Goyojo GRL 335 Thermal Weapon Sight

April 27, 2026Optics, Product reviewgoyojo, goyojo optics, GRL 335, riflescope, thermal, thermal rifle scope, thermal scope, Thermal Weapon Sightcoldboremiracle

Thermal Wepon Sights

As technology rapidly expands into every aspect of our lives, one of the popular trends in shooting optics is thermal sights. These electronic sights see heat coming off of everything around us, particularly living things. This technology has made eradicating feral animals and dispatching pests not only easier, but a 24 hour activity. Today we are taking a look at another new to me thermal weapon sight. This one comes from Goyojo Optics, a company that makes a variety of sporting devices. Our subject today is the Goyojo GRL 335 Thermal Weapon Sight.

The Goyojo GRL 335

Goyojo’s GRL 335 is a compact thermal optic, that reminds me a little bit of the a Trijicon Acog. Despite its compact size and simple operation it is still packed with a great deal of features that make it very handy.

some of the included items are mounting brackets to change position of the mounting foot

Like most modern thermal optics, the GRL 335 incorporates various color palettes to select from. As well as picture in picture, photo and video recording capabilities. With its simple four-button control panel, you can zoom in, change colors and recording settings.

You can also access a variety of different menus to adjust things like reticle type and color. And change settings for the other features like shot activated recording. Zeroing can also be done within these menus. All images are captured on a 64GB micro SD card housed in the base, right next to the USB-C charging port. What appear to be turrets on either side are actually the battery housing. The battery itself can be removed and charged externally.

USB-C charging port, and Micro SD card port

The ocular focus at the rear allows you to focus on the display. While up front, there is a blue ring around the objective you can use to focus the thermal sensor.

Specifications

Sensor Resolution: 384*288
Objective Lens: 25mm/35mm
Optical Zoom:
GRL325: 3x
GRL335: 4x
Digital Zoom: 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x
Display Resolution: 1024*768
Operating Time: 6-8h

Features

Picture In Picture:Yes
Photo/Video:Yes
Audio:No
RAV & Wi-Fi:Yes
Hot Track:Yes
Classic One Shot Zero:Yes
Thermal One-Shot Zero:Yes
Shot Activated Recording:Yes

The whole unit comes neatly in a zippered soft case. Included with are a couple batteries, additional rubber eye-pieces, charging cables and a manual.

Mounting and Zero

Installing this optic on a rifle is very easy using the QD clamp. Much like other high quality optics, this one has its own clamping mount, with a security lock to prevent unintended opening. I clamped the optic to the sight rail of my rifle, and set it up looking downrange.

To zero the optic, I would shoot a shot, and watch the impact. Then you can freeze frame using the zeroing menu, with the frame frozen, you can move the reticle from where it is currently, to the point of impact. It took me a couple tries, but mainly that was me figuring out the system. But after a few minutes, I had it zeroed enough for testing.

I also took the time to familiarize myself with different reticle options, and different zoom settings. Once I was on top of it, I decided it was time to head into the mountains.

In the Field

Hunting is the true calling of thermal optics, and that is where I intended to use it. Early spring has some different hunting opportunities in my part of the country, but for now I would have to settle with hunting small varmints. Squirrels and marmots and if I was lucky a coyote would be my options. The AR15 rifle I had the GRL 335 mounted to was more than enough rifle for any of those targets.

thermal scopes and suppressed shooting are like peanut butter and jelly, here you can see my **Banish Speed K suppressor**

Over the course of several trips, I would use the Goyojo to find all kinds of animals. Both animals I could target as well as others that I wouldn’t.

Target ID

One thing I have found about identifying target animals with thermal optics, is that the environment matters quite a bit. Using the different color pallets in the GRL 335 was also helpful. Things like rocks and tree and other things can vary in temperature greatly depending on the conditions. Oftentimes it takes a while to get used to identifying things. Particularly in the day time until you see something that is actually living and warm it can be a bit challenging to know.

My dog probably wouldn’t like knowing it, but he shows up really nice in the scope. This is approximately 120 yards away

Again, using the different color pallets available is a great tool to help in this effort. The different zoom settings also are important to understand, for both scale and detail. And I also had to stay on top of the focus of the thermal sensor, keeping a sharp focus greatly helps you recognize both targets and their surroundings.

Controls

One of my favorite things about this optic is how easy and simple the controls are. Unlike some other thermal optics, the main and most important features are all within a single button push. Making quick changes in zoom, or snapping a photo or starting video can all be done without taking your eye off the display.

Of course many of the finer features can be changed by accessing the various menus. And the central placement of the button pad right on top makes it easy to acces. The textured pad also gives tactile identification, so even in the dark you can make adjustments on the fly.

Pictures and Videos

The ability to capture shots and videos through these optics is the icing on the cake. Not only do you get to have fun hunting, but you can capture the crucial events on film to share with others. I used the capture to get stills and clips of different hunting and shooting events. By pressing and holding the X button, you get a quick toggle between picture and video. You then capture a shot or start recording using the same button.

an image looking around the neighborhood in pure darkness (before mounting to the rifle of course)

All the images are captured on a micro SD card that is housed in the foot of the optic. The MP4 files can be transferred and used as you see fit. I did have a couple issues editing and manipulating the files, but I can’t tell you if that was a problem with the files or if it was simply me not using compatible software. Either way, as you can see I figured out a way to get both pictures and video where I needed it.

Focus

Adjusting the thermal sensor focus on this unit is very easy, its location makes it quick to grab with your fingers. And I like how it is recessed in the housing to prevent it getting moved inadvertently. Adjusting the sensor allows sharp focus as close as a few feet away, and i was impressed with how clean the image could be focused.

The display also has its own twist-to-focus feature. This is handy for those who’s eyes aren’t what they once were. There is also two different rubber eye cups to select from.

Useability

I’ve already mentioned how I like the simplicity of this unit. Particularly for someone who is new to thermals. It has some pretty concise instructions, and if you follow them you will have no problem running this unit.

Battery life is great, and the fact that it comes with a charger and extra battery means you can always keep a backup in your pocket.

Value

With an MSRP just under a thousand dollars, this optic is a great value. The ony thing left to ensure its value is its durability over time. This optic makes a lot of sense for a first time thermal, as it is more affordable than other options. I intend on giving this scope a good good thrashing to see how it stands up to use, make sure you check back in the future as I will update here as time passes.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Affordable- for the price its features and function are great
Compact- small footprint means less bulk
Quick to zero- easy to understand and adjust
Image Capture- both video and still images can be recorded
Added Accessories- mounting options, eyecups and other included accessories

Cons

Made Overseas- potential conflict
Unknown Brand-

My custom **Quattro 15 rifle**, you can read more about it here

Concluding Thoughts

I really like this optic, and I plan on using it to the extend possible in my hunting adventures. I like how simple it is, and how easy it is to adjust and understand all the features and functions. Whether you plan on using this optic simply for fun, or in preparation for an impending apocalypse, it gives you a simple sight that can be used around the clock.

-CBM

More thermal scopes right here if you are looking

Locked in Retention: BlackPoint Tactical Slick Duty Holster

April 24, 2026Ancillary gear, Product reviewblackpoint tactical, duty, duty holster, holster, retention, service pistol, slickcoldboremiracle

Preface

Handgun holsters are a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. I really enjoy having a selection of holsters to accompany my handguns, it diversifies the way I can carry them. Today’s topic is another new to me product, and one that competes with some of my favorite holsters. That holster is the BlackPoint Tactical Slick Duty Holster, a polymer duty-grade holster designed for the professional. The Slick duty holster provides both protection and retention for you chosen sidearm.

most of my testing was done using the **Ruger RXM**

The BlackPoint Tactical Slick Duty Holster

With a molded polymer design, the Slick holster has a perfect fit for whatever model pistol you have; as long as it is a Glock, P320 or Echelon. Only duty pistols need apply here. The Slick Duty holster uses two methods of retention, first is the adjustable friction. And the second is the auto-rotating hood, actuated by pressing the release button. The button itself is tucked away discreetly between the holster and your belt, and is very obscure to the onlooker.

disassembled to show the mounting options and **QLS Fork**

When released, the hood folds out of the way. For pistols with mounted optics, the hood covers both the optic and the back of the slide. The two-piece hood is very robust, giving great protection to both slide and optic. Its not even a little bit exposed.

Note: here you can see the hood release button

According to the manufacturer, this holster is the result of years of feedback on holster design. And after using it I can see exactly how good ideas were incorporated into this holster. Its also compatible with other very popular brands like Safariland, BladeTech, Blackhawk, and True North Concepts. Allowing you to seamlessly add this holster into your kit.

In the Field

As I unboxed the holster, I was quickly impressed with the robust rigidity of the design. This is not some flimsy quick mold, it is a strong .125″ Kydex molded holster. The holster can be purchased with several connection options, I chose the Safariland QLS fork option because that’s what my belts use. You can adjust the cant and ride height with the mounting screws, which are all installed with thread-locker to avoid coming loose.

the **Blackpoint Tactical Slick Duty holster** fit perfectly into my belt configuration

Mounting

The Slick Duty holster snapped right into my belt using the QLS system. After making a couple adjustments on the angle, everything felt right. I dropped my Ruger RXM pistol into the holster, and it was a perfect fit. I only slightly adjusted the friction screw, mostly to reduce any slop within the holster.

attaching the holster to the Safariland QLS mount

Compatibility

I used a variety of different Glock styled pistols with this holster. Mainly my Ruger RXM with both the full size G17 frame, and the compact G19 frame. I also tried my PSA Dagger which fit slightly tighter than the RXM. Several other Glock clone pistols also fit perfectly into the holster.

I was also pleased to see that Blackpoint had left open the end of the holster. Even including an opening for threaded barrels to nest neatly in the holster.

Other Glock clone pistols like the PSA Dagger also fit nicely

Quality

I already mentioned how well built this holster is, but lets get into more detail. The .125 inch thick Kydex is much tougher than most other Kydex holsters I’ve seen. And it is fastened with quality screws and rubber grommets. The hood that covers both the back of the slide and your optic is also quite tough, not just a little flip open cover like some others. I expect you would need a hammer or large pair of pliers to break or remove it.

The two-piece hood also features a little integrating tooth that keeps the two pieces locked together when closed. In a similar fashion, the attachment point for the holster is also reinforced and uses a variety of different screw hole patterns to allow various mounting solutions.

Durability

While I haven’t used this holster as long as many others, I have been immediately impressed with it. Wearing it on a belt all day, getting in and out of chairs, vehicles, ATV’s and such has quickly proven how tough and resistant this holster is. I fully expect it will last for years even with daily wear.

Pros and Cons

For a duty minded holster, I came up with few things to dislike about this holster. Using the QLS fork as I did makes it very easy to remove from your belt for comfort during longer drives. I really like how well it protects my optic from getting contaminated. Even riding ATV’s down muddy roads where everything got messy, my Vector Frenzy red dot stayed pristine. And though I’m glad it hasn’t happened yet, I would fully expect both my gun and holster to stay put even if drove off the steep embankment.

The quick release button is covert and out of sight mostly, but is still quick to blindly hit with my thumb. All while keeping a solid grip on the pistol. Furthermore, it is only a slightly different motion than what I’m used to with my Safariland holsters that I also use frequently.

Additional equipment seen here: my Lead Devil gunbelt and my **WGE Razor hearing pro**

My Conclusion

Holsters are as much about preferences as performance I suppose. After all, if you don’t like the way it fits or functions it can be annoying and even dangerous. The Blackpoint Tactical Slick Duty Holster is an excellent choice that is well worth your consideration. You will likely find, like I did, that it will meet your convenience, retention and durability requirements. With prices starting around $160 I think it is well worth the asking price, I may need to get another one that allows use with my Surefire X300…

-CBM

Check out more holster reviews here

Charging Against Gas: The Breek Arms Omni-Buster Charging Handle

April 22, 2026blog, Product review, Shooting hardwarebreek, bteek arms, charging handle, omni-bustercoldboremiracle

Intro

The AR15 rifle has become the most popular and widely adapted rifle in the US. Countless variants of the rifle are available from innumerable manufacturers. Its original direct impingement design that is still used by many manufacturers pushes high pressure gas from the barrel directly into the action. As suppressors become more and more common, more folks are finding issue with the design. Suppressors add backpressure, and that means even more obnoxious gas being pushed into the action and your face. Our topic today is the Breek Arms Omni-Buster charging handle. A new product designed to reduce the gas blowback into your face while shooting.

breek, breek arms, sledgehammer, omni-buster, charging handle, ar15,

Charging Handle Design

DI charging handles have a hook shape at the front that allows the bolt carrier to be drawn to the rear. There is a hole in the front, where the gas tube that pipes the pressure directly into the bolt-carrier.

One of the many causes of unpleasant gas in the face is caused when the bolt carrier begins its reaward movement. As it disconnects from the gas tube, whatever remaining gas flow continues out the gas tube. Which is shot right down the upper receiver and into the face of the shooter. As I mentioned, adding a suppressor only exacerbates this problem.

The Omni-Buster

Breek’s Omni-Buster charging handle is designed to reduce this flow of gas into the shooter’s face. Using different geometry on the charging handle optimized for reducing the gas coming at you.

This is done with several different design features; inside the stem of the charging handle, scalloped cuts are made that work like baffles in a suppressor to slow the movement of gas. And the stem itself is shaped to reduce gas flow coming at the shooter, feeling a slightly tighter fit as well. Additionally, the raised shelf at the back also closes space where gas traditionally would flow out towards the shooter.

the Omni-Buster shown next to a competitors charging handle

It does all this while offering oversized dual handles that lock the charging handle when not in use. The two handles are interlocking with each other, to actuate the locking jaw. This also keeps the tolerancances tight to prevent gas flow through the assembly.

But Does it work?

I do a lot of shooting, and most of it is done outdoors with not a particularly high cadence. With that kind of shooting practice, I usually don’t have a problem getting gassed out. I have noticed that I dont really need low backpressure suppressor designs in these scenarios. So in order to actually see if the Omni-Buster works, I would have to change it up a little bit.

breek, breek arms, sledgehammer, omni-buster, charging handle, ar15, goyojo thermal, — this rifle features a Goyojo thermal scope, you can read more about those here

With the rifle suppressed, I would swap between charging handles before shooting some long strings of fire. Different suppressors also create different amount of back pressure, so that was part of the shooting as well. And shooting indoors would inhibit natural air currents from taking gas away, which would make it easier to notice differences. For the most part, we used the same ammunition. But that too could vary the amount and volume of gas noticed by the shooter.

for much of our shooting, we used the Banish Speed K suppressor

Results

After shooting quite a bit using the Omni-Buster, I can say I definitely like it. Not only for its tight fit and reduction in gas coming in my face, but also because of the large handles. Overall it felt like there was less fumes coming out of the rifle in my face while shooting. And depending on who you are and your shooting practice, even a small reduction might be worth the upgrade.

The Test Rifle is a build featuring a Desert Tech Quattro15 lower, and **Aero Precision upper**

Particularly for those who shoot suppressed direct impingement rifles, this seems like a worthy upgrade. Improving the overall experience while shooting. The Omni-Buster seems to be an even better improvement over Breek’s previous designs. Its not going to completely stop the issue of gas in the face. I’m not sure that anything truly can without changing the rifle and how it works. But little improvements are how we eventually reach perfection.

-CBM

Medium Power Precision: The Vector Optics Continental 3-18X50

April 20, 2026Optics, Product review3-18x50, continental, medium power, riflescope, scope, vector, vector opticscoldboremiracle

Introduction

With age and time, most of us develope a larger and more refined collection of firearms. If you are rifleman like me, that means your scope inventory also develops as well. I love mid-range scopes like the 3-18 and 4-16 power range, so I have worked towards adding more of them to my inventory. Today I share one of those with you; the Vector Optics Continental 3-18X50 precision rifle scope. I am no stranger to this line or Vector Optics, my experience with other scopes is what inspired me to get this one.

The Vector Optics Continental 3-18X50

Vector Optics Continental line of scopes all incorporate most of the desired precision rifle features. The 3-18 Continental is no different, it comes with many of the things precision rifle shooters are after.

vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, adjusting magnification

Inside the Continental you’ll find the FFP VCT-34 Reticle, a Christmas Tree style reticle with a broad grid for holdovers or making corrections. Of course it is illuminated because this isn’t 1998. The reticle is matched by a set of turrets perfect for making corrections. With 10-MRAD per rotation you get plenty of mechanical adjustment, the 1/10 MRAD clicks are very tactile and can also be heard. Both turrets can be locked by pushing in, and the elevation turret features a pop-up pin indicating which of the three revolutions you are on.

bergara, premier canyon, vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, suppressed, shooting with pine trees and slopes behind, — testing the Vector Continental 3-18 aboard the **Bergara Premier Canyon** rifle, outfitted with a YHM R9 suppressor

With its large 34mm tube, this scope has 44 MRAD of mechanical travel within. More than enough for what most folks will be doing with this scope. And it’s 50mm objective is still fairly compact, allowing the scope to be mounted low.

All the control surfaces feature a nice texture, allowing quick and easy adjustments to be made. The diopter at the rear sharpens focus on the reticle, and the adjustable parallax on the side allows you to sharply focus your targets.

Specifications

Magnification:	3-18x
Objective Lens Dia.:	50mm
Ocular Lens Dia.:	42mm / 1.7 inch
Ocular Lens Length:	54mm / 2.1 inch
Exit Pupil:	8.0-2.8mm
Optics Coating:	VePro Fully-multi coat
Field of View:	40.8-6.8 feet @100 yards
Eye Relief:	100mm / 4.0 inch
Length:	338mm / 13.3 inch
Weight:	820g / 28.9 ounce
Tube Diameter:	34mm
Click Value:	1/10 MIL
Elevation Range:	44MIL
Windage Range:	16MIL
Side Focus:	10 Yds to infinite
Reticle:	Etched glass VCT-34FFP
Illumination:	6 Brightness Settings
Battery Type (Not Included):	CR2032
Focus/Parallax mark:	10,15, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 300, 500 and infinite
Including items:	34mm Picatinny high rings (default) rings, spare common elevation turret, sunshade, instruction, lens cover and a cleaning cloth

The extra included items drive the value of this scope up significantly. It comes with an extra elevation turret that you can swap out should you not wish to use the zero-stop and revolution indicator pin. A nice pair of scope rings, a shunshade and more. All boxed up nicely in an impressive package.

vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, rifle scope, unboxing, — Unboxing the Continental 3-18×50

I wasted no time mounting the scope, as I wanted to bring it along on one of my next shooting trips. The Vector rings that come with the scope are great, and look much better quality than the typically included rings. But, for the way I was mounting this scope they were a bit high. So instead I used a set of low Vortex 34mm rings.

vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, rifle scope, mounting, scope rings, scope mounting,

With the scope set inplace and torqued, all that was left was to boresight the scope prior to heading to the range. My tool-less boresight method is easy and you can read more on how to do it here.

On the Firing Line

Once I’d made it to a firing line, it was time to zero the scope. This was pretty easy after having boresighted it. In just a few shots, I had a good zero on the rifle, and it was time to set the turrets back to zero. This is done using either a coin or even better is the included plastic tool. this prevents you from marring the finish, and overtightening the turret fastener.

Vector Optics, continental, 3-18x50, rifle scope, turret, zero-stop, battery, illumination — Left; zero-stop setting. Top right: Unlocked elevation turret with indicator pin extended showing third revolution. Bottom Right: battery compartment installing the CR2032 lithium

With the rifle already zeroed, I also decided to set the zero-stop at the same time. This is done by removing the elevation turret, and looking at it from underneath, you turn the ring inside in the indicated direction until it stops. A tiny spring-loaded pin pops into a small hole on the inner ring, which is what stops it when you turn it. If you are using a canted scope base to get more use out of your scope’s elevation, you may need to push the little pin in allowing you to counter rotate the inner piece so you can set the turret below where it comes zeroed from the factory. For more on canted bases and why, go read this.

bergara, premier canyon, vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, suppressed, suppressed rifle sitting on a shooting bench with accessories, athlon chronograph, — the **Bergara Premier** test rifle, seen here testing velocity with the **Athlon Rangecraft chronograph**

Once the zero-stop was set, I reinstalled the turret on zero. Giving me maximum sweep of the scopes internal movement for my corrections. You could also swap out the turret for the non-zero-stop elevation turret, if thats what you prefer.

Optical Quality

Like the other Vector Continental scopes I have used, this one had a great picture. According to the companies website, they use Schott HT lenses with their own proprietary coating. I expect that is why they look so good. Not only are the images bright and clear, but there is excellent uniformity. There are no abberations around the edge of the image.

vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, reticle, illumination, — a couple different perspectives looking at the reticle, note only center of reticle illuminates (left)

The adjustable parallax in this scope allows you to get both the reticle and target sharply defined. This is a very important aspect of shooting, particularly at further distances. For more on that topic, read: All you need to know about parallax. I guess the easiest way to describe the imagery in this scope is; it looks way better than you’d expect with this price point.

bergara, premier canyon, vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, suppressed, shooting prone high in the mountains

Reliability

Mechanical integrity is important for precision shooting, and this scope is very repeatable. Dialing the scope across its entire elevation range is smooth and consistent. Running boxes using the turrets show it returning back to zero every time. And as a FFP scope its also important that the turret movements match the values on the reticle. Measuring movements with the reticle and dialing the correction with the turret show the values match. At least close enough to not to notice any difference.

This is not my first Continental scope, and my others have proven to be very durable. Surviving plane trips, bouncing around in vehicles and off road vehicles. Freezing temps and the damp heat of the gulf coast. I try and avoid physical abuse of my scopes, but they do get used a lot. I have every confidence that this scope, like the others will last a long time. If I was to improve anything about it durability, it would probably be the finish. It is a little easy to scratch.

bergara, premier canyon, vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, suppressed, shooting a suppressed rifle across a wide canyon filled with snowy pine trees,

Value

I keep finding myself repeating something along these lines when it comes to these scopes; I cannot believe I paid two or three times as much for scopes in the past that aren’t even close to as good as these ones (as far as features).

The optics market has been absolutely flooded with good, great and outstanding products that cost half or less than what I used to pay for good rifle scopes a decade or two ago. You can bounce over to Optics Planet and pick this scope up for a mere four-hundred and eighty-five dollars. And if you use my discount code coldbore at checkout you can even save an additional 5%.

Pros and Cons

There is plenty to like about this scope, as I’ve already mentioned. There is one drawback to this scope, and for some its a big one. A huge majority of optics are being manufactured overseas and much of them in China. For some of you that might be a deal breaker, and for others it may not be. Rest assured though, the Chinese have upped their game significantly .

vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, adjusting windage turret,

As if all the things I’ve already mentioned about this scope weren’t enough, the added value is incredible. You can buy these same included scope rings for $20 on Optics Planet, which seems really cheap. But I must say they are great looking cheap scope rings, had I not known I would have said they were at least 50-60 dollar value. And the new ones they are shipping now use the dual torx screws to secure the foot, instead of the single 1/2-inch nut. The included sunshade is also a very nice touch.

Last Thoughts

Much like my experience with my other Vector Continental scopes, this one has been an excellent experience. I could see myself putting this scope on any of my hunting rifles as you’ve seen here, or on a precision rifle that can take full use of its faculties. The medium power magnification of the Vector Continental 3-18×50 gives dexterity in use, without giving up long-range features and sharp imagery. I look forward to putting this scope to work, and I will update it as my experience continues.

-CBM

Check out other Vector Optics, as well as other scope reviews here

Listen Up: Walkers Game Ear Razor Slim Ear Muffs

April 17, 2026Ancillary gear, Product reviewear muffs, hearing protection, razor slim ear muff, walkers game earcoldboremiracle

Introduction

Even inexpensive hearing protection is better than none. I went most of my shooting career using foamies, mainly because I wanted to spend my money on things besides ear protection. But times have changed, and I am the happy owner now of several good head sets to protect whats left of my hearing. Today we are going to take a look at one of the most affordable sets I have, the Walkers Game Ear Razor Slim Ear Muffs. These are battery powered ear muffs that amplify normal sounds so you can talk and listen to whats around you, without going deaf from gunfire.

blackpoint tacticanl, holster, Slick holster, ruger, rxm, 9mm, walkers game ear, razor slim muffs, hearing protection, drawing a pistol from the holster at a gun range,

The Razor Slim Ear Muffs

Walkers Game Ear Razor (WGE) Slim muffs are available in a surprising variety of color and even patterns. The use a wire-band spring to hold the two muffs together, padded to fit the top of your head. The unit is powered by two included AAA batteries.

walkers game ear, razor slim muffs, hearing protection, battery compartment, battery installation,

The muffs use dual omnidirectional microphones to pick up sounds from all directions, and their .02 second compression time means you’ll only hear safe levels of sound. Full range speakers are used in the muffs to provide clear sounds while you are shooting. This all results in a 23dB reduction in noise.

Bergara, premier action, custom rifle, 7mm PRC, pure precision, carbon fiber, osprey barrel, us optics, TXH 4-24x50, suppressed, cole-tac, walkers game ear, razor slim muffs, — the Razor Slim muffs kept down the noise while shooting my Custom 7PRC

Powering up the unit is done using a dial on the left side, you can simply roll it with the tip of your finger. It has definitive click when it reaches the off position, so you dont waste battery life. As you roll the dial it adjustes the volume. These also have WGE’s typical input jack, allowing you to add your own sounds to the mix. Or it can be used together with WGE’s walkie talkie attachment to enhance communication between people.

On the Range

In no time I was on the range, shooting both rifles and handguns. Even though I often shoot suppressed, the fact that other shooters don’t often requires me to wear hearing protection anyways.

With the Razor Slim muffs powered up, I could comfortably hear people talking around me on the firing line. Even little things like bouncing brass and footsteps on the dirt would come through. This gives you much better situational awareness while shooting, and that can be important around others.

Bersa, m2xi, 9mm, 2011, pistol, walkers game ear, razor slim muffs, holosun scs carry, surefire x300, shooting pistol at gun range with open valley and lake behind, — shooting handguns woth ear pro is a must, this Bersa M2Xi is a blast with the **Holosun SCS** and the **Surefire X300**

Wearing the muffs for an hour here and there during the course of my shooting gave a good impression. Some other muffs often give me a headache from squeezing too hard. The soft cups of these muffs felt fine, and even sealed up over the temple arms of my glasses well. To be sure they were comfy, I even wore them around the office for a few hours.

Pros and Cons

These muff are perfectly serviceable for most shooting purposes. Whether you shoot indoor or outdoors like me, they will keep you hearing safe from gunfire. I will say this, when shooting extra large guns like the 50BMG, you may want to double up by adding some foamies underneath the muffs. I love the various color patterns, allowing you to get your own custom look. Additionally it is much less likely to get your muffs mixed up with someone else’s. They fold up nicely, and fit easily into your shooting bag.

I am not sure if my demerits for these muffs are fair. I have several other pairs of hearing protection, but they are significantly more expensive. While the others might be more comfortable, and have added tech like bluetooth, that comes at a cost.

walkers game ear, razor slim muffs, power dial, volume dial, headphone jack, walkie talkie,

Whereas the WGE Razor Slim muffs are obviously meant to be more for the mainstream. If you need those additional features that come at a higher price point, you can certainly look at WGE Recon or Firemax muff sets.

walkers game ear, hearing protection, ppe, razor slim ear muffs, electronic ear protection, — drawing my **Ruger RXM** from the Blackpoint Tactical holster, you can read more about it here

Final Words

Unless you are some kind of professional shooter, these WGE Razor Slim muffs are more than enough hearing protection for most American shooting enthusiasts. And even if you are a professional shooter, they’d still probably work. I am going to make sure they are always in my shooting bag, in case I need them, or someone needs to borrow a set. With a street price under $60, its a small price to pay to keep your dirty shooting fingers out of your ears.

-CBM

Check out other hearing protection options here

Comfortable Carry: Blackpoint Tactical Leather WING OWB Holster

April 15, 2026Ancillary gear, Product reviewblackpoint, blackpoint tactical, concealed carry, holster, owbcoldboremiracle

Preface

Holster options are as diverse as the spectrum of pistols they carry. And the different options that people use for carrying handguns can be quite subjective as well depending on the situation. Today we are looking at another new to me holster, like many modern holster designs this one has some unique design features. Our topic today is the Blackpoint Tactical Leather Wing OWB holster.

My Ruger RXM fit perfectly in the holster, note belt loops and their diameter

The Blackpoint Tactical Leather WING Holster

Blackpoint Tactical is an American company based in Georgia, with a focus on making holsters that are comfortable and concealable. They manufacture various different holsters but our focus today is on their Blackpoint Tactical Leather Wing OWB holster. It uses both traditional Kydex and as its name idicates, Leather Wings.

This dual material construction has its advantages. The traditional Kydex gives that perfect fit and retention, while the leather gives the durability and dexterity that handgunners have enjoyed since the beginning of carrying a gun. Extremely durable metal belt loops are attached using steel fasteners, the same ones are used to attach the leather to the Kydex as well. The leather wings give a natural flex-point for comfort when moving, sitting and other activities.

These holsters are available for a variety of popular pistols, mine is made for a Glock 17 pattern pistol. You can order the holsters molded for specific weapon light combinations, and since I usually use the Surefire X300 thats what I got.

When you order the holster you can specify much more. Different color patterns of both Kydex and leather can be specified for customization, as well as right or left-handed. You can also select a canted angle or straight depending on how you like to carry your gun. Different belt loops are also available, allowing you to fit whatever belt you plan on using.

Features

Leather Wings– Allow for ultimate comfort, reliability, and concealment by allowing the leather to curve naturally to the body.

Metal OWB Loops– Eliminates a common failure point on many OWB holsters.

Sweat Guard– Standard option that extends from top of holster between body and firearm. Protects gun by providing a sweat barrier from the body. Protects body from gun when holstering. Provides touch point for ease in holstering.

Cant Options– Available straight up and down or at a 15° forward cant.

OWB Concealable– The thin mounting profile of the holster allows for OWB concealment.

Thread Locker– Applied to all screws to prevent loosening over time.

Additional OWB Loops– Available in 2.00”, 1.75”, and 1.5”. Our adjustable loop is 1.75” and allows for adjustments in ride height.

OWB/IWB Conversion– All OWB holsters can be converted to IWB by removing the OWB loops from the back of the holster and attaching IWB loops to the front of the holster.

Wearing the Blackpoint Tactical Leather WING Holster

Over the course of several weeks of daily carry, I familiarized myself with the Lether Wing holster. My main pistol for carrying in the holster was a Ruger RXM. This pistol is also configurable using either a G19 sized grip or the G17 sized grip. I used both during my testing but as you might imagine the smaller grip was more concealable. I also used another Glock clone pistol, this one was the BCA Grizzly 9mm. A full size G17 clone.

Comfort and Fit

For this type of holster I prefer carrying behind my right hip. But I did try different variations both further towards the hip and further towards the back. As always with such things, this greatly depends on the comfort and preference of the person doing the carrying.

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The flexibility of the leather on this holster did make it a little more comfortable, allowing it to move just enough. I did notice when worn more towards my hip, the natural pivot point when sitting did cause a little pinching sensation. As clothing/holster flex when I sat, there was sometimes a little bit of a squeeze where I didn’t want it. This also could be related to my physical shape (more round than not), and will of course depend on yours. In the end I found it wasn’t a problem by moving the holster further around towards my back.

There is a Kydex “ear” that extends up to prevent the slide from riding against your clothes or skin. This is always a nice touch, especially for those of us who aren’t as slender as we once were.

Retention

The tight fitting Kydex kept my pistol secure in the holster. There is a definititve snap sensation when the pistol is seated or pulled from the holster. I wouldn’t call it a hard pull, it felt like just the right amount of retention to keep the pistol safely secured. Without making it hard to access. The retention varied obviously with different pistol designs. Friction alone should be plenty to keep a CCW pistol like this secured, and the clutch of the Kydex is just right in my opinion. Unless you plan on riding roller coasters or doing tuck and roll dismounts you shouldn’t have a problem.

Blackpoint Tactical, blackpoint, tactical, leather IWNG, holster, ccw, concealed carry, kydex, glock 19, glock 17, leather, ruger RXM, drawing from holster on pistol shooting range, — the **Ruger RXM** and **Surefire X300** combination fit perfectly in the Blackpoint Tactical Leather Wing holster

Due to the two sided Kydex clam-shell design, there is a natural split at the bottom of the holster. Left open to prevent accumulation of debris and the dreaded CCW fuzz-ball. The gap is almost enough to even use my RXM with the threaded barrel installed. Even if I needed to trim it slightly it would still work.

Quality

Blackpoints build quality is great, with quality fasteners holding the whole thing together. The screws do not come loose, and there are strong rivets holding the individual pieces together. The nicely finished edges make it less likely to snag on clothing, or harsh against skin. And the handsome different patterns available allow you to match your holster to your style and tastes.

Pros and Cons

Almost all of my complaints when it comes to CCW issues stem from comfort and printing. Both of these issues should be reason enough for me to get in better shape, which should fix the issues. But as it pertains to this holster specifically, there is little to complain about.

Other Glock patterned pistols like this **BCA Grizzly** also fit nicely, even with large optics like the **Gideon Omega**

I mentioned the slight pinching issue I had, but I already mentioned how that can be remedied. I suppose the only other thing I would change about it if I could would be to make an option for thinner belt loops. I found there was just enough slop between my belt and holster loops to allow some movement. Not a big deal, but something I would prefer given the chance to change it.

Blackpoint Tactical, blackpoint, tactical, leather IWNG, holster, ccw, concealed carry, kydex, glock 19, glock 17, leather, ruger RXM, — My **Ruger RXM 9mm** fit perfectly with both **large and small frames**, you can read more about the Vector Optics Frenzy red dot here

This holster gives a very secure place for your CCW pistol. With great retention and placement, without giving up some dexterity in how you wear it. It also allows plenty of room for pistol mounted optics, like the Gideon Omega seen here.

Final Thoughts

As I mentioned at the beginning, a holster is a lot like a ladies purse; which one you use depends greatly on what you intend to put in it that day, what you are wearing for an outfit, and where you plan on going. I have found that this means you are bound to end up having various holsters for different occasions and activities. I have found that the Blackpoint Tactical Leather Wing OWB holster is a great asset to have in my inventory.

-CBM

Looking for more holsters? Click here to see other options

Why You Need a 3-18 Power Riflescope

April 13, 2026blog, Optics, Product review3-18, 3-18x44, 3-18x50, 6x rifle scope, kahles, primary arms, rifle scope, us optics, vector opticscoldboremiracle

Thirst for Power

When I first started down this rifleman’s path, like many others I found myself lusting over the high power long-range rifle scopes. It never fails, whether in media or our daydreaming that we think of a big powerful sniper scope filled with all the bells and whistles you can imagine. But is all that necessary? I’ve been down that road a few times now, and I can tell you about it.

Large Magnification

Many long-range optics are higher magnification, like 6-24, 5-25, or even beyond 5-30 power. While there is nothing wrong with these scopes, and I have quite a few of them, some folks seem to think that these scopes are going to make them more accurate at long-range shooting. While not wholly untrue, it certainly is problematic for those who think a big scope will make all the difference.

3-18 power scopes offer excellent diverse settings for hunting rifles like this **AR15**

I have done a significant amount of long-range shooting using what many would consider low magnification scopes. Keep in mind that barely a generation ago, a straight 10X scope was used by many military and law enforcment snipers. I myself have shot many targets at as far away as a thousand yards with as little as 6 or 8 power scopes.

Another thing I have noticed about all scopes, is the dimming effect when they are at maximum magnification. The image looses some of its sharpness and detail.

You’d be very surprised just how much you can get done with less magnification, but why would you want to? Lets get into that…

Why a 3-18 You Ask?

Larger scopes like the ones I mentioned above are often bigger, heavier, and have 50-plus millimeter objective lenses. This means they have to be mounted higher above the bore. It also makes the overall profile of the rifle larger.

One of my favorite scope sizes is the 3-18 range of scopes. They are usually shorter in length than bigger scopes, and they can also be mounted closer to the bore. And often they will have 50mm or smaller objectives.

3-18X offers both wide angle viewing for close encounters or locating targets, while also offering enough power to articulate precise shots on even distant targets

Also, as I am mainly a hunter, I like having the low power option. If I am sneaking through a forest looking for targets, its nice to back off the power to as low as 3X. Making it much faster to acquire a moving target, especially at closer ranges. And should I need to shoot an animal that is way out there, 18X is still plenty of magnification to cleanly see and take a shot. I often find that regardless of what magnification scope I have, I most frequently shoot no more than 14-16X anyways.

Suggestions

I have several 3-18 power scopes, all of which I can strongly recommend. Which one simply depends on your taste and budget. All of them are FFP, which is certainly my preference. There are many other features worth looking at too.

Primary Arms GLX/SLX 3-18

Sadly, I dont find the GLX available many places anymore. They still sell the SLX but it is a 50mm objective. One of the reasons I love the GLX is because of its 44mm objective that allows me to keep the scope low, and the overall rifle compact. It is built on a 34mm tube which gives a lot of erector movement within the scope.

remington 700, 260 remington, custom rifle, primary arms, glx, 3-18x44, suppressed rifle sitting on rocks with snowy mountain background — This little custom .260 Remington has taken deer and elk as far away as 500 yards using only a 6X scope. But it was time to upgrade to a 3-18 like this PA GLx, read the review about it here

The locking 10-MIL turrets and zero-stop on this scope make it great for hunting. Sadly, it only locks secure in the zero position. The reticle might be a touch busy for some, and I have other preferences myself, but its still very useful. Its throw lever makes it quick to adjust, and its parallax and illumination make it adaptable to various purposes. At just under $500 these are a great affordable option.

the GLx has done extremely well on every rifle I’ve put it on. This custom 10/22 you see on my **Two Vets Tripod** is just one of many

Vector Continental 3-18X50

For just a little bit more, you can also get the Vector Optics Continental 3-18X50. This 34mm tubed scope has a slightly larger objective, but also gathers more light. It also has locking 10-MIL turrets, with a zero-stop. It also has a rotation indicator pin to help you keep track of what revolution of the turret you are one. The turrets on these scopes are among my favorites.

bergara, premier canyon, vector optics, continental, 3-18x50, suppressed, suppressed rifle sitting on a shooting bench with accessories, — the **Continental 3-18** mounted on my **Bergara Premier Canyon** is a compact and venerable long-range hunting rifle

Optically the Continentals are also very good for the price, giving a very sharp and bright image. The reticle of the Continental is also very useful for various tasks, and it is illuminated too. It also has added values like included sunshade and rings.

US Optics TXH 3-18X50

Moving up in price a little more, is the US Optics TXH 3-18X50. This one retails for just under $750, but if you use my discount code you can save 15%. The TXH is also built on a 34mm tube, and has the larger 50mm objective. Like the previous mentioned scopes, this one is also pretty short by comparison to other long-range optics. Making it a good candidate for a small precision rifle. This scope has been used on a dozen or more rifles in my collection, jumping from gun to gun. Its definitely durable and can stand up to heavy use.

the TXH is often at home on my **Desert Tech WLVRN,** which is also constantly changing calibers

Again I am a big fan of the turrets on this scope, the outer ring of the turret locks up and down to prevent unwanted movement. And you get 10-MIL per revolution of the scope, with sharp audible clicks. An easily set zero-stop is also a nice addition. You can read the complete review of the TXH here.

Various reticle options give you a little bit of choice with the US Optics TXH, which you don’t get with the previous two scopes. And the reticle can be sharply focused with the parallax adjustment, all the way down to 10 yards. It can also be illuminated for low light conditions.

the TXH has proven very useful at long-range, making a perfect shot on this mule deer at 500 yards. Read all about the hunt here

Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18×44

Starting at around $1999, the Mark 5 3.6-18X44 from Leupold is a significant step up in price. That should be expected as big names draw big prices. I love the size of this scope, it is likely the most compact of all the scopes mentioned today. A must have if you are going for the smallest footprint. This scope is built on a 35mm tube, just enough different from the norm to be irritating. And requiring some different mounting options.

But like the others, the Mark 5 uses 10-MIL turrets that lock on zero. It does feature an indicating pin on top of the turret to let you know which rotation you are on, which is very handy. It also has a variety of reticle options, some of which greatly increase the price. There are both illuminated and non-illuminated reticle options, and again the price change is significant.

Other things like included throw-lever and capped windage turret make it stand out a little bit. I understand this scope is popular with law enforcement as a compact sniper rifle scope. To read all my thoughts on this scope you can read the review here.

Kahles 318i

Starting around $2600, the Kahles 318i is at the top of my list. It brings the highest quality out of those mentioned, with a long history of quality service. Like most of the others it is built on a 34mm tube, and they opted for a 50mm objective. Despite it not having the 44mm size, it is still very compact, only a fraction of an inch longer than the Leupold.

The turret design on the Kahles uses 16-MIL per rotation, needing only two turns. On top of the elevation turret is the indicator pin that lets you know which rotation the turret is on. The windage turret is on the left side of the scope, which makes it easier to operate with your non-shooting hand while targeting.

The parallax adjustement ring is right under the elevation turret, and adjustable down to 25 yards. The new Kahles turrets feature a spinning outer ring, to avoid inadvertent movement of the turret, a nice feature that works well. The various reticle options can be illuminated by a variable brightness knob on the right side of the housing.

the Kahles 318i mounted on a **Tikka T1 MTR**

Exceptional clarity and brighness can be expected from these scopes. As well as sharp tracking and durability. For my whole opinion about this scope, read the review here.

Honorable Mention

Perhaps becaus of its cost, the Kahles would likely be the last one of these scopes to leave my collection. But I do love the scope, so its not just about the price. It gives outstanding views and rock solid performance.

Besides that, I think the Vector might be the overall best buy. I think it gives the best optical performance of the cheaper priced options mentioned (albeit a small margin). And it brings excellent mechanical performance and features. Though its Chinese origin is a deterrent for many. Of course if you use my discount code at checkout, the TXH is pretty close in cost, and you get a more reputable name from a US manufacturer.

Last Thoughts

There is nothing wrong with the higher magnification scopes, I use them almost daily. Just keep in mind that lower power scopes can be just as useful, and perhaps even better depending on the application. Its not lost on me that there is some cost involved, and if you are going to spend a significant amount of money, you might want to go for the max. I get that, and have done it myself.

Perhaps it is with some affluence in ones gun collection that he can afford to diversify both guns and scopes in such a way. If so, I recommend you aim for that. Lets get out of here before I start in on 4-16X’s….

-CBM

Maven Optics M.2 12x50mm Monocular

April 10, 2026Optics, Product reviewmaven, maven built, Maven M.2 12x50mm, maven optics, Monocular, optic, spottercoldboremiracle

Preface

Maven Optics has worked very hard at producing quality optics and selling them direct to customers. Their products are built in Wyoming (one of my favorite states) from high quality components sourced from places like Japan. I am not new to Maven’s products, and I’ve been very happy with my experience so far. You can read more about other Maven products I’ve used here. But today we are looking at a more recent product, the Maven M.2 12x50mm Monocular. A compact handheld 12X monocular, basically a handheld spotting scope.

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I love optical devices like this one, but my immediate thoughts were whether or not I would want this monocular over binoculars. Or if I would leave my spotter in the truck to carry this instead. Hunters love reducing their loadout weight, so carrying an extra optic might be a big ask. But what if it fits in the palm of your hand?

maven, maven built, maven optics, Maven M.2 12x50mm, Monocular, optic, spotter, size, in hand, — it fits nicely in the palm of your hand

The Maven Optics M.2 12x50mm Monocular

I eagerly opened the box containing the Maven monocular, and was impressed with the packaging and quality. The monocular came with a soft Maven cinch-bag, as well as front and rear rubber lens covers. It also came with a wrist strap that attaches to the lens body, but can be quickly detached by a clip if needed.

The controls of this thing are as simple as you’d expect. There is an adjustable eyecup at the rear, and a ring around the center of the body to adjust focus. That’s about all there is to it, as this thing was made for looking.

Specifications

Magnification	12x
Obj. lens diameter	50mm
Exit pupil	4.2mm
Field of View (FOV)	5.5°
Apparent FOV (FOV x Power)	66°
Field of view (ft/1000 yds)	289
Brightness	17.6
Light transmission (%)	93.80%
Twilight factor	24.5
Multi Position Eyecup Y/N	Yes
Eye relief	17.5mm
Near focus	7.5ft
Dimension WxHxD	2.31″x6.56″x2.31″
Weight	20.0 oz
Lens constr. obj.	3 groups 4 elements (ED)
Lens constr. ocular	4 groups 6 elements
Prisms type	Wide Angel Schmidt-Pechan
Prism reflective coating type	Dielectric Coating
ED Glass	Yes
Phase correction coating	Yes
Lens coating	Scratch and Oil Resistant
Pressure tested to what pressure	1m for 30 min. (IPX7)
Storage temperature	-40°~158°F
Functional temperature	-13°~140°F
Frame material	Magnesium
Internal gas purged	Nitrogen
Tripod Adaptable Y/N	No
Origin	Japanese components assembled in the U.S.

I spend a lot of time in the springtime Rocky Mountains, mainly chasing Rockchucks. I couldn’t think of a better reason to break the little Maven M.2 out, it would be great for glassing up some chucks.

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In the Field

On a beautiful spring day, my son and I climbed to the eight-thousand foot peaks near our home. And in the cool breeze we sat in the sunshine, looking for varmints that might be doing the same thing.

In the process I got very comfortable with the M.2. I was impressed with how small it is, and how great the image is when looking through it. Whether we were looking close at 100-yard targets or across a deep canyon, the M.2 provided a great picture. It’s 50mm objective lens is likely responsible for taking in so much of the view.

I was also surprised at how sharp the focus was, and particularly how close you could focus on things. It was also impressive that I could focus on things across my kitchen, as well as across a canyon. I wish I could attach this little monocular to my phone for taking pictures.

maven, maven built, maven optics, Maven M.2 12x50mm, Monocular, optic, spotter, looking over mountain range, — the wrist-strap is handy for keeping the M.2 close and safe from falls

The rubberized eyecup is nice, and rotating it you can accommodate your preference from the eye. Both front and rear lens covers are made of that stretchy and sticky rubber texture. This makes them more likely to stay in place. It also made it a little more challenging to put into the cinch-bag. The sticky texture of the rubber doesn’t like to slide against the fabric. Not a big deal, but slightly annoying as I like to keep it inside the bag to keep it clean and dust free.

The small strap loop built into the bottom of the housing is perfect for attaching the sling and lens cover lanyards. The wrist-strap is nice, but not sure I’d use it much. I almost wish they’d have put a small threaded boss in the bottom to allow attachment to a tripod. But I have no problem just setting it comfortably in one of my rifle saddles just as I do with binoculars.

Optical Clarity

I have been quite happy with the optical performance of this unit since I first looked through it. The images are very sharp and detailed, giving excellent observational use. Low light conditions like just before dark or as the sun rises are also seen very well through the Maven M.2. The large objective does a great job compressing the landscape into a smaller high definition package for the eye.

With its 12X, some might feel it is a bit much for a handheld device. As I only plan on using it supported, its almost like having a tiny spotting scope in your pocket. When supported by a tripod or backpack, it allows impressive definition of targets and their surroundings.

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Usability

This thing is much smaller than I anticipated, which is great news. You wont believe this, but it just like having… half a binocular…

It fits great in the pockets, and is easily used single handedly while your other hand holds a gun or tree branch. The real question when it comes to usability is whether you want to carry the M.2 monocular AND a pair of binoculars, or the M.2 monocular OR a pair of binoculars. It seems not only superfluous to have both, and perhaps even a bit gaudy if you throw a rangefinder into the mix as well.

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Durability

As with other Maven products I own, this M.2 Monocular is very well built. Everything is tight and tucked neatly together, I have every expectation that this optic would last for years. There is very little to wrong with it, so unless it gets dropped or run over I don’t see how it might otherwsie fail. And even if it did, Maven has a great unconditional lifetime warranty.

Value

Looking for comparable monocular choices, I found very little that is even close. There is a wide variety of monoculars for significantly less money than the M.2, but they don’t look to be anywhere near the same class either. Most other monoculars that cost more are thermal monoculars that cost thousands not hundreds.

That said, I think you really need to want this monocular in order to justify it. For around the same price you can get a similar pair of binoculars from Maven. Unless you are a one-eyed pirate, there must be a good reason to want the monocular configuration.

maven, maven built, maven optics, Maven M.2 12x50mm, Monocular, optic, spotter, viewing in thick wooded forest, tripod, two vets tripod, — set atop my Two Vets Tripod, this thing is stable and very handy for spotting

Pros and Cons

One reason you might want a monocular is because they are lighter than binoculars. This unit is surprisingly light for what you get from it. If I was on a very remote hunt where every ounce mattered, the lightweight of this unit would be appealing. Its amazing views would be very helpful for both identifying and evaluating trophy animals. As well as general observation. The controls are tight and feel very smooth.

The only downside I can think of is that if you already have comparable binoculars then you probably dont need this. In my opinion it would be an excellent optic to keep handy, unless you already have a pair of binoculars for the same purpose. This does fit easily in the glove box of the truck, giving me an always available high quality optic for observing.

Last Thoughts

Whether you use this as your main spotting optic, or like me, as a capricious indulgence, the Maven M.2 is a very nice addition to your kit. Its quality build and excellent imagery make it suitable for just about anything you need to look at.