Need a new hat? Want a new hat even if you don’t need it? The new MilSpec Monkey mesh variant GG-Hat is now live on the MSM store. It’s built to shed heat for “desert dwellers” or those of you who are slowly cooked in the humidity of summer along the third coast. The foundation is a FlexFit cap with the top rivet removed and hook-and-loop sewn on.
Tactical Fanboy: the new MSM cap.
The front panel is approx 4″ x 3″ and the rear is 3″ x 3″ with a 5.5″ x 1″ strip at the bottom for name tapes. There is even a 2″ x 2″ diamond up top for those of you who are so high speed low drag and important you need IR tabs. The Monkey mentions it in the description, but we’ll reiterate it: this design gives good functionality without looking like you’re wearing a Velcro wig. There is a lanyard attachment point on the bottom too, should you need it for whatever reason. Pay attention to the sizing details.
It is our contention that all new SOF characters in the next Modern Warfare and Battlefield incarnations should wear these (and maybe use some RAMPS: more on that later).
As more than one of our readership has pointed out, this patch (from Bob Riggle’s rousing speech for ELITE) would be pretty popular if it was widely available. When will someone be making this?
Oh, and Lt. Col. Riggle, hat tip to you for your anti-hippie stance. God bless you.
Tactical Fanboy: Check the Modern Marfare 3 morale patch.
One of the advantages of attending SHOT is not just being able to see new products at all the different booths. One of the things I like
most is the opportunity to catch up with so many individuals from so many places all in one week. You may run into one or two at the NTOA Conference, then another a New Breed of Warrior, but darn near everyone attends SHOT. This gives you the chance to hear and see what they’ve seen and heard and like, what kind of EDC or specialty kit they’re running, etc. When you run into multiple peers wearing something or talking about something they say you should investigate, you’d be foolish not to.
Over the course of SHOT I bumped into several friends who spoke very highly of the Cobra belts from Jones Tactical LLC. So we’re clear, I haven’t gotten my hands on one or worn one, but I heard nothing but good things (I wear a Yates CQB Cobra and love it, though I intend to give the Jones belt a try). Among those who advised their preference for Jones Tactical belts: MilsSpec Monkey, one of the engineers from War Sport, a USSA instructor and a couple of friends who prefer to remain anonymous.
Yesterday Tactical Fanboy’s TANSTAAFL ran an article about what looked like a rail-mounted skull, something we picked up from keeping an eye on those Hos at Spartan Imports. I did some checking and that comes from Steel Flame. The website is www.steelflame.com. The guy behind that site is a master jeweler named Derrick Obatake who does some really cool work (you’ve seen some of his stuff in movies like the Expendables). Actually, calling it cool is a bit of an understatement. Bad ass might be a better word for it. Check him out on Facebook too.
Tactical Fanboy: Steel Flame Custom Darkness Clips on Emerson Karambits.
Tactical Fanboy: Virtus Dagger medallion on the set of Expendables 2
Tactical Fanboy: Another Virtus Dagger medallion on the set of Expendables 2.
Soldier Systems ran an article about Blue Force Gear and their new Helium Whisper kit, including a really nice little dump pouch that you could damn near tuck into a handcuff case or your pocket (were you so inclined). This is some video we took at SHOT of Blue Force Brittney (smart, capable, a great shot and pretty too…what’s not to like?) discussing the dump pouch (spent mag pouch, whatever; when I was growing up it was just a dump pouch). Check it out and maybe getcha one.
Sometimes you need more than just combat effective gear and the more obvious accessories. Sometimes you need rail-mounted awesomeness that makes acts as a force multiplier by virtue only of being awesomely awesome and tacticool. How about a rail mounted skull? It increases the range of a black rifle by an average of 17.4%, if will decrease the spread of an iron sights shot group to about half what it was (at the hundred), and if you ever run dry or suffer a malfunction you can flip the rifle around sideways and scare the hell out of whomever you’ve been shooting at (though with a skull on there it’s pretty hard to imagine you’d have missed in the first place).
TFB: A rail-mounted skull is the appropriately deadly accessory for any "true" warrior.
Now if they’d just make bullets that whistled or screamed while they hurtle through the air. You know, like some of the old Samurai arrows, or a Stuka. Hat tip to (and picture, and smart-assed tone)courtesy of Andrew at Spartan Imports.
Finally, someone has developed a rail-attach chainsaw for anti-zombie work. Frankly, it’s overdue, so kudos to Doublestar for finally getting it done. Known as the Zombie X (for Zombie Exterminator), Doublestar had this display out for those of you preparing for the Zombiepocalypse at the Doublestar Booth. This thing has a separate power/activation and a battery at the butt of the Kalash it mounts to (it will also mount to an AR, though it might be a little much weight to add to an M249). The chainsaw is fully functional and has its own EOTech sight (there’s a separate optic for the rifle itself). No word as to whether they’ve considered replacing the EOTech with one of those lasers you see on fancy saws at the hardware stores (you know, the ones that show where the cut line is).
Doublestar Chainsaw Attachment and Kalashnikov. Pic by Gamma Nine.
Keep in mind if you do use a chainsaw during a zombiepocalyptic event, you must wear a full face mask, not just eye pro. You think a money shot in the dirty movies is gross? Try avoiding the infection (and vomiting) sure to follow when you get a face full of zombie gore after carving it into pieces.
Currently the Zombie-X is not for sale. This prototype was built for FEMA, Homeland Security Zombie Division and the SHOT Show only. If you actually want one, you’ll need to contact Doublestar. Hopefully the production models (since they build the full rifle in addition to the chainsaw pic-rail attachment) will come with a BattleComp.
Picture courtesy of Gamma Nine (which is worth checking out on its own).
Leupold is the latest company to jump into the Zombie market with their VX-R Zombie Riflescope. Based around the VX-R Patrol Scope, the VX-R Zombie has a few unique features that cater to its namesake. For starters, the power on switch is green, along with the scope’s illumination dot. The scope caps feature Zombie imagery on the inside, and the two included BDC dials are designed specifically for use with .223 REM and .308 WIN Hornady Zombie Max ammunition. The VX-R Zombie will retail for $599 with a limited production run.
http://www.leupold.com/
Spike’s Tactical has a number of different “designer” lowers for real steel shooters. Today we’ll look at the Pirate version. Could be perfect if you are a pirate (though truthfully that would mean you’ve lost most of your teeth, chew qat and prefer an AK) or better yet if you’re a pirate hunter. Killing pirates isn’t such a bad idea. Too bad the government no longer issues letters of marque. The one pictured is the ‘Pirate Lower w/ Enhanced Kit: FDE CTR Stock & MOE Grip”. It runs $444.95. It features the Calico Jack logo instead of their typical Spider logo, and the selector switch markings are bullet pictograms. Though they don’t show it specifically, you may be able to get a color fill job on it if you want (see below).
Spike’s Tactical AR pieces come with a lifetime warranty. Full specs below.
Also check out their video on how to zero your weapon, it’s really good.
For more on their kit, here’s an article from Tactical Weapons about their “BioHazard EDW 6.8”
You know the EOtech sights you’re using in MW3? (They’re the “Holographic Hybrid Sights, or HHS kits.) You can, of course, get them in real life, and you can get extended range from their G33 magnifier. The HHS with G33 will, according to EOTech, allow accurate shooting from 0 to 500 meters, using the G33 “Quick Switch to Side” magnifier mount.
There are two kinds of kits. One (the HHS1) is for use with nightvision (EXPS3-4 HWS) and has a 4 dot reticle for shooting 0-300, 400, 500 and 600m. The other one (HHS2) has a non NVG compatible sight with 2 dot reticle for CQB “fast action” targeting.
Both come with a quick detach base that’s designed to return the optic to zero after mounting it back to the same rail location (to within 2 MOA). Both have operating buttons on the side, so you can use it with other rail mounted furniture.
They’ll be available this Spring and will run $1,000 to $1,225. You can check out more on the EOTech website.
HSGI is one of our favorite manufacturers, ever (and not just because hot girls wear it). Just wanted to let you all know they now have a tablet carrier.
First though, a picture of girls in High Speed Gear Inc. gear, courtesy of Kevin at Advanced Outfitters.
Tactical Fanboy: We like girls, HSGI and Advanced Outfitters.
Okay, it’s not really a “KillCam” like in your fps game, but the FLASHBACK option of Looxcie is pretty close. Looxcie is a video camera you wear on your ear like a bluetooth earpiece. You turn it on and it records everything in POV format from that perspective. You can stream it live (which might be pretty damn cool for military/LE training events, or for airsoft fights or whatever). You can store data in it, obviously, and also send clips to e-mail, social media, etc.
We tried to find a picture of a hawt chick signalling for help in a skimpy outfit, but apparently a lot of hawt chicks have either never heard of the Eclipse or they’re just not bright enough to use it (no offense to any hawt chicks that have gotten lost).
We like these skivvies. You may recall that we’ve discussed RE Factor Tacticalin the past, as has Soldier Systems when they talked about the RE Factor 9-Line placard. Well, they’ve got some very nice new apparel for the tactical lady in your life (or just a lady you’d like to get tactical with). Check out the RE Factor Tactical Women’s MRE Panties. Unlike the standard MREs that are good mostly for industrial grade constipation and some pungent aromas in the hooch, these actually look appetizing. From the company: “Mmmm… an MRE you can actually enjoy. Made and hand-printed in the USA, these hot pants are made of soft cotton and designed to be cheeky. Front features ‘MRE’, back left feature the TNT molecule seen in the RE Factor Tactical logo.”
Need a link to send to Household-6 or your grandma to give them an idea what to buy you for Christmas? Send them the direct link to this page. You might just need yourself an Effin’A Compensator. Kit Up! ran an article the other day detailing a review of the item, if you’re interested.
Wicked Lasers is touting they’re newest laser, the S3 Krypton Series, as the most powerful handheld laser you can legally own. They advise that it’s over 8,000 times brighter than the sun and say it’s under review by the Guinness Book of World Records. “Safety goggles are a must.” They even provide them and a “tactical” holster! Of course, in the video they seem to confuse the range at which the beam is no longer visible to the human eye vs. how long it actually extends, but that’s really a minor quibble. If it’s visible from outer space, as they claim, that’s pretty damn visible.
MasterPiece Arms, manufacturers of the MAC 10 inspired MPA Defender Series and the MPA Protector Series subcompact pistols are giving fans and customers the opportunity to name the first series of their new MPA 22 suppressors. The best name that follows in the MPA tradition of “Protector” and “Defender” product series names will win one of the first MPA 22 suppressors produced and designed entirely by MPA.
It sounds a trifle misanthropic, but check out the introduction to the Tactical Corsets. Yes, Tactical Corsets. As in load bearing female underthingies.
“For too long, women have had to compromise practicality for beauty. Men got pants with integrated cargo pockets and knee pads, women got clothes whose only built-in feature was cuteness. But why should men get all the high-speed low-drag tactical toys? Tactical gear is no longer an all boys club. Tactical Corsets bring female operators MILSPEC features like PALS modular pouch attachment webbing, self-adjustable quick-release buckles and Cordura construction in a load-bearing carrier designed to support the female form as well as men. And we’re just getting started…”
They are apparently looking forward to making (no kidding) tactical corsets that provide ballistic protection, using such gel material as the British MoD’s (Ministry of Defense) d30 material. Plus, they are modular. Your favorite fightin’ wench can add mag pouches or a hydration pouch or whatever you want. That ought to make it more interesting at a Steampunk gathering or rave, eh?
“Lace has grace but buckles are quick release.”
We like it, leather and kevlar clad beauties. We like it. Go forth and conquer.
TIE Tactical (Tactical Innovations Engineering) has a new tiger strip pattern out. TIE makes some really nice custom kydex scabbards and sheaths for both fixed blades and folders (and of course some other things).
A TIE Tactical hatchet scabbard with belt lock for carry.
It’s not something you might think about right off, but they make some really nice belt scabbards even for folders. There are a number of reasons for this, including speed of presentation, carrying it on a battle belt, carrying a secondary folder, etc. The defensive/tactical reasons vary from individual, and will no doubt start more than one argument about what is valid, or a better way to carry, or whatever. This e-publication, perspicacious and sagacious as it is, will not get into that argument. We will going to say that TIE is run by an extremely nice, very detail-oriented and thorough man out of a small shop in Texas. He has a dual retention locking system if you want it (and these these things really do lock: you can carry ’em inverted and they’ll stay with you). He can make a number of different pieces you might want: for instance, we know of one commissioned project that involved a 5-round .38 speedloader for an airweight revolver sitting right next to a very small flashlight. Another was a small fixed blade (a SAR Global Tool Sarclops, as a matter of fact) next to a Zippo…you get the idea. He’s got the tools and he’s got the talent, and now he’s got the tiger stripe.
We got the word from the gentlemen guys over at Spartan Imports that the upcoming Magpul PTS Masada AKM (an airsoft replica of the 7.62 x 39mm variant of the Magpul Masada) is on the way and will be available in time for Christmas. If you’re into MilSim at all you probably already know who Spartan is, but if not then you should check them out. They’re a family operated MilSim Airsoft operation out west (in California, in fact, though try not to hold that against them). They are the sole authorized distributors of PTS by Magpul: PTS is Professional Training & Simulation, which was established in 2007 to meet the high demand for airsoft-compatible Magpul accessories. For those of you who use airsoft weaponry as a training tool, this allows for realistic and accurate weapons and attachments for your scenarios and other training iterations. Of course, they look good for civilian sport use too. As Magpul says, “By maintaining the same basic form and function as Magpul weapon components, PTS equipment allows users to safely practice drills and perform scenarios without the use of live weapons or ammunition.”
Spartan Imports is the only US distributor of Magpul PTS products (including all accessories, the ACR /Advanced Combat Rifle, and the FPG/Folding Pocket Gun). Now, these guyscan be overachievers…personally we blame the boss, though it’s entirely possible his little brother is equally to blame. Anyway, because of that you have several related Facebook pages to check out:
Here are some pictures of PTS furniture on a good training weapon. Stay tuned if you want to see some info and pictures of the Masada (they’re already carrying rails and some other pieces for it). There are a few out but we’ve been promised some additional shots. More to follow. Here are some shots of the Magpul Professional Training & Simulation kit:
Back in May we featured a video that showed a female shooter deploying a concealed pistol from a holster carried in her bra.
Remember the Flashbang Bra Holster? Well, Natalie of Girls Guide to Guns wrote a very nice, very candid review of said holster, hitting about every point we could think of that might count against it (being serious here, not making obligatory boob jokes yet). If you are a female shooter that carries concealed, you might very well want to look into this. We like this girl. She has a great sense of humor and obviously knows what she’s talking about.
To get this out of the way: no, you will not see any delightfully jiggly naughty bits if a girl goes to drag iron on you. Frankly, it that happens you may have something else entirely to worry about.
Here’s an excerpt:
“Another concern I had was whether the Flashbang would work with tight shirts. Before using the holster I thought the expectation that I could hide a gun between the bazooms was completely unrealistic. There would have to be some give away, right? So I tested it. Boldly. After receiving a total of zero awkward comments from friends about that thing hiding in my rack, I concluded that I was in the clear. Boyfriend later confirmed that fact when I asked him specifically if he had noticed anything odd in the aforementioned location…Now that I had the visibility question answered, it was time for the trickiest of the concealed tests. I wanted to know if the gun would reveal it’s placement when I hugged someone. After eating lunch one day with my friend, Scott, I decided it was time to find out. As we said goodbye I intentionally gave him a big old full-frontal hug. “Did you feel it?” I asked. “Feel what?” he responded. Question answered. Thanks, Scott. Bless his heart, he’s probably still scratching his head about that one.
Some of our readers have inquired as to how these things work for my sidearm sisters who are a bit smaller chested than myself. I wanted to be sure that my A and B cup friends don’t feel left out so I asked a B cup friend of mine to try it on and see what she thought. She had on a pretty fitted top and we were both impressed by the fact that the Flashbang was just as discreet on her as it is on me. Incidentally, who ever thought a firearms product test would include staring at eachother’s boobs? I can’t help but think that somewhere out there Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are finding this hilarious…”
Here’s something just about anyone will have fun playing with it. Whether you need to occasionally change the interior layout of a training area to meet different instructional objectives or you just want to have the coolest, most bad ass back yard fort in the whole neighborhood, Combat Training Aids’ TacBlox are gonna be just your speed.
Theoretically you could use it as a faster way to build a target mock-up to do rehearsals before a mission, assuming you had time. Certainly more lifelike than a chalk or tape outline in a parking log, if not as quick to throw down.
Now, granted, they’re going to be somewhat more expensive than your average box of Legos, but they will certainly allow for some serious flexibility when you’re designing a threat area for room-clearing drills (or a very realistic MilSim battle). Essentially, they’re lightweight urethane foam versions of the ubiquitous cinder block (of which you’ve seen endless thousands, if you spent any time at all in a MOUT village).
They have full blocks, half blocks, and block caps so you can put together whatever sort of wall you want. As the manufacturers say, “Many situational training facilities offer separate buildings or permanent concrete maize to provide situational training scenarios. Unlike fixed wall training centers, TACBLOX™ walls provide unlimited floor to ceiling room configurations, increasing the trainers’ effectiveness…”
Oh, and if that isn’t cool enough, you can shoot them a lot before they wear out, without any ricochet issues. According to CTA, individual TACBLOX™ can take thousands of rounds shot through it before sacrificing its structural integrity.
It’s built to shed heat for “desert dwellers” or those of you who are slowly cooked in the humidity of summer along the third coast. The foundation is a FlexFit cap with the top rivet removed and hook-and-loop sewn on.
k yard fort in the whole neighborhood, Combat Training Aids’ 
hat’s going on my Christmas list?
