Savior Equipment “S.E.M.A” Mobile Arsenal Backpack Quick Review

I bought Savior Equipment’s “S.E.M.A” backpack a bit after SHOT Show using a 35% off coupon I received from them at the show. I believe this coupon was being handed out freely, so I don’t think I am overly biased, but full disclosure, etc. I didn’t want to post about it before I had a chance to utilize it for hauling things around for a good month or so. We’ve passed the benchmark, so I felt justified in writing a review.

Continue reading Savior Equipment “S.E.M.A” Mobile Arsenal Backpack Quick Review

Mantis X10 Elite Review

Do you regularly dry-fire? If you’re a gun owner, I’m hoping the answer is yes.

Do you effectively dry-fire? Well, that’s a much trickier question, and it has as much to do with how you’re planning to use your gun(s) as what you’re doing.

After meeting with the Mantis team at SHOT Show 2020 this year, they were kind enough to send me a gratis review copy of the Mantis X10 Elite. I say this up front so we have full disclosure! I have been dry-firing with it for a month almost every day across a variety of platforms, and I now have compiled enough information and experience that I think I can write a decent review of it.

I’ll give you the bottom-line up-front first: it is not a magic solution that bypasses putting in the work, and it (currently) has its limitations, especially for competitive shooters. It is, however, a phenomenal diagnostic tool. It will tell you the truth in ways that a par timer will not. It will show you bad habits in a way that a shot timer will not. If you are a serious shooter, especially a newer one who is getting more seriously into competition and defensive/tactical shooting, this device can provide you information that will make a difference in how you draw and fire. For more details, read on.

Continue reading Mantis X10 Elite Review

JDC Defensive Shotgun Essentials Seminar AAR

I’m not really much of a shotgun shooter. I do quite a lot of practice with rifles and pistols, but shotguns never seem to figure into the mix as much. This is generally because I shoot at indoor ranges most of the time, and they almost never allow birdshot or buckshot. Shooting slugs is an expensive, and often uncomfortable proposition. I know I am not alone with this problem.

When I see a shotgun class that works with my schedule, I jump on it. When Justified Defensive Concepts released their 2020 schedule and the Defensive Shotgun Essentials Seminar was on it, I signed up as soon as I could. Now that I’ve taken it, I can tell you what I think!

Continue reading JDC Defensive Shotgun Essentials Seminar AAR

F3 Tactical Baofeng Radio Course AAR

Like many, many other people, I went out and bought a five pack of Baofeng UV-5R radios when I heard that they were going to be “banned”. (When the government decides to ban something that’s not going to kill you by using it, stocking up is almost always a great idea!) Given that the UV-5R still seems to be for sale, I’m not 100% sure what happened with the banning part, but everyone’s got them now. However, the radios are not doing anyone any good by sitting in a box in a closet, so F3 Tactical arranged to start doing basic courses in radio theory and how to configure the UV-5R and similar Baofeng radios. I missed the first class in January due to a family scheduling conflict, but I was very excited to be able to make it for the second class, held on “palindrome day” (also Super Bowl Sunday).

I had a really good time, and learned a lot. Read on for whether it’s right for you!

Continue reading F3 Tactical Baofeng Radio Course AAR

SHOT Show 2020 Wrap-up

I’ve had a few days to recover from SHOT, read the material I brought back, and otherwise meditate on what I saw.

SHOT is an experience.  I’ve heard people say you should go at least once in your life, and they’re not wrong. Even just walking the floor, you start understanding a lot more about how the shooting industry works in terms of supplier relationships, subcontracting, marketing, and so on. There is just so much to see that even with four days, you’re not going to cover it all – especially if you’re interested in hunting, which I wasn’t.

I did pick up on some general trends in the industry, which I want to talk about.

Continue reading SHOT Show 2020 Wrap-up

Training Calendars for 2020 (DC area) (UPDATED 1/27/2020)

I felt that it was worth announcing for my local readers that the big local training vendors have at least partial 2020 calendars up. Like any good training junkie, I schedule way out in advance so I can fit classes in around my competitive shooting schedule (expect MUCH more of that in 2020).

Green Ops: Schedule is here. Green Ops is also hosting the yearly local Modern Samurai Project class, so check them out if you’re interested in that. They’ve also told me there’s still a few more classes they’re going to add once they work out physical hosting. There is a LOT to love about the schedule this year; more advanced classes, more classes on Sundays, TCCC, etc.

Justified Defensive Concepts: Schedule is here. Broadly similar to last year – which is a good thing – but I expect to see a couple additions as the year goes on.

FPF Training: Schedule is here. It’s clearly not complete, but there’s already a lot of solid classes for 2020 on there, including some very well-regarded visiting instructors.

PNTC: Schedule is here. There is some really neat stuff in this calendar, and it’s basically the only place in the area for extreme long range shooting.

TOC, LLC: Schedule is here. A couple new courses this year. Not looking like they’re going to fit into my schedule, unfortunately.

Shadow Hawk tends to post their classes up on a quarterly basis.

SHOT Show 2020 – B&T, Nomad Defense, Alpha Shooting Sports, Silencerco, Angstadt Arms, Eotech

I am nearing the end of my “list” of companies to check in on at SHOT. There were a number that I visited that didn’t really have anything new and/or interesting, so they were omitted. I’m interested in cool tactical-style shooting stuff, and so that’s what I focused on.

Continue reading SHOT Show 2020 – B&T, Nomad Defense, Alpha Shooting Sports, Silencerco, Angstadt Arms, Eotech

Shot Show 2020 – Trijicon, Polymer80, Holosun (BLPS PROTOTYPE), BUL Armory, Inforce, PTR Industries, Mantis, Ghost Gunner / Defense Distributed, Vortex

After a nice night out with my relatives, I was ready for my last day of SHOT Show coverage today. I have some interesting stuff to share, including pictures and details about Holosun’s unannounced, prototype ultra-low pistol red dot.

Continue reading Shot Show 2020 – Trijicon, Polymer80, Holosun (BLPS PROTOTYPE), BUL Armory, Inforce, PTR Industries, Mantis, Ghost Gunner / Defense Distributed, Vortex