. This rear pic rail can be used for mounting various pistol braces, or at least ones that attach to these types of rails. Built into the pic rail is a QD socket. This lets you put a sling on it and do the old school mp5 sling pushout for stability. I initially installed a Strike Industries dual folding brace. It worked fine, but because of where Hi-Point had to put the pic rail, the length of pull with the brace was too long. Fear not, Hi-Point thought about this and you can remove the pic rail by taking a screw out and unscrewing it. Underneath this pic rail are some AR15 buffer tube threads. This allows you to attach any buffer tube and pistol brace you want. I ended up with an SBA3 brace since they are adjustable for length. Having the ability for both brace mounting options, on the 995P, is a very smart idea.

  Now, even some more on the pistol itself. The Hi-Point 995P comes with a plastic handguard that has a pic rail mounted on the bottom. It will look familiar if you have ever seen any of the other Hi-Point carbines. The sights also look familiar. It has a ghost ring rear with a hooded, fiber optic front post. The rear sight is a whole system that can be removed from the receiver's top rail. I removed the sight and added in a red dot. First I had an old Tasco PDP on it, with an airsoft periscope behind it. This was really just because it was a Hi-Point and I needed some InstaGram street cred. The 995P did end up with a Holosun after that. I use the red dot on a standard height AR riser and it puts it at about the right height for everyday use. 

  On the 995P, ammunition is fed through the 10 round magazines. These magazines worked fine for me. Hi-Point also sent some of the Red Ball 20 round magazines. Surprisingly they worked well also. The magazines are fed through the pistol grip of the 995P, just like most pistols. The pistol grip does not excite me as it doesn’t fit my hand very well. But Hi-Points aren’t known for their ergonomics.

  The blow back operation of the 995P helps make it super simple to use. There is a left side charging handle that reciprocates. This handle also can be used to lock the bolt back by pushing it in toward the receiver, but only when the bolt is pulled toward the rear. The 995P will also lock back on an empty magazine. After the bolt locks back on that empty magazine, you must first drop the magazine, insert a new one or don’t, and then pull back on the bolt handle to release the bolt.

  After having reviewed Hi-Point’s 3095 carbine, I expected the 995P to be just as fun. I was correct. The 995 is so much fun to shoot and it is accurate too. There is very little recoil, probably due to its weight being around 6 pounds. The iron sights are pretty good and super easy to use. However, a red dot makes the 995P even better. I ran a ton of rounds through the 995P without any problems. From 115 grains up to 147 grains. It just chugged along, but I kind of expected that. Having the ability to use whatever type of pistol brace you want is also a huge win for the 995P. Or, just hook a single point sling on it and use it that way. I even put my subgun suppressor on it. Yes, it is quiet with subsonic ammo. The 995P just ate it all without complaints. It really is just a fun range “pistol”. If you wanted a cheap short barrelled rifle, you could pay the $200 tax stamp and throw a stock on it. You would still only be out around $500 total. 

  If you are in the market for a “large” frame pistol, the Hi-Point 995P might be just what you are looking for. It is inexpensive and a whole lot of fun. The brace mounting system is top notch and gives you endless possibilities. But really, my favorite part about the Hi-Point 995P is how much fun it is just plinking at the range. To check it out, head over to Hi-Point.

  

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Large frame 9mm pistol with “options”

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a less expensive 9mm pistol caliber pistol

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Barrel length: 13.25" Standard

  • Back Plate: Accepts standard buffer tube

  • Rear Picatinny Rail

  • Weight: 6.1 LBS.

  • Capacity: 10-round mag standard

  • Overall length: 20.75"

  • Rear Sights: Ghost Ring Aperture

  • Finish: Black powder coat

  • Front Sights: HiViz light pipes fiber optics

  • Threaded ½-28 with thread protector 

  • Lifetime warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

.45acp or 10mm

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Athlon Outdoors

Price point:

MSRP = $379.00

Retail = Around $300    

I need it now! Availability:

Guns.com, KYGUNCO, or your local gun shop

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Configurable

  • Picatinny and buffer tube options

  • Short length

  • Made in USA

  • Price

Cons:

  • Trigger pull 

  • Ergonomics

  • 10 round capacity magazines

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Hi Point 3095 review  

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Kinisium KINI SafeAlert

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Kini SafeAlert

Review

   Most people with firearms in their home are concerned about safety. A new product from Kinisium might be able to help you with some piece of mind. That product is the Kini SafeAlert. The Kini is a small motion activated sensor that gives you “safety alerts” when it senses motion.

  The Kini SafeAlert is added protection against something that is already secured. I would not rely on it solely for the safety of a firearm, or any other dangerous device. However, it can be used to detect if someone is getting into one of those places, like a safe or liquor cabinet for example. 

  Kinisium uses a small motion activated transmitter. Physical size of the transmitter is about 2.25” x 1.56” x 0.75”. Not bad for something that has motion detection and wifi. The “Kini” alerts you through a text message or email when it detects movement. It does this by sending a wifi signal. It does not have any cellular capability, so it must be within a wifi area that has internet access. However, it does work very well in its designed area of use.

  When the Kini first arrives, Kinisium has you set up the device. First you have to create an account with their web based interface. The Kini has an activation code, so anyone can’t just set it up. Once you turn on the Kini and enter all the appropriate info, you are now ready to attach the Kini to something. Since the Kini is rechargeable, I would recommend charging it up first. 

  Now that the Kini is ready to go, find a good place to test it out. Kinisium supplies some hook and loop, as well as a small cable tether. I say try it out first because there are actually a bunch of settings for the Kini in the interface. You can set email or text alerts, or both. You can name what the alert will be called, for example: “Safe Movement”, “Motion Detected”, “Door Open”, etc. More important is the ability to set how much movement before the Kini alerts you. You can also set which axis you want to alert you, for example: X,Y, and Z or just X and Y. I just have it set for all axes. There is also a setting for how long until the Kini re-notifies you after the initial movement. Depending on where the Kini is located, this can be an important feature. The Kini will also let you know when it is low on power. That way you can charge it up. I charged mine when it was new. It has been 4 months and is still at 80% power. So I don’t see you needing to charge it very often. 

  The little Kini has a ton of uses for added security and piece of mind. You can install it anywhere you want, as long as there is a wifi signal. Or essentially, on anything that you want to be notified of, when it is being tampered with. Tool chests, liquor cabinets, safes, doors, medicine cabinets, breaker boxes, or anything else you don’t want messed with. The main reason I say “added security” is because the Kini is not a replacement for locks, especially when it comes to firearms. The Kini usually takes between 8-10 seconds for it to notify me, via text, of movement. So it is only a barrier. If a firearm were unsecured, even with the Kini attached, something terrible could still happen in the time it takes to get notified. The Kini is not a replacement for a good locking device, no matter what you install it on. The Kini’s best feature is that it can be used on anything imaginable.

  I mounted up the Kini to a safe door. It has worked well, essentially it sits inside the safe. I have it set so that if the safe gets bumped, it will notify me. Because of where it is mounted, it also alerts me when the safe door is opened. I will mention that this safe is fairly close to the wifi router. If I were to install it in my garage somewhere, I would want to make sure it consistently could send alerts. I have been very happy with how the Kini works. The battery life laso really impressed me.

  If you are looking for that extra added security, or should I say notifications, the Kinisium Kini SafeAlert might be worth looking into. It is nice knowing when someone, or something, is messing with your important stuff. Just remember it does not take the place of proper storage, it is just added security that enhances safety. Take a look at the Kini and see what you think.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Safety device that texts you when movement is detected 

Target Market:

Anyone wanting an extra degree of safety

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Small motion detector

  • Sends texts and Emails when moved

  • Adjustable

  • Rechargeable

  • Comes with tether

  • Charging cord included

  • On/Off Tool

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Red

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars at Kinisium.com

Great product!

The SafeAlert is a great product. It was easy to set up, and it definitely works. I was a little skeptical about putting it inside a safe (weak/no signal in there?) but it works just fine, even in a safe/drawer, etc. and gives a nearly instant alert (text message) when it is moved. It's very sensitive, as well...with it sitting on a table, jumping on the floor next to the table sets it off when it's on the most sensitive setting (and you can adjust the sensitivity, as well).

I recommend this, and am actually thinking about getting another one.

Link to other reviews:

Grit Daily

Price point:

MSRP = $75.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Kinisium

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Easy to set up

  • Sensitivity adjustments

  • Works inside a metal box

  • Attaches easily

  • Text and Email alerts

  • Battery life

Cons:

  • Lag time before notifications

  • Can be too sensitive sometimes

Score: 8.00 Great

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GForce Arms Saddlehorn LTAC

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Gforce Arms

Saddlehorn LTAC review

  It seems like everyone is getting into the lever action rifle game. I am always up for more options, especially when it comes to lever actions. GForce Arms has started importing some lever action rifles in pistol calibers. Some of these options are pretty standard, others are super tactical. They sent me one of their tactical ones, the walnut stocked Saddlehorn LTAC 357.

  The GForce Saddlehorn is a Winchester model 92 copy. There are lots of the 92 copies around. The Saddlehorn is very similar to all of them. The only real difference is that the Saddlehorn has a safety selector on the bolt itself, very similar to a Rossi 92. The LTAC version runs a large loop lever that is wrapped in leather. It also runs a straight style stock to keep with the 92 tradition.

  Being that this is the “tactical” version of the Saddlehorn, it does have a bunch of those tactical options. First up, the LTAC uses a 16.5 inch threaded barrel. It is threaded ½-28 which allows the use of suppressors and various muzzle devices. Next is that it comes with a picatinny rail already mounted to the barrel. This pic rail also includes the rear sight, which is only adjustable for elevation. The front sight is a fiber optic red and pairs nicely with the black rear sight. The sight picture is pretty nice for a simple set of iron sights, and they work fine.

  Another part that makes the Saddlehorn tactical is the M-Lok forend. This slim line aluminum handguard has M-Lok slots just about everywhere, even if the top ones aren’t usable due to the barrel being in the way. On the front bottom of the handguard is a 4 slot picatinny rail section. Right behind the pic rail is a sling stud. At the rear, on each side of the handguard, are 4 threaded holes between the M-Lok rails. These are used for attaching miscellaneous accessories. The LTAC also comes with a 4 shell holder mounted in one of these holes. The extra shell holder is also made of aluminum and is a nice addition to the total rifle package. Having the M-Lok and a pic rail gives you options to attach whatever you want.

  I have a true love hate relationship with the Gforce LTAC. Through all the .357 magnum rounds I ran through it, and the 38 specials, the gun ran flawlessly. However, I did run into a huge problem with the LTAC. When I was installing a NERO muzzle brake onto the LTAC, the barrel actually came loose in the action!. This is really unacceptable on any firearm. All I was doing was trying to tighten the muzzle brake and time it with a crush washer. Instead of taking the time to get it fixed by Gforce, I just fixed it myself. These barrels are just “glued” into the action with a sleeve retaining style thread locker, so it was an easy fix. There are even marks on the receiver and barrel on where to line them up. I have had no more problems with the barrel twisting after another 250 rounds of .357 magnum. I am guessing that the factory just didn’t get enough “glue” on the barrel. While the barrel was out of the action, I also noticed that the chamber was a little rough, about half way down toward the rifling. Since it was already off, I polished the chamber a little bit. To me it looked like a dull reamer was used during the barrel manufacturing process. 

  As mentioned, the LTAC ran flawlessly during use. I did mount up some optics throughout the testing. The first one was the Atibal Solar 1 x prism. It worked fine but sat a little higher than my liking. So I settled on the Primary Arms Classic green dot. It sat a bit lower and worked out better for me. Before I mounted the optics, I checked the optic rails mounting screws on the LTAC. They were a tad loose, so I tightened them up. I don’t know if they were loose from the factory, or if they came loose from using the gun. Either way I put some loctite on them and snugged them up. They haven’t come loose since.

  Running the Saddlehorn LTAC was a lot of fun. It has a great trigger. In fact, my sample has a 2 lb trigger pull with very little creep and a bit of overtravel. Let’s just say the trigger is one of my favorite aspects of the LTAC. The action is also very smooth. Way smoother than I expected from a Turkish import. That leather wrapped oversize lever is nice also. The leather gives a little bit of cushion for the back of your hand, and is nice when running the lever fast. It also gives it a cool look. At one point I installed a suppressor to see how that worked. A suppressor with 38 specials is super quiet. The 357 magnums are still pretty good, but they do break the sound barrier, so you still get a sound crack out of it. 

  Loading the magazine tube on the Saddlehorn LTAC is probably my least favorite thing to do. Is it hard? No, it just wears on your thumb when loading those 8 rounds into the tube. This is highly typical of any side loading lever action. I do like that the LTAC holds 8 357 magnum shells in the tube magazine. This gives you a true 8+1 full 357 magnums at the ready, just in case.

  The Gforce Arms Saddlehorn LTAC is another entry into the “tactical” lever gun category. It is super cool looking and has everything needed to get into this style of lever gun. I am disappointed that mine had problems, because I really liked how the gun performed. It ran super smooth and ate all the ammo I threw at it. If you are looking for a tactical thrifty lever gun, the Saddlehorn LTAC just might be it. Just be warned that there might be some quality control issues. Hopefully GForce Arms is working out these kinks.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Tactical 357 lever gun

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a tactical lever action

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: .357 Magnum / 38 Special

  • Capacity: 8

  • Barrel Length: 16.25"

  • Muzzle threaded 1/2-28 with thread protector

  • Overall Length: 34.5”

  • Action: Big Loop Lever

  • Sights: Fiber Optic Front / Adj Rear

  • Barrel Finish: Black 

  • Twist: 1:16"

  • Receiver Material: Aluminum

  • Safety: Hammer

  • Stock Finish: Turkish Walnut

  • Length of Pull: 13.75”

  • Receiver Finish: Black

  • Weight: 5.50 lbs.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

All Black Tactical, Stainless and Black Tactical

What others are saying?:

1 out of 5 stars at PSA    

Wanted to like this gun

Wanted to like this gun but after about 100 rounds the barrel shifted and now I’m unable to load in a round. I reached out to Gforce regarding the matter and haven’t heard anything back.

4 out of 5 stars at PSA

Great first lever action

I’ll give this one 4 Stars! First things first, the only reason it’s not a five star review is because every now and then it feeds a new round when cycling an old one, you’ll see two casings fly out, one will be a spent round and the other brand spankin new, but that’s it, nothing else has been a concern. I love this rifle and this brand. Now it’s not no Marlin or Henry but this is a great start if you’re looking into lever actions. It already has a tactical handguard so there’s no need to go shopping for one, but there are other handguard and stock options out there. It comes threaded so a suppressor will soon be attached. If any of you get this, I suggest you fire .38 special out of it because there's less of a kick and with a suppressor the sound of the metal target will be louder than the rifle. You will not be disappointed!

Link to other reviews:

Guns & Ammo

Price point:

MSRP = $699.00

Retail = Around $600.00

I need it now! Availability:

Palmetto State Armory or Grab a Gun

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Lightweight

  • Big loop

  • 2 pound trigger pull

  • M-Lok handguard

Cons:

  • Rough chamber

  • Barrel came loose and twisted

  • Optic rail screws were loose or came loose

Score: 5.50 Mediocre 

Favorite Link:  GForce Arms Rapture  

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ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-8x24

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ZeroTech Thrive HD

1-8x24 Review

  ZeroTech Optics sent Rusty and I one of their new Thrive HD 1-8x24 Low Power Variable Optics (LPVO). For a bit I was trying to decide what to put it on. Then SRU and Foxtrot Mike made the decision for me, by sending me a bullpup kit. The new Thrive HD was a perfect fit. ZeroTech’s new LPVO has some great features, some clear glass, and some other stuff.

  The ZeroTech Thrive HD 1-8 is the first LPVO in the Thrive lineup. The Thrive series of optics is primarily built for hunters, but that does not mean that there is not crossover into other types of shooting. In fact, the bullpup kit I mounted it on probably won’t see a day of hunting in its lifetime. Unless the random coyote pops up when I have it on hand. Being that the Thrive HD 1-8 is a second focal plane optic, it does lend itself nicely to hunting. However, the way the reticle is set up also works well for run and gun type competition. I think it is more of a dual duty style of optic.

  Construction on the Thrive HD is somewhat simplistic. ZeroTech constructs the 1-8 using 7075 T6 aluminum. 7075 is stronger and lighter than the typical 6061 that a lot of other scope manufacturers use in their $450 price range LPVO’s. It weighs in at 22 ounces, which also falls right in line compared to other LPVO’s. As with most LPVO’s, the Thrive HD uses a 30 mm outer tube diameter. The adjustment turrets are of the capped style. This gives it a clean look. Since this is not a scope for long range work, the capped turrets do not detract from anything.

  ZeroTech throws a few “extras” in the box that are pretty nice. Up first is the Thrive HD’s flip up covers. These are not your everyday plastic ones. They are aluminum and screw on. Using the supplied tool, you can tighten them down to your preferred location. This is especially nice for the ocular lens with the fast focus eyepiece. Since you need to focus the eyepiece to your eye, you can then loosen the flip cap, align it, and re-tighten it, so it works correctly. The 1-8 also comes with a removable throw lever. This throw lever uses a little rail type attachment. So one just slides it on and tightens the little screw. Also included is a neoprene style one piece scope cover. It is a really nice cover.

  When looking at optics, the reticle can be really important. The Thrive HD 1-8 uses ZeroTech’s PHR 4 illuminated reticle. This reticle, for some reason, reminds me of the old German #1 reticle. It is not even close, but here is my best explanation. The PHR 4 has 3 fairly thick crosshairs, 1 up from the bottom and then 1 on each side. These then reduce down to 0.5 MOA thick lines. These lines extend 7.5 MOA out toward the center reticle. There is then a 2.5 MOA space until the center reticle starts. Yes, there is a center reticle. The center reticle is also the part that illuminates. They call this a floating reticle and is more akin to a standard small thin crosshair reticle. It measures 5 MOA. It also has a 0.5 MOA dot in the center. Of course all of these measurements are at 8x. There are 5 brightness settings on the Thrive HD. On/Off and adjustment are a little different than what you might be used to. On the left side of the scope is the battery cap. In the center of the cap is a button. This button is pressed to turn on the red illumination, in the last setting that was used. Just push it again to cycle through the 5 brightness levels. It cycles from brightest to darkest, and then repeats itself. Since the Thrive HD does not have any shake awake function, you will want to remember to turn it off when done. To do this you just hold the button down for about 3 seconds and the illumination turns off. The brightness is not daylight bright, but is very useful. ZeroTech does not sell the Thrive HD as daylight bright, so I was not expecting it to be.

  The Thrive HD 1-8 has capped turrets for adjustment. To adjust the LPVO, you must first remove the caps. Underneath are some decently nice knobs. These are easily adjusted with your fingers. The ¼ MOA clicks are a tiny bit mushy, but can be heard and felt easily enough. The ¼ MOA adjustments are a nice feature. A lot of 1-8 LPVO’s have ½ MOA adjustments. These windage and elevation knobs can also be set to zero, after the initial sighting in. That way you at least have a reference when making further adjustments.

  I was impressed with the clarity on the Thrive HD. Looking through it produces clear images with no detectable color differences. It did not seem to matter if it was at 1x or 8x, nothing seemed distorted. However, the eyebox on the 1-8 is unforgiving at 8x. You have to be in just the correct spot to get a good image. At 1x, I did not notice any problems getting a clear picture through the eyebox. This is my only real complaint about the Thrive HD 1-8.

  As mentioned, I mounted up the Thrive HD to a bullpup. This required me to put it in a higher optics mount. I used a Geissele 1.93 scope mount and it was perfect for the 1-8. You can read the SRU review to find out why the mount is turned around. I mention this so you get the idea of how I used the Thrive HD. This LPVO is really clear for its price range. I would compare it to some optics that are priced a couple of hundred more. It really shines at 1x with the PHR 4 reticle. Then the 8x gives you enough magnification to identify targets easily. The adjustment ring, with its optional throw lever, operates super smooth. Those flip covers take a little bit of getting used to, they are a bit stiffer than the normal ones I use. All those little add-ins are a nice touch too. The Thrive HD did everything I wanted it to do.

   The Thrive HD 1-8x24 is a good option for those looking for a LPVO. It is decently priced for the quality and clarity you get. It has a very useful illuminated reticle. The throw lever, to adjust the magnification, is super smooth. You really get a lot of optic for your money with the ZeroTech Thrive HD line. Go check out Zerotech’s line of optics, they might have something that fits with your shooting style.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

1-8 power LPVO with a hunting style MOA reticle

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a LPVO in the 1-8 power range

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Focal Plane Second (SFP)

  • Reticle calibrated magnification power: 8x

  • Magnification Range: 1-8x

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

  • Main Tube Diameter: 30mm

  • Main tube Material: 7075 – T6

  • Turret Index Value: 0.25MOA

  • Internal Elevation Adjustment: 90 MOA

  • Internal Windage Adjustment: 90 MOA

  • Parallax Adjustment Range: Fixed 100 Meters

  • Exit Pupil Diameter: Low: 8mm; High: 3mm

  • Eye Relief: 3.58-3.94 inches or 91-100mm

  • Field Of View @100 Meters: Low: 41.6 m; High: 5.1 m

  • Field of view @ 100 Yards: Low: 124.8 ft; High: 15.5 ft

  • Lens Coating: Fully Multi Coated (FMC)

  • Weight: 22 ounces or 624g

  • Illumination: Yes

  • Waterproof Rating: IPX7

  • Aluminum flip covers

  • Adjustment tool

  • Neoprene scope cover

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

G4 reticle    

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Precision-rifle.com

Price point:

MSRP = $449.00

Retail = Natchez Shooting Supply

I need it now! Availability:

ZeroTech Optics

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Good clarity

  • Easy to use reticle

  • Brightness adjustment

  • Throw lever

  • Premium flip covers

Cons:

  • Tight eyebox

  • Only 5 brightness levels

  • No shake awake brightness feature

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  SRU Bullpup Chassis review  

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Vaca Jerky

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Vaca Jerky

Review

  A while back I was asked if I wanted to try out a new kind of jerky. The answer is always yes when it comes to jerky. That company is VACA Jerky. They have hit the streets with a thin cut, crispy style jerky, and it's pretty good. 

  VACA Jerky starts with marbled beef. VACA says that the marbling makes the flavor. They are not wrong. They also double dehydrate the meat. This process ends up making a “crispy” style of beef jerky. It also enhances the flavors. 

  Currently there are three styles of VACA jerky to choose from. The “Classic”, which is your everyday smoke flavor. The “Mild”, which adds a little bit of spice, but not too much. Last is the “Spicy”, which as you can guess, is the hottest version. All of these are the crispy style of jerky that VACA makes. You can order them in individual 2 ounce packs, or a sampler pack. Of course the sampler pack has a bag of the three different styles for you to try. 

  I am not going to try to explain the flavor profiles, but I will tell you how my taste buds interpreted them: 

  • The “Classic”: Your regular smoke flavor. The one most people would recognize when you say the word “jerky”. I liked the bold flavor.

  • The “Mild”: This one has the same smoke flavor, but with a little bit of kick to it. Of the 3 flavors, the Mild is my absolute favorite. 

  • The “Spicy”: VACA named this one right. It has a big kick to it. So much so that it loses a little of the smoke flavoring. You can even see the pepper seeds on the jerky. I also liked this one, I would say it is my second choice after the “mild”. 

  The VACA jerky is different at first. Most of us are not used to crispy jerky. I had one friend relate it to crispy bacon, and I thought that summed it up pretty well, at least texture wise. However, once I got a taste for the VACA crisp jerky, I couldn't stop eating it. So much for saving some for later. I also hear it is Keto friendly and high in protein. 

  After eating pretty much all the samples, I can say VACA has some good jerky. The double dehydration just locks in that flavor. Then you get that signature “crunch”. Together it makes for a new jerky experience. If you want a “different” jerky, head over to VACA Jerky and give it a try.  

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Double dehydrated beef jerky

Target Market:

Anyone who likes beef jerky

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Thin sliced marbled meat

  • Keto friendly

  • Double dehydrated

  • High in protein

  • 3 flavor to choose from

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

3 different flavors

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

All Outdoor    

Price point:

MSRP = $10.99 per package

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

VACA Jerky

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Good flavor

  • High in protein

  • Crisp like bacon

  • Easy to pack around 

Cons:

  • Price

  • Hard to find locally

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Vosteed Raccoon Review

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TIMBER CREEK ENFORCER 10/22 CHASSIS

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TIMBER CREEK

ENFORCER 10/22 CHASSIS REVIEW

  We all go down rabbit holes sometimes, especially when we start trying to modify our firearms to be a symbol of ourselves. Well I did this with my Ruger 10/22. It took me a year to almost finish the build and I am now close to 100% complete with it. I received a Timber Creek Enforcer Chassis for the 10/22 rifle, as the title entails. Right off the bat I noticed that I had gone out to left field and was in trouble. So I put the chassis on the rifle and noticed that it was a lot lighter than my original wood stock version that came on my varmint edition rifle. I started making a list of things to change that would make the chassis suited for what I thought it deserved. This is the beginning of the rabbit hole. 

  The Timber Creek chassis itself weighs around 22 ounces. Now I don't know what a wood stock weighs but it is a heck of a lot more. The rifle with the original barrel seemed a little unwieldy. It had a long barrel so the forearm for the chassis system seemed short. This is where I ordered a new barrel from Byers Barrels. This barrel was a liner type, ultralight 16.5” barrel. This made the rifle better. Well I soon realized I needed a trigger system and reached out to TandomKross. I then received a trigger pack from them. I thought the 10/22 was complete, not hardly. Well, I needed an ultra light bolt, lightweight scope mounts, extended charging handle, and a Vortex optic. Now here is the fun part, do I use a buffer tube or does it need a folder on it? So stand by and I will tell you.

  The Enforcer chassis is a skeleton style system that is straightforward to install on any of the standard 10/22 rifle systems. Just take the barrel and action out and drop it in the chassis. Use the screws that come with it and you're done. Install your favorite AR style grip, then you get to decide how to finish off the rear of it. It has buffer tube threads on the rear, so you can install a tube and your favorite stock on the rear. I opted for a screw in folding adapter that I ordered for a TC rifle years back. I installed a buffer tube and a stock I had laying around. 

  Now to the good stuff and out of the rabbit hole. The chassis is machined out of aluminum and machined very well I might add. It has M Lok slots machined at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions for your favorite accessories. The chassis up front has a lot of machined holes to decrease the weight. Where the forearm meets the main body, it is machined at an angle and has 4 lines machined in it. I assume this is for resting the rifle on a barricade, a limb, or what have you to get a stable shooting position. Down the side it is a little thicker, this is where the action drops in, yet it is angled and radiused for a smooth feel. The rear of the system has direct holes machined through it. What for? I am not sure, but it is cool looking. Then the end has the threads for the buffer tube.

  The Timber Creek Enforcer 10/22 chassis comes in numerous colors from mild to wild. I opted for just the plain black anodized color. Timber Creek also has systems for numerous other style rifles, like the Remington 700 and AR 15. The website does not have all the specs that I would usually add to the review. I can tell you this chassis turns your rifle to a top notch plinker or something that is ready for your local .22lr precision match. This chassis system is just the base for what you can do. It is a great foundation to build a 10/22 to your heart's content. The only thing lacking here is your imagination for when you get started building. Again, I am not completely done with mine because there is always something more to add to it. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to fame:

Lightweight chassis system

Turns the ordinary rifle into a different style rifle

Target Market:

People that want AR style in a non AR rifle

Those that want personality in their rifle

Competitive shooters

Those whose choose quality and value

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Quality machined aircraft grade aluminum

  • Hard anodizing or Cerakote finish

  • Easy installation

  • Weight: 1.4 pounds

  • Uses AR buffer Tube

  • M-Lok mounting slots

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Numerous different colors

What others are saying:

First Impressions

The moment you pick it up, you can feel the premium quality. Made from lightweight, aircraft-grade aluminum, the Enforcer chassis doesn’t just look good—it’s built to perform. And the anodized finishes? Chef’s kiss. Whether you’re into sleek black or want to make a statement with vibrant red or blue, Timber Creek has styles for everyone.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP - $399.99

I need it now! 

Timber Creek Outdoors or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • American Made

  • Lightweight

  • Great customer service

  • Easy installation

Cons:

  • I feel it needs a longer forearm

  • Website is lacking specs

Score: 8.00 Great

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Traser P99 A Tactical Carbon

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Traser P99 A Tactical

Watch Review

  A watch review was not on my radar. Then, Traser Watch sent me a press release. So I asked if I could review one of their new Tactical watches. Traser kindly sent me the new P99 A Tactical Carbon. It has tritium dials, an automatic Swiss movement, and a carbon fiber polymer case. 

  One might ask what a watch has to do with firearms, outdoors, or anything else we review? To start with, who doesn’t need to tell time? How are you supposed to know what time to meet up for the boogaloo, when to testify on the gun control hearing at the capitol, or more importantly, when to be home from the range for dinner. Either way, having a tacticool watch that winds itself should be reason enough. But mainly, if you are into the stuff we do here, there is a good chance that you are into quality watches also. After all, it is another piece of gear that helps you in your day to day life.

  The Traser P99 looks exactly like you would expect from a tactical watch. It has an outside bezel with corresponding 5 minute marks laid out around it. So every 5, 10, 15 minutes and so on. Inside the bezel it also has these same minute marks in a smaller font size. On the watch face, it has tritium vials at every hour mark. With the 12 o’clock mark being orange in color instead of green like all the others. Of course there are white minute marks going around the dial as well. Inside those are numbers 13-24, so if you use military time, Traser has you covered for that too. In the 6 - 9 o’clock space is also a date reading. This “date” shows a bunch of the day's numbers, but has a red chevron (arrow) pointing to the today date. The hour and minute hands are painted red but also have a green tritium insert in them to see them in darkness. The second hand has a little orange tritium insert in it. Besides just tritium inserts, the P99 also uses Super LumiNova luminescence, or glow in the dark. For the luminescence glow, there is a complete circle around the watch face along with the 15, 30 , and 45 minutes marks on the bezel. Covering all that is an anti-glare sapphire crystal. The P99 watch face is nicely designed and easy to read, day or night.

  Traser’s first watch was made in 1989. This watch was made for the US Army and was the first ever tritium watch. The first watch was made possible because of a company called Trigalight. They were the first to mainstream the manufacturing process of tritium into little vials, down to 0.3mm in size. These vials can be installed into anything that you want to glow. Trigalight probably produces tritium vials for most, if not all the manufacturers in the firearm space. Trigalight and Traser are sister companies under the MB Microtec umbrella, which helps explain the P99 watch from Traser.

Luminescent glow and tritium

Tritium only

  For the P99 A, Traser uses a Swiss automatic movement. The “A” after the P99 stands for “automatic”, if you have not picked up on that yet. The automatic movement winds the watch from movement in your wrist. So unlike solar watches, you don’t need light for it to keep time. It does have a power reserve of about 2 days, but also can be manually wound using the crown. I only wear a watch during the day and take it off at night. I have not had to ever wind the watch manually. One flaw with automatic winding watches is that they have a specification for how accurately they keep time. The Traser P99’s spec is plus or minus 30 seconds a day, with the best automatic watches being plus or minus 15 seconds a day. The P99’s movement is fully mechanical, so no batteries are ever needed.

  Surrounding the automatic movement is a carbon fiber reinforced polymer. This case also has a steel container to house the automatic movement of the watch. This carbon polymer case is what gives the watch its looks. It also has flake style carbon on the watch face itself. I am pretty hard on watches and I have not even marred the P99’s case. Hooked to the case is a choice of 3 different watch straps. You can either get a fabric NATO strap in grey camo or black, with the other option being a rubber strap. I opted for the camo NATO strap and couldn’t be happier. 

  The Traser P99 A has a few other features. The mechanical movement can be seen from the back of the watch, through a large clear window. All this really does is make it look cool and I am okay with that. The P99 A also has a water resistance rating of 20 ATM which is the equivalent of 200 meters under water. Helping to make this water resistance specification is a “screw down crown”. What is a “crown”? Well, the crown is the part of the watch that winds it, or adjusts the date and time. On the P99, to adjust the date or time, you must first unscrew the crown, which is the little dial thing on the side of the watch. Then just pull it out to the correct step and adjust what is needed. Push it back in, screw the crown down, and you will be back to getting wet and telling time, in no time.

  The bezel, or the outer ring of the watch face, on the P99 rotates. It rotates with a click for every minute. Why you might ask? It is so you can spin it to match up with the minute hand. Then you will be able to tell the elapsed time. So say you wanted to train pistol draw strokes for 20 minutes. Just turn the dial to the current minute hands position, then when the minute hand gets to the 20 on the bezel number, you know you have done 20 minutes worth. It is pretty easy and useful for certain things.

  I have worn the Traser P99 A for months now. It is not a small watch by any means, but it isn’t huge either. I like the size. There are a few aspects of the P99 that I do not care for, but they are minor. One is that this particular watch gains about 2-2.5 minutes a week. It is within the Swiss movement's specifications. I just turn it back 5 minutes every two weeks. Since it gains time, you will always be early for dinner. My only other complaint is that the bezel needs a stronger spring, or whatever is used in it for the detent positions. It moves sometimes. Like I mentioned, I am pretty hard on watches because I work with my hands, so the bezel is getting bumped and moved. On a positive note, I have yet to have scratched the crystal or marred up the watch case. A true testament on how rugged this watch actually is. I shoot with the watch on also. I have destroyed other watches while doing this, both analog and digital. The P99 has withstood everything I threw at it. The tritium in the watch is super bright. I really enjoy being able to tell time in dimly lit rooms easily because of this. The Traser P99 A Tactical has been a great watch

  If you happen to be looking for a “tactical” style watch that never needs batteries, the Traser P99 A might be for you. Its auto winding Swiss movement is nice. The tritium inserts are what really make this watch shine. They are super bright and placed just about everywhere on the watch. This watch is also almost indestructible. Maybe the most important aspect is that the Traser P99 A Tactical Carbon looks great. Go check it out, along with the other Traser products at www.traser.com. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Tritium watch with automatic winding Swiss movement 

Target Market:

Anyone wanting an analog tactical watch that never needs winding

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Trigalight self-luminous technology on the dial, hands and underneath the Traser logo

  • Luminescent glass seal

  • Trigalight cross insert in bezel, Super-LumiNova (SLN) marking on bezel

  • Luminescent ring on crown

  • Movement: Swiss made automatic

  • Size: Ø 46mm

  • Glass: Anti-reflective sapphire

  • Carbon fiber-reinforced polymer double case with internal steel container

  • Screwed-down crown

  • Transparent case back

  • Carbon fiber back face

  • Date window at 7.5 o’clock

  • Strap: Textile NATO strap and rubber strap

  • Water resistance: 20 atm / 20 bar

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Non Automatic, Different bands

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

A Blog to WATCH   

Price point:

MSRP = $1165.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Traser USA is your best bet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Tritium is bright! 

  • Luminescent dial

  • Carbon fiber case construction 

  • Automatic movement 

  • Water resistance 

Cons:

  • Gains time, so time needs reset every couple of weeks 

  • Bezel doesn’t stay in one place

  • Price

Score: 8.50 Great 

,

ZRODelta ZRO FKS-9

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ZRO FKS-9 Review

  When I first heard about the Zro Delta FKS-9, I was intrigued. Mainly because it is a Gen3 Glock 19 clone for $400. The name also made me laugh “Zro Fks 9”, you get the point. The FKS-9 also had “upgrades” that should make it better than a G19. Which is probably why you are here reading this. So let’s get started.

  As mentioned, the FKS-9 is essentially a G19. It is the same size and uses the same parts, or at least Glock gen 3 parts. What that means to you is that Gen 3 Glock triggers, sights, barrels, slides, and magazines will work with the FKS-9. The only part that is not Gen 3 compatible is the reversible Gen 4 magazine release button. In my experience, it will also fit in my G19 and G17 Holsters.

  The frame on the ZRO FKS-9 is where the real differences are. To start with, it has excellent texture on the pistol grip. It is not too harsh, but still gives a good grip when firing. There are no interchangeable backstraps with this one. All you get is a molded in curved style. This grip seems to fit various size hands comfortably, except maybe some smaller ones. The extended beavertail and double undercut trigger guard help the FKS-9 to fit those larger hands without much trouble or slide bite. Instead of a picatinny rail at the front, Zro Delta decided to go with the standard Glock light rail. This is fine since there are plenty of lights out there that will fit it. My favorite part of the frame is the “Control Ledges” that are above the front of the trigger guard. These ledges do two things: they give you a reference point to index your trigger finger when not shooting, and they give you a spot to rest your support hand thumb, thus helping to dampen muzzle flip. These ledges actually have a textured ledge to them. This ledge extends out from the frame about 1/16th of an inch to give you some real bite with your thumbs. The magwell is ever so slightly beveled to help with reloads. Lastly, the frame also has a 18 degree grip angle instead of the Glock's 22 degree angle. This grip angle makes it point better for most people. 

  Up top of the ZRO FKS-9 is a nice looking slide. It is made from 416 stainless steel and then  black nitride plated. The slide has no identifying marks on it. Instead, the 4 inch match grade barrel is marked with the ZRO logo. There are front and rear angled slide serrations. These are cut nicely and give it a good grip, even with gloved or wet hands. On top sits a set of 3-dot steel sights. These sights are usable, even if they are pretty plain. Inside the slide sits a one piece style recoil spring assembly that rides on a stainless rod. The rest of the parts are just normal gen 3 slide parts. All this makes the FKS-9 shoot pretty accurately.

One of the actual failures

  Now it is time for my relationship with the ZRO FKS-9. The pistol doesn’t live up to its name. Yes, I really like the grip angle, even though the pistol felt a little bit snappy to me. It also carries nicely in a holster. The texture didn’t kill my skin while carrying, a bonus I would say. Now the bad. I had a lot of stove pipe failures, like 2 in the first 50 rounds, then about 1 every 150 rounds past that for a total of 6 in the 750 rounds I shot. I even used 4 different types of magazines on separate trips out, as well as various types and brands of ammunition. The front sight also came loose at the 280 round mark. Luckily I noticed it before it went flying downrange. I then loctited it in and didn’t have any problems with it coming loose after that. The trigger pull weight also came in at 6.25 pounds after breaking it in. I know it is a Glock trigger, but I was hoping for the stated 5.5 pounds. I would have also liked the base model to come with an optic cut and a few more magazines. The FKS-9 didn’t live up to the quality that I expected from Zro Delta.

  The best thing about the Zro Delta FKS-9 is its name. And from the problems I had, maybe they don’t give any. The pistol has some good things going for it, I just think they need to refine their quality control a bit. Then the ZRO FKS-9 might be something that will compare to the pistol it copies. Either way, if you want to check out the ZRO FKS-9, you can head over to Zro Delta and take a look at it.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Decently priced G19 clone with 1911 grip angle

Target Market:

Those wanting a Glock compatible G19 size pistol for less than the price of a Glock

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 9x19mm

  • Advanced Polymer Frame and Handle

  • Reversible Ambidextrous Magazine Release

  • Improved 18-degree Grip Angle

  • 416 Stainless Steel slide

  • 4140 Precision Match Barrel, 4”

  • 15 Round Capacity,  1 Magpul magazine included

  • Sights: White Dot Rear/Front

  • Trigger Pull: 5.5lb

  • Width: 1.25”

  • Weight: 21.5 oz

  • Enhanced Beavertail

  • Double-undercut Trigger Guard

  • Control Ledge above trigger guard

  • Glock® Gen3 compatible

  • Made in USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

RMR cut or Plate System

What others are saying?:

Not much found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Athlon Outdoors    

RTT: Guns & Gear on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP = $399.99

Retail = $350.00

I need it now! Availability:

ZRODelta or your local gun shop

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • The NAME

  • Grip texture

  • Uses Gen 3 Glock parts

  • Magazine well

  • Undercut Trigger Guard

  • Beavertail

Cons:

  • Trigger pull is a little stiff

  • Random stovepipe failures 

  • Base option should come with RMR cut

  • Front sight came loose

Score: 6.00 Okay

, ,

Triclops Sights

, ,

Triclops Sight Review

  I have a serious astigmatism and normal red dot sights are an issue for me. During one of our podcast episodes we discussed products from Triclops Sights. They manufacture, what can be best described as, an analog red dot. These are iron sights that contain fiber optics.

  The front sight is tall, like a suppressor height sight. The rear sight is a rectangle that has red fiber optics at the 12, 3 and 9 o'clock positions. 

  The sights are firearm model, caliber, and eye dominant specific. They have sights for the Beretta APX, Desert Eagle in 41 Mag, VP9, Smith & Wesson M&P line, CZ75 and many more. The pulldown menu is on their website. 

  I have a Glock 19. I'm right handed and right eye dominant. I received my sights in November 2023 and had them installed immediately. My friend Nick had a sight pusher. He got these sights installed quickly for me. All that was left for me to do was install the fiber optics by sliding them into place, cutting them to size, and burning the tip to keep them in place. It was quick and easy.

  The Triclops sights work due to your eye naturally centering the green front sight between the red rear fiber optic posts. I'll take a quote from Triclops Sights website, “Geometric centering is your eye's natural ability to find the exact center of a shape. This concept incorporated in the Triclops Sight allows you to aim and acquire your target faster than traditional notch and blade sights.” This new sight picture may take effort for some to run. It is simple if you don't overthink the sight picture. It is the same principle as centering your AR15 front sight post in the center of your rear sight aperture. 

  According to the company website, the Triclops sights help you fire with both eyes open. They help you shoot more accurately, faster, and assist in increasing your situational awareness when you're shooting.

  I planned on using these sights during different types of shooting and in various conditions. I used them at indoor matches, action shooting matches, Police Combat Competition, and training classes around the country. I fired the Triclops sights under the pressure of timed competition. I feel they were faster when shooting and transitioning from target to target than regular bladed sights. Close targets got smoked quickly!  The second I saw the green front sight anywhere on the target, I squeezed the trigger. When I moved back to the 25-yard line, it was easy to stay in the center of a B27 target or IDPA targets.

  I took the Dynamic Rifle 2 class with ROC Training at the South Jersey Shooting Club on a sunny October day. While running drills, we would transition to our handgun when our carbines ran empty. These sights really popped outside. Shooting and moving, firing weak hand, and from cover I was hitting the targets effortlessly.  During one training iteration at 50 yards, these sights easily equaled, or beat, other students that had more expensive pistols equipped with red dots. Sucseffully hitting a full size IDPA steel target five times in a row.

  My reviews generally are long term reviews. I've been using Triclops Sights for 15 months. They have been used and abused in training class, competitions, and practice. They are carried as my everyday carry in the Fattac Standard Holster. It also works in the JX Tactical Fat Guy Holsters and the Hailey Strategic G-Code Incog RMR tuckable holster. These holsters all have been designed for a red dot mounted Glock 19.

  I read concerns that the Triclops sight looked large. I saw comments that it looked as large as some red dots. I had the Vortex Defender CCW Micro Dot on hand. It has the Shield RMSc footprint. At 1.6 inches long theDefender CCW is considered a small red dot. It looks huge next to the Triclops Sight.

 The Triclops Sights have held up to my use, which is to put it mildly, rough. I have not broken the fiber optics. There is a small bit of surface rust on the side of the sight that lays against me while I carry. 

  Triclops Sights are what the website says and more. I believe these sights are in a category between traditional sights and red dots. Especially if you have astigmatism like mine. Which nearly every red dot looks like a rorschach test.

  These sights allow me to see faster, and shoot accurately faster, than regular bladed sights. My scores and times in competition reflect these facts. They cost less than all but the lowest priced red dots. They don't require batteries. They are tough. These sights have been used to rack the slide during one hand manipulation drills. There's been no damage or loss of zero. I recommend these Triclops sights to anyone that has astigmatism or just wants to try an “analog red dot” sight. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

This product is great for people with bad astigmatism. It's also a good alternative to suppressor height sights. It's a step between traditional sights and a red dot optic. 

Target Market:

It is faster than iron sights with much less of a learning curve than red dots. It has a smaller footprint than every red dot on the market with fast sight acquisition. Triclops Sights are less expensive than every quality red dot on the market. 

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product 

  • Triclops Sights are for people who have problems seeing traditional sights 

  • They are an analog red dot for people that have issues with astigmatism 

  • They help shooters shoot accurately faster due to a larger sight picture and faster sight alignment 

  • Constructed from 4140 steel. 

  • Red and green fiber optic rods are included

  • Available for a bunch of different handguns

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Much like Henry Ford's Model T, You can have it in any color. As long as that color is black. 

What others are saying?:

"I want to thank Sean at TriclopsSights.com for hooking me up with this sight system to test and evaluate. Pretty much an analog CCO and NVD capable. First 15 rounds with the sight were at 7 meters doing first round draw drills. First two were flyers b/c I wasn't using the sight correctly. I was skeptical at first but now all I can say is wow. Put the threat in the TV screen and squeeze.” - Colton Baitch

I took my small little sub compact to the range with my new Triclops sights. Started close around 7yds to get a feel for the sight. It happened quickly, around 5 shots before I was in a small ring. This was amazing as it is but what really surprised me was being able to shoot quite a long distance somewhere around 25 yards with my small little carry gun and be extremely accurate. I was also happy with how quickly I could now shoot my carry gun. I plan on trying these sights on one of my larger full size competition guns and can’t wait to see the results. So more to report later- Hope Lewellen

Link to other reviews:

Triclops Sights Review: New Sights for Old Glock

Price point:

MSRP = $119.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Triclops Sights

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • High-quality iron sights 

  • The sights are faster to acquire than traditional sights at close range 

  • The sights are faster and easier to shoot at long range than traditional notch and blade sights 

  • They are tough. I haven't been able to break them

  • They have no batteries

  • They double as suppressor height sights 

  • Fiber optics are inexpensive and easy to replace 

  • They are easier and faster to learn and acquire a sight picture to those untrained in the use of a red dot 

  • They are easier to conceal and are less likely to snag clothing because they have a smaller footprint than every red dot on the market 

Cons:

  • It looks unusual. Instructors and friends all have, initially, look at this with suspicion. 

  • It has a slight learning curve. It took a few range trips to understand how to get the most out of the product 

  • If you don't have one of the firearms models listed on their website you'll have to call the company to inquire if the sight will work on your firearm 

Score: 9.25 - Amazing

I think it's a sighting system between traditional sights and red dot optics.

, ,

Walker Defense Dark Matter BCG

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Walker Defense Dark Matter

High-Polish DLC BCG Review

  The heart of an AR15 is the Bolt Carrier Group or BCG. A quality BCG can make your rifle perform like a champion. A mil-spec BCG might work, but will not perform as well, especially if you are trying to get the best performance out of it. Walker Defense Research has released their Dark Matter Bolt Carrier Group. This highly polished, fitted, and DLC coated BCG is of the utmost quality.

  When looking for a Bolt Carrier Group, either to replace one or for a new build, there are things to consider. Do you want cheap, or are you looking for top quality that will last forever? The Walker Defense Dark Matter BCG is in the top quality group. To start with, it is a M16 style full auto carrier. So if you are fortunate to have a full auto M16, M4, etc, it will work with that. More important is the fact that the M16 carrier has the full mass, which allows it to run more smoothly, at least in my opinion. This Dark Matter carrier is also made from 8620 tool steel for a lifetime of use. 

  The Dark Matter BCG has a bunch of hi-end specifications. Some of these I will describe more in depth later. This BCG is for standard calibers and for use in direct impingement guns. These include 5.56/.223/300 blk, etc. It weighs 11-⅝ ounces and is made to true mil-spec dimensions. On the front end it has a C158 bolt that is magnetic particle inspected and high pressure tested. The 4130 gas key is properly staked using Optimized Carrier Key Screws (OCKS). These screws are deeply knurled to allow the staking to dig in, making them almost impossible to come loose. Lastly, the Dark matter BCG is DLC coated.

  Walker Defense is all about small batch quality. Here is what they have to say about the Dark Matter BCG: “We’ve always leaned into our advantage as a company specializing in small-batch production, but we’re taking it further. Those extra touches of quality add up and give us the ability to do things that larger companies just can’t. A few quick tangible examples of this:

Each carrier is matched by hand to each bolt and cam pin to prevent tolerance stacking and to ensure ideal, consistent fitment as the bolt cams back and forth.

We also pair each bolt with its firing pin to confirm adequate protrusion for reliable primer ignition.

Using OCKS screws for ultra-aggressive staking of the gas key, so it won’t loosen at high round counts”

Those are just a few things Walker Defense does to give you the best BCG around.

  DLC, or Diamond-Like Carbon coatings have been around for a while, but the Dark Matter BCG takes it to a new level. DLC coatings by themselves are extremely hard, corrosion and wear-resistant, and very slick, which gives them low coefficients of friction and superior dry lubricity. Walker Defense takes this up a notch by aggressively polishing the bare metal, before it is coated. As with most machined parts, a BCG is only as good as its base metal. This polishing is a very labor intensive process which makes the Dark Matter BCG super slick and mirror-like shiny. Then after a high quality dark black DLC coating is applied, they polish the DLC coated BCG again. This makes the BCG even more slick (and also hard to take pictures of because of the mirror finish it produces). By polishing the BCG before and after coating, you get an extremely smooth surface that carbon has a hard time sticking to. Cleanup on the Dark matter BCG is super easy. One can literally just wipe it off with a rag. Carbon just doesn’t stick to this BCG.

  I am using the Dark Matter BCG in a 300 blackout AR pistol. This pistol ran suppressed for around 60% of the review. Why does this matter? Because the pistol gets a lot dirtier. The upper on this pistol is nothing special, just your off the shelf AR upper receiver. Before installing the Dark Matter BCG, I was running a Mil-Spec BCG. After I installed the Dark Matter BCG I could tell a smoothness difference. Not just in how the gun cycles under use, but also when hand cycling the action. The AR pistol is just way more pleasant to shoot now. Another thing I noticed was that the brass ejection was more consistent than with the mil-spec BCG. I attribute this to the action cycling smoother. After around 800 rounds, I can’t even really notice any wear on the Dark Matter BCG, a testament to that fantastic polished DLC coating. 

  The Walker Defense Dark Matter BCG is slick, pun intended. This BCG is of the utmost quality. It has all the standard features you would want in a high quality BCG: MPI and HPT tested, DLC coated, quality base metals, and true mil-spec dimensions. That does not even count the “extras” Walker Defense puts into these. One would be hard pressed to find a better, or smoother BCG. The price on these is very reasonable for what you get, definitely a high value to price ratio. If you are looking for the slickest, highest quality BCG around, definitely go look at the Dark Matter High Polished BCG from Walker Defense. These are literally super slick.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Super slick, high quality bolt carrier group that is easy to clean

Target Market:

Those wanting a superior BCG

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Coating: Highly-Polished DLC

  • Compatibility: M16/ M4 / AR-15 Using Direct Gas Impingement (not for use in piston guns)

  • Calibers: 5.56x45mm NATO / .223 Remington / .300 AAC Blackout

  • Profile: Full Auto Style Carrier w/ Properly Staked Gas Key

  • Bolt: C158

  • Carrier: 8620 Tool Steel

  • Total Weight: 11 5/8 OZ.

  • True Mil-Spec dimensions

  • 4130 steel gas key

  • Staked with OCKS Screws

  • 4140 steel extractor and cam pin

  • Hard chrome ground 8740 steel firing pin

  • Magnetic particle inspected

  • High Pressure Tested (HPT)

  • Made in the USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Nickel Boron, Titanium, & Flat Dark Earth DLC

What others are saying?:

Couldn’t find anything as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

VSO Gun Channel on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $269.99

Retail = $229.49 with discount code “Insider15”

I need it now! Availability:

Walker Defense or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Super Slick mirror finish

  • Easy to clean

  • Deep black DLC coating

  • Properly staked OKCS screws

  • Polished before and after coating

  • M16 profile

Cons:

  • May not always be in stock

Score: 9.00 Amazing

,

Tactical Kinetics 300 blackout Barrel

,

Tactical Kinetics 300 blackout

Barrel Review

  Have you ever had something so long that you end up going down a deep hole of what you want to do with it? Well I did with this barrel. I had it on the shelf, looked at it, and wanted to do so many things with it that it soon became a thorn in my side. Now this thorn is me, not the barrel. The Tactical Kinetics 300 blackout barrel is fantastic. It is well machined and looks better than some of the big name rifle makers barrels. Tactical Kinetics sent me this barrel for review almost a year ago. No excuses but life happened and that's why it has taken so long to do this review.

  I mounted the barrel in a no name, unbranded, upper and put it on a PSA lower that has a Sylvan folding adapter. Fitment of the Tactical Kinetics barrel was plain and simple: great machining, the coating in the barrel looked good, and the threads for the barrel nut were properly machined. I ended up taking it apart three times, changing out gas tubes, gas block, and finally going with an adjustable gas block from Velocity Precision. 

  After completing the first build, it ate everything I fed into it when I was firing for reliability. Except for the subsonic 220 grain ammo I had for testing. I knew this was either a gas issue or a buffer weight issue. So back to the drawing board. Build two was now completed and the Tactical Kinetics barrelled upper was placed on a SBR lower. In a bout of frustration, it still would not run my subsonic ammo. So for the third and final time, I reassembled all the same parts. The rifle worked with all my ammo now. What a relief. Then I realized everything I had done, when I put all the parts together, was my fault. We won't go into that now.

  At the range, I took the little 8.5” barrel out and sighted it in at 25 yards. It fired all different weights of ammo. The barrel grouped best with 204 grain subsonics with a suppressor attached to it. I only had a red dot on top and was shooting from a rolled up jacket. Then I went to dumping magazine after magazine through it to see what it would do when it was hot. Well there was not a lot of shift in impact, maybe 1” and that was probably me. The accuracy was far better than a Bear Creek upper that I have with the same length barrel. Groups off the rolled up jacket were about 2.5 inches. For me and my intended use of this rifle, I thought it was great. 

  This is my first barrel review and it has been hard to do. What I can say about the Tactical Kinetics barrel is that the machining is quality, the rifling was good, and it grouped well. I know comparing it to a BCA upper is not fair, but that is all I had. 

  Would I recommend this company to buy from? Damn skippy I do. I already have a wish list going for a few 6.5 Grendel barrels they offer. Tactical Kinetics is one of the company’s you want to do business with. Quality parts, great customer service, and patience for not sending headhunters out for the review. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

The Tactical Kinetics 300 Blackout Barrel is recognized for its accuracy, reliability, and is compatible with various 300 Blackout rifle builds.

Target Market:

This barrel is ideal for shooters looking to upgrade or build a 300 Blackout AR platform. It’s particularly well-suited for home defense, tactical shooting, and hunting enthusiasts who value subsonic and supersonic versatility.

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Material: Made from 4150 CMV steel

  • Medium profile

  • 0.750 Gas journal

  • Twist Rate: 1:8 twist rate, optimized for stabilizing both supersonic and subsonic loads.

  • Length: 85” also available in 5”, 7.5”, 10.5”, and 16” length

  • Gas System: Pistol-length gas system

  • Finish: Nitride coated

  • Threading: 5/8x24

  • Chambering: 300 Blackout

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different barrel length and twist rates are available

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing worthwhile found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $110.00

Retail = Depends on barrel length

I need it now! Availability:

Tactical Kinetics

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • Reliable cycling with subsonic loads.

  • Durable nitride finish.

  • Accurate 1:8 twist rate.

  • Good price point for quality.

Cons:

  • Limited to one finish option.

  • May require fine-tuning with certain subsonic ammo and gas blocks.





Score: 8.50  Great

,

Primary Arms SLx 1-10x28 ACSS NOVA

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Primary Arms

SLx 1-10x28 ACSS NOVA Review

  A few years ago, Primary Arms started making their NOVA fiber dot reticle. This bridged the gap between the Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO) and the red dot. Primary Arms has recently put the NOVA reticle into their SLx 1-10x28 optic. This is huge for those wanting more magnification over the SLx 1-6x24 NOVA. 

  The Primary Arms SLx 1-10x28 NOVA is packed with features. For starters, they increased the tube to 34mm from 30mm’s in the 1-6. This allows more light to get into the optic and back to your eye. This larger tube lets you see better at lower light levels as well as at the full 10x magnification. They also throw in flip up lens caps to keep the glass clean when not in use.

  Next on the feature list is the capped turrets. The turrets are a vital part in setting up your optic. Or at least getting it sighted in. I am not super thrilled with the turrets that Primary Arms uses on this LPVO. The clicks are fine and can be felt easily. My gripe is that they remind me of something that was used on scopes 20 years ago. They are small plastic knobs with a flat piece of metal that rotates to set your zero position. Then there is a tiny recess, in the threads, to line up your “zero” with. I was just hoping for something more like the SLx 1-6x24 NOVA. The caps that cover the turrets are nice. They have good texture to unscrew them. The windage knob cap also has storage for an extra 2032 battery. Yes, it comes with an extra battery already in the cap. On the left side of the LPVO is the brightness knob. It has 11 brightness settings from low light to burn your eyeballs out bright. However, it is not night vision compatible. The SLx 1-10 does not have Primary Arms’ Autolive. However, I did install their Autolive battery cap and it works like a charm.

  Eye relief for the SLx 1-10 LPVO is pretty good. Primary Arms states 3.2 - 3.5 inches, which seems about right. I did notice that the eyebox is pretty forgiving. I did not need to be exactly in the stated window to see through the optic clearly. The SLx also has a fast focus diopter so you can adjust the reticle to be crystal clear. Also, on this end of the optic is the magnification throw lever. Of course it goes from a true 1x all the way to 10x. The magnification adjustment is very smooth and rotates right at 180 degrees from 1x - 10x. Primary Arms also uses their removable throw lever. This one is about ¾ inch long. You can get different height ones from Primary Arms, as well as a fold down lever. 

  Now it is reticle time. The SLx 1-10x28 uses Primary Arms ACSS NOVA fiber wire reticle. This gives you a daylight bright red dot in the center of the reticle’s crosshairs. Basically a red LED travels through a fiber optic cable to the reticle, thus illuminating the reticle dot much brighter than a normal illuminated reticle. The center dot is roughly 0.6 MOA. Some people say the dot is too small to use it like a red dot. I am not one of those people, I love the Nova red dot. The rest of the ACSS NOVA reticle is a Mil based Second Focal Plane optic. So the reticle stays the same size throughout the magnification range. This also makes the Mil subtensions only accurate at the highest power, or 10x in this case. For elevation, there are 4 mil stadia lines below the center red dot. They are spaced 1 Mil apart, with ½ mil dots between them. These Mil stadia are wider at the top and progressively get narrower as you go down the reticle. This is so you can use them to range distance on an 18 inch wide target. On the horizontal stadia, there are 2 dots. These 2 dots represent approximately 3 mile per hour wind holds each. The crosshair taper can be used as a 3rd wind hold. The reticle is very useful for all kinds of things. I am a huge fan of the ACSS NOVA Mil reticle.

  When I first received the SLx 1-10x28, I had not received the rifle I was hoping to put it on. Since I had a “Range Day” competition coming up, I mounted it to my Primary Weapons piston AR15. Primary Arms had also sent their GLx 34 mm cantilever mount to use with the 1-10. It is a great mount by itself and puts the optic at just the right height for an AR. During the competition, I was able to use it like a red dot at 3-7 yard targets. Then I moved it up to about 3x to shoot some index cards at 50 yards. The optic performed great for that particular competition. And no, I didn’t win anything. The SLx 1-10 Nova now sits on a Global Ordnance Monolith, which was the rifle I was waiting to install it on. The 1-10 fits the rifle well and doesn’t add too much weight to it. After all, the SLx 1-10x28 Nova only weighs 19 ounces. I have also done a bunch of drills with the SLx on this rifle. The SLx worked great on it also. When I was shooting for groups, I had the SLx’s magnification turned up to 10x. On 10x the targets were easy to make out. The only problem I ran across was that at 10x, the scope is not as clear as at 1x. There was not a bunch of difference, but enough that I could notice. Even though it was noticeable to me, I could still make out 22 caliber holes at 100 yards easily enough. 

  I am a huge fan of the ACSS NOVA reticle in the SLx 1-10x28. Not only can you use this LPVO as a normal optic, it also can double as a red dot. You can even range targets with the Mil reticle. Pair it with the Primary Arms Autolive battery cap and you have an optic that is ready to go when you are. So if you are looking for that LPVO that has a little bit more magnification,  but still can be used fast and up close, give the Primary Arms SLx 1-10x28 ACSS NOVA a look.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality , inexpensive 1-10x optic with good features

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a quality LPVO at a fair price

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Battery Type: CR2032 3V Lithium Coin

  • Click Value: 1/2 MOA

  • Exit Pupil Diameter: Low: 9mm / High: 2.8mm

  • Field View 100: Low: 110 ft / High: 10 ft

  • Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane

  • Illuminated MRAD NOVA fiber reticle, red color

  • Eye Relief: 3.2” - 3.5”

  • Length: 10.5 in.

  • Magnification: 1X - 10X

  • 34mm tube

  • Objective Diameter: 28mm

  • Total Elevation and Windage Adjustment: 40 MOA

  • Low Profile Capped Turrets

  • Warranty: Lifetime

  • Weight: 19.1 oz.

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

ACSS Raptor and ACSS Griffin reticles

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars at PrimaryArms.com

Coyote Hunting 25-200 Yards

by Coyote Cam - 

  So, as we all know... the SLx 1-6x24 Nova has been the standard for the red dot bright LPVO with the Gen4. When I saw that they now make the exact same Nova illumination in the 1-10x28, it was time to pull the trigger on a 1-10x LPVO, but with any 1-10x I was a bit hesitant at first... but let me tell you, I am amazed at how clear this is out to 200 yards on 10x.

  Now... understand that this is for my dedicated Coyote setup out to 200 yards max, but also I have a heavy brush/timber area that I need to dial it back on and this 1x is running amazing.

  The red dot illumination helps when the reticle fades in the sun/tree line, which is why I wanted the Nova, but I needed more than 6x for target identification in dim light.

  If you are wanting something for the same reasons as I did, do not hesitate, the glass is actually super clear.

Link to other reviews:

Lynx Defense

Price point:

MSRP = $449.99

Retail = Same, but Primary Arms runs sales that take it below $400

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms or your local dealer

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • Red Dot NOVA reticle

  • Mil lines for ranging

  • Lightweight for size

  • Battery storage in windage knob cover

  • Capped turrets

  • Decent throw lever

Cons:

  • Old school turrets with no real zero setting

  • Little fuzzy around the edges at 10x

Score: 8.00 Great

,

True Blue Suppressor Cleaner & Syrup

,

True Blue Cleaner Concentrate

and Suppressor Syrup Review

  I recently received some, new to me, True Blue Gun Lube products. Those products are True Blue’s Gun Cleaner Concentrate and Suppressor Syrup. I previously reviewed their Gun Oil and it performed great, so I was excited to see how this stuff performed.

  Both of these products are purposely built for suppressor cleaning. The Cleaner Concentrate and the Suppressor Syrup can also be used on regular firearms for cleaning and preventative maintenance.

  Let us start with the Cleaner Concentrate. As advertised, this is a water soluble cleaner and degreaser for firearms and suppressors. This is not one of those harsh chemical cleaners. Therefore it takes time to break down carbon fouling. True Blue says to soak the heavy carbonated parts for 2-3 hours to start, and increase soaking time if needed to break up the carbon fouling. 

  I used the Cleaner Concentrate on 2 different suppressors. One was sealed, and the other has removable parts. For the sealed suppressor, plug one end and fill it up with Cleaner Concentrate. True Blue states you can use it undiluted or diluted in a 5:1 ratio for best results. Since I was cleaning two suppressors, I diluted it to 5:1. I let both suppressors sit for around 3 hours. The carbon did not want to come off of the baffles on the one with removable parts. So I let both soak for another 12 hours. After sitting, the carbon gummed up and came off pretty easy with a wire brush. But it did not get all the carbon. So I proceeded to pour the mixture in my ultrasonic cleaner. I dumped all the parts in and turned it on for 30 minutes with heat. That took the rest of the carbon off of the baffles. My suggestion would be to use the Cleaner Concentrate in an ultrasonic cleaner for best results. However, I think soaking it for a full 24 hours would have done the same thing. For the sealed suppressor, I then just blew air through it to dry it out. From what I could see, it looked cleaner.

Dirty suppressor internals. Previously coated in Suppressor Syrup

  Now that we have the suppressors clean, it is time to use the Suppressor Syrup. The Suppressor Syrup is a thick, kind of sticky oil. Imagine that, they call it syrup for a reason. The Suppressor Syrup is meant to prevent carbon from sticking to metal parts. That means you can use it on adjustable gas blocks, choke tubes, muzzle brakes, suppressor threads, suppressor adapters, or anything else that might get carboned up. The one drawback to the Suppressor Syrup is that it has to be reapplied. When? Basically any time you do maintenance. So it really is not a big deal.

  The Suppressor Syrup worked well for me. After cleaning the suppressors, I followed the directions for application. On the sealed suppressor, I put 10 drops into the connection end of the can. One went on the threads since it is a screw on suppressor. Then I shot a couple rounds through it and looked for the end to be wet. It was, so I knew that enough had been applied. On the suppressor that can be taken apart, I put a thin layer on each baffle and reassembled it. Then off to the range I went. 

Same internals after 30 minute ultrasonic cleaner bath using Cleaner Concentrate. Wiped with rag

  Since I am not the sharpest tool, I didn't get any pictures of how dirty the baffles really were before I started this process. I proceeded to disassemble the suppressor again to take some pictures. It was not as dirty as before, but it also didn't have as many rounds through it. Or was it because of the Suppressor Syrup? Either way, I threw the baffles in the sonic cleaner for 30 minutes and then wiped them off. You can see a difference in the pictures. I do think the Suppressor Syrup made a difference in how easily the carbon came off. 

  The True Blue Cleaner and Syrup are a good option to help keep those suppressors clean. Especially if you want something safe. The Concentrate Cleaner also works on just about every aspect of a firearm. As for the Suppressor Syrup, it makes cleaning easier by helping to prevent carbon from sticking. Go check out True Blue Gun products and see if they have something that might help you. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Easy to use suppressor cleaner and preventative 

Target Market:

Anyone who hates to clean suppressors

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

Cleaner:

  • Breaks down and removes carbon build up

  • Water Soluble

  • Safe on metals, plastics, neoprene, coatings used for firearms, suppressors, and knives

  • Ammonia free

  • Cleaner and Degreaser

Syrup:

  • Reduces carbon bonding

  • Eliminates Carbon Locking

  • Works on: 

    • Suppressor Internals

    • Compensators/Muzzle devices

    • Suppressor Barrel Mount

    • Modular Suppressor Threads

    • Shotgun Choke Tube

    • Threads

    • Adjustable gas blocks

    • Flashlight Lens

    • Any high carbon area

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Syrup:

Karl S. - Palmetto State Armory, from Truebluegunlube.com  

What we found in our testing was that applying the Suppressor Syrup to the screw of an adjustable gas block allowed us to keep the adjustment screw usable over the life of our testing. Without the Suppressor Syrup this screw tends to become carbon locked within about 300 rounds and we are sometimes not able to free it.

Cleaner:

Luke H. - Integrity Elite Firearms, from Truebluegunlube.com   

We soaked a suppressor in the Cleaner Concentrate for several hours and successfully salvaged this one that was heavily saturated with carbon to the point where it resembled a barrel extension. This stuff works wonders.

Link to other reviews:

Kids Safe Foundation 

Syrup review   

Cleaner review 

Price point:

MSRP:

Syrup = $18.99 - $26.99    

Cleaner = $24.99 - $99.99   

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

My Life @ Speed or your local gun shop

Our Rating:

Pros:

Cleaner:

  • Water Soluble

  • Safe for just about anything

Syrup:

  • Reduces Carbon build up

  • Makes Cleaning easier

  • Easy application

Cons:

Cleaner:

  • Not very aggressive at getting carbon off

  • Have to let sit for a bit

Syrup:

  • Must reapply periodically

Score: 

6.50 - Okay for the cleaner

8.00 - Great for the syrup

Favorite Link:  True Blue Gun Oil Review

,

Sharps Bros Livewire

,

Sharps Bros Livewire AR-15 lower receiver review

Written by: Buddy Murphy

  This is a review of the Sharps Bros Livewire AR-15 lower receiver. Yes, these are the same guys that make lowers with skulls, warrior helmets, or other goofy things on their magazine wells. But when they get serious, they make a quality, functional piece of kit.

  One of the first things you'll notice is the heavily flared mag well, which not only looks great but also makes reloads faster and more intuitive. The ambidextrous bolt release is another welcome feature, providing ease of use for both right and left-handed shooters. This particular design for a right side bolt release has the perfect amount of force needed to release the bolt. Some other receivers take too much effort to release the bolt, forcing you to move your hand off of the fire controls, like the PWS Alpha.

  The right side bolt release is especially useful for me (right-handed shooter) when shooting CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) courses of fire. The first and last stages are single load stages. Meaning, you have an empty magazine in your rifle (or a specialty mag), you drop a round into the ejection port, close the bolt, and fire your one round. You repeat that 10 or 20 times depending on the stage. This forces you to break position between each shot. By having the bolt release on the right side, I can hold my rifle against my shoulder with my left hand, and get another round, drop it in the rifle, grip the rifle with my right hand, and close the bolt, minimizing my movement between shots.

  The transition between the integrated, oversized trigger guard and the magazine well is stepped, giving it a distinct and clean look. The threaded bolt catch pin and rear takedown pin recess also add to its overall precision and durability.

  As of July 2021, Livewire has undergone a significant upgrade, it is now made from a forging. The process begins with a 7075 aluminum billet, which is heated to 800 degrees and then forged into a near-final shape using a custom tool in an impressive 4100-ton press.

  Post-forging, the receiver undergoes final machining on CNC machines. This reduces material costs and machine time without compromising quality. The result is a receiver that feels incredibly robust and well-finished, with every detail meticulously crafted. The anodized black finish, done to MIL-A-8625 standards, ensures durability and a sleek professional look.

  Putting the lower parts in the receiver was a standard affair except for the left side bolt catch. Instead of a roll pin holding the bolt catch to the receiver, it has a small hex-head screw. This makes it much easier to attach the bolt catch than tapping in a roll pin. Also, before you attach the bolt catch, you must insert the included transfer bar. The transfer bar allows the bolt release, on the right side, to push the bottom of the bolt catch toggle (causing the top to move in towards the receiver as if you pushed it), releasing the bolt.

  In summary, the Sharps Bros Livewire AR15 receiver delivers on every front; strength, precision, and aesthetics. It’s a top-tier choice for anyone looking to build or upgrade their AR15 with a receiver that truly sets itself apart from the rest. While it maintains the classic AR15 aesthetic, it brings its own unique flair and functionality to the table: like the oversized integral trigger guard, beveled magazine flare, and ambidextrous bolt release. It is fully compatible with mil-spec parts and magazines. Weighing around 8.7 ounces, it strikes a perfect balance between weight and durability.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

AR-15 lower receiver with right side bolt release.

Target Market:

Lefties, Competition shooters, those that want ambi-everything

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Large integrated trigger guard

  • Right side bolt release

  • Flared mag well

  • Forged lower

  • Mil-spec

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Only black anodized finish

What others are saying?:

5/5 stars from Dave K. at Brownells

Absolutely the best value for the $$$

I am very impressed with this lower receiver. Everything fit perfectly. Best value for the money! All of my future builds I will use this receiver.

Link to other reviews:

The Firearm Blog

Price point:

MSRP = $136.79

Retail = $124.99 at Brownells

I need it now! Availability:

Brownells

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Forged Receiver

  • Flared Magwell

  • Right side bolt release

  • Integrated trigger guard

  • Oversized trigger Guard

  • Mil-spec dimensions

Cons:

  • None

Score: 8.00 Great

, ,

Vosteed Parallel

, ,

Vosteed Parallel Review

  Vosteed has a brand new knife out and it’s called the Parallel. It’s designed to be a very thin and lightweight pocket knife. And let me tell you, they succeeded! So if you are looking for a tough, lightweight and thin knife. The Vosteed Parallel could be the knife for you.

The Handle 

  The Parallel features a non textured titanium handle complete with a lanyard loop. For this knife you can get in 3 different styles. I received the gray handled knife and I was completely blown away by how thin the knife is! Coming in at a thin measurement of 0.28”, I couldn’t even tell it was in my pocket sometimes. There were even a couple of moments when I actually thought I lost it, because I couldn’t feel it in my pocket. And that’s also due to the knife being so lightweight coming in at 2.29oz. When I first opened it, I was a little worried about it not having a textured grip handle. It wasn’t a problem for me at all. I can get a great grip on the knife without it trying to slide around in my hand. Having no gripping also helps make it slide in and out of your pocket very smoothly. But thanks to the very strong pocket clip, that can be swapped to either side of the knife, it stays clipped in your pocket really well. It is probably one of the strongest clips I’ve had on a knife. 

The Blade

  Now here is where it gets really awesome! The Vosteed Parallel has one of my personal favorite blade styles on it, a 2.90” reverse tanto blade. For me personally, I love that style of blade and I feel that it is one of the best for piercing and cutting. On the back side of the blade it has some really great rough jimping. This helps keep control when I’m cutting something up like boxes or plastic straps. I have had knives before with smoother jimping and it definitely takes away some of that control you get. The blade steel is 154CM and because Vosteed designed the knife to be thin, the blade is only 0.08” thick! I was worried about the blade breaking due to it being so thin, but it has proven to be way tougher than I thought. Plus it has stayed sharp for a while now. When the time comes to sharpen it, 154CM sharpens very easily. This blade steel is also highly corrosion resistant so you don’t have to worry about it getting ruined by harsh chemicals.

Opening 

  The Parallel comes equipped with only two styles for opening, that is a thumb stud and pulling back the crossbar lock and flipping it open. I personally like having more ways to open a knife like front and back flippers. Or being able to flip it open using a button lock. And this is one of my complaints with this knife. As you open the blade, the spring loaded lock parts move so that the crossbar lock can engage when the blade is fully open. This causes the blade to not want to smoothly open when you take your thumb off the stud while opening. It can kind of push the blade back towards your fingers. So you have to sort of guide the blade open with your thumb on the thumb stud. Or give it a flick when you start to open it. 

The Lock

  Something that is handy about this knife is you can adjust the stiffness of the crossbar lock and that also makes the blade opening a little bit easier. However, It does not fully fix that stiffness. It definitely helps though. You can do this by essentially taking apart the knife, which is not complicated, and moving both springs (one on each side) to 1 of 3 different pin holes. This can definitely help with making it lighter or stiffer to open. It just depends on how you like your knife to open. When I first opened the knife, the lock was very stiff to pull back when the blade was open. So I did that spring adjustment and that made it a lot easier to open and unlock. This is my first pocket knife with a crossbar lock on it, and I have really come to like it. The lock tabs have great gripping on them, so you can pull them back easily to fold the knife closed. 

Summary

  I have come across so many different pocket knives over time, but I have never come across one so thin and lightweight! I sometimes forget I have it because of how well it fits in my pocket. It has been through quite a bit of cutting and slicing. I work in an industrial environment, and this knife has been doing a fantastic job cutting just about anything I need it to. I do wish that it had more ways to open and not such a stiff lock. But that being said, it is still a great knife! This is my second knife from Vosteed, and both the knives have such great quality and designs. If you are looking for a knife that fits perfectly in your pocket and doesn’t have much weight to it, I highly recommend the Vosteed Parallel. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Super thin and lightweight folder

Target Market:

Those wanting a super thin pocket knife

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Blade Length: 2.90" | 73.85 mm

  • Overall Length: 7.04" | 178.90 mm

  • Blade Width: 0.96" | 24.50 mm

  • Blade Thickness: 0.079" | 2.00 mm

  • Blade Material: 154CM

  • Blade Grind: Flat

  • Blade Style: Reverse Tanto

  • Blade Finish: Satin

  • Hardness: HRC 60±2

  • Handle Length: 4.13" | 105.00 mm

  • Handle Width: 0.92" | 23.40 mm

  • Handle Thickness: 0.279" | 7.10 mm

  • Handle Material: Titanium

  • Color: Gray

  • Weight: 2.29 oz | 65.00 g

  • Opener: Thumb Stud

  • Lock Type: Crossbar Lock

  • Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

  • Pocket Clip: Reversible | Stainless Steel

  • Carry Position: Tip-up

  • Knife Type: Manual Folding

  • Backspacer Material: Aluminum

  • Backspacer Color: Green

  • Thumbstud Material: Aluminum

  • Thumbstud Color: Green

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

There are 3 different styles that you can go with:

Black titanium handle with a black SW blade.

Grey titanium handle with satin finish blade.

Black titanium handle with Satin finish blade.

What others are saying?:

Both from Vosteed’s website

“Only one major flaw, otherwise a very nice knife

Deployment is unpredictable for a crossbar lock. There is a place between the closed and open positions where the blade swings free. The lightweight blade often bounces back towards the handle as blade approaches the open/locked position. I can’t be sure blade is locked open without looking at it”


Great knife for the money

Super thin
Feels good in the hand no real hot spots
Super sharp out of the box
Great knife and super nice to carry with how thin it is, feels sturdy for its size. My only complaint is the springs are super stiff and you have to really send it to open and on my office hands it can be a bit uncomfortable to hold the cross bar back to have the blade drop closed. I opened it up, it has adjustable spring tension, three positions and it was in the weakest position. Definitely needs break in but will enjoy flicking it until it does

Link to other reviews 

Melissa Backwoods on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP = $129.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Vosteed or Blade HQ

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Love how thin and lightweight the knife is! It fits in my pocket so great. 

  • It cuts so dang smoothly and has held a sharp edge for a while now.

Cons:

  • I do wish it had more ways to open it than just a thumb stud or using the crossbar lock to flip it open. 

  • I don’t really like how stiff the lock is and that I had to take it apart to adjust that stiffness.

  • Because of the stiff lock, it makes the blade opening not too smooth. You kind of have to guide it out with your thumb otherwise it pushes the blade back towards your fingers.

Score: 6.50 Okay

,

FOXTROT MIKE RANCH RIFLE

,

foxtrot mike

ranch rifle review

  I had great pleasure in getting one of the Ranch Rifles from Foxtrot Mike after SHOT Show this year. When I saw one, I was intrigued with how it looked, how it functioned, and the machining that went into it. I liked the fact that it was 50 state legal, was set up like a familiar 870 shotgun, had a forward charging handle, and still took standard capacity AR mags. 

  The 16" barrel version of the Ranch Rifle provides a balanced platform for out to medium-range engagements. The rifle features a **bufferless design**, which is one of the hallmark innovations of FM Products. This eliminates the need for a traditional buffer tube so that other stock options can be had. Hence the addition of the **Hogue 870 stock**. Which is a nice touch, offering superior comfort and control.  For shooters who are familiar with their old 870 shotgun feel, this rifle will fit like an old glove. Especially during extended range sessions. The stock provides excellent support and helps with recoil management.

  The charging handle, which is housed in the handguard on the FM Ranch rifle, can be changed from the left side to the right side. This is so you can choose which side you want to charge the rifle from. The handguard is also Mlok compatible so you can add your favorite accessories to it. They also offer a slap mod. This makes the charging similar to an HK. I did not have this option on my rifle, but it is another feature you can get to add to yours. 

  The 4-Port Muzzle Device is designed to reduce both muzzle rise and recoil, making quicker follow-up shots and better overall control of the rifle. This is especially helpful in rapid-fire scenarios where muzzle control is essential. The device works well in combination with the rifle’s bufferless system. The 16" barrel ensures that the rifle can perform effectively at varying ranges, from short to longer ranges. The rifle is chambered in 556 Nato. The use of Standard AR mags a plus.

  Shooting the Ranch rifle was a complete joy, once I figured out the manual of arms. Things are in a few different spots than your traditional AR rifle. I had a problem trying to reach the mag release to do fast reloads. But this is a ranch rifle and not a tactical rifle. Not saying that you can't use it as such. I had topped it off with an Atibal green dot and ran close to 2K rounds through the rifle, both at the range and at a class. When I first started shooting the rifle, I had a few malfunctions. These were just in the first few mags. Once I got it nice and hot, the rifle was ready to roll and it has been going ever since. Accuracy of the rifle is better than I can shoot, at 25 yards it will cut little cluster groups with a dot sight. Out to 50 and 100 yards it was still on target. It is accurate enough with the dot to hunt or do varmint control. I did not put a magnified optic on it. I am sure that if I would have, it would have been more accurate. I was shooting from a standing position most of the time.

  This is a rifle that I would suggest to someone who wants quality at a good price. Or someone who just might not want a black rifle for whatever reason. If you live in one of those states where you can not have certain AR style rifles, the Foxtrot Mike Ranch Rifle might be just what you need. I plan on taking it on some of my hunting trips this year. It also stays close by in the house. It swings like that old 870 shotgun but with that AR rifle fire power. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to fame:

Bufferless operating system

50 State legal

Some AR accessories will interchange

Direct Impingement operating system

4-PORT muzzle brake

Target Market:

  • Hunters that want AR performance in a non AR rifle

  • Communist state people

  • Those whose choose quality and value

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • CALIBER: .223 WYLDE

  • LOWER RECEIVER:  MACHINED FROM AIRCRAFT GRADE ALUMINUM HARD MIL-SPEC TYPE III ANODIZING

  • STOCK: Magpul SGA 870 Shotgun stock

  • TRIGGER: Mil-Spec ranch rifle

  • SAFETY SELECTOR: Reversible Push Button Steel Barrel Safety

  • BARREL LENGTH: 16" 

  • BARREL TWIST: 1:8

  • BARREL MATERIAL: 41V50 PREMIUM MATCH GRADE 41v50 BARREL, VACUUM STRESS RELIEVED, MELONITE COATED WITH A BURNISHED CHAMBER 

  • MUZZLE DEVICE: 4-PORT BRAKE

  • GAS SYSTEM: INTERMEDIATE-LENGTH

  • UPPER RECEIVER: BILLET AIRCRAFT ALUMINUM TYPE III HARD BLACK ANODIZING 

  • HANDGUARD: 15" M-LOK COMPATIBLE HANDGUARD, TYPE III HARD BLACK ANNODIZING

  • CHARGING HANDLE: 4-POSITION FRONT CHARGE, NON-RECIPROCATING 

  • BOLT: PROPRIETARY BOLT MACHINED FROM PRE-HARD 4342, MACHINED THEN POST VACUUM HEAT TREATED TO INCREASE HARDNESS, THEN COATED IN MELONITE

  • FIRING PIN AND EXTRACTOR MADE OUT OF S7 TOOL STEEL

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

  • Wood furniture

  • Hiperfire trigger

  • Hunter crown barrel

  • Synthetic stock

Link to other reviews:

Gun Mag Warehouse   

American Rifleman   

Price point:

MSRP = $949 to $1449 depending on options

I need it now! 

FoxTrot Mike

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • American Made

  • Reliable

  • Great customer service

  • Takes AR mags

  • Bufferless

Cons:

  • Kind of a weird trigger to get use to

  • Different manual of arms

  • Mag release is hard to reach

Score: 8.00 Great

,

Gnat Warfare Tactical Pig

,

Gnat Warfare

Airsoft RC Pig target Review

  If you want a fun training aid, that you may be able to do in your backyard, you need one of the Tactical Pig targets from Gnat Warfare. These are a radio controlled (RC) target that is intended to be used with airsoft guns for moving target practice. The “Pig” is a foam target that attaches to a 4 wheel drive RC car chassis. You will need a friend to drive while you shoot, but it is worth the enjoyment. We named our Tactical Pig Kyle, Gnat Warfare respectfully calls them “Kevin Bacon”, I will explain later.

  The Gnat Warfare Tactical Pig comes ready to go. All you need to do is charge the RC battery and install the supplied AA batteries into the controller. The Pig comes with a supplied charger to charge the RC battery. It charges relatively quickly, so you won’t have to wait long to start racing around the neighborhood. The instructions are awesome on how to hook everything up and pair the controller. These instructions have tons of pictures, so you hardly even need to be able to read. This process is so easy to get you up and going, that even a ten year old could do it.

  As for the size of the Pig, it is pretty standard for a 1/10th scale RC truck. The car part is approximately 13 inches wide and 18 inches long. The tires are 5 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide. This lends it to use in just about any terrain including backyards and shooting ranges. With the pig target, the total height is about 20 inches. When I first took the RC Pig out for a test spin, I was worried about it tipping over under sharp turns. Well, it did not. All it did was lift the front inside tire. 

  Kevin Bacon, as it is called, is essentially a small Javelina. This Javelina target measures about 22 inches long by 12 inches tall. It is made from 1 inch thick closed cell foam. This allows the airsoft pellets to stick into the target. If you are really close, they may go through, so as always, know your backstop. Especially since this is a moving target. Hitting the RC car part does not seem to affect it. The pellets just bounce off. The target just pushes into a “U” shaped piece on the RC’s frame. This makes changing it super easy. It also allows one to make their own targets and push them into the mount.

  Being this is an airsoft target, you will need an airsoft rifle or pistol to use it. I purchased a CO2 blowback one off of Amazon for $50 and it works well with the Tactical Pig. If you are looking for something to replicate the firearm you already use, I would look at what Umarex has to offer. Either way, this is not super expensive to get into, unless you want it to be.

  We call our Tactical Pig “Kyle”. Why? We had a neighbor once that was a motorcycle officer. He was on the short stature side, kind of like a javelina. So we thought the name was appropriate, lol. 

  Now that you know Kyle, we can talk about how he helps with training. Even though he is a small target, he does move, and move fast. These aspects help you train by shooting at moving targets. But not just moving in one direction like a lot of the moving targets we are used to. The advantage with Kyle is that he is unpredictable. You do not know what direction he will be moving, only the driver does. This makes him a vital training aid for real life scenarios, even if it is airsoft. If your airsoft pistol happens to be the same as your carry pistol, you can even do draw and fire practice. The training possibilities with the Gnat Warfare Tactical Pig are endless. 

  Everyone that shot, or drove, the Gnat Warfare Tactical Pig just loved it. It is so much fun to shoot at. Plus it gives you a fantastic training aid. If you have kids, they will love it also. Do yourself a favor and go check out “Kevin Bacon”, “Kyle”, or whatever else you want to call the Tactical RC Pig.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Radio Controlled airsoft target

Target Market:

Anyone who likes to have fun and shoot moving targets

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Everything is included except the airsoft gun

    • RC frame

    • RC Battery and charger

    • Pig target

    • Controller

    • AA batteries for controller

  • Replaceable targets

  • Aggressive off-road tires

  • 4x4 RC suspension

  • Hobby-grade 7.2v NiMh battery included

  • 2.4Ghz radio extended-range control

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars at Gnatwarfare.com

Chris H.

I have had this pig target for almost 5 years. It has proven to be extremely well built and insanely fun to shoot. Our kids love airsoft and the large wheels, independent 4 wheel suspension and powerful motor lets us drive anywhere on our property, and it’s fast! The battery seems to last forever. I actually still have the original batteries in the controller. The foam pig Silhouette target has been hit 10s of thousands of times and is barely scratched. The BBs make a satisfying loud thud with each hit, which can be heard at long distance.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $299.00 

Retail = Same - Currently on sale for $99.99

I need it now! Availability:

Gnat Warfare or Umarex

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • FUN

  • Great training aid

  • Well made

  • 4 wheel drive

  • Large tires to go anywhere

  • Everything is included

Cons:

  • MSRP is a bit high

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  Umarex Origin Review   

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