Category Archives: Ancillary gear

Accessories needed for shooting

Hidden Hybrid IWB Holster

December 3, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewccw, hidden hybrid holster, holster, iwbcoldboremiracle

Preface

For a guy who has carried concealed firearms for decades, I seem to have gotten a late start on holsters. I would have never guessed how big of a holster nerd I would become, and how holsters have greatly effected my pistol use entirely. In today’s review, I bring you something I am admittedly a little green on; a field test of the Hidden Hybrid IWB holster.

For the most part I have used OWB holsters, but I’ve needed an IWB holster for some time. So this is a combination of a familiarity piece and a review of the holster itself. If you’re greener than I am, lets clarify something up front; IWB means inside the waist-band, and OWB means outside the waist-band. We’ll reference this and other holster jargon throughout, so keep up.

Why Hidden Hybrid?

Lets start out with Hidden Hybrid. The hidden part should be obvious since we’re talking about concealing a gun, the Hybrid part is where it gets a little more curious. These holsters are a medley of old world and new, using plush Amish leather and modern polymers to secure your pistol. Hidden Hybrid holsters use a tough leather backing, paired with a custom molded Kydex holster to both protect and secure your handgun.

Since I was a bit new to IWB holsters, I was surprised how quickly this made sense to me. It took only a few moments of exploration to figure out why the holster was made this way. Leather has always been a friend to pistols, its durable yet soft surface is ideal for protecting your gun. And at the same time it can protect your skin from your abrasive gun, as in our case today. Not only that, the suede back of the Hidden Hybrid holster has a grippy texture against your under clothes. This helps keep the holster in place while you move, and especially when you draw the pistol from it. While the slippery Kydex exterior allows both pistol and clothing to slide free.

The Kydex holster portion is attached by screws and threaded nut-plates embossed in the leather. Rubber grommets between them help keep the whole assembly somewhat pliable and help grip your handgun. The holster is secured to you using belt clips that go outside your pants and around your belt.

Configuration

Hidden Hybrids IWB holsters can be configured with a variety of accessories. You can choose between different belt loop sizes and use one or two loops. There is also a concealment-claw option that bolts to one side, the claw pushes against the inside of your belt to keep the grip of your pistol close and tight. This helps prevent your pistol hanging up on things in your day to day activities, as well as keeping it tucked and avoiding the dreaded pistol printing while you carry.

There are various different colors and patterns you can select to customize your holster. And there is a great variety of compatible holsters for most popular pistol models. You can also specify weapon lights and optics when ordering your Hidden Hybrid, and they’ll mold it to fit. I would be using Glock 19 clones so thats what you’ll see here today.

Shooting from Concealment

Drawing my pistols from the Hidden Hybrid holster took a minute to get used to. Which is normal regardless of what kind of holster you use. I found I could put the holster in a couple different places, and still draw from it well. IWB holsters are always going to be a little more labor intensive because you need to lift clothing to allow the draw. The combination of learning another draw pattern while mitigating clothes is just part of CCW training.

With some practice, it wasn’t long until I felt much more comfortable. Which allowed me to better understand the positive aspects of the Hidden Hybrid holster. Placing the holster in the small of my back, or appendix carry was both comfortable and also allowed very clean draw from the holster. It did seem both the holster and pistol were slightly less secure though, mainly because of the reduced tension on the belt in that location. Carrying the combination just behind my right hip, where I’ve always carried was much more secure. Having the holster ride on a high spot where your belt can apply more and even pressure is much more secure. And again, the suede backing of the holster with some pressure is incredibly grabby against your underclothing.

This makes the holster stay put when you jerk your pistol, and the smooth side of the leather inside the holster allows the pistol to slip out smoothly. The top edge of the leather also protects your skin from the back end of your slide, with just enough extra to help protect you while you draw it out.

Fit and Compatibility

The gun I had planned this holster for was my ZRO Delta FKS9. Its probably one of my most commonly carried CCW pistols, fitted with a Streamlight TLR8 light/laser combo. I’d actually order it for a larger light which would allow me to use other weapon lights too. My Surefire X300 Turbo would also fit snugly in the holster. The ZRO FKS was definitely the best fit for the holster, but I also used my PSA Dagger. The Dagger is another popular clone that fits into the Glock pattered holster, though not quite as snug as the former pistol. Again, the flexibility of the Hidden Hybrid holster allowed for more than one design to fit. Also just for fun, I holstered my Taurus TX22 Compact. It also fit well, though it wouldn’t be my first choice for carry.

The leather backing of the holster has a fascinating feature; it bows with the gun design. So if the pistol is a little narrow, and would fit loosely in an all Kydex holster, the bow of the leather takes up the space and holds the pistol tight with friction. Additionally, in the event you should become active while carrying, the bow of the leather grips tighter. So should you bend over or some other action that might extricate your pistol from the holster, the very action adds additional tension to the holster, gripping your pistol.

Carrying my pistol with the Hidden Hybrid holster all day for days on end has given me a pretty good feel for how it will fit into daily life. Getting in and out of cars, sitting at a desk, going up and down stairs and such all give a good experience on how this holster will do. Aside from the typical CCW discomforts, I’ve found few things to pick at with this holster.

Pros and Cons

This holster does a really good job of holding onto your pistol. The hybrid design of Kydex and leather is a nice combination using the benefits of both materials. I suppose if I had to come up with a few negative things about the holster it would be these;

The stickiness of the suede does make it a little more challenging to get the holster tucked. That is both a good and bad thing I guess, because you want it to stay put. So just keep in mind its not a holster your going to want to put on and take off quickly. For example, some full Kydex holsters are quick to tuck in and out of your pants. You can do as you get in and out of your truck. While you could do that with the Hidden Hybrid, its not going to be as fast or easy. It also has a little bigger footprint than other holster options, so keep that in mind.

hidden hybrid holster, shadow systems dr920 — other pistols like this full size **Shadow Systems DR920** with **US Optics RISE red dot** also fit well

I also felt suddenly stupid every time I tried to re-holster the pistol. I’m sure it just going to take more practice, but it’s taking me longer than expected to get the angle right. This wasn’t a problem when I used the holster in the appendix position, which I rarely use unless its a 10-inch plus barrel (we don’t take no chances round here).

Having mentioned those things, I really like the way the holster works. IWB holsters are always gonna be somewhat invasive, especially for a tubby old guy like me. So its just something to get used to. My pistol is carried very well, and is surprisingly easy to draw.

The strong components of the Hidden Hybrid are holding up nicely, the fasteners and other components are well-built and robust enough to sit on and lean against for a long time.

Conclusion

I’ve needed a good IWB holster for some time, the days of cholo-carry are gone. The Hidden Hybrid has been a nice introduction to IWB holsters after carrying otherwise for more than twenty years.

I will say that holsters are almost as subjective as handguns themselves, which makes it almost necessary to try a variety of options before deciding on one. I’ve played with a few over the years, so I think my pick of the Hidden Hybrid model was right on target for my needs. If you find yourself looking for a good holster, give their website a look and I’ll bet you find something you’ll like as I have.

-CBM

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Vulcan Weatherlock Rifle Soft Case

November 23, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewgun case, vulcan, weatherlock gun casecoldboremiracle

Introduction

For most of us, our firearms are a significant investment. Protecting our valuable and prized rifles is something to take seriously and the subject of today. I use a variety of hard and soft cases to transport and protect my guns, but today I am looking a new one sent from Vulcan. Today I am sharing my thoughts on the Vulcan Weatherlock Rifle Case.

The Vulcan Weatherlock Case

The most important feature for a weapons case is to protect what’s inside. This is typically done by either padding the gun against a hard outer case, or simple padding alone. Soft cases and hard cases both have advantages and disadvantages so we typically have some of both depending on the planned activity that day.

Hard cases are great for air travel, or for carrying your gun in the bed of a truck to the range or hunting spot. Soft cases tend to take a little less space, and both weigh and cost less. The Vulcan Weatherlock case seems to be a little bit of a hybrid, it offers the versatility of a soft case while still giving some hard case benefits like protecting your guns from weather.

Vulcan weatherlock gun case, ak47, Marlin 1894 .357 magnum — the Vulcan gun case is roomy for less obtrusive guns, like these two classics…

The Vulcan case has a water resistant shell that makes it great for poor weather, and additionally makes it easy to wash off. It also has a water resistant zipper to keep rain and snow out of your case. There are also available accessory pouches that you can attach to the case exterior.

Inside the case you will find a split-compartment for storing two different rifles under 40-inches long. The padded divider keeps two rifles from contacting each other inside the case. There are tuck-friendly pockets at each end, not for weird transformers but to help keep muzzles and buttstocks tucked neatly. It also has Velcro straps that can be used to secure each firearm in its place.

Vulcan Weatherlock rifle case — exterior reinforced drag handles and D-rings allow attachment of slings for carry options

The exterior of the case has various molle attachment areas to put any accessories you’d like to add to your case. It also has several D-loops that you can attach slings or even shoulder straps to for different carrying needs. As well as some drag handles at each end for better grip. All of these features are incredibly robust, thick nylon webbing with very sturdy stitching makes them feel strong enough to hang from.

Transporting Rifles in the Vulcan Case

My day to day activities often lead me to transport many firearms. So the Vulcan Weatherlock case was easy to try out. I used it to store several rifles like my Desert Tech WLVRN and one of my AR15’s to drive all over the state. Because both rifles have a variety of bulky accessories I was surprised I was able to fit them both in the case, even with suppressors attached.

vulcan weatherlock gun case — the Vulcan Weatherlock case protects from all angles, not just the sides.

I also used the case to transport other rifles, some much less bulky that fit in it with ease. As I went through the paces of stowing and uncasing the rifles over the course of weeks I found a few things out about this case.

First off, lets talk about the zipper. The zipper has a heavy-duty T-handle, which is very handy. It’s also a bit necessary, because the heavy duty zipper does take a little extra effort. I assume this is partly due to its robust construction and water resistant seal. The Weatherlock case came with a small tube of lube for the zipper which is helpful and appreciated.

vulcan weatherlock gun case, zipper lubricant — apply the silicon zipper lube sparingly, this isn’t some smutty hotel

The nylon coated exterior of the case is very protective for the rifles inside. It also has a bit of rigidity built in. This almost makes the case feel like a hard case, that’s why I mentioned it’s kind of a hybrid in between. The rigidity can at times make it a tiny bit more labor intensive to close the case, but it pays off with its sealing and durability qualities.

Pay attention seamen; I can even imagine a scenario where the Vulcan case might save your firearms from becoming another ATF statistic. I expect the Weatherlock case would float should it be involved in these ever more common boating accidents. While I cannot recommend them as a personal flotation device, I bet it would stay buoyant long enough for you to rescue them should they pull a Wilson while at sea. Thats something you can’t expect from other soft cases.

I mentioned all the handles and other exterior features are also very robust. It honestly feels like you could tie a tow strap to either end of this case and use it to pull out a stuck vehicle. The only negative thing I could think of with this case is the possibility of eventually cracking. Though I expect it would take some serious long-term sun exposure or hard use to do so.

Pros and Cons

Lets talk about practicality. I have used countless soft cases over the years, and they all seem to have their benefits. With an MSRP of $279.00 the Vulcan Weatherlock case is not for casuals. A quick perusal of soft cases on Optics Planet shows plenty of options for much less, but they certainly don’t offer the same features.

The Weatherlock case offers superior protection than most, particularly if you spend time shooting in poor weather. Riding around tied to the back of my snowmobile or ATV I am quite confident my rifles will stay safe and dry.

Vulcan weatherlock nylon coated gun case — attaching a shoulder sling made easy carrying the Weatherlock case around

Apart from its higher cost, I might say one down side to the Vulcan Weatherlock case is that it takes a little bit longer to open and close. But what it gives up in speed, it makes up for in strength and durability. The incredibly durable components of the case are built to last.

My Recommendation

If you are like me, constantly beating expensive firearms on the back of four-wheelers and in and out of vehicles, you will definitely find the Vulcan Weatherlock case to be valuable. And even if you aren’t as abusive as I am, you will find your firearms exceptionally safe inside the case.

Is it worth the price? Only you can decide if your rifles are worth keeping pristine, and the Vulcan Weatherlock case will certainly keep them that way. If you’re a guy who thrives on PSA blem daily specials, then maybe you should save your money to get that Civic bumper cover painted 🤣

-CBM

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Eberlestock Recon Bino Pack

June 5, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewbinoculars, eberlestock, reconcoldboremiracle

Preface

Let me start out by saying that I love binocular packs. I have been rocking one kind or another for years and I find them to be very convenient. Today I wanted to bring you one of my latest acquisitions, and show you why I think it is worth both your time and money. That product is the Eberlestock Recon bino pack, which is more like a system than just a single pack.

The Eberlestock Recon is a shoulder mounted harness and pouch system that comfortably supports your primary reconnaissance tools. Having your binoculars immediately ready for spotting is a very valuable practice, but the Recon takes it to another level. With a well-known history of quality textiles, Eberlestock was well positioned to bring such a product to market.

Eberlestock Recon

Before we get into using this product, I’d like to go into some of its features. Then we’ll discuss how these features are used and can help you in your shooting and hunting practices in the field.

Large Internal Dimensions: 9H x 5.5W x 2.5D
Small Internal Dimensions: 8H x 5.5W x 2.5D
Weight: 13.6 oz.
One Size Fits Most
Magnetic closure to keep binos secure and accessible
EMOD compatible with six available accessories
Easy access large front zipper pocket
Dual side stretch pockets
Adjustable forward-pull shoulder harness
Low profile MOLLE compatible wings
Available in 3 solid colors, and 3 camo patterns

the Leupold Range HD BX-4 binoculars fit perfectly in the Recon pouch

Features

The Recon has a healthy pouch for fitting most popular binocular footprints, I used three different units and only one of the three didn’t fit perfectly. Inside the bino pouch you will find a soft interior to protect your valuable lenses. As well as two elastic tethers to attach to your bino’s to prevent them from being left behind.

Eberlestock Recon interior — the cozy and roomy interior of the Recon pouch, note elastic tethers

At 13.6 ounces, the Recon isn’t heavy. But it also has available accessory pouches that you can add to the kit which will add a little weight. But by the time you add optics, your phone, a handful of cartridges, granola bars and cheese sticks, and anything else you can fit in the Recon, it might gain some considerable weight. This might be a big deal if the harness wasn’t comfortable.

Speaking of storage, the Recon is full of it. There is a zipper pouch up front of the main pouch, inside are two additional pockets. These are perfect for storing things like folded permits and tags, or a turkey or elk reed case. On the side of the main pouch, you will find two elastic closed finger pockets. I call them finger pockets because they are just the right size to fit two or three fingers inside. These are great for handkerchiefs, extra cartridges, lighter or any other little thing you may want to keep close.

Accessories

The Recon pack uses the popular molle system to attach accessories and sub-structures to the Recon system. On either side of the main compartment, the Recon has two molle wings that allow attachment of additional zippered storage pouches. I added one on each side, these smaller pouches are big enough to fit small rangefinders, archery releases, calls and other similar items. All zippers on the Recon system have pull-lanyards attached for easy use wearing gloves. And even the accessory pouches have their own little elastic closed mini pouch.

desert tech WLVRN 6.5 creedmoor — the Recon stays put, and doesn’t get in the way of me shooting my Desert Tech WLVRN

With it’s molle attachment system, you can also add things like a matching hand-warmer that sits just under the bino pouch. Other things like a bear-spray pouches, and a separate rangefinder pouch can also be attached. There’s even a molle panel that can be used to mount other aftermarket accessories like holsters and such to the pack.

Across the back of the shoulder harness, there is even a molle mounting area there so you can add any additional accessories you’d like. Obviously for things you don’t need as often.

Apex Optics Rival Desert Tech SRS M2 — the molle across the harness backer allows additional storage space for something like a **Hydration bladder**

The Eberlestock Recon in the Field

After adjusting the straps to fit, I donned the Recon and headed into the mountain country where I spend most of my time. Like most bino packs, I prefer to wear them over at least my second layer. This is typically because I don’t like the harness rubbing against my neck, though that didn’t seem to be an issue with the Recon.

Eberlestock Recon, Sig Sauer Kilo 10K binoculars

Inside I carried my Sig Sauer Kilo 10K binocular set, my go to binocular option. The 10K fits perfectly, and the magnetic seal of the lid keeps dust away from the lenses. A very valuable attribute because I do a lot of miles on ATV’s.

My initial impressions of the Recon were very comfortable. I’ve had other bino packs and harness’ that were comfortable, but the lightweight and soft harness of the Recon were above average comfort. The easily adjustable straps made it quick to readjust when adding or removing layers of clothes. And the parts of the Recon that face your body are ventilated, for all you bowhunters out there it will help avoid getting a big sweaty spot on your chest.

I also tested the Recon with a pair of Leupold Range HD BX-4 binoculars. They also fit perfectly, and the snug fit of the lid seemed to be all I needed to keep my binos secure. Additionally, I tested a pair of Steiner Predator LRF 10×42 binoculars as well. While a little long for the Recon, they still fit well enough to use.

Eberlestock Recon, Steiner Binoculars — Testing the Recon with the **Steiner Predator 10×42 binoculars**

Everything in the Right Spot

One of the reasons I like bino packs so much is because you can keep your most important things close. And due to their proximity to your immediate work area, they are easier to keep track of. Being literally right under your nose also means they are likely to be protected from weather and other potential concerns.

Keeping the most important things close is easy with the Recon bino case. If I leave my pack for a stalk, I know I’ll still have at minimum some essential tools and survival gear. And having all that in a comfy pack that you barely even know is there most of the time, sure is nice.

Comparisons

Comparing the Eberlestock Recon against other bino carry cases was pretty easy. I have several others that I have quite enjoyed, but I think the Recon takes the win among the others. Most factory supplied bino cases are lacking, the only one I like even a little bit is the one that came with my Sig Kilo.

Aftermarket ones are typically much better. I like my Cole-TAC bino case quite a bit, but the modularity and comfort of the Recon make it more desirable. I also have had several of the Badlands bino packs, I always loved their comfort and look. But again the Recon has a leg up with so many options and configurations.

It’s possible that the Recon design was a lucky hit with guys like me, but this isn’t the first Eberlestock pack I’ve had. I also have one of their Cherry Bomb daypacks, and I have had an excellent experience using it as a rifle EDC bag. You can read more about that here. So I am confident Eberlestock’s popularity is not just luck.

another hunting expedition with the Recon and the **Mossberg Patriot**

Final Words on the Recon

Eberlestock must have gotten into my algorithm, as I’ve been bombarded with ads about the Recon. I wish there was a way to tell the internet I already have and love it. Among the many ads I see that the Recon was chosen as the overall winner of Outdoor Life’s bino case evaluation. This comes as no surprise to me, as I too would put it at the top of the list.

Do yourself a favor, and before spending your money on a bino pack, try one of the Eberlestock Recon configurations and see if it fits into your hunt as well as it does mine. My bet is you will be glad you did, and your binoculars will thank you.

-CBM

Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 hearing protection

June 2, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewhearing protection, liberator, safarilandcoldboremiracle

Preface

After decades of shooting, I have noticed a decline in my quality of hearing. No doubt in part to a lack of using good hearing protection. I have more recently adopted the use of various hearing protection options, and today I bring one of them to you. I’ve been using the Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 headset for several months now, and I think its time to tell you more about them.

Safariland Liberator HP 2.0

Modern hearing protection is incredibly helpful compared to what many of us grew up on. I remember wearing those original old foamies, which were better than nothing but still unpleasant. And then there was the old hand-me-down headphones we used to use for both shooting and riding around in Dad’s airboat. Neither gave great protection, and of course resulted in plenty of yelling in order to communicate.

The Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 headset is a modern electronic advancement. It is an over-the-ear design that uses gel-filled cushions, spring-wire band, and dual microphones to bring in only the sound you want to hear. The Liberator’s are powered by a rechargeable battery using a USB-C connection. You can also power them with dual AAA batteries or a single CR123 lithium cell. The Liberators feature noise cancelling technology with multiple settings to adjust to your liking. Push-button controls allow you to adjust settings and volume, and the stereo mics and high definition speakers will help you with situational awareness.

the Safariland Liberators, note dual wind insulated mics.

In the field with the Liberators

Most of my shooting is done with rifles and carbines. But due to an overwhelmingly fun time shooting pistols, I have recently started spending a lot of time shooting them more. I usually don’t care for over-ear protection when shooting rifles, especially since I always shoot suppressed in open country. But for shooting pistols the Liberators are ideal, and I have put them to great use.

I have used other headsets before, but my very first impression of the Liberators was fantastic. The gel filled ear cups are very comfortable, and seal very well to the side of my head. The dual sealing cups block out a great deal of noise.

note the very soft gel filled cushions, with dual sealing rings to keep out noise

Turning on the headset was another satisfying experience, when powered up you here a “power on” followed by the sound of your surroundings in great detail. You can adjust the volume to better suit your conditions, a high pitch tone accompanies the volume up button and a low pitch tone accompanies the lower volume button.

Other less expensive headsets cancel noise, and pass voices through to your ears. But they also make it hard to tell where sounds are coming from. The Liberators dual mics give you a 360 degree awareness of where sounds come from.

Until shooting with the Safariland Liberators, I had never realized how valuable this feature is. If you’re out shooting alone it may not be a big deal. But when you are on a live range with others around its nice to know where everybody is, and which direction the shooting is coming from.

Going Hot

As I drew my pistol from my Safariland holster I was excited to get busy with targets. Most 9mm pistols aren’t incredibly loud, but they certainly justify hearing protection. As I went through magazine after magazine I was very quickly enamored with the sound control the Liberators offer. I tried different settings to see which one I liked best, allowing the voices of my friends to come through while blocking out the high impulse noise of gunfire.

the push-button controls are simple and have audible sounds when actuated

The spring suspension of the Liberators holds tight to your head without being uncomfortable. It also doubles to help keep your ball cap in-place when the wind gets out of hand. The Liberators can be swapped to behind the head suspension as well, or to a helmet set.

The three modes allow for differing scenarios, such as mostly quiet other than occasional gunfire. A second one for when there is more ambient noise present such as riding in vehicles. And the third setting is for very loud environments like a Swifty concert where you want to keep all noise suppressed but the voices right around you. All three settings are designed to be compatible with radio transmissions.

While I don’t particularly care for wearing any headset for longer than necessary, I found the Safariland Liberators to be as pleasant as possible. I’ve used the Liberators over the course of many range days, and I have recently distilled my opinions on them.

Pros & Cons

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons I’ve come up with so far:

Pros

Very comfortable ear cups and spring suspension
Excellent noise reduction
Excellent situational awareness with stereo sound
Three modes for different conditions
Push-button controls
Very handsome presentation
Available in various colors and camo patterns
American made product
Rechargeable battery system
Compatible with other Safariland HP configurations
Not huge, can be used without stock interference

The comfort and ease of operation make the Liberators an excellent choice for hearing protection. They are easy to use, and always ready with long battery life and ease of recharging. And they are good looking too, and the custom color options will match your best mall-ninja outfit. The Liberators truly shine because of the quality audio, and how they help your directional hearing.

watertight USB-C charging port, which can be swapped out to run the AAA or CR123 batteries

Cons

Your ears can get sweaty
Not inexpensive

The only downsides I could come up with about the Liberator was of course the cost, as they are more expensive than other options. And as with any over-ear headset you are likely going to sweat when it gets hot or if you live in Houston.

Conclusion

I have really grown to appreciate good ear protection. And having used the Liberators for around six months, I can say they are an excellent product. If you need or desire professional grade hearing protection, I don’t think you could go wrong with the Safariland Liberator HP 2.0. I will continue to use these and others to see how they compare and endure, make sure you follow for more.

-CBM

Shop all you hearing protection options at Optics Planet

MDT GRND Bipod

May 14, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewbipod, grndcoldboremiracle

Preface

A good bipod is right behind a good scope when it comes to rifle accessories. At least in my opinion. A solid shooting position is fundamental to proper shooting, bipods make building a solid position much easier.

With the precision rifle craze at it peak, there are many great options for shooters when it comes to bipods. Today I am bringing you another one of those options, the MDT GRND Bipod. I assume they just pulled out the vowels, and that it means ground bipod.

MDT GRND Bipod, US Optics FDN25x — uneven ground is no match for this bipod

I’ve had the good fortune to try a multitude of different bipods, so I was excited to try out this one today and see how it stood up to the competition. And it IS a ferocious competition.

With so many great options it’s hard to put a crown on just one. Though in this price range and size, the obvious unit to beat is the Atlas or CAL-Atlas bipod. Let’s get into this and see how the MDT does in this match of stance.

Two Feet

The MDT GRND Bipod uses the same two-legged design that separates us from the animals. Like most bipods, it has some very basic features. Two legs that can fold up for transport, and can also be extended from 4.5 to 9-inches to raise the shooting height of your rifle. While this bipod can cant from right to left, it doesn’t have any built-in movement for panning left to right.

At its heart the MDT appears to be all aluminum, but the lower portion of the legs are made from carbon fiber. There are polymer buttons to unlock the legs for extension, as well as for folding up the legs. Folding the legs can be done either forwards or rearwards, one direction has two folded settings at 90 and 50 degrees. The other only has a lock setting at the 90 degree angle. You can reverse this feature by simply removing from the rifle and reinstalling the opposite way.

My bipod is configured with an ARCA clamp at the top. This design has become more and more popular lately, both for the convenience and speed of movement. The ARCA clamp can be slid up and down the ARCA rail on your rifle, and uses a thumb-screw to tighten down.

Additionally, the bipod uses a friction locking clutch to solidify the leveling feature. You can level the rifle and tighten down the lock, to keep your rifle solid. Or you can leave it slightly loose to retain your ability to rock the rifle.

Other Configurations

In addition to the features mentioned already, there are some additional accessories that can be added. And other mounting configurations available.

In addition to the ARCA rail mount, the GRND bipod can be had with a picatinny rail mount, an A.R.M.S #17 mount, as well as the very common M-Lok. With one or another of these options, there is surely a way to attach this bipod to all of your rifles.

The rubber feet that come with the GRND bipod can be swapped out for the very popular options from B&T Industries Atlas bipod feet. Which is very handy.

In addition to the Atlas bipod feet, the MDT Ckye bipod feet also fit the MDT GRND bipod. But it was incredibly hard to find any of those feet unless they were in a Ckye bipod.

Shooting with the GRND Bipod

I slapped the GRND bipod onto a couple rifles, to see how it fit and how I liked the function. First up I mounted it to a custom built 25 creedmoor in a KRG Bravo chassis with an Area 419 ARCA rail attached.

This was an excellent combination, as the ARCA mount of the bipod allowed me to quickly move the bipod to wherever I needed it under the rifle. The only thing I could have wished for was a little better clamping device. The thumbscrew seems to take a bit of extra effort to get it locked up as good as I’d like.

Maneuvering the rifle through various shooting positions was greatly enhanced by the ability to fold and adjust the bipod in different locations. Including just getting it out of the way when shooting from other support.

I also ran the bipod on an AR for a few days of shooting. The light weight of the MDT was a nice feature on a rifle I had overburdened with scope.

More Guns

For the last month or two the bipod has been attached to my main precision gun, my Desert Tech SRS M2. I took my Atlas bipod off the rifle to try this one instead, and across a couple different calibers it has been a very nice addition.

The GRND bipod has basically the same controls, but it seems much easier to operate single-handedly. I’m not saying it’s hard to extend Atlas legs, but you know the awkward little motion you have to execute to extend or collapse the legs? None of that is needed with this bipod, its as simple as grabbing and setting the height.

Reversing the bipod on the ARCA rail gave you the option to have the 50 degree lock setting to the front or back.

My Thoughts

After shooting with this bipod for a couple months I feel like it does just about everything my Atlas does. And for two hundred dollars I sure hope it would. Which makes me wonder, other bipods have stainless steel fasteners and locking mechanisms. And are made mostly from aluminum.

I suppose if you have more faith in traditional construction that might be the way you lean. Whereas if you like the composite materials, the MDT is a great way to go. It certainly isn’t the lightest bipod, but you may find it to your liking over others. While I like this bipod, and have nothing against it, I don’t see my Atlas bipods going anywhere.

-CBM

Desert Tech SRS M2 Apex Optics Rival — steadying the rifle over the MDT GRND bipod

Area 419 Tactical One-Piece Scope Mount

February 4, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewarea 419, scopecoldboremiracle

Introduction

Even the nicest rifle scope in the world must be mounted properly to function as designed. And as rifle scopes have advanced, so too have the devices we use to mount them to our rifles. An unprecedented selection of options are available to today’s sharpshooter, and today we will be taking a look at one. Area 419 is well known in the precision rifle community for manufacturing many high quality shooting products. Today’s subject is Area 419’s Tactical one-piece scope mount.

Scope Mounts

Some out there might be asking; why a one-piece scope mount over rings? It’s not a bad question, and I’ll give you my answer. A one-piece scope mount is much more rigid than a pair of scope rings. It better holds your scope in a solid position on the rifle. Added benefits are things like built in cant, and greater clamping surface on both scope and rifle interface. And perhaps one of my favorite benefits, is the ability to easily swap scopes between one rifle to another.

Un-Boxing Area 419 scope mounts

As per usual, Area 419 products come in incredibly nice packaging. These scope mounts came in a waterproof locked hard-case, much like you’d store your rifle in if it was 6 inches long. Inside the foam lined case was the scope mount, the appropriate tools needed to install it, loctite to apply to fasteners, and enough instructional material for even a chimp to mount it properly.

installation instructions were very clear and informative

The mount itself also looked immaculate. I really like the machined finished surface, and high quality coating. Even more so I like the large fasteners, something I wish more optic mounts would use. I was curious why the inside of the rings was raw aluminum, more on that later.

I looked at the base, and at first it seemed like perhaps the picatinny clamps could have been spread out a little bit more. But the more I looked at it, the less of a concern it became.

I must say, this thing looks extremely robust. Large screws holding down caps, and additionally secured and aligned by stainless dowel pins. Which I thought was an exceptional touch. The overall initial impression of these mounts was absolutely top notch.

note raw aluminum interior, and stainless steel dowel pins for alignment

Rifle Scope Installation

After playing around with these mounts for a bit, it was time to put them to work. I had a couple different ideas as far as where to use them. The first one would be on one of my heavy precision rifles, the Desert Tech SRS M2 in 338LM. I mounted a US Optics FDN25X in one of the Area 419 one-piece scope mounts, and because I’m a gear queer I added the diving board as well. The diving board attaches to the front scope ring cap, and serves as a mounting position for additional accessories. The Vortex Impact 4000 for example mounted up nicely on top of the scope, and would be right at home there. You can also mount a Wilcox Raptar fire control system with mounting holes made specifically for that device.

a US Optics FDN25X mounted in conjunction with a Vortex Impact 4000

As I mounted various scopes in the Area 419 one piece scope mounts, I quickly found out why the rings remained raw inside. If I remember correctly I was told by the manufacturer that the rings are finish machined last, for a perfectly round cut for better holding of your scope. The raw aluminum additionally creates and incredibly cohesive grip on the scope tube. So much in fact that several times while mounting scopes I found myself cursing it.

note diving board details, captured screws and threaded holes for Wilcox Raptar

When leveling a scope in the rings, we are all used to snugging the screws down while keeping the scope level. But the grip of the Area 419 rings is so impressive that even with minimal screw tension it was very difficult to move the scope. The rings grab the scope so well that even without the scope caps installed it is hard to move the scope in the mount. I can’t imagine how strong the grip must be once the rings are torqued down.

two **Eotech** optics mounted together on my **Desert Tech MDRX**

Accessory Mounting

Mounting accessories to the top of the ring cap is easy. There are two Torx screws to attach either a short pic rail section, a diving board, or one of the other accessory options. I mounted both of the options mentioned. The picatinny section is easy as can be, whereas the diving board was a touch more sensitive. The screws are captured within the diving board itself, using internal snap rings. And it is mounted using a tapered boss patented by Area 419. This requires the screws to be tightened equally as the diving board seats to the ring cap, and removed in the same fashion. Pushing the diving board up against the snap rings as the screws are loosened.

Other accessories can be mounted to the smaller screw receptacles. Area 419 makes level indicators, red dot mounts and other accessory mounts that easy screw into the side of the scope mount.

Rifle Interface

I mentioned at first that I thought maybe the picatinny clamps could have been placed wider. Maybe I’m mistaken but I like the idea of having as broad and integral mounting surface as I can. Close inspection of the picatinny clamps on the Area 419 mounts show more than enough clamping pressure and surface. Part of me thinks the bottom of the scope mount should have reciprocal picatinny teeth to better engage the rifle. But I’m also pretty sure the Area 419 engineers would have an explanation as to why they didn’t need such a feature. For such a well thought out device, I find it hard to believe they didn’t think through that idea and eliminate it.

I also found when mounting scopes to rifles that the picatinny clamp screws were a touch shorter than I would have liked. Perhaps this was done as a weight reducing measure, or to simplify the mounting. But on several different firearms I found that I had to basically remove the screws before I could get the mount onto the rifle’s pic rail. Maybe they are designed to be that way, but even if they aren’t I find it to be a very minor inconvenience.

the Area 419 mounts made a perfect fit for this **Primary Arms GLx** and **Savage Impulse 7PRC**

Once attached, it is very obvious how well these mounts work. The ability to add or remove accessories to your optic mount is easily done. And with such precise manufacturing, zero’s are easily maintained even when removing and reinstalling them.

Final Thoughts

Having used the Area 419 one piece scope mounts on several different rifles now and mounting an assortment of scopes in them, I’ve gotten a good feel for them. Rifles chambered in 338 Lapua magnum, 7mm PRC, 308 Winchester and even 223 Remington. They are another outstanding product from the good folks at Area 419, and certainly worthy of their place in the niche market of high-end precision riflery. While they are not inexpensive, they are well within their asking price for $330. Other competitors like MPA offer similar robust design for less, but with less modularity as well. You can also find other options with equivalent strength and modularity from manufacturers like Sphur , albeit for significantly more money.

Like most products I have experienced from Area 419, you simply cannot go wrong with the products or service offered. If you are looking for a quality mount for your darling new precision rifle scope, look very hard at these before passing on them.

-CBM

Read about more Area 419 products here

Rifle Bipods: Two Legs to Stand on

January 19, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewbipod, warnecoldboremiracle

Introduction

Though many shooters still use the same practices that are generations old, rifle shooting has changed over the years. One of the many things born from the current precision rifle shooting craze is a wealth of new support devices. Rifle bipods, in particular, are a popular option. They’re easily attached to the front of your rifle and extend to give a solid front shooting support.

You could use backpacks, shooting sticks, and other things, but it is hard to beat a good sturdy bipod. So let’s dive into some of the legs and feet that make up the modern bipod market.

EARLY STANDARD SETTERS

Bipods come at a variety of price points and build qualities. But it would be impossible to discuss this topic without mentioning the Harris bipod, which is probably the most well-known and widely used bipod in the U.S. market. It is also probably the most copied design, but do not waste your money on the knockoffs. Even the clones made cheaply by well-known U.S. companies are not as good as the original Harris.

Harris Bipod on Sako 85 Finnlight Rifle — The **Harris bipod**, like the one shown here on this **Sako 85 Finnlight**, helped set the modern trend for solid, affordable, practical rifle bipods.

The Harris became so popular because it did a couple of things well. It gave solid support to the front of your rifle and was easily attached to any firearm with a front sling stud. That made it pretty universal. It also folded neatly out of the way when you weren’t shooting. It did all these things for a fairly modest price – especially by today’s standards – so it flourished.

After Harris’ success in dominating the bipod market, it became apparent that there was more to be done. Not much has changed with those original bipods in the 20 years I have been buying them, so someone else was bound to pick up the torch and move it forward.

The Harris is sometimes found on even expensive sniper rifles like this Desert Tech SRS A2 Covert

B&T INDUSTRIES

B&T Atlas Bipod On AR Rifle — The B&T Atlas bipod mounted to a **Ruger Ar** with **US Optics scope** and YHM suppressor.

The Atlas bipod made by B&T brought bipods into the 21st century with a much better design and construction. The Atlas used machined aluminum and steel parts, bringing incredible strength and durability. Features like replaceable feet and spikes, 180-degree pivoting legs, and locking points at 45 and 90 degrees were just some of the improvements that tantalized marksmen. They also offered much better mounting solutions such as Pic rail clamps, but it came at a heftier price.

The Atlas bipod surely took the entire bipod market a step into the future and opened the door for a whole new world of innovation. This, of course, led to more cheap Chinese copies.

THE ATLAS BIPOD

The current selection of Atlas bipods has grown significantly. While not cheap, they still offer an excellent value for American-made innovation. For years, the standard was the Atlas V8. It offers an assortment of mounts. I use either an ADM Pic rail QD clamp or an Area 419 Arca lock clamp to attach it to my rifle.

One of the features that made the Atlas so popular was the easy ability to deploy or stow the legs. They fold forward or back and lock in either position. They can also be locked at a 45-degree angle. For that matter, they can be locked individually to give you a solid shooting position regardless of the terrain or support.

The Atlas bipod mounted on my **SRS M2**

The legs are easily extended to varying degrees by pulling down on the knurled collar on each leg. Hard rubber feet offer great traction on firm surfaces, but they can also be swapped out for spikes, skis, or cleats. The bipod rocks and pans left or right to allow leveling of the rifle on uneven terrain.

Tension is controlled by a knurled knob underneath. This is the only thing about the Atlas that I never really loved. At times, it seems like the bipod will tension up or not regardless of the way you turned the knob. This is not an issue with the popular CAL Atlas bipod, which uses a tension lever. The Atlas V8 does everything a bipod should do, and B&T Industries continues to keep the Atlas line at the cutting edge.

THE WARNE SKYLINE BIPOD

Warne Skyline Bipod on Rifle — Warne upped the game with their **Skyline bipods** that offer nicer features for adjusting the bipod from a shooting position.

Warne has long been well known in the industry for robust mounting solutions for optics, but they have also jumped into the bipod game with their Skyline bipod. The Skyline features a strong aluminum body and legs with a tensioning ball clutch to allow rocking and panning. There is a knurled knob under the pivot point that the shooter can adjust for tension. The legs are extendable and have a ratcheting catch to set leg length.

Much like the Atlas, the Skyline’s legs can be folded either to the front or the rear and locked at 45 or 90 degrees. They are different in that the detents for leg locking are only on one side of the pivot. So if you fold up the legs to the rear, they can be deployed without releasing the detent, and they will fold directly to the 90-degree detent. If you prefer them to be locked, you can fold them to the front. This could easily be reversed by rotating the mounting clamp.

The Skyline can be used with either a Pic rail clamp or an Arca clamp. I use the latter for my purposes. Another great feature on the Skyline is the ratchet catch on the leg extensions. The legs can be extended and catch on the ratchet teeth. You can then either push the ratchet lever in to drop a tooth, or you push it in and down to release the ratchet entirely to retract the legs. It also has a mechanical cam feature to lower the leg height from the shooting position. You will love this feature if you’ve ever tried to reach out and adjust your bipods from a shooting position.

In addition to these features, the Skyline has available adaptors to use Warne cleats and spikes. Or you can even use an Atlas foot adaptor to take advantage of the wide variety of feet options for Atlas bipods. You can also get 3-inch leg extensions that make the Skyline up to 12 inches tall. This is welcome for me because one of the only gripes is that I wish it was just a touch taller.

IN THE FIELD

Hunter With Captured Game — As hunting tools, bipods offer some great advantages.

Shooting in the field with these two bipods quickly revealed the pros and cons. Both are very robust, which makes them a little heavy if you’re going to be hiking in the backcountry for a week. But the Atlas is a few ounces lighter. Both also provide stronger support than the old Harris thanks to the quality construction.

The quick change out of the rifle interface only takes seconds with the Skyline, and tool less removal of the Picatinny clamp to install the Arca clamp is easily done in the field. The Atlas definitely has fewer snagging points. While it is built like a tank, there are fewer places for gear and clothes to get hung up. The assorted levers and buttons on the Skyline can get caught up on some things. Though I love the ratchet lever of the leg extensions, I could see small debris getting into the small spaces.

Shop all Bipods at Palmetto State

Optics Planet also has a great selection of Bipods

CONCLUSION

These are both excellent bipods, and the only way I would force myself to choose between them would be on a lightweight backpacking hunt. I think either of them would work great in a competition like a PRS, though the Skyline might have an edge when it comes to quickly leveling the rifle. But if I’m going on a backcountry hunt where ounces are pounds, I might choose the Atlas over the Skyline due to its lighter weight. If you are looking for more support in your shooting, look at either of these bipods. You can’t go wrong.

-CBM

For more ancillary shooting equipment click here

Underdog Shooting Glasses

January 13, 2024Ancillary gear, Product reviewppe, shooting glasses, underdogcoldboremiracle

Introduction

If you’re not using shooting glasses, you should be. Nobody ever expects a gun to detonate, but having seen it happen I can assure you that was all I needed to convince me to wear glasses. With that said, wearing glasses while shooting can often be cumbersome. Today we are going to take a look at a product that promises to make shooting safely a little easier to do. That product is Underdog Shooting Glasses.

**Shooting pistols** or rifles is easier when your eyes and ears aren’t fighting

Safety Shouldn’t be Uncomfortable

Wearing glasses while shooting can often be an issue. Whether it be because your hat interferes with glasses, or hearing protection doing the same. We’ve all been in the situation where your ears are pinched between hearing protection and temples of your glasses. The other common issue is glasses being pushed by the brim of your hat, or vice versa.

**over-ear hearing protection** can often interfere with glasses

Either of these conditions often result in people removing one or more articles, exposing them to safety concerns. Underdog Shooting Glasses have found an interesting way to overcome these issues.

Underdog Shooting Glasses

The Underdog Shooting Glasses are polarized lenses that attach to the brim of you ball cap. Using a flexible plastic clip on either end of the lens, you can clip the glasses to your hat. The lens itself is hinged on the two clips, allowing you to fold the lens up against the underside of your hat brim.

The brilliant thing about these glasses is that you can adjust their proximity to your face. And you can adjust the angle of the lens against your face. The result is an incredibly comfortable experience where there is little to no contact to your eyes, ears or nose. The lens can float in front of your face, as close as you’d like it to be even resting on your nose. That makes them exceptional at protecting your eyes from sunlight, as well as shooting debris.

The Underdog Glasses do this without interfering with your hat, or hearing protection. And they are easily stowed out of the way by folding them up. The clips that attach to your hat are quite stiff, and they feature tactile detents as you flip the lens up or down. The detents are quite resistant to prevent the lens from sagging down into your face.

Considerations

Let’s discuss a couple potential downsides as compared to regular glasses. Additional weight (though very little) can cause your hat to ride down depending on how it fits. If you wear your hats fairly tight like I do, it won’t be an issue.

I also found myself adjusting the ride of my hat more frequently while wearing the glasses. Perhaps I was just more aware since my glasses were attached. When used in conjunction with over-ear hearing protection this might be a bonus, as the ear pro will help keep your hat in place.

check out that fat 53rnd Desert Tech Quattro magazine

Final Thoughts

With that said, I think that for shooting, these glasses are fantastic. Especially if you are on a busy range that requires over-ear hearing protection. They may or may not fit your ideal purpose for everyday sunglasses, but for wearing on an active range I think they are hard to beat.

-CBM