Tactical Fanboy
Tactical Tailor
Home Categories TacticalFanboy Archives Email

Archive for August, 2022

West Coast Armor | High-Performance Armor

Tuesday, August 30th, 2022

Body Armor used to be cumbersome and expensive, good thing it ain’t 2005 anymore. Happily, West Coast Armor has stepped up to the plate (no pun intended) with its Pure Dyneema and Pure Spectra plates.

In fact, the team at West Coast Armor spent five years on R&D before releasing their first product. They’re not messing around when it comes to the preservation of life.

Person pulling out West coast Armor out of a vest

Who Is West Coast Armor?

The diverse team at West Coast Armor has deep roots in the world of executive protection, military, law enforcement, and the private sector. In addition, the team at West Coast Armor has used and created body armor throughout their individual careers. They know firsthand the benefits and drawbacks of the different types of body armor.

With this knowledge and real-world experience, they achieved what they set out to do. West Coast Armor put five years of research and development, so they could create their industry-leading body armor. They were rewarded with Armor that is lighter, stronger, and more affordable than any others on the market.

What Sets Apart West Coast Armor?

Body Armor and other swat gear sitting together

West Coast Armor uses Pure Dyneema or Pure next-gen Spectra in the construction of its body armor plates.

Hard armor made with pure Dyneema and next-gen Spectra is up to 75% lighter than steel or other traditional armor materials. This is without compromising the level of protection traditional materials provide.

For military, law enforcement, and others working in high-risk environments, hard armor made from Dyneema provides not only maximum protection but also enhances the comfort, maneuverability, and efficiency of the person wearing it.

5 Benefits of Using Dyneema in Body Armor Plates

  1. Constructed from ceramics, compressed laminate sheets, metallic plates, or composites
  2. Designed to deform and capture the bullet upon impact
  3. Absorbs and distributes the kinetic energy of the impact
  4. Protects against NIJ Level III, III+ and works as an excellent backing for ceramics in III++ or IV rifle threats
  5. 75% lighter than steel and 25% lighter than Aramid

Where are West Coast Armor Plates Made?

West Coast Armor promo pic

All raw materials are 100% domestically sourced and made in the USA.

Is West Coast Armor NIJ Certified?

Yes. West Coast Armor is NIJ certified, and all their body armor plates meet or exceed NIJ criteria.

The NIJ conducts independent research on the Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor with the help of the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES). The most important attribute of the NIJ is its ability to remain objective to the industry and only adopt criteria based on scientific research and testing.

This research and testing are designed to save lives and improve the level of justice our law enforcement agencies can provide. This is why every company that wishes to sell body armor in the United States must meet the requirements set forth by the NIJ.

If you’re looking for a company that is selling armor, ensure they can provide an NIJ letter of compliance by doing a simple check on DOJ’s website to see if the company is certified.

Body armor and rifle leaning against a wall

West Coast Armor Hard Armor Levels

Patriot Armor IIIa Plate

The Patriot Armor level 3a body armor Plate is so unbelievably light and thin that you will forget you’re wearing it. At 0.82 pounds per square foot, these lightweights perform like heavyweights.

Forged from a proprietary manufacturing process, the IIIA Plate is constructed with some of the strongest and lightest ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers available.

West Coast Armor’s UHMWPE fibers are stronger than steel at a fraction of the weight.

Features and Specs

  • Designed for use as a standalone plate
  • Standalone NIJ threat level of IIIA
  • True multi-shot plate
  • Weatherproofing: spray-lined synthetic coating
  • 0.82 pounds per square foot
  • Available in black polyurea spray lining
  • Size: 10″ x 12″
Body Armor Stock photo

Patriot Armor IIIa Plate

Patriot Armor IIIP Plate

The performance of our Patriot Armor IIIP Plates is second to none. At an incredible 3.3 pounds per square foot, they are clearly some of the strongest level 3 body armor plates available today.

Forged from a proprietary manufacturing process, the IIIP Plate is constructed with some of the strongest and lightest ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers available.

West Coast Armor’s UHMWPE fibers are stronger than steel at a fraction of the weight.

Features and Specs

  • Standalone NIJ threat level of III
  • True multi-shot plate
  • 3.3 pounds per square foot
  • Sizes 10×12″, 11×14″
West Coast body Armor stock photo

Patriot Armor IIIP Plate

Level IV AP Plate

West Coast Armor’s IV AP Plate is just like its little brother, the IIIP Plate, in that it is unbelievably strong and light. Weighing 5.5 pounds per square foot, it takes the performance of your tactical armor to a higher level.

Their proprietary manufacturing process utilizes some of the strongest and lightest ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers available, allowing West Coast Armor to forge the strongest lightweight body armor on the market today.

Features and Specs

  • Ceramic strike face and UHMWPE backing
  • Finished with a spray-lined, weatherproof synthetic coating
  • 5.5 pounds per square foot
  • Available in black
  • Size: 10″x12″
  • Multi curve
West Coast Body Armor leaning against a wall

This is good armor; y’all think through your layout before throwing it on over your favorite warrior shirts and stepping off to do any hot work.

West Coast Armor Testimonies

“As a former Police Chief, I believe that one of the most important responsibilities we have is to give the men and women that serve our profession the best equipment to do their job and keep them safe. I’ve seen firsthand the superior quality of the West Coast Armor Body armor in action. I’ve been blessed to witness agencies across the country test West Coast Armor vests and plates, and the outcomes were superior. I recommend to all my colleagues that they reach out to West Coast Armor.” – Donald (Chief of Police Ret.)

“The West Coast Armor level 4 plates are the most well-balanced and comfortable plates I’ve used. After seven combat deployments between Special Operations and Contract work, I can only wish I’d had these issued to me. I have full trust and confidence in their ballistic properties as I’ve seen their performance through more rigorous testing than NIJ requires. These plates have my full endorsement.” – Kyle C.

“As a retired police officer of 23 years working long shifts and jobs from the jail to vice then on to detective. I was always issued uncomfortable, heavy stiff armor. After wearing all types of armor throughout my military and law enforcement carrier, I can say I’ve never seen anything like it. Without question, West Coast Armor makes me want to wear armor again; it’s the lightest, thinnest and strongest armor I’ve ever seen.” – Bob V. Esponisa

Person pulling body armor out of a vest

Read the original article here.

Scream Factory / Sacred Bones Records The Fog Blu-Ray + 7″ Vinyl Set – PRE-ORDER

Thursday, August 18th, 2022

I’m a huge fan of John Carpenter films (as if previous posts didn’t make that clear), and I’ve been pretty on top of collecting the Scream Factory/Sacred Bones Records collaborative Blu-Ray and vinyl releases of some of his most famous and beloved films. The most recent film to be added to this collection is 1980’s ‘The Fog’. Like the other films in this collection, the set consists of a special slip cover with art by Chris Bilheimer, containing a Blu-Ray collectors edition release of the film, and a 7″ vinyl record of music from or related to the film; for The Fog, it’s the main theme, and a newly-recorded rendition of the track “Walk to the Lighthouse”.

This is a pre-order item, and is set to release on September 13th this year.

www.sacredbonesrecords.com/products/sbr302-john-carpenter-the-fog

Core Vision Training: Courses To Prepare Yourself

Thursday, August 18th, 2022

An area of increasing concern for all of us is the occupied home invasion, which can be defined as an incident where the family occupies the house, and they are confronted with an imminent lethal threat by one or more intruders.

Recently, the number of reported violent encounters inside the home has increased. These violent encounters aren’t even limited to your home anymore. You could be thrust into a violent encounter when shopping at a mall or even walking to your car afterward.

This growing concern has prompted a surge of new gun owners who intend to keep that newly purchased firearm for the primary purpose of home defense. Additionally, many states have adopted constitutional carry where gun owners now don’t need to attend any training to carry concealed.

There is a void in the training industry regarding preparing for violent encounters, at least in the context of home defense. Core Vision Training has stepped into that void in a big way.

Core Vision Training Promo Pic

Train with Core Vision

Why Spend The Money and Time on Training

Self-defense, home defense, and other preparedness training are necessary to effectively defend yourself, your family, and your home when targeted by crime or violence. There will always be criminals who want to take what isn’t theirs and predators who want to hurt the innocent. When you train to become more proficient in these skills, you gain the tools to stand your ground and live to see another day.

As with any training courses you attend, you want to ensure it fits your context of use and goals. However, many “tactical” training courses claim to train students in the art of fighting with a pistol and rifle, room clearing within your home, and a host of other “tacticool” courses.

Many courses people attend for the experience rather than for learning life-saving skills. Nevertheless, teaching these concepts takes days to execute correctly with the proper instructor cadre.

Core Vision Training employs instructors with proven operational experience, some of which are still operational, which gives you the most up-to-date relevant training available.

Home Defense Training

Structure Assessment Training

Why Choose Core Vision Training

Core Vision Training is the top self-defense training company and facility in the Pacific Northwest. Their instructors bring decades of relevant operational experience to provide their clients with the highest quality training possible.

In addition to their premier courses, they also offer a monthly membership program. By signing up for the recurring monthly membership, individuals who have taken any form of our Structure Assessment courses now have the opportunity for additional reps and recurring training to maintain and master the skills they acquired in our classes.

Recurring training covers medical, structure assessment, teamwork, land navigation, live fire, vehicle work, and several more.

Let’s take a quick look at a few of their premier courses.

Core Vision: Structure Assessment Active Defense Course

If you are unlucky enough to find yourself in a fight with an armed assailant, learning to load and clear a malfunction is far easier if you are familiar with that weapon or type of weapon ahead of time. This is something you won’t want to figure out on the fly.

Imagine fighting your attacker in a dark parking lot or inside your home, and gaining control of his loaded weapon, only to die because you didn’t know how to operate the safety.

When you become skilled with your primary defensive tool, learn to use other weapons. Clint Smith said it best “There’s nothing that says you are going to fight with just your gun.”

The Core Vision Training Structure Assessment courses prepare you for just that. The Active Defense course, which is a combination of the home defense course and trauma training, is tailored to the everyday citizen looking to sharpen their skills and better protect their family.

WHAT’S COVERED

  • 1 & 2 person structure assessment
  • CCW Pistol mechanics & manipulations
  • Link up procedures
  • Casualty assessment and treatment
  • Call up procedures for 911
  • Center fed, corner fed rooms & hallways
  • Positive Threat Identification

Self Defense Training

Core Vision: Vehicle Escape Concepts

Let’s look at a different type of EDC; your Every Day Car. This is your daily driver, whether a Honda Civic or a Rolls Royce.

When you leave the safety of your home and get into your vehicle to take kids to school, pick up passengers, or go to the store, it becomes your mobile command center.

When you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, think of yourself as the Transporter. It’s not only an excellent movie but highlights some key points. Such as how he maintains driving the car and moves within and around the confines of his vehicle. Everything is done professionally and with a purpose.

The Core Vision Training Vehicle Escape Concepts course teaches you to be ready for a fight in and around your vehicle. Everything they teach you is done professionally and with a practical purpose.

WHAT’S COVERED

  • Avoidance
  • Preparation
  • Movement within and out of a vehicle
  • What is and is not cover on a vehicle
  • Gear & Equipment Preparation
  • Vehicle Considerations
core vision training class

Vehicle Escape and Defense

Core Vision: Land Navigation

When many of us first enlisted, there was no handheld GPS to tell us where we were and how to reach our destination. Instead, we had to learn how to use a compass and protractor with our maps. Land Navigation courses were taught with the old school military issue Lensatic compasses and a map whether it was daytime or night-time.

The use of a compass is a perishable skill, much like shooting. It requires practice. Nowadays, we have wrist-mounted GPS units, handheld units, and smartphones that provide us with navigational aids. But what if the batteries run out or your GPS gets submerged and shorts out? Now what? How do you get back home? Do you have a backup method of navigation?

The Core Vision Training land navigation course teaches you how to read and orient a map and navigate using a compass so that you make it back home safely. The two available courses are Intro To Land Navigation and Basic Map Reading.

WHAT’S COVERED

  • How to read and orient a map
  • How to familiarize yourself with a map using a compass
  • Individual Pace Count
  • Dead Reckoning & Terrain Association
  • How to identify significant terrain features
  • How to identify minor terrain features
  • How to read contour lines
  • How to plot locations on a map

In the end, the time you invest in training for an event that may never occur is your responsibility. The flip side of that is if that event ever does happen, do you want to be the one who lets your spouse and children down?

We encourage you to reflect on the cost of your personal decisions and how you choose to spend your time and money. Remember, when seconds count, law enforcement is minutes away, and a lot can happen in that time. You can lose your whole world in those few minutes.

If you are ready to accept that risk, that’s on you. But, if you believe your life and the lives of your loved ones are worth every ounce of your effort, train like it. Train like they matter. Train with Core Vision Training.

For more information, you can find them on Instagram and Facebook.

Need more to read?

Rocket Boom Bubble Gun

Thursday, August 11th, 2022

The Rocket Boom Bubble Gun is for when you’re looking for bubble overkill beyond what even a multi-bubble wand can provide. Reminiscent of a man-portable rocket artillery launcher, the Rocket Boom Bubble Gun has 60 holes capable of shooting out hundreds of bubbles per minute. It features a rechargeable 3.7v 2000mAh Li-ion battery which provides 30 minutes of continuous function off of a 120 minute charge. The Bubble Gun also comes with a shoulder strap, and two 50ml bottles of bubble fluid, because getting a bubble gun without “ammo” on-hand is kinda lame.


https://firebox.com/intl/rocket-boom-bubble-gun#

Magnoli Clothiers

Tuesday, August 9th, 2022

There’s cosplay outfits for sale, and then there’s Magnoli Clothiers. I was recently made aware of this New Zealand-based clothier via a certain someone’s delivery of a reproduction pair of Snake Plissken’s camo pants from ‘Escape from New York’ (seen above, and linked here). After searching them up on the web, I was amazed by the wide variety of products they have on offer, from all manner of television shows, movies, and games across genres, quite a bit of it made-to-measure — with a price to match. However, as a proper clothier, they don’t just focus on costumes (their own site states their products are “…not costume pieces, but tailor-made, high-quality clothing.”, which I won’t refute), but bespoke suits and other high-quality custom-made clothing items. Plus, if you don’t see a particular piece available to order, their FAQ states they can custom make a reproduction of any piece of men’s clothing, whether it’s something you already own or it’s pulled from film stills or other images.

www.magnoliclothiers.com

They also have a line of hand-finished props for the seeker of high-quality costume accessories: www.magnoliclothiers.com/clothing-accessories-props-c-102_23_171.html

Automatic Gel Ball Blaster

Monday, August 8th, 2022

For when BBs are just a bit too hard hitting, and NERF darts lose their appeal, you may want to take a look at one of the myriad “Gel Ball Blasters” available on Amazon. Designed to shoot 7-8mm hydrated gel balls, these blasters are generally modeled after real-steel weapons; this particular one takes design cues from the Steyr TMP / B&T MP9. Feeding from a gravity-fed hopper, this blaster is capable of full-auto fire with a rate 350 balls per minute, and can shoot distances of up to 65 feet. The onboard 1200mAh battery recharges via USB, and can support up to 4 hours of continuous use on a 1-2 hour charge. And for those of us who are more environmentally and price conscious, the gel balls are reportedly made of non-toxic materials and fully-evaporate after breaking apart, and 20k additional balls can be had for around $7.

www.amazon.com/Automatic-Blaster-Electric-Outdoor-Backyard/dp/B09X63MDZC