Zeroing a Weapon Laser – Constant Offset vs Zeroed For Range
Laser sights can be a valuable tool for shooters. They can aid in low-light shooting, allow for quick target acquisition and, some claim, act as a deterrent in defensive situations. Lasers do not take the place of shooting fundamentals and they may not be for everyone (there is certainly not a consensus on their use), but they can be a useful supplement to a firearm’s fixed sights. As long as they are properly aligned, that is… But what does “properly aligned” mean?
What is “Zero?”
Generally, shooters will zero their weapon sights – whether it is a laser, an optical sight or something else – for a certain distance. What does this mean? Picture the trajectory of the projectile as it leaves the muzzle of a firearm. Disregarding bullet drop, wind, atmospheric conditions and things of that nature, the trajectory should be roughly along a line parallel to the center axis of the barrel. Ideally, to target where the projectile will impact, the shooter would want to sight along that trajectory.
The line of sight for a scope or iron sights is a straight line between the shooter’s eye and one or more points in the sight. That straight line is a bit easier to visualize for a laser sight. Since sights are typically placed above, below or to the side of a firearm’s barrel rather than looking down it, something called parallax is introduced. Due to this offset, the line of sight and the center axis of the barrel are almost – but not quite – parallel. At some point downrange, where the two lines intersect, is where the sights are zeroed. Continue reading
Out of This World Holsters from Alien Gear
Alien Gear Holsters has been generating considerable buzz since they flew their UFO full of holsters onto the scene last year. The Alien Gear business model is to “make and sell gun holsters directly to the public at below wholesale prices.” It all sounds too good to be true, but I want to believe so we probed around a bit to learn more. We already have a big Box o’ Holsters at GunLink HQ, so we were hesitant to order more but at this price point, resistance is futile. After all… It’s the only way to be sure, so we ordered a couple.
Hybrid Holsters
Alien Gear IWB holsters are of the hybrid type, which means that they have a Kydex shell attached to a leather backing. The wide leather backing allows the belt clips to be further apart than some other holster types, more evenly distributing the weight of the pistol and making carry more comfortable. The Kydex shell provides a completely custom, form fitting scabbard that securely holds the pistol. Being an IWB holster it, of course, rides inside the waistband of the wearer’s pants, attaching via the belt clips leaving only the clips and the grip of the pistol exposed above the waistband.
Price
The first thing CCW-ers will probably notice when comparing Alien Gear holsters to similar hybrid holsters is the price. Alien Gear holsters start out Continue reading
N82 Offers Range of Comfortable, Innovative Holsters
A Review of N82 Tactical’s Ultra-Comfortable Holsters
If you haven’t heard any buzz about N82 Tactical (pronounced Nate Squared Tactical, after the company founders) and their holster lineup, it could be the case that you don’t spend a lot of time perusing firearm websites or publications because the buzz is certainly going around.
We first started checking out N82 Tactical holsters as our KelTec P11 project was wrapping up and we were looking for carry options. We had heard about them through our friends over at the Tac Daddy Live show, but didn’t know much about them. Obviously it was time to learn more, so we contacted Nate B. who, along with Nate J., is one of the company’s two namesake Nates. N82 Tactical offers three styles of IWB holsters for a huge variety of handguns. The general construction of each style is roughly the same for the backing/pad with the main differences being in the actual holster part and the belt clip attachment. Shortly after talking to Nate, he had P11 holster in each of their three styles headed to GunLink HQ.
Construction
The secret to the comfort of N82 holsters is in the construction of the backing pad. The backing of all N82 holsters consists of the same three layers. The outside surface, the surface that comes into contact with your firearm, is oil tanned leather. This provides a safe contact surface that won’t damage the finish of your firearm but is still durable. The inside surface, the side against your body, is a layer of Continue reading
Custom Cases Made Easy
Having worked in a previous life for an equipment manufacturer who put their wares into Pelican 1520 cases, I’ve picked and plucked my way through enough case foam to last a lifetime. I’ve also picked, plucked and cut plenty of cases for my own firearms, electronics and other gear so I know what kind of hassle, mess and potential for foul-ups are involved to often end up with so-so results. That’s why I was excited to spot MyCaseBuilder while roaming the aisles of SHOT Show 2014.
There are several options commonly available when it comes to storing and transporting firearms in a hard case. These options range from totally generic to completely custom; a range that generally corresponds to almost no protection to superb protection with a tailor made fit. Continue reading
Device Makes it Easier to Rack Your Semi-Auto Pistol
Ever grabbed your semi-automatic pistol to rack the slide and had trouble overcoming the stiff recoil spring (or springs, since many of today’s pistols have dual recoil springs)? Have your shooting buddies or gun shop salesmen recommended revolvers to make things easier? Whether you struggle with slides due to injury, arthritis or just insufficient grip strength, a gunsmith in Iowa has come up with a brilliantly simple solution to help you enjoy your semi-autos again.
Chris McAninch was approached by a customer requesting modifications to his firearm to make it easier to use. Rather than permanently modifiying the pistol, Chris invented the Handi-Racker. The device works by gripping your pistol’s slide with enough clearance in front of the barrel to allow charging the pistol by placing the device against a table, wall or other flat surface and pushing the firearm frame forward. It is similar in principle to the old “rear sight on the booth heel” tactical one-handed reload method but with more predictable results and less chance of damaging your firearm. Continue reading
Elzetta Lights Up Your Life with New Offerings at SHOT
Elzetta, the Kentucky-based manufacturer of tactical lights and mounts, famously made waves by demonstrating the toughness of their lights by hammering hundreds of nails with them. That toughness is made possible by starting off with mil-spec type III hard anodized 6061-T6 aluminum bodies and filling them with fully potted electronics, 7/8″ thick acrylic lenses instead of reflectors and a variety of beefy tail cap options. At SHOT Show 2014, Elzetta showcased some of their latest wares which, as with all of their modular flashlights and mounts are made in the USA using American materials, American tooling and American labor. Continue reading
