Riflescope, glass or precision optic; there are just as many terms for the tubular magnifiers that sit atop your prized weapons as there are manufacturers and options for these pricey items. Quite a few have come and gone throughout my locker over the years, but a handful have stayed based on use, repeatability, glass quality and overall ruggedness. The few hours I had at SHOT this year I was talking with Darryl Bolke about optics and he said I needed to see the new offerings from Bushnell. Evidently the look on my face made Darryl respond with, “Seriously, you need to believe me on this one.” Hearing that from a trusted friend, I followed and we met the Director of Military and Law Enforcement Sales, Tom Fuller. An hour later, with an exchange of business cards, I had arranged for two of their new production scopes to be sent my direction when they came off the line. Continue reading
Author Archives: Jason Davis
Colt CM901: The Hammer – Close In Work
Does one “weapon” fit all? Does one “weapon” fit most? I am not exactly sure? Actually I am leaning towards “no” but I am open to suggestions. Then the Colt CM901 enters into the market and it is engineered to be able to shoot the intended 7.62 NATO chambering down to the 5.56 NATO round via the different uppers it can accommodate. With a separately built and supplied sleeve the CM901 can accept complete upper receivers of different or the same calibers and can run them with little interruption.
Helium Whisper™ / Split Minus – New Weights and Measures
Blue Force Gear came onto the scene in 2004 and continues to find itself making gear and kit that is constantly pushing the extremes of what they can get out of ideas, materials and the ever changing market in tactical items. From the Vickers Combat Application Sling to plate carriers and pouches that can house a proverbial village; if you are looking to hold magazines, armor, tourniquets or a can of Skoal, it is likely built by Blue Force Gear.
Realistic Expectations: A Basic Armorer Course
10-8’s good buddy William showing a student the finer points of a 1911 at a 10-8 1911 Diagnostics and Operations Course in Austin, TX.
Often times I hear phrases similar to, “When I get done with this class I am going to build the most bitchin’ (fill your favorite iteration of a black rifle/carbine). But teaching you how to “build” this weapon is not what most basic armorer courses are about. Rather than teach how to build a weapon from the ground up most manufacturer armorer courses send you away with the basic knowledge of how to keep your department or agency weapons up and running and in good serviceable condition.
Colt’s LE901 – A Bigger Hammer
What does one do if they want to add more weight, velocity, power or speed to something already existing? Some would answer, “Build it bigger?” In a way that is what Colt Defense did when they began building their LE901 carbine in .308 Winchester. Colt built a bigger hammer when they launched their new platform to get into the .308 market. For almost a decade Colt sat idly by watching other manufacturers jettison their iteration of an AR10 weapon into the hands of sportsmen, Law Enforcement and Military users. But just this past summer the launch of their bigger hammer hit the market and now the company identified with the rampant pony now has a larger caliber black rifle to offer supporters.