Rusty Odom

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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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Tactical Kinetics 300 blackout Barrel

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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
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FOXTROT MIKE RANCH RIFLE

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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
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Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24

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Primary Arms SLx 1-6x24 SFP ACSS Aurora Gen IV

  In for review is something I think is the coolest thing since sliced bread, electric car windows and air conditioning. As you can guess we have an optic from Primary Arms (PA). This is their SLx 1-6x24 second focal plane scope. This is a Gen 4 version of their Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO). Primary Arms sent this to me and I have been sitting on it until I had just the perfect rifle to put it on. After some soul searching, I bought a Mossberg MVP Patrol rifle in .300 black out (BO). This scope is made for the .300 BO or 7.62x39 cartridges. 

  A little about the optic before we get into how it performed. It has their illuminated ACSS reticle. This optic was designed with the carbine user in mind. It has an integrated throw lever, clear glass, and a BDC reticle. It also has a 30mm tube, click values of 0.1 mil, and a generous eye relief of 4 inches. It runs off of a CR 2032 battery and the magnification is 1-6 power. If you run night vision it will work with that as well. It has 120 mils of adjustment for windage and elevation. The turrets are capped and low profile. 

  So mounting this optic is pretty straight forward, especially if using one of Primary Arms mounts. I adjusted the reticle to align with my cant and eye relief. The first thing I noticed was the clarity of the glass. The second was the ease of adjustment of the throw lever. Adjusting the brightness is easy and tactile. There are 11 settings of brightness and 2 are night vision. The field of view at 1x is 120 feet at 100 yards and at 6x is 20 feet.

  Now on to the reticle, this is where things got interesting and fun. The optic comes with two manuals, the first is your basic setup and the second is how to use the reticle. You will notice that when you first look into the optic, there is an illuminated upside down V or chevron. The Aurora reticle is a BDC reticle for the .300 BO and has a ranging reticle out to 600 yards. Now I have no notion of trying to shoot my .300 BO out that far, but it is nice to be able to zoom in and range your target based on a 5’10” person. The stadia marks are easy to read and are clear at any magnification. If you read the manual, it will help you understand how the reticle works. 

  The reticle is based in 25 yards increments, assuming you dialed it in at 50 yards. It has a chart in the manual with all the common loads from most of the major ammo makers, both supersonic and subsonic. If you don't happen to have one of these particular loads, it is still pretty easy to get on target and paper. I dialed the PA 1-6 in at 50 yards. I ran a bunch of Ammo Inc 162 gr loads through the bolt gun and had a suppressor on the end of it. It was an absolute tack driver at 50 yards and the optic made it very easy to see the holes at that distance. At 100 yards picking up an 18” target was easy and you could definitely see the bullet impacts. The overall clarity was great. I went to subsonic rounds next. I used the chart to re-zero my optic to what the chart indicated, and it was spot on to within an inch or so out to 100 yards. I figure for a 300 blackout, that is pretty good shooting with subsonics. So if you use the chart in the manual, you will be close on target. This also depends on your barrel length and so on. 

  For the overall quality of the Primary Arms scope, and user ability, I have to say that this is probably one of the easiest and most natural scopes you can use. Now I did most of my shooting on 6 power and from a bench. I did shoot some at 1 power standing. I intend to do more this way because this is going to be my new hunting rifle here in Tennessee. The optic lends itself to be friendly close up and at hunting distances, especially for myself in a thicker wooded area. I also believe this optic would be great on a MSR. You can run it like a red dot or you can shoot for distance, if you so choose. With the right ammo, the 300 blackout is capable of 300 yard shots with this optic. With the ranging ability of the Primary Arms SLx 1-6 gen IV, it would be just fine for that purpose. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

LPVO with a reticle specifically made for the 300 black out or 7.62x39 rifles

Target Market:

Those wanting a dedicated .300 blackout or 7.62x39 LPVO

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product): 

  • Fully Upgraded Optical System

  • Integrated Magnification Throw Lever

  • ACSS Aurora 7.62 Yard Reticle

  • Magnification: 1x – 6x (Min – Max)

  • Focal Plane: SFP

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

  • Exit Pupil: 10.6mm – 3.8mm

  • Eye Relief: 4 in.

  • Total Windage/Elevation Adjustment: 120 MOA

  • Field Of View @100 Yards: 120 ft. – 20 ft. (Low – High)

  • Illumination: Red, 11 Illumination Settings

  • Click Value: 0.1 MIL

  • Length w/o Lens Covers: 10.4 in.

  • Weight w/ Included Battery w/o Lens Covers: 17.9 oz.

  • Scope caps included

 What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Various reticles

What others are saying?:

GREAT OPTIC FOR A REASONABLE PRICE

by Noah S.

Have a little over 2100 rounds on this optic between four different shooting sessions because I really wanted to give it a good test for the average shooter. The glass is very clear and crisp compared to most other optics of this price range. The reticle brightness settings give you a good range of options for different weather and daylight conditions. It’s ran right along side my ACOG also purchased from Primary Arms. Obviously I’m not betting my life on this optic that same way I would an ACOG, but if you need an optic that works and is affordable to the average shooter and is made by a company that stands behind its, work this is it. This isn’t a paid add and is my honest review for the short time I’ve had it.

GREAT VALUE

by Joe

Bought this to go pig hunting with a .300 AAC BLK. Worked like a champ. I dropped it on the ground and no loss of zero. Rugged scope for the price. Illumination works well. The reticle could be a bit larger but that is personal preference. Overall I am very pleased and can recommend it.

Link to other reviews:

Pew Pew Tactical

Price point:

MSRP = $339.99

Retail = Same, but PA runs sales sometimes

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms or Your Local PA Dealer

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Quality made

  • Lifetime warranty

  • Easy of use

  • Clear glass

  • Great reticle

Cons: 

  • None

Score: 9.00 Great 

Jacob Grey AR trigger

Jacob Grey

Signature Drop in AR flat faced trigger

  I recently got an AR trigger from Jacob Grey Firearms. This is a flat faced 3.5 lb cassette style trigger. It came nicely packaged and also includes anti walk pins with it. Jacob Grey (JG) is known for their high end 1911 double stack 9mm handguns. When I got the trigger I had to figure out what rifle I was going to put it in. So I chose a Palmetto State lower with a Delton 16” upper. I had an LPVO on this rifle and was taking it to a class. This gave me the chance to run the trigger and get a good feel for it.

  After installing the Jacob Grey trigger I had a small hiccup with it. I followed the instructions that were in the box and I could not get the trigger to function right. I spent several hours working on trying to make it work. I reached out to a few friends, that I knew had the answers. I also called JG customer service and left a voicemail. After using my lifeline, I got the trigger running right. I didn’t realize there were two small set screws on the trigger that you have to run down until they meet the bottom of the receiver. Right after I figured this out the customer support team called me. There were two gentlemen on the phone and one was the head armorer. He gave me a run down and told me how to adjust the trigger after installing it. This was a refreshing relief to get a real person that knows what they are doing to call you back. The big aggravation I had was that there were no instructions on or in the box.

Image from Jacobgreyfirearms.com

  Installing the JG trigger was very straightforward, just yank out that old GI junk, and drop this one in. It came with anti walk pins to secure it. I did use some blue loctite on the screws, after I had one of the screws back out during a training class. So the loctite was definitely an after the fact thought. 

  When I took the rifle to the range I was really impressed with the very short trigger pull. There was no take up, the trigger break was crisp like glass. It was almost scary the first few rounds. After getting used to it, making double taps and triples was no problem. The travel of the trigger was just a out 1/16” of an inch. The reset was very noticeable and tactile. It was refreshing to be able to know where it broke and reset. I did a lot of single shots and held the trigger down and let up on it after the round had impacted. The reset was audible and very noticeable. 

  I took the rifle to a class and the JG trigger performed flawlessly. Granted I already had about 200 rounds on the trigger before this. The trigger was smooth, crisp, broke like glass, reset was wonderful. It almost felt like you could outrun the rifle with the trigger. It is not very often that I find something that I have to tell other people, “you just have to try this”. With the JG trigger I did. I asked several people to shoot it and tell me what they thought of it. Everyone was surprised at the crisp, light break and the reset. 

  So after having well over 1000 rounds on the Jacob Grey trigger it is staying in my go to rifle. The 3.5lb trigger pull is fantastic. I probably would not recommend this trigger to someone starting out just because of how light it is. I would recommend some range time doing drills before I ran it in a class or competition. After someone is used to this trigger, it would make a great all around do anything trigger. You can check the trigger out at Jacob Grey Firearms.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Made in the USA AR trigger

Great quality 

Consistent trigger pull

Target Market:

Competition shooters

Skilled shooter looking for a great trigger

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product): 

  • Clean break

  • Repetitive trigger pull

  • Quality machining

  • Easy instal with instructions 

  • Trigger Shoe Type: Flat

  • Trigger Action: Single Stage

  • Creep: Zero

  • Overtravel: 0.050"

  • Rest Feel: Tactical mild force

  • Hammer Strike: Full

  • Pin Size: Standard Mil Spec 0.154" - Anti-Walk Trigger Pins Included

  • Warranty: Lifetime

  • Weapon Platform: AR15, M4, AR10, AR9

 What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

5 out 5 stars from John D. at OpticsPlanet.com

Alrighty, let me tell you about the Jacob Grey Drop in AR15 Trigger. If you're looking for a trigger that's super crisp and has a super short reset, then this trigger is the real deal, my friend.

I gotta say, I was a bit hesitant at first since I've tried out some other triggers that were supposed to be "crisp," but they just didn't cut it for me. But let me tell ya, the Jacob Grey Trigger definitely lives up to the hype.

First off, installation was a breeze. I'm no gunsmith, but I was able to install it without any issues. And once I got it on my AR, I was absolutely blown away by how smooth and crisp the trigger pull was. Seriously, it's like butter.

And let's not forget about that super short reset. It's insane. You barely have to move the trigger at all to get it to reset. And when it does, you're right back at that crisp trigger pull.

Now, let's talk about the price. For the money, you simply can't beat this trigger. I've seen other triggers out there that cost two or three times as much, but they don't even come close to the performance of the Jacob Grey. It's an absolute steal, in my opinion.

Overall, if you're in the market for a trigger that's crisp, smooth, and has a super short reset, then look no further than the Jacob Grey Drop in AR15 Trigger. It's a total game changer and worth every penny.

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found as of publishing

Price point:

MSRP = $179.99

Retail = Currently $102.00 at OpticsPlanet

I need it now! Availability:

Jacob Grey Firearms or OpticsPlanet

https://www.opticsplanet.com/jacob-grey-custom-one-piece-3-5lb-drop-in-trigger.html

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Quality made

  • Light and crisp trigger pull

  • Good price point

  • Good reset

Cons: 

  • No instructions to adjust the set screws

Score: 8.50 Great 

RITON 3 TACTIX 1-8 X 24 LPVO

RITON MAN

THE RITON 3 TACTIX 1-8 X 24 LPVO

  Up for review today is the RITON 3 Tactix LPVO 1-8 x 24 rifle scope. In the world we are in now, it is either red dots or LPVO on your rifle. Well I can’t tell you which way to go because I run both. What I can tell you is the LPVO that RITON makes is a good choice if you're looking for a mid tier rifle scope. Is it the best? No. Is it the worst? Not by a long shot. It has good and bad features that you have to choose what you like. 

  To start off with the 3 Tactix is solid, I would also say it is duty grade for sure. I dropped it on the ground and beat it back and forth around in the truck, on my body while on a sling and so on. It never lost zero. The mount they sent to me was one of their own and is a rock solid mount with a level built in the back bottom. I would assume this is for when you’re taking longer shots and have to keep the reticle level to play the wind. Or it could just be an aid when mounting the scope. This is a tactical scope that has all the features you would expect in a high dollar optic for twice the money. It has a patent pending dual throw lever for adjustment, capped turrets, 6 different brightness settings and is available in black or FDE. For some reason they sent me a black optic with an FDE mount, but that doesn’t matter to me. 

  Under the windage and elevation caps are zero resettable turrets. There are three different height throw levers and a flush mount one. Windage and elevation adjustment are ½ MOA. There are 6 levels of red illumination with an off position between each level. It features a fast focus eyepiece. They state it is 100% waterproof, fog proof  and rugged design ready for the toughest environments. I could not find a waterproof rating on the website or in the documentation so I am just going to take their word for it. 

  Mounting the optic was easy just like any other, just follow the directions and torque specs and you will be fine. The clicks on the dials were fantastic and probably some of the best I have turned. Once you have the scope zeroed at your preferred distance, you can loosen the screw and set the dial to zero and tighten it back down. 

  This Riton optic is a second focal plane which means the reticle stays the same at all levels of magnification. Second focal plane, or SFP, optics have the reticle behind the magnifying lens. The advantage is that the reticle always stays the same size. The disadvantage is that if you are going to use the holdovers that are listed in the manual you have to have the optic at max power. I use different power levels and keep a dope card taped to the stock of my rifles so I know where I am with that magnification. Just be mindful this is a capped turret optic, so if you want to dial for wind you have to take the caps off. 

  The reticle is a unique design to me, I have not used one like this before and it is easy to use. It can be a little busy at first. Once you learn what everything means you are good for elevation, windage and it also has a dot in the center that works well for close up work. The reticle is called an OT reticle, once you look at it you will understand. It has a broken circle that is 20 MOA in diameter with a 1 MOA dot in the center. After that you have a T, with the bottom of the T hanging out of the bottom of the circle. It has 4 vertical lines that run out from each side and bottom from the 10 MOA center out. Each line is 0.5 MOA wide, the distance between each line is 5 MOA and the lines are 5 MOA tall. Then there are horizontal lines in between each vertical line. There are 3 of these that are 3 MOA long and 0.5 MOA thick. So once you have all of this math figured out you are golden. I see it no different than people that use tree reticles and call wind and elevation on the fly with them. This is just something different that works.

  I mounted the 3 Tactix 1-8 on 2 different rifles and went to the range numerous times with both of them. I even used this optic in a Kevin Dixie rifle class. It definitely took some abuse that day. So far I am around 1500 rounds with this optic, out to distances of 200 yards. I mainly ran it at 50 yards and in. I ran it like a red dot in various light situations. The good thing about the illumination setting is that there is an off setting between each brightness setting. The optic never lost zero at all. I did my own little repeatability test with it at 100 yards. I took one shot that landed close to the center of the bullseyes. I then cranked over 10 clicks to the right and took a shot then I went 20 clicks to the left and took a shot. These out laying shots were almost in identical places. I then cranked back to my original setting and was within a ½ inch of my first shot.

   I am not going to bore you with all the details of the Riton 3 Tactix 1-8 LPVO. I will list this down below so you can read them or go to their website. I can tell you that this optic impressed me more during a training class and a competition than it did on the range. It is a little cluttered to me. But I am used to more simplified optics. So take that with a grain of salt. This optic might be right up your alley. I know it is on my go to battle rifle and will stay there until I find something better. Have I figured it all out? No, but I am still working on it. The glass is clear, the turrets are tactile, the lights are bright, and the scope mount is wonderful. I have used better optics but not for the money that this one offers. I like it, it works. Riton is not known for making cheap optics, so you know you're getting quality glass. I do not know anything about customer service but the folks at Shot Show 2024 were amazing when they talked to me about the scope. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality glass

Tactile turrets

Good price point

Great light transmission

Easy Click turrets

Great finish

Good clarity for the price

Target Market:

The average consumer that needs extra for their money

Will serve most people well without breaking the bank

Average working Joe

FEATURES, BENEFITS, AND SPECIFICATIONS OF THIS PRODUCT:

  • Magnification: 1-8

  • Parallax Adjustment: Fixed at 100 yards

  • Tube Diameter: 30mm

  • Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

  • Focal Lens Position: Second Focal Plane

  • Lens Coating: Fully Multi-Coated, Full Wide Band, Waterproof Coated, Low Light Enhancement

  • Reticle: OT, Illuminated

  • Field of View at 100 yds: 105.8ft-13.1ft

  • Material: 6061-T6

  • Eye Relief: 3.5in/90mm

  • Exit Pupil: Low 7.5mm - High 3mm

  • Click Value at 100 yds/m: 1/2”

  • Adjustment Range: 182 MOA

  • Mounting Length: 6.75in/171mm

  • Length: 10.87in/276mm

  • Weight: 19.3oz/547g

  • Included Items: Flip Up Lens Covers, Lens Cloth, Allen Wrench

 What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

FDE version

What others are saying?:

3 out of 5 stars at OpticsPlanet.com    

Not terrible for the price

I purchased this scope from an individual who "decided to go another direction" with their setup. Pros: Clear glass, seems well built(time will tell), reticle and illumination are crisp/clean and turrets are tactile and audible. Cons: The magnification throw is VERY stiff(may loosen up over time). The reticle isn't very intuitive, but will work for my needs. The biggest downside to this scope is what others have said, THE EYEBOX SUCKS. Anything past 5x your head/eye has to be in the 'sweet spot' or you'll lose it all to scope shadow. Also the owner of a Burris rt6, the box is much better on the rt6 compared to this and basically the same reticle as the X3 moa model. Long story short--a 1-8 that's only good to 6x is a 1-6. The glass on the Riton is better than the Burris(I think), but if you can't see through it, it doesn't matter. If you're considering this Riton, get the Burris rt6. I paid 200 for the Riton, so I don't feel cheated, but at retail prices, there are better options.

Link to other reviews:

The Truth About Guns

Outdoor Hub

Price point:

MSRP = $479.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Riton or Amazon   

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Light weight

  • Clear glass for the price

  • Large turrets

  • Easy to mount

  • Good price point

  • Illumination is on point

Cons: 

  • The reticle can be cluttered at first

  • It is not Leupold quality glass

  • You have to adjust the diopter quite a bit

Score: 8.00 Great

Lone Wolf Dawn 365 Slide

  I was grateful enough to receive a Lone Wolf Arms Dawn slide for my plain Jane Sig P365. The slide came unassembled and the first thing I noticed when I opened the package was the great machining and beveled edges of the slide. The slide was gun metal gray and had an optic cut for the Holosun 507K footprint. The optic cut had a cover plate installed on it to prevent damage to the optic area. 

The Dawn slide is made out of 17-4 high strength stainless steel. It has a lot more beveling and serrations than the regular stock P365 slide. If you start at the front of the slide and work your way back you can see all of the improvements over the OEM slide. All of the leading edges from the crown of the slide back are either recessed or beveled all the way around for ease of holstering and less friction for a snag free draw or reholstering. The serrations are more aggressive than the OEM slide and have two extra lines for a total of seven compared to the stock slide with five. The serrations blend in from the top of the slide down and have great line transitions. It doesn't have the blocky feeling or look of the standard slide. On top of the slide it is also beveled around the ejection port with two triangle lightening cuts that are cut clean through to the barrel. I am not sure if this is to reduce weight or if this is to act like a type of compensator cut for the barrel. Moving on back you get to the optic cut which is nicely machined with very few if any machining tool marks in the optic cut. The slide is cut for your standard P365 dovetail drift sight, front and rear. On the back end of the slide are the rear serrations that are aggressive like the front ones and just as well as eye pleasing. Just like the front the rear has a nice transition from top to bottom on the serrations. 

  The Lone Wolf Dawn P365 slide was straightforward to assemble, and I used all of my stock parts from my OEM slide to build it out, including my sights. I pulled off the optics plate and added a Swamp Fox Sentinel that I pulled off another pistol. This was an amazingly easy process and everything bolted and fitted together perfectly. The point of aim when coming out of the holster and aiming at the target was very natural. It appeared more natural pointing than other firearms that I have.   

  At the range, the Dawn P365 slide ran just like I thought it would. The slide was easy to grab and pinch to manipulate. There were no malfunctions when firing. The holster I had was a perfect match for the slide and optic. I enjoyed the serrations on the front and rear even with gloved hands, the gloves seemed to grip the serrations just right and the slide never slipped. When I manipulated it with bare hands the serrations were just right and not too coarse to make it feel uncomfortable in the hand. 

  The QPQ coating (quench, polish, quench) on the slide is great and functional. The gray color of mine was dull enough for the sun not to shine off of it but yet is tough enough to resist me carrying it in wet weather conditions with no sign of corrosion. 

  So in concluding this article if you're looking to upgrade your stock P365 I do not see how you can go wrong with a Lone Wolf Dusk P365 slide. If you factor in the cost and time of machining a slide, I feel you're better off buying a slide to put an optic on. Lone Wolf has them for the stock P365 and the P365xl model. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Long time barrel and slide manufacturer

DIY slide for the Sig 365

Drop in fit

Bearing like slide action

Target Market:

People looking for drop in parts for the Sig P365

Compatible with all OEM barrels

Optic Cut

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product): 

  • Ready to use, pre-fit for a drop in installation

  • Slides fit SIG® factory frames

  • Compatible with Lone Wolf® DAWN 365 Barrels and OEM P365 Barrels

  • Coated for corrosion and wear resistance

  • Heat treated, high strength 17-4 stainless steel construction

  • Exacting tolerances produce greater shot-to-shot accuracy

  • Optic cut for Holosun® 507K footprint

  • Proudly made in the USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available

Made for the standard P365 and the P365XL

Numerous color options to choose from

Link to other reviews:

NRA Family 

Gun Mag Warehouse

Price point:

MSRP = $289.95

Retail = $289.95

I need it now! Availability:

Lone Wolf Arms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • A great upgrade for a stock P365

  • Fills the gap between the Xl and standard P365

  • Optic ready

  • Great coating

  • Bearing like coating

  • Improved accuracy

Cons: 

  • I could not find a con for this product

Score: 8.00 Good 

COBRATEC BLACK RAPTOR DAGGER

  Here we have, for review, The Black Raptor Dagger from CobraTec. A knife company that I have just absolutely fallen in love with. The company, as you can see, is CobraTec. On the Gun & Gear Review podcast we discussed one of their knives, and before the show even started I bought the knife and had it on the way to me. That particular knife is the Trapper model with the hidden open switch. Since then I have ordered and paid for 3 more of their knives, plus I have given a few away as door prizes and gifts to friends. Some went to Tony Simon over at his Diversity Shoot. So needless to say, I have been digging these knives pretty well. The knife review today was sent to me by CobraTec, after I reached out to them. They were more than happy to send me this Black Raptor dagger. 

  So what we have here is a knife that is an OTF (out the front) knife, it has a side fire switch made out of aluminum with nice knurling on it to get a good thumb purchase. The handles or case of the knife is CNC machined 6061-T6 aluminum. This is what a lot of firearms and lower receivers are made out of. The blade of the knife is D2 tool steel and is a dagger point that is sharpened on both sides and is very sharp from the factory. The action of this knife is smooth and the lock up is nice and tight. I have used more expensive OTF knives that have rattled once the blades were deployed, but not this one. 

  Here are the factory specs on the knife and then I will get into some more details of what I like and maybe what I don't.  

Specifications:

  • Weight: 3 oz

  • Overall Length: 7.63"

  • Blade Length: 3.13"

  • Handle Length: 4.5"

  • Blade Material: D2 Steel Blade

  • Aluminum Switch

  Most everyone knows that I love D2 tool steel, it is an amazing steel for blades. It is not the sharpest steel out, the most expensive, but in my opinion it is one of the best all around steels for durability, ease of taking care of, sharpening and longevity of a blade. I think they did a fantastic job of picking this steel for their knives.

  CobraTec Is an American company based in Meridian, Texas, they have their blades manufactured overseas to meet their specifications. Then once they are imported back to Texas, a group of technicians assemble the knives and do a quality control on them. This ensures that the end user is getting a quality built, reliable knife with a lifetime warranty. All of the blades are sent out to a metallurgical research laboratory for testing. Now that is quality control right there people. 

  The Raptor came packaged in a great hard plastic case with a foam insert that held the knife in place. It also had a card with the person who assembled and inspected the knife. There was also a warranty card in the box as well. All you have to do is follow the directions and go to the website and put the code in. Your knife will be warrantied to you for a lifetime. 

  With the Raptor being a dagger style blade I did not get to do my usual type of skinning or typical EDC fingernail cleaning with it. What I can tell you is that it is sharp. It will puncture through just about any normal thing you want to stab with it, within reason. I did sharpen the D2 blades on both sides, I didn't have to but I did, it was already sharp enough.

  One good thing about their OTF knives is that you can order different style blades for them at a reasonable price. They have tanto, drop point, and the dagger style. This blade style is not one I myself like, because I like a blade that I can use to work with everyday. My opinion on this doesn't take away from what the knife was intended for. This is a defensive knife and a damn good one at that. So if you're looking for a EDC OTF knife for self defense look at the CobraTec Raptor, it will not disappoint at all. CobraTec also has many options, styles and price points for everyone. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality Out the Front knife at a decent price. American owned company, assembled and quality inspected by a single person.

Target Market:

Someone looking for quality without breaking the bank

Self defense

Knife collectors

Average Joe 

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product): 

  • Weight: 3 oz

  • Overall Length: 7.63"

  • Blade Length: 3.13"

  • Handle Length: 4.5"

  • Blade Material: D2 Steel

  • Aluminum Switch

  • American Owned company

  • Sharp out of the box

  • Great packaging

  • Locks up tight

  • Lifetime warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available

Different blade styles, other models available, different price points for everyone, different finishes, etc. 

Link to other reviews:

Great American Survival on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $159.99

Retail = Same but use code “GGR10” at CobraTec and get 10% off

I need it now! Availability:

CobraTec

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Sharp

  • Great lock up

  • Quality machining

  • Quality materials

Cons:

  • I am not a fan of the dagger blade

Score: 7.5 Good 

NORTH FOREST ARMS DUAL PICTURE GLOCK SIGHTS

On one of our recent Gun & Gear Review podcast shows, we went over the North Forest Arms Dual Picture Bullseye and Precision Glock sights. We all had some questions about how they worked. We compared them to other sights on the market that had big dots and to lever action buckhorn sights. I just couldn’t leave well enough alone so I contacted the manufacturer. It was an instant response back from them. They called me instead of emailing me asking me which sights I wanted. What color, what pistol I was putting it on and even gave me a great background on the company. So within days I had a set in hand.

After a few days I received my new sights and broke out an old Glock 23, that I had converted over to 9mm with a different barrel, spring, and extractor. The sights were easy enough to push in just like any other Glock style sights. The front post comes with several screws for mounting and the rear sight just slides in snuggly into the dovetail. I opted for the orange front with the two dot rear in green.

Let’s talk about the sights themselves. The front is a big orange dot with a green tritium dot in the center. Now here is the cool part. The front sight has a post, knob, finger or wing on top. Call it what you will, but it works. The rear sight is a perfect image of the front but with a hole in the center to line up the big dot. The rear has two tritium dots that when lined up correctly will match the singular green tritium dot in the front.

Now for the cool part of this sighting system, it’s instinctive, naturally fills up in the eyes when you present the pistol. The wing on top of the front lines up with the cut out on the rear. So you have a three dot green, a big orange dot that grabs your eye and when you line up the wing in the cut out, you have a perfect sight picture. I know it sounds like a lot but it is not, it is natural and fills the eye perfectly. You can do close work and longer distances with this sight. It’s like bullseye level shooting with this sight.

I dry fired with the sights for about 30 minutes a day for about a week before I went to the range. Well I didn’t get the first shots with this system, my 15 year old daughter grabbed the gun and a handful of magazines and went to the range in the backyard. She was shooting at 25 yards and making about a 3 inch group right off the bat. After I reloaded all the magazines and set up another target, I was able to do some shooting at 7 yards and back out to 25 yards with no problems. Just line up the dots, cut outs and you’re on. I was able to double tap and transition from target to target with what felt like a natural pointing style.

So to finish up, I really think these sights are a novel idea for those who might have a hard time just being able to acquire three dot sights, or regular sights due to poor vision, glasses, or what have you. They glow in the dark, they are big enough to be quick yet built shapely enough to do precision work. I have to say I like them. Their website pictures did them no justice by just looking at them. You just had to see them in person. If you’re looking for a good set of tritium sights, the North Forest Arms just might be what you’re looking for.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Unique Dual sight picture tritium sights

Target Market:

EDC, Hunters, Competition shooters, & Plinking

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Tritium sights

  • Easy to see

  • Bright front orange dot

  • Unique design

  • Easy to install

  • Quick to acquire

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

White front sight

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars at NorthForestArms

I recently put a set of NFA dual picture sights on my full size 9 mm handgun. This was the 3rd set of sights I’ve put on this handgun. The original sights, then a set of tritium and fiber optic sights from a popular brand, and now these dual picture sights from NFA. I’ve gone to the range a few times with them plus used them in a Tactical Class where a course was set up with various different targets with various scenarios. Once I adjusted to the new sights and how to line them up for either quick or precise target acquisition/shooting I could immediately see a difference in my aim, groupings, and how much faster I could line my sight up to the target from a low ready position and then get the shot off. Very impressed with these sights and can’t wait till they come out with sights for my other handguns.

Link to other reviews:

RTT : Guns & Gear on YouTube

Price point:

MSRP = $149.95

Retail = same

I need it now! Availability:

North Forest Arms

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Rugged

  • Great construction

  • Good quality

Cons:

  • I really could not come up with any

Score: 7.00 Good

Primary Arms GLX 10x42 ED Binoculars

The Primary Arms 

GLx 10x42mm ED Binoculars 

As you can tell this review is about a pair of binoculars. I was lucky enough to receive the GLx 10x42 binos from Primary Arms for review. I wanted to use these during turkey season but life got in the way, so I carried these in my backpack and used them at work. For those of you that don’t know, I'm a paramedic and I run as an intercept, which means I’m in a SUV by myself and I cover a lot of area. I cover three counties when needed, and a lot of it is interstate or in a very rural area. So I’ve been using these to survey the scene of wrecks before I get there, certain hazmat situations. or just try and find a mailbox or house number from way off the road. A lot of the time I use them to just people watch. But l have been using them a lot lately while fishing. I have been looking for skip Jack or shad breaking the water and looking for my buoys when I set out trotlines. 

So a little about these GLX 10x42 binoculars:

  • Features:

  • Grey finish

  • 10x Fixed magnification

  • 42mm Objective lens

  • Waterproof and shockproof

  • Magnesium construction with rubber overmold

  • Fully multicoated lenses

  • 15.2mm Eye relief

  • 6.5 Degrees angular field of view

  • 341 ft. Field of view @ 1,000 yards

  • 2 Meter close focus

  • Prism Type: Roof

  • Length: 5.5 in.

  • Width: 5 in.

  • Height: 2 in.

  • Weight: 23.74 oz.

  • Includes soft case and Neoprene neck strap

These are the technical specifications off of the website, I know it’s a little boring but you need to know what you’re getting. I don’t have a lot of experience with other binoculars, I have carried the same pair for about 15 years or so from another leading company and I can tell you they don’t hold a candle to the GLX pair. These are super clear, light enough to carry with the neck strap around your neck all day. The color and light transmission I got from them reminds me of several high end rifle scopes I have looked through. I have tossed these in the bottom of my flat bottom boat, carried them in a backpack, in the saddle bags while riding horses. I even used them some during trapping season when I had a bunch of skunks I was trapping out of a piece of property. So to say the least they are durable, tough, waterproof and have survived the encounters that I have put them through. I have not been easy on them. 

I really wanted to see how the body held up with hard use without keeping them in the case all the time.  I found out they are tough as nails. The only piece that came off was off the focus ring in the center and it was just the logo for the company. I think it was glued on and it did not affect use of the binos. They were easy to use with sunglasses or my regular glasses. They just seemed to fit to your face once you get them adjusted. 

What I like about them is that they are over rubber and are easy to handle with wet or sweaty hands. I went to my local sports store and looked through their binoculars and tried to make a comparison but it’s hard to do inside. But from what I found is that the GLx 10x42’s are in the same quality of craftsmanship as others that are twice the price. 

I would like to tell you about field of view and all the other specs that are on there but it’s Greek to me. What I can tell you, is that for the money, you’re getting a quality pair of binoculars, for half the cost of a comparable model from those other large manufacturers.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Quality Binoculars at a fair price

Target Market:

Hunters, Bird watching, Backpackers, People watching, Those who like quality, and Concert goers 

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Midrange price point 

  • Primary Arms lifetime warranty 

  • Over molded 

  • Great light transmission 

  • Water resistance 

  • Rugged 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

SLx

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 Stars from Joe at Primary Arms

These binoculars are amazing, build quality is top notch and the glass is super clear. I have a high-end pair of Steiner binoculars, and these have just as nice glass as those which are schott glass.I have used a lot of High-end optics, and these are incredible especially at the price tag, these are by far the best binoculars I have seen on the market for that price if not double or triple what these cost.

Link to other reviews:

Target Tamers

Price point:

MSRP = $259.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Rugged 

  • Great construction

  • Good quality 

Cons:

  • I really could not come up with any 

Score: 8.00 Great

Case Trapper: Jigged Buffalo Horn S35VN

THE ORIGINAL MULTI TOOL

WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKET?

So for this review I have gone a little old school and traveled back in time. I went back to a place and time in my past when times were simpler, we ate bologna sandwiches because we had to, where fried potatoes were considered a food group, you drank out of a water hose when you were thirsty, and most of all you had that one special knife that could do it all. My grandfather had one, my dad had one, all my uncles had one, and I had one too. What am I talking about? The good Ole’ Case Trapper. 

  The Case Trapper 65090 Jigged Buffalo Horn S35V, this is not the same trapper I carried as a kid, but it is an updated version of it. It has a great textured Buffalo Horn material that is gripping enough to hang onto when your hands are wet and covered in whatever animal you are processing. Yet it is stylish enough to ride in the front pocket of your slacks, overalls, bibs, or in a Case leather sheath. The blade steel is a version of stainless S35VN which is about 20% stronger than S30, has better corrosion resistance than 440 stainless, has better edge retention and chipping than D2. If you click on the link you can geek out on all the properties that are in the steel. All I know is that it came from the factory with a stone washed finish and was razor sharp. I was really surprised at how sharp it was. I usually hit all my new blades lightly on a fine stone to see the grind marks from the factory. This one had some but they were really close together and not that deep. 

I got this knife during trapping season because I was wanting to go back to the old ways of skinning and trapping animals around the farm. I was using an older Case Trapper I had, but it was one of the smaller ones, and I wanted one a little larger to use while wearing gloves. 

This particular Case Trapper came with two blades, a Clip point and a Spey blade. The clip point 3.25” is for your everyday tasks like piercing, cutting and gives better control when cutting shaped patterns. The Spey point 3.27” blade is well better known in the country, on ranches and farms as a castration blade. The blade is mainly round on top with just a little point at the crown of it. A lot of hunters and trappers love this blade because you can skin an animal, field dress one without hitting the stomach or vital organs. The blade also helps not to pierce the skin when skinning an animal. The overall length is 4.13” closed. The knife weighs in at 4 ounces and one thing to remember is that these knives are slip joint non locking blades. You really need to be careful when using one and be aware of the pressure applied to the blade when cutting. 

I used this knife to skin about 6 raccoons and 2 deer this year. I couldn't tell you how many bales of hay I cut open with it and the numerous packages. After cleaning the knife and putting it back in my pocket or sheath I used it for other tasks like cutting potatoes, processing cuts of game meat and general tasks. The blades have only been sharpened a few times and then they were just touched up with a fine diamond stone and then a strop. The knife has not failed me at all. I really feel that if you like classic knives, maybe ones that bring back some memories, or something that you can pass down to a child, or one that is a general do all, non tactical, original multi tool knife, than this is the one for you. 

The price of this particular knife is a little high, coming in at $149.99 on the Case website. I did find this knife a little cheaper at Knife Works for $125.99. Yes I bought this knife with my own money because I know it is an investment and I can pass it down to my son or to one of my grandsons when the time is right. Case does have countless variations of trappers from $40 and up and in different blade materials, collections, from Ford, Harley Davidson, John Deere to Boy Scouts of America. So if this price is too high they will have something in your budget line. The best part is they are made in America. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

American made

Classic Style

Sharp

Corrosion Resistance

Rugged look

Been around since 1889

Target Market:

Dedicated knife people

Hunters

EDC

Those who like quality

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Blade thickness 0.120 (almost ⅛”)

  • Weight: 4 ounces

  • Blade material: S35VN

  • Buffalo Jigged handles

  • Brass bolsters in handle

  • Belt sheath sold separate $10.99

  • Lock Type: Non-Locking (Slip Joint)

  • Closed Length: 4.13 in

  • Blade Length(s): 3.25 in, 3.27 in

  • Blade Type: Clip, Spey

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Tons

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of this review

Link to other reviews:

Same as above

Price point:

MSRP = $149.99

Retail = $125.99

I need it now! Availability:

Case, Amazon, or Knife Works

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • American made 

  • Sharp 

  • Great construction 

  • Good quality for the money.

Cons:

  • Slip joint, could fold up on your fingers

Score: 8.00 Great

Cold War Concealment OWB Holster

THE MIGHTY TITAN

  Ladies and gentlemen, what we have here is a holster, a holster that I fell in love with as soon as I opened that package. I was contacted by Clif over at Cold War Concealment to see if I would be interested in reviewing one of his holsters. I thought why not, I am a sucker for a free holster. I am just like any gun guy out there and have a box, drawer and tote full of holsters that all were the latest and greatest at the time. But just keep reading it gets better.

  I told Clif to send me one for my Sig P 365 in an OWB configuration, he said no problem. In a couple days he contacted me and said here is your tracking number and it was on the way. I started really looking at the holsters he had on his website and he really focuses on the popular Glock, S&W, Springfield, Sig, Taurus, Ruger and smaller Walther models. This is something I found impressive. For some of these models it is hard to get a good quality holster for a, let's say, lower priced firearm. They offer holsters for IWB, OWB, semi autos and a wide array of the popular J frame revolvers. 

  The owner of the company is retired from the Airforce and is located in North Carolina. The process that is used to make the holster is a taco style, that is vacuum formed over a CNC mold that is cut for your particular firearm. It is then heated and formed together to complete the taco shape. All of the edges are nicely radius to reduce snag and pinch point. The sight channel is large to run suppressor height sights. It has a single adjustment/tension screw below the trigger guard that really makes adjustments and personal tension a snap. The belt loop that came with the holster has numerous adjustment angles and has two slots on each side to fit belts from 1.5” to 2”. I wear a 1.75” belt and it works out great. The OWB holsters are also available with the Safariland QLS fork mounting system. 

  The day I got the holster I made an IG post that I was going to go ride horses with my new holster. Well I was riding right up until the time I was bucked off, hung up in the stirrups and dragged down the gravel driveway. But hey I wasn't “KILT IN THE STREETZ". Anyway when I gathered myself up, wiped the blood from my face, found my glasses, straightened my cowboy hat back up, the gun was still retained in the holster. The holster had some wear, scratches but it was still in great shape. A few weeks later I took the holster with me on a bear/hog hunt and carried it while climbing up the side of the mountains. After coming out of the briars and laurel bushes the pistol was still retained. I also did some drills at the house on my range in the backyard, the holster sits just perfectly right in front of the hip bone. The mounting system keeps it close to the body, but not to close where my love handles get in the way. I was able to draw and reholster without any issues. 

  In closing we all have had holsters that we rave about, wear for a bit and then find another one and put that one aside and forget about it. Some we get, have so many attachments on them, you need to be an engineer just to figure it out. I am a K.I.S.S method person, keep it simple stupid. If you are in the market for a holster that is comfortable, reliable, no frills, top quality, family/veteran owned, this is the holster for you. I want to make one point, yes i got this holster for free, this did not sway my decision for writing this article. I write about how things work for me. I am placing an order for an IWB and mag holder this week. I believe in supporting small businesses that make great products, this is the American way. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

American made

Great construction

Reliable

Horse approved

Durable

Ease of care

Adjustable cant

Target Market:

Anyone needing a holster for a compact semi auto or revolver

CCW  use

Americans

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • American made

  • Adjustable cant

  • Ease of use

  • Great quality

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different patterns and colors available

IWB

OWB

Claw

No claw

Optic cut

Link to other reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4ikF2FT5YU

Price point:

MSRP = $50.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Cold War Concealment

They have them available on their website.

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Simple

  • Comfortable

  • Rides great

  • Retains the firearm

  • Can get with QLS Fork

Cons:

  • Maybe a tek-lok mounting option

Score: 9.50 Amazing

Stevens M320 Security/Tactical 12ga Pump shotgun

To Be Chinese, It Has a Nice Rack

  I have been holding off on this review for several years now for numerous reasons. First this is a budget shotgun and it falls in the same category as a lot of other shotguns on the market. Second, I was afraid no one would be interested in reading it. Then third there was the big C that has been affecting everyone. But here it is and let me dive into the model I have. 

  The Stevens/Savage M320 Pump shotgun, ok what can I say, it is based on the old proven Winchester 1300 action, which uses a rotating bolt to cycle the shells. This particular one has a pistol grip and cross bolt safety, 18.5” barrel with a hooded front fiber optic sight and ghost ring rear sight. The receiver has a 1913 picatinny rail for mounting optics. 

  The model I bought came in flat dark earth stock and hard rubber butt stock, already has sling point attachments on the front cap and the rear of the stock. Right in front of the forend are access points that are on both sides of the 90 degrees apart. They are 1913 rails as well for mounting your favorite accessory to. It has a capacity of 5 rounds for 2.75” shells but has the capacity to hold 3” as well. The shotgun weighs in around 6 pounds with an over length of 38.25”. The trigger pull is a bit heavy on mine, tripping the gauge at 7 pounds. The forearm on the M320 is a little longer than most tactical or home defense shotguns, most of the ones I have encountered are around 8 to 9” long, the one on the Stevens is roughly 11” in length. Does this make a big difference? Not really, just some added weight and hey it has a nice rack.  

  So let us get to the shooting of this Chinese beauty with the big rack. I mounted a Swamp Fox Liberator Green Dot green dot on top of it just because I had one laying around and figured why not. This was a great choice when I went to the range. Remember this is a cylinder bore choke, which means it is not constricted like most hunting shotguns, nor does it have interchangeable choke tubes. This shotgun was made for close work. With that being said I found out that my local Wally world was selling ammo on the cheap and they had their Federal slugs on sale for $2.50 a box, so I bought all they had. With over 200 rounds of 3” slugs and 300 rounds of Rio 2 ¾” buckshot and more than I can count of mixed birdshot loads I was at the range. I sighted in at 50 yards on paper with the slugs and was getting great results. The best group I got was 1 ¾ inches at 50 yards, I was pretty happy with that. We did have some 12” steel set up at 100 yards and I could ring those every time with the slugs. After an hour of brutal shooting of slugs, I noticed I was closing my eyes and developing a flinch. I stopped shooting the 3” slugs. I went with something a bit lighter and did what I could to mimic patterning at about 40 yards and in with the buckshot. I was impressed at the spread that it kept at that distance. I ran out of paper targets so I spent the rest of my time shooting plastic bottles, bricks, logs and whatever else I could find on the junk section of the range. 

  So how did it shoot? Just like a shotgun should, it went bang, it destroyed anything that was in front of it. It ate any shells I put in it. But, here it is, there had to be one. I didn’t tell you this in the initial description, but it has a pistol grip. I absolutely hate pistol grip shotguns now. My wrist felt like I had punched a brick wall over and over. The direct impact into the web of the hand was terrible. The pistol grip made it so I could not get to the slide release switch easily. If you had gloves on it would be a no go. Now the gun for what it is ran fine. It is smooth, the trigger is a little heavy. The forearm is too long if you want to put shell cards on the side. It will cover part of the receiver up. You might be able to use a 4 shell card, but not one of the larger ones. The forearm is a little weird in design, it is not what I am used to but I am not going to call it a negative, just different. It seems to be big on the front and then flows down to an undercut of some sort towards the rear. This might be by design for smaller shooters.

  Overall this is a good shotgun for home defense, maybe a slug gun for deer hunting or varmint control. Throw it in the toolbox of your truck, under the seat, strap it to the rack of your 4 wheeler or to the back of your side by side. I feel for the money $199 when I bought mine, you can't go wrong. I have used mine on several bear and hog hunts, dropped it in the water while getting into my canoe, it does ride on the back of my saddle from time to time while riding horses. If I skin it up, scratch it, take the paint off of it, I won't cry like I would if it was a Beretta shotgun. 

  Is this shotgun for you? Well what is your budget? What is your intended use? Do you use shotguns a lot? I am not a big shotgun hunter, I break one out a few times a year when I go on specialized hunts, so I really do not own expensive shotguns. I own guns that run. I am not saying this is better than my 870, 835, 1100, 500, 590, 37 or what have you. I own a bunch of shotguns, they are tools to me, this M320 is a tool, it is a cheaper tool that has been cloned from a really good tool and has had a few modifications made to it. Would I stake my life on it? YES, I have and I will continue to. Every time I go into the woods to hunt big hogs or black bears and I have this shotgun, I trust it with my life. This is just my thought so take it how you want. I have well over 1000 rounds of high brass shells to cheap birdshot and haven’t had a malfunction yet. Now it is smooth but when I rack it I run it like I am trying to drive the forearm off of it. Just because something is made in another country and its budget means it is junk, you have to do your research and see for yourself. Don’t go off of one man’s opinion and think it is gospel. I am here just to tell you how my shotgun worked. 

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Target Market:

  • Anyone looking for a budget home defense shotgun

  • Value consumer

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • Good ergonomics

  • Good price

  • Well balanced

  • Reliable

  • Barrel Length 18.5 (in)

  • Barrel Material Chrome Alloy Steel

  • Magazine Capacity 5

  • Ambidextrous

  • Length of Pull (in)13.75 

  • Overall Length  39.1(in)

  • Receiver Finish Matte

  • Receiver Material Light Alloy

  • Stock Material Synthetic

  • Stock Type Pistol Grip

  • Weight 7.2 (lb)

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

  • Field grade models for hunting

  • Models without pistol grip

  • Different finishes

  • Available in 20 ga

What others are saying?:

A shotgun that can do it all at a price that nearly everyone can afford, the Stevens 320 pump-action was designed for versatility and affordability

The reliable Stevens 320 pump security 12 ga. shotgun has everything an LEO needs to hit the streets—and it comes at an affordable price.

Link to other reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81oxsoEf3yg

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/stevens-320-pump-field-grade-shotgun/

Price point:

MSRP = $311.00

I need it now! Availability:

Check your local gun shop or online

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Great price

  • Well made

  • No sharp edges

  • Good fit and finish

Cons:

  • Trigger pull is heavy

  • Lack of aftermarket parts

  • Forearm is too long

  • Pistol grip

  • Slide release

Score:  7.00 Good