Technology continues to work into our shooting experience. And today I present to you another new to me product that brings more electronic gizmos into the shooting realm. Our subject today is the Walkers Game Ear Suppressor Bluetooth Earbuds. These are electronic bluetooth earbuds that have the noise cancelling Walkers is famous for, with all the added benefits that your typical earbuds also give.
Everything you see here is included
Walkers Game Ear Suppressor
Walkers is famous for the ability to not only protect your hearing, but amplify your surroundings at the same time. This has typically been more for hunters than shooters. The Suppressor Bluetooth Earbuds offer the next level of both protection, situational awareness, and even entertainment.
With omnidirectional stereo sound from four microphones, the Suppressors give you 25 DB protection from gunfire. While also providing you connection to your surroundings, and even the ability to enhance those sounds.
Not only does it come with various sizes of foam and silicone tips for maximum comfort, they also allow four different frequencies of sound to customize your hearing experience. All this in a wireless rechargeable earbud set much like those all the cool kids are wearing these days. And like the popular kids, you can charge these up to three times in their discreet battery powered case. The case can also be charged via a USB-C included cord.
charging the earbuds in their case
As if all that wasn’t enough, you can customize your listening experience on the fly using the Walkers Link 4.0 application on your phone to adjust balance, volume and the differential between your favorite tunes playing by bluetooth and the ambient noise around you.
Controlling the Suppressor Earbuds
Aside from directly operating the earbuds through the app, you can also adjust the volume, skip songs, and change hearing settings all by touching the control surfaces on the exterior of the earbuds.
You can also adjust the auto-off setting between 2, 4, and 6 hours. Or not at all. You can balance between your ears if you choose as well.
Sound Quality
As an earbud, these are fantastic. The quality of the music sound played from my phone is as good as other comparably priced earbuds I borrowed from my wife.
Additionally, the sounds picked up by the microphones are also impressive. As I type this out, I can hear the keystrokes over the music playing at an aggressive volume. I could also hear my wife’s phone playing a video inside another room with a closed door.
The various ear canal gaskets give you various options. I tend to prefer the foam ones as the silicone ones seem to work loose on me. The foam plugs are a bit stiffer and keep a good grip inside your ear, aided by the rubber rib mounted under the plug. If you have sensitive ears, the silicone plugs might be better as they don’t press out against your ear canal as hard.
These Suppressor Earbuds do stick out a little further than I’d like. Its not like I’m gonna be snagging them against tree limbs or something. But they are out there enough that you could brush them loose when adjusting your beenie or glasses. This is certainly not a deal breaker, but something to be aware of.
I’ve used these earbuds on the range several times now, in addition to my wearing around the house and office to listen to music. They do a great job keeping the noise of firearms down. As someone who wore foamie ear-plugs for the majority of my shooting career, these feel like they cancel the noise just as good as any foamie might. With the added benefit of being able to hear those around you, in stereo. It also allows me to listen to John Wick Mode by Castlevania while I do reloads with my Staccato.
Pros and Cons
There are very few cons that I found with these earbuds. I mentioned the slight protrusion from the ear, and the possibility of the foam pressing out against your ear canal. Other than that I can confidently say they knocked it out of the park with these earbuds. I remember nearly a decade ago paying twice this much for custom fitting electronic ear protection. Only to find within the first few minutes that they were slightly worse than foamies, and were always dead with expensive batteries.
In Closing
My conversion to electronic hearing protection is fairly recent. But I don’t think I’ll be using foamies anytime soon short of an emergency. I quite enjoy these earbuds, and look forward to more days at the range wearing them. If you are looking for electronic hearing protection, these might be right up your ear canal, especially if you like accompaniment.
While I have wandered the southwest, and meandered on either side of the border, it may be a stretch to consider myself a pistolero. But I do love shooting handguns, and the GPS Pistolero Backpack adds some organization and security to my handgunning. The Pistolero Backpack is designed for a handgun enthusiast headed to the range with a variety of pistols.
fitting handguns into the Pistolero was easy, here you can see my Ruger RXM, and the BCA Grizzly 9mm pistols
Inside the Pistolero
Five internal handgun storage cases with magazine storage
4 outside zippered pockets for mags and other accessories
Larger top storage for ammo
Free standing backpack
Visual ID storage system
Waterproof pullout cover
Each side pocket holds 6 mags. Total of 12 mags in both side pockets!
Internal frame for rigidity of the pack
MOLLE webbing system that is triple stitched
Carrying just about everything but your bulk ammo stash, the Pistolero keeps up to five handguns individually cased. While allowing you to keep all your other stuff in there too, with magazines storage pouches on either side, and personal protective equipment. The adjustable shoulder straps allow you to customize the fit while the various zippered pouches allow you to separate equipment. Many of the pouches are labeled if you need help with that, And there is even a pullout rain-fly to cover the pack in poor weather. Various surfaces on the pack also incorporate velcro for adding your favorite accessories (even if they are just goofy patches) as well as molle for attaching other accessories to the pack.
With room for up to five pistols, I figured it was worth a trip to the range. Each of the pistol pouches is padded and zippered to keep your guns safe. There is a separator between them to keep each pouch secure and upright. The pouches themselves are pretty simple, but provide ample protection, especially when in the backpack.
Average size handguns fit just fine in the pouches. I can even fit my 5-inch 2011 pistols in them, so anything smaller than that should fit easily. If you run big oversized red dots it might be a tight fit.
my Girsan 2311 fit nicely into the Pistolero’s pouches
The PPE pocket has a spot for ear plugs, and shooting glasses with a fuzzy lined pocket for the latter. I usually wear a headset, which fits nicely in the top pocket. The top pocket is supposedly for ammo, for which it will work I guess. But if I’m bringing five pistols to the range, I would likely have a separate ammo can. As the top pocket would probably fit around 6-7 boxes (50rnd) of 9mm, and thats barely over a box per pistol.
The magazine pouches are nice, giving you room to organize and store up to 12 magazines neatly. Obviously one of those could hold a suppressor instead if you’re that kinda guy.
At first I felt the Pistolero was a bit bulky because of its wide base. But after a few range trips, I can see it was made that way to make it a stable base to prevent it from tipping over. You can set it on a table or bench and work out of it much like a tool box. The padded pack is comfortable, and the smooth zippers don’t have that cheap catchy feel. And the material this pack is made of is more robust than expected, not that thin flimsy nylon but sturdy and rigid, giving the pack some structure.
The pistol bay in the bottom also incorporates a lockable zipper, in case your range is in the hood. Allowing you to put a small lock through the zipper, possibly more for keeping unwanted children away than actual thieves. On the bottom of the pack, you will find a rubberized bottom. This I found to be optimal, not only for resistance to wear. But also to keep dirt, snow or other debris from getting picked up and carried back into your vehicle or home.
My Recommendation
There is really very little to critique about this pack as long as you see it for what it is. The Pistolero is for transporting handguns to the range, it’s not meant for traditional backpack duties. I suppose you could fit a ham sandwich in one of the pistol cases, and it might even keep it cold for a minute. But this pack is meant for serious pistol shooters, or Pistolero’s as my father might have said.
You can pick this pack up at Palmetto or Midway USA for under $120, which makes it pretty accessible for a serious pistolero. I think it is worth that price, and it will certainly be accompanying me on my pistol outings henceforth. You’ve heard the saying about bringing a knife to a gunfight, but bringing a Pistolero like this to gunfight will certainly give you and edge.
It would be foolish of someone who shoots often, to not take proper precautions for their safety. When I was younger, I didn’t think about it much and looking back I sure wish that I had. Protecting eyes and ears while shooting has never been more easy, with technology and materials giving us many options. Today I am bringing you my opinion of another one of those options. Shell Shock Protection is a manufacturer of safety equipment for shooters, and today I present to you their Shell Shock Ultimate Eyes and Ears Combo. Just like it sounds, this kit comes with everything you need for shooting protection.
we did quite a bit of shooting with the Ruger RXM, you can read more about it here
Shell Shock Ultimate Eyes and Ears Combo
The Shell Shock kit comes with a set of their EXO PRO Bluetooth Earmuff’s and a pair of Switch Ballistic Glasses. These items come with a few additional accessories in a tidy little soft-case lined with foam and enclosed by a zipper.
The EXO PRO Bluetooth Earmuff
Pulling the EXO Pro muffs from the case, I was happy to see they use a gel cup for comfort. My other headsets also have this feature so I was both aware of and pleased by it. The ear cups fold out from the wire headband making them compact to stow and quick to deploy. The headset came with a set of AAA batteries and an AUX cord for plumbing in audio to the headset.
In addition to the dual omnidirectional microphones, the EXO Pro also has a Bluetooth connection feature. This allows you to connect your phone or other device to the headset to listen to music or in my case a conference call while sitting on a shooting bench. There are two individual volume knobs to adjust the BT volume and the ambient sounds.
Switch Ballistic Glasses
The Switch Ballistic Glasses come with two lenses, a shaded one for bright sunny days, and a clear lens for indoors. The lenses can be switched out of the frame by unlocking two levers on each side of the frame before swapping the lens. There is also a handy protective cinch-close carry liner to protect the glasses from being scratched or damaged.
The lenses are coated to prevent fogging, and of course they are rated Z87 for protection against flying debris that could damage your eyesight.
On the Range
As I shoot pretty often, it wasn’t long before I put the kit to use. Both indoor shooting and out door shooting would be involved. I typically shoot suppressed, which arguably doesn’t often require hearing protection. But I like to shoot handguns unsuppressed, and you definitely want ears for that.
I found the headset to fit just fine, and the gel cups felt soft against my face. One of the nice things about the gel cups is that they easily form around the temple arms of the glasses. I dislike when a headset crushes the temple arms of my glasses causing discomfort of the ear. The gel cups balanced the pressure against your head without pressing too hard, and still making a good seal.
The dual microphone pickups on the EXO Pro do a great job of picking up the sound around you, and blocking out what you don’t want to hear. I did notice that there seemed to be a bit higher frequency of sound picked up by the microphones, making it sound slightly more shrill sounding than I’d anticipated. Of course I had to fire up the BT receiver on the EXO Pro, so I could listen to my jams while I shot.
With the Switch Ballistic Glasses on, I found something that is typical of personal protective equipment. Not everybody’s face is the same, and I found that the glasses rode a smidge high on my nose for my taste. Requiring me to keep them further out on my nose, this leaves a little more gap than I’d like around the eyes. I think I can correct the issue by altering the removeable nose-pad some. Either way, glasses always fit depending on how your face is built. The lenses were nice, and the dark lens wasn’t as dark as many of my other sunglasses which made it easy to find targets. Switching out the lenses was quick and easy, though I am afraid I’d be more likely to lose one of them. Perhaps I should just get another frame.
Finding pistol sights and red dots through the lenses was easy, and it does feel good to have something between my eyes and all the bullet spall and debris flying around the range.
Pros and Cons
I mentioned the fit of the glasses not being perfect for my face, but that’s just life when you look like I do. It certainly wasn’t a big deal. On the EXO Pro headset I felt just a slight let-down. I’d expected the dual mics to give better awareness of sound direction. I also had hoped they had a rechargeable internal battery option. But to be fair the battery life is pretty good, so maybe I’ll just keep a couple AAA batteries in my shooting bag.
On the positive side, the headset does a great job of protecting your ears from the noise of shooting. They are comfortable even after several hours, and I love the Bluetooth option. For the street price of around $135 dollars, I think these are a pretty solid buy.
If you are ready to step up to a set of electronic ears, or just need another set of protective equipment to keep in your vehicle this would be a good option. It comes in a handy case ready for the range making it a slam-dunk for shooters on the move.
Tripods have become a big part of shooting activities. Whether it is for building a support position for your rifle, or positioning support optics, tripods are a fantastic accessory. I have had the good fortune to use a variety of different tripods of various types and situations. This has opened my eyes to the value of a good tripod, in the right situation. Today I am bringing you a review of another tripod, built specifically for shooting sports. This tripod comes from the folks at Vector Optics, but it is a sub-brand. The Rokstad Tauron carbon fiber tripod is of heavy duty construction, with extendable carbon fiber locking legs. Using the tripod together with Rokstad’s 56mm ball-head gives you impressive mounting and manipulation.
Having arrived right before hunting season would give me a great opportunity to put this tripod to work. Using the Rokstad tripod to support both firearms, spotting scopes, and other items. Over the next couple months, I would use the tripod on the range, out in the deserts and in the high frozen country of the Rocky Mountains.
Much thought went into the design of this tripod, adding some clever features. And at the exact same time, the tripod is a simple device. With four extendable sectioned legs, it is a very tall tripod, one could put a sheet around it and use it as a rain shelter.
Attaching a ball head or other device on top of the tripod is done using either a 1/4 threaded stud, or a 3/8 threaded stud. The cunning design has a spring loaded stud, that allows you to pull out the one you want to use, while the other stud collapses inside.
The lightweight carbon fiber legs are very stiff and strong, the rubberized twist-locking rings allow fast deployment. At the bottom end of the legs there are rubber feet, the feet can be twisted up revealing steel spikes for better traction. Additionally, the legs lock in three different angles, allowing you many options for configuring the tripod.
With its robust construction, the Tauron Tripod can hold up to 77lbs on top. Which is more than I would ever plan on putting there. Rokstad offers a 38mm and 56mm ball head to mount on the Tauron tripod, I selected the 56mm.
Rokstad 56mm Ball Head
The ball head itself is also built well, with a nice finish and look all around. The ball head features 360 degree rotation, and also includes the typical 90 degree drop notch that allows you to hit extreme angles.
On top of the ball, there is a dual clamp that is tightened by a thumb-screw. The clamp itself is designed to hold both ARCA rail systems as well as picatinny rail systems. This will allow you to mount a variety of firearms and other items to the tripod.
Controls on the ball head are very easy to operate. There is a smaller tension knob that controls the resistance when panning the ball head. And the larger knob adjusts the clamping resistance on the ball itself, the knob has various numbers showing the resistance setting. Interestingly, these controls typically add resistance as you tighten the knob. But on this ball head, the resistance as you tighten the knob doesn’t seem to increase with commensurate resistance on the ball. This allow easy manipulation of the ball head with less effort.
The ball head comes with a small rubberized section of ARCA that can be used to attach a rifle, spotting scope or other device to quickly attach to the tripod.
Whether on the range, out in the desert, or high in the Rocky Mountains chasing mule deer, this tripod was a fantastic tool. I used it for supporting my spotting optics, my camera, rifles and other items.
I found the controls of the tripod and ball head to be very easy and intuitive to operate. While the tripod is very light compared to non-carbon fiber options, but I didn’t often choose to pack it along during hunts. This size of tripod is great for short walks and or range operations. It isn’t often I would take this or any comparable tripod on long hikes through rough country.
Using both the rubber feet and the spike s underneath the tripod made a very sturdy structure. Making an excellent platform to shoot from, as well as watching target animals. I did notice occasionally the rubber feet would rattle loose, which would expose the spikes. This isn’t a big deal, as the rubber feet are captured and cannot fall off when loose, but it was a slight inconvenience at times.
Locking the legs in their various positions was quick and easy using the locking lugs, I did find that I like other designs slightly better. Because the locks can be pulled from the front or pushed out from the back. The Rokstad design can only be pulled from the front, this is a minor issue that you likely would miss unless you were used the something else.
Quality
One of the concerns many folks have about foreign built products is the level of quality in construction. I have been quite impressed with the quality of other Vector Optics products, so it came as no surprise that I was also pleased with the Rokstad sub-brand as well. The finish on this tripod is great, the carbon fiber has an excellent build. All the machine work is done well, and there is even a touch of style to it.
The controls are crisp and strong, you definitely feel like you can push against this tripod. By that I mean both physically and against its stops. The leg extension locks are very tight, and don’t require heavy torquing to lock the extensions in place. Same with the leg angle locks. And the ball head controls are very tactile allowing sharp control of friction settings.
Usability
I found the Tauron tripod to be every bit as comfortable to use as other tripods I’ve used. The rubberized leg extension locks are quick and easy to use, and deploying the legs of the tripod is quick and smooth. The articulation of the legs allows me to get into most any setup with this tripod, giving excellent support.
you can see the ball tension knob, as well as the smaller pan tension knob, multiple bubble levels are also built-in various places on the tripod
Articulating the ball head took a moment to get used to, but once I’d figured it out I quite liked it. Being able to lock both ARCA rails and picatinny rails was a great benefit. Two of the three legs have a foam grip area for comfortably carrying the tripod. Which is especially nice in extreme cold weather.
Value
Rokstad’s Tauron tripod is definitely less expensive than some of the competition. Even compared to some other tripods built overseas, it is still much more affordable. There is obviously good reason behind this, we all know there is no free lunch. While it is lighter than some comparable tripods, it is far from the lightest. It has great features and controls despite others having some better options. But all this should come as no surprise for a tripod that cost only four hundred and fifty dollars (at time of publication). Many of the comparable tripods cost double or triple what this one costs. I am sure I am not the only one who often will take the affordability over a slight advantage in performance.
Pros and Cons
I found very few things to hate on the Rokstad Tauron tripod. It was comfortable and easy to operate, and the controls were intuitive and easy to figure out. The product is well-built giving great stability for either observation optics or firearms. All the control surfaces have textured grip, and the sticky rubber grip areas make short work of extending the legs.
If I had to change something about this tripod, it would probably be the following; I’d love to put it on a diet. It’s not like a boat anchor or anything, but it could be lighter. That could be said for most comparable tripods as well, so keep that in mind. I’d also like it if they vented the legs, the air pressure built when extending or collapsing the legs does create some resistance that could be neutralized by venting the interior of the legs.
Here you can see the extended leg-locks that allows a hard stop for each leg
Also, I really like the dual clamp on the ball head, but I wish it had a lever to tension the clamp instead of a thumbscrew. Thumbscrews are a little less tactile for tensioning such a clamp, especially in the cold. And lastly, the tripod came with a very handy and well made carry bag, complete with a shoulder strap and such. Unfortunately they made the bag too small to use with the ball head installed, which is a massive drawback. I will likely never use the bag now, as I’m not likely ever going to be removing the ball head while transporting the Tauron.
Final Thoughts
Overall I think the Tauron is a great little tripod, meaning I think most folks out there would at minimum find it adequate if not better. If you are new to carbon fiber shooting tripods, I think this will work great for you. And if you have a collection of them as I do, this will fit in to it just fine.
here you can see CBM Junior’s rifle mounted in the tripod via the pic rail up front
Rokstad’s Tauron tripod gives great quality and features at a price well below much of the competition. Like it or not, the price is likely due to its overseas construction. If you are looking for a great little tripod to put in your shooting gear, this one is worth looking at.
Flashlight technology continues to improve, LED technology and batteries made from lithium and various electrode types have greatly improved many product lines. The days of oversized lights running on alkaline cells are long gone, replaced by ever smaller and brighter options. Today we are looking at one of those products, the Olight Ark Pro Lite flashlight. The Ark pro is a very compact multi-purpose light with various features making it very handy for a daily use tool. With rechargeable battery that comes with multiple charging options, and shift-on-the-fly controls giving the user a focused beam, a flooding beam, and even a UV option. Additionally there is a green laser pointer built into the unit. All his in a handsome little light you can havedelivered on your Amazon Prime account for $100.
here you can see the USB-C charging port open, as well as the coltrol panel
Unboxing the Ark Pro Flashlight
As I opened the Olight Ark Pro, it was a little reminiscent of Apple products. Nice packaging with intuitive directions built-in as the packaging opened further. As is typical with Lithium powered products, there are various warning stickers on the product. As well as others that indicate operational features. A charging cable is also included that uses the typical Olight magnet affixed charging port. As well as a card listing the various models of Ark Pro and the functions of the controls and how you can customize them.
the laser pointer located centrally
The light itself feels very robust, its heavier than I anticipated which often gives the feeling of added value. The controls are very simple, and tactile with clicks and smooth movements. I hate to bring it back to Apple product’s but it almost feels similar to the older ipod’s before touch screens were incorporated.
the Olight Ark Pro fits nicely on a gun belt without cluttering things up too much between my Safariland holster and CRKT Knife
Olight Ark Pro Features
The solid construction of the Ark Pro gives a strong feeling of rugged quality. The construction also includes a strong dual belt-clip for carrying the light a variety of ways. And the compact slender size makes it easy to carry all the time, much like a pocket knife. And the dual-charging options give you a variety of choices to keep it powered up. And the magnet base that attaches one of the two charging methods also doubles as a hands-free mounting option.
Adjusting the brightness is done by holding down the power button. The Ark Pro cycles through different brightness levels until the button is released.
as one who frequents the underside of automotive hoods, I find the Ark Pro very handy for quick and easy lighting. Its magnetic base holds it tightly against the hood of vehicles
This light would be a great tool for maintenance and auto technicians, its quick operation and go-everywhere size is great for small places. The Ark Pro includes both a flood-style LED light, and a sharper spot-style LED light. And the UV light is great for identifying leaking systems like coolant or refrigerant dyes. And the laser pointer would also come in handy for pointing out locations to others without needing to get hands-on.
showing the two different LED’s emittance, above is the flood light, and below is the spot light. Both seen in pure darkness approximately 10 feet from wallSuspicious of your pet? the UV light will show things that regular lights wont, beware…
Real Use
This is not necessarily a light to take the place of a high lumen light you might need in a defensive situation. Though it is way better than no flashlight, it is more useful at distances inside 15-20 feet. On its highest setting it can be useful a bit further. Its comfortable to carry, making it easy to have with you anytime and anywhere.
the magnet attached charger attaches itself to the light as soon as its close. And the colored LED inside shows red while charging until its reaches full charge and turns green.
It is fantastic during camping trips, easily keeping small areas lit. As well as intense light in small areas. It would be a great tool to keep on a tool or gun-belt, as a general all-purpose flashlight.
I’ve heard plenty of community lore about Olight products. Often what I hear is negative, but this is my first experience with any of their products. So I can only comment on what I have experience with. I have used other branded lights from popular manufacturers, and up to this point I’ve never had any issues with any of them. I look forward to keeping this Olight Ark Pro in my daily use to see how it stands up against its competition.
the Ark Pro Lite fits perfectly onto a gun-belt
Conclusion
I think the Olight Ark Pro will fill a great spot in my tool collection. Whether it be working on my car in the driveway, or searching for blood in the dark forest as the sun sets. It has a great set of features, and the simple operation make it a slam dunk for a general purpose flashlight. You can order yours direct through yourAmazon account here.
Sometimes you can’t get enough of some things, good weapon lights are definitely one of those. And today I am bringing you another weapon light option, this one also incorporates a green aiming laser. The Nightstick TCM-10-GL is a pistol mounted 650 lumen weapon light that runs on a single CR123 battery. This compact unit is optimal for mounting to your CCW pistol due to its small size and narrow footprint. Let’s get into the beam of this product and see if its worth the price.
the TCM-10-GL has been at home on my Ruger RXM for several months now
Nightstick Lighting
I’ve gotten other Nightstick Lighting products before, and you can read about them here. The Texas based company bring a wide variety of lighting products, often at a great price when compared to other brands.
Part of the reason Nightstick products are more affordable I expect, is because of the old made in China sticker on the box. But despite some folks disliking that, there are definitely some advantages to the brand worth looking at. Nightstick seems to incorporate more modern controls on their products, with digital control buttons and advanced features. They also seem to fit into the places of more popular brands, with compatibility into holsters and such.
A limited lifetime warranty is included with this product, which covers defects on things like the housing, lenses and LED’s. Other parts like batteries, control buttons and other electrical components are covered for a period of two years by the warranty.
Unboxing the Nightstick TCM-10-GL
Specifications
High Lumens: 650
High Beam Distance (m): 136
High Candela: 4,612
Drop Rating: 2 m
Water Rating: IP-X7 Waterproof
High Runtime (h): 2.0
Strobe: Yes
Laser Color: Green
Switch Function: Momentary or constant-on
Light Source: LED
Serialized: Y
Case Material: 6061-T6 Aluminum
Body Color: Black
Quantity of Batteries: 1
Power Source: CR123
Package Contents: Light, five modular rail inserts, 2 spare Allen screws, 1.5mm Allen wrench, (1) CR123 battery
US Patent(s) : 9713217
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Dimensions
Length: 2.5 in (63.5 mm)
Width: 1.1 in (30 mm)
Depth: 1.6 in (42 mm)
Weight: 2.5 oz (70 g)
Mounting and Shooting with the TCM-10-GL
Like other Nightstick weapon lights, the TCM-10 comes with a selection of indexable recoil lugs to engage a variety of host weapons. These recoil lugs engage the picatinny rail under the muzzle of your handgun, and the ability to interchange them for proper alignment is great. Not only is it nice to be able to change them, but the manner in which they are affixed by screws is also very nice. The process allows you to align the weapon light to best fit your taste and holster selection.
The thumbwheel allows you to use fingers to attach the light, but you will likely need a small coin or screwdriver to tighten the clamp that holds the light to the pistol. Once attached, you can adjust the laser aim to co-witness with other sights or in my case with the Vortex Defender red dot. The laser aim point is adjusted using windage and elevation screws on the housing.
adjusting the laser aimpoint after installing the TCM-10-GL on the Ruger RXM pistol
With the light mounted and laser zeroed, it was time to head to the range. The added weight of a weapon light up front does help with keeping muzzle’s down, but the added light and laser aiming aid would be be even more valuable.
here you can see the red dot of the Defender and the green dot of the laser stacked on the aimpoint, nicely illuminated by the 650 Lumen TCM-10
Controls
Using just the two control button on the TCM-10, you can change up the operation. You can select one of three options, light only, laser only, and light and laser together. Users can also lockout the light, by holding both buttons down for three seconds. This will put the unit in battery lockout mode until you undo it.
the textured buttons sit on either side of the trigger guard
I really like the controls on these Nightstick weapon lights. The momentary buttons give better control than even some of the more popular units from more well known manufacturers. If momentary operation is desired, you simply push and hold one of the buttons, and when you release it the unit shuts off. But if you are anticipating a longer need for light, you can tap the button and it will stay on until shut off by the user.
Quality
Like other Nightstick weapon lights I’ve used, the TCM-10-GL is well made. Almost all construction is of metal, save for the rubberized buttons. Quality fasteners with Allen screws are far superior to older designs. And the clamp is far better than many of the camming style clamps typically used by lower cost weapon light units.
Bright white light from the LED makes for a very nice view, and the high intensity laser is very sharp. The two beams together make a fantastic combination for engaging shots in low light.
Value
Nightstick’s TCM-10-GL is more affordable than some of the more popular branded items like the TLR-8. I have both and like them both, but if money was dictating my purchase, the Nightstick would win at roughly 50$ less. There are even cheaper units available from other brands, but their reputation is far from stellar.
Final Thoughts
Once again, I feel that the Nightstick TCM-10-GL is a fantastic option for a more affordable light laser combo for your CCW. Its compact size will fit into most CCW holster options, and is less likely to snag with its soft edges. It gives great lighting and targeting with its beams, and the quality controls give you customization. All this with common battery usage, and deliverable next day with your Amazon account. All this sounds like a win to me, and I look forward to piercing the dark with this light into the future. I will update this in the future as more experience with the product develops.
-CBM
the TCM-10-GL was also a perfect fit for the CZ P10S
I love a good pistol and light combination, especially matched with a good red dot. Such being the case I am always looking for additional light options. Several of my full size pistols use the popular SF X300, but when I spotted today’s subject I expected it would drop right in place of the X300. Today we are looking at another weapon light from Nightstick, this one is the Nightstick TWM-30-T weaponlight for handguns.
The TWM-30-T has a very similar presentation, with two CR123 batteries side by side. Mounted by a picatinny clamp to the accessory rail of most handguns, it comes with multiple spaced anchor plates to adjust where the light rides on the pistol. Adding features to the controls also gives the Nightstick unit a leg up over competitors.
Package Contents: Light, 4 cross-rail inserts, 2 cross-rail mounting cap head screws, Allen wrench, 2 CR123 Lithium batteries
US Patent(s) : 9713217
Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Length: 3.5 in (89 mm)
Width: 1.5 in (38 mm)
Depth: 1.5 in (38 mm)
Weight: 4.5 oz (127 g)
Head Diameter: 1.2 in (30 mm)
In the Box
When you receive the Nightstick TWM-30-T, everything you need is in the box. There are batteries, tools, and a couple mounting solutions to customize how it rides on your pistol. An owners manual also comes tucked in so you can read up on it.
I really appreciated the fasteners that hold everything in place. Part of me dislikes having life saving equipment “snap on” or snap closed for example. I like that the battery compartment is secured by a screw, as is the the picatinny anchor. The light comes with four different options that you can change out to see where the light best fits on your pic-rail. I found it very convenient to remove the screw and just sit the various anchor plates in place until one of them lines up where you want it.
changing out the anchor plates
Programming Controls
The controls of this light are very handy, and easy to remember and understand. I found them to be way ahead of the competition I mentioned earlier. Most lights have a temporary illumination option as well as a full-on setting. The Nightstick TWM-30-T control module gives those settings and more.
Here you can see the two opposing control buttons for the TWM-30-T
Using both buttons in unison, you can press and hold to code in functions like a complete lockout to conserve battery. Or you can engage a strobe feature allowing the user to have a steady beam on command, or a strobe function to blind an opponent.
As you can see, the TWM-30-T is a touch shorter than the X-300 Turbo
Perhaps my favorite function is the temporary-on feature. If you push and hold either button, the light will stay on until you release it. Whereas if you simply push and release either button the light stays on. Once you’ve figured our all the functions its very easy to cycle through the functions and get the performance you want.
Compatibility
I found it was very easy to fit the TWM-30-T to a variety of handguns, using the different anchor plate wasn’t always necessary but it was helpful now and then. It seemed perfectly compatible with all my Glock clones, as well as my X5 Legion P320, as well as my Staccato XC.
Aside from fitting all the pistols (which was expected) the TWM-30-T also fit easily into all of my holsters. This was an incredibly welcome convenience, as I love my holsters. The Nightstick is also a little more compact than other popular competitor’s lights, which might be helpful in some scenarios.
All my favorite Safariland Holsters that were meant to fit the X300 also fit with the Nightstick TWM-30-T
Shooting in the Dark
Thankfully I don’t need to shoot in the dark often, but it’s always something to be prepared for. More than anything I spent a lot of time shooting at dusk as the sun went down. To see how the controls functioned in real time while drawing my pistols.
for comparison, here are the two beams seen at approximately 15-yards
In the interest of comparison, I did put the beam of the TWM-30-T against others to see how it looks at night time in pure darkness. The 900 lumens of the Nightstick looked great in the darkness.
Pros and Cons
In favor of the Nightstick TWM-30-T, there is much to say. Being able to order it directly off of Amazon for the price of $139 is almost reason enough in my opinion to get one. The fantastic programmable control makes it a smarter choice than some others. And the final blow that would make this a slam dunk is its compatibility with so many guns and holsters. With so many great things going for it, the fact that it is produced in Texas by Americans is simply icing on the cake. (Edit: it would seem they are manufactured overseas for the Texas based company)
I really couldn’t come up with something about this light that was bad. It mounts better than many others, its controls are better and can all be done with a single finger. I guess the only thing that would make it better would be to incorporate a laser without changing the external dimensions. But I guess I’m reaching there.
the Nightstick made a perfect companion to the X5 with it’s Vortex Defender XL
Conclusion
I was very happy to find another weapon light with such great compatibility. Something I could use across various pistol and holster combination. Even more pleasing was finding how much I liked about this light in particular. Whether you are simply looking for a light for your CCW, or something for a duty pistol this is a great option. I suppose if the National Tactical Officer Association endorses and recommends these lights, they are good enough for me. If you also fall in that category with me, then give one of these a try. You can order the Nightstick TWM-30-T right here and have it shipped right to your door.
We all love little items that make our hobby easier to practice, and today I am bringing you another one. Gritr Gear makes a variety of shooting accessories that are both affordable and high quality. Today I am sharing my experience with Gritr Gear’s Tactical Range Bag, a sure way to better organize and transport your shooting accessories. The Tactical range bag has a variety of features that will help you keep your range gear clean and organized with durable construction built to last.
Construction
Gritr Gear’s range bag is made from 500D nylon material that is durable and light. The bag is stitched and reinforced where it counts and uses heavy duty dual zippers for closure. Aside from the exterior of the bag, the interior uses various materials to optimise its use. The pouches are lined with a soft fleece like material to protect your pistols and other accessories from scratches.
Apart from the various pouches and pockets for organizing your stuff, the bag also features various Molle panels within to allow you to add or change the internal design. I was very pleased to find a removable hard panel that you can either use or remove to add strength and rigidity to the main bag compartment.
Bag in a Bag?
The Tactical Range Bag also features various sub-assemblies. you will find inside the main compartment a smaller tote that can be used to carry and quickly remove everything from the main compartment. The inner tote has two zippered pockets on each side, again lined with fleece to protect your gear. Zippers use reinforced pull-tethers making it easy to use with gloves.
And if that wasn’t enough, there is also an even smaller bag within, like a set of nesting dolls. The smaller bag is lined inside with pockets and a zippered mesh pouch. One could use it as a tool pouch or safety gear like hearing protection and such, though it is labeled as a QD IFAK.
the interior of the IFAK pouch
Aside from the diverse pocket offerings, there is an impressive amount of velcro surfaces on nearly every side of the bags. This comes in handy for folks who love to spice up their presentation with patches and logos.
the lined pockets were great for suppressors like this Banish Backcountry, they would also do well at protecting things like shooting glasses
Exterior
The bag is available in various colors, I chose M81 Woodland camo for obvious reasons. Other colors like black, FDE, Green as well as a retro 80’s pastel on black pattern in case you want to make a statement.
Covering the top of the main compartment is a large velcro lined dual zipper lid. Strong zippers slide easily making it quick to open and close the bag sigle-handedly.
the top dual-zipper closure
Carrying the bag is easy using the large nylon loop carrying handles, or you can use the large padded shoulder strap that clips onto each end. Gritr even went as far putting hard rubber feet on the bottom of the bag, to prevent the bottom of the bag from wearing out. This would come in handy riding in the bed of my pickup for miles up bumpy dirt roads.
the underside of the bag shows the hard rubber feet to avoid wearing holes in the bottom.
Quality
My very first impression and one that has stuck with this bag is the overall quality. Within minutes of opening the bag I was impressed with how well it was made. All the different materials feel strong and durable. The stitching and material connections are very nice, a stark contrast from the cheap discount bags you’ll often find on the accessory shelf at retailers.
Shoulder strap attachment point, the rivet in the lid doubles as a locking point you can put a padlock through the shoulder-strap D-ring
I have other range bags that while useful, have quickly degraded. Loosing their rigidity and quality feel. I am hard on gear, likely using it more often than most, and typically with little care. That’s not to gloat, simply an explanation on how gear gets used around here. This Gritr Bag looks like it will be here for a long time, and I have already made it my main range bag due to its great construction.
There is more to see about this bag than there is to say. I can imagine if you are like me, you’d rather just get your hands on it and start digging through to see if it fits your needs. That being the case, I’m going to give you my best virtual scrutiny with a variety of pictures. Hopefully this will help you decide if it meets you standards.
Conclusion
I’ll leave you with a few more images in hopes that you can evaluate the bag. But I can confidently say this; it is an excellent buy, and surely the best range bag I have. I can’t imagine someone regretting having purchased it.
Shoulder strap is both strong and comfortablethe non-slip surface of the shoulder-strapthe isolated IFAK pouch, which could be used for a variety of purposes should you already have an IFAKthe fleece-lined and zippered pouches on either side of the inner totecomfortable zipper draw-tabs make it easy to close and open even with gloves oninside the side compartment you’ll find velcro/molle, as well as zipper mesh pouches on the lid. Gritr also makes some great Kydex Holster Options, check them outOne end pouch has a bungee draw-string, and a riveted drain hole at the bottom. This pouch is made for the IFAK pouch to fit in for quick accessibilityHere you can see the removable main compartment liner, it has rigid plastic inside, making the bag more like a box. You can remove it for lighter weight or to collapse the bag. It is held very secure by the large velcro strip. This rigid pad can also be removed and used as a cleaning pad on your shooting bench
Thanks for following along, I hope you’ve found something useful here. let me know if you have any questions or recommendations.
