Defense Distributed joins a short list of companies exempted from the Biden administration’s ATF rule banning the sale or transfer of homemade gun parts. Despite a move to block the rule on 2A grounds having previously been denied, Judge O’Connor agreed that the ATF overstepped its authority under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). With the upcoming fight over the new pistol brace ban, this and another defeat over the Trump administration’s bumpstock ban —also on APA grounds– on the same grounds paints a positive picture.
It’s true that these victories don’t directly impact the pistol brace ban, or the court cases moving forward against it. What they do, however, is establish precedent and bolster the case against all recent ATF rulings as damaging to both commercial and public interests. This is important as each favorable decision wrung out of State and Federal courts strengthens each case if/when they make it to SCOTUS.
With the now two favorable rulings both citing the APA, and the pistol brace lawsuit doing the same we are hopeful that the brace ban will face a similar conclusion in the near future. Anything is possible and there have been some less positive cases, but winning is winning, and it sets the stage for more.
*Secondary Disclaimer* There’s a lot of proprietary information covered in this class that’s not to be shared with the general public. That’s why one of the requirements of attendance is either a criminal background check or current Carry License. Due to that, there may be some gaps or ambiguity in the overall review. Trust me when I say that the 2 days of classroom are reason enough to attend the course. The range portion is there so that, should he need to, Mas can testify to your proficiency with a firearm, not just that you had the academic knowledge about use of force.
Day 3: The introduction covered the information that would be discussed, how we should handle that information, and certain steps we should take to document our knowledge moving forward. We covered some of the basics, like what is entailed in Jury Selection, some basic legal concepts like what circumstances justify use of deadly force, different levels of homicide (murder, manslaughter, justifiable, etc), as well as a more in-depth look at Cooper’s color code. We also discussed different standards of proof, and the different legal applications of each. We went over the fact that a claim of self defense constituted an “affirmative defense”, and what that entails.
Day 4: The day did start out with some discussion on equipment. There are prudent things that a defensive gun carrier should consider before purchasing/augmenting their firearm. We reviewed things like trigger mods, safeties, etc. We also reviewed studies in human reaction time, including the Tueller drill. There was some review of common “Defensive Myths”. You know, the dumb shit you hear tossed around at gun stores, gun shows, and on different internet forums. Throughout the course, there were a lot of helpful tips on how to prep your life for certain events.
One of the biggest segments was focused in the different physical/emotional reactions after the shooting. We talked about the psychological and societal impacts. The idea behind this is to ensure the students are aware of what to expect. That way a) they are less scared by the unknown of what to expect and b) are able to critically think and develop their support plans ahead of time. There was some discussion of attorney selection, as well as the potential value of being a member to a program like US Law Shield/ Armed Citizen Legal Defense Network/ etc.
We also discussed the how and why of ammunition selection. Not so much from the ballistic performance, but also how it can potentially play into your defense. They eschewed the mixing of ammunition. The discussion segued into combative anatomy, and the 3 major target areas, and which is appropriate under what circumstances. There was also a discussion on rendering aide, and under what circumstances it would be (im)prudent. As previously mentioned, there was a lot of proprietary information, that was to be expressly contained within the scope of the class, and only shared with those directly vetted by the alumni. What I can comfortably say is that this section was built around how to avoid getting shot by other good guys, how to communicate with all parties involved, and how to keep from turning a righteous shooting into an inadvertent homicide charge. The irony is that the most valuable segment of the course is the one I have to write the least about. There were lots of legal cases provided throughout as case studies of the different principles covered.
Repeating shotguns became an important part of the firearms scene beginning with the Winchester 1897. With its reliable trombone action and exposed hammer the ’97 is still in service with many shooters. While the open bolt rotary magazine Roper and various odd ball shotguns were developed the Winchester proved to be a reliable and useful shotgun. Marlin and Winchester butted heads over lever action rifles and are still worthy competitors. Marlin introduced a pump action shotgun similar to the Winchester 1897. While never as popular as the Winchester the Marlin was a robust and reliable shotgun. All Marlin shotguns were take down models. The original 1898 Marlin was followed by other models ending with the Model 24 to the best of my knowledge. The Marlin doesn’t command a lot of money yet it is a pretty cool piece with plenty of history behind it.
While there were some military models manufactured the majority of Marlin shotguns featured 26 to 32 inch barrels. While offered in 12 gauge there is a rare 16 gauge model. Depending on the exact model and its period manufacture the shotgun may feature a semi pistol grip or a straight grip. The shotgun was manufactured in several variants. Among these was the lighter model 19. Some featured a glare fighting matte finish on the receiver. I don’t like to comment on problems with which I have no personal experience but it seems that early Marlin shotguns suffered from something called ‘false battery’ and may have fired when not fully locked. The shotgun was further developed into one of the very few drop safe shotguns of the era. Even today few shotguns are drop safe if dropped from sufficient height. This is an advantage of the type. The shotgun bolt was locked on firing and merely operating the bolt and dropping the hammer, does not unlock the bolt. The Marlin features an inertial block. The bolt is locked closed but unlocked by the jar of firing the shotgun. In order to unlock the bolt without firing a push button is located to the right side of the bolt.
The old trombone action is still in good working order.This Marlin is marked with a trade name.
The shotgun is smooth and reliable in a well maintained example. It is interesting that while the Marlin has good safety features the type has been banned from Cowboy Action Shooting due to safety concerns. This bears some explanation. Many early Marlin shotguns were chambered for 2.5 inch shells. Later models chambered 2.75 ( 2 ¾ inch) shells. The problem is that a 2.75 inch shell will jam into the chamber and fire. If the load is strong enough damage or even a burst shell is the result. While the Marlin 1898 shotguns are strong variants God help the person firing a high brass shell in a 2.5 inch chamber! Later shotguns are fine with the longer shell- and 2.5 inch shells are available. Just the same this requires more preparation than simply grabbing a Winchester 1897 clone and ripping off a few shells.
The other problem is probably the more serious. Remember the false lockup? While cured in later models the push type plunger is problematical if you are not very careful. As it turns out those speed chucking the Marlin in competition sometimes hit the button while handling the Marlin. As a result the Marlin might fire while out of battery and apparently has done so on occasion. So we have the unfortunate situation of a quality shotgun with excellent safety features being banned from competition. Just the same this is a reasonable thing to do. I don’t think I am taking my life in my hands firing the old Marlin or I would not fire it. Just the same be certain to check out the shotgun for haze cracks and be very cautious in firing the shotgun- and especially determine the proper chambering. Even those chambered in 2.75 inch were intended for early shells with a different style of roll crimp.
The hammer is cocked. Note floating firing pin.Note bolt release plunger on receiver.
The example illustrated is a trade gun. This is a gun made by one manufacturer and labeled for a chain store. There were many Western Auto shotguns and J C Higgins manufactured by American makers and re-labeled. Today the same circumstance exist with millions of Turkish shotguns relabeled. As an example you pay quite a bit more for a Mossberg, Weatherby, or Winchester marked Turkish gun- may as well save a hundred bucks or so and purchase a Turkish gun at Cheaperthandirt.com! Just saying- makes sense to me. The trade name of the Marlin in this case is REVONOC by Hibbard Spencer & Bartlett. I am pretty certain the shotgun was manufactured about 1906. No way to be certain. Factory records were lost. Many records of older makers were lost during World War Two. They were donated in paper drives. Floods and fires took a toll. Just the same the Marlin types have little collector value. Most seem to have seen much use in the hunting field. The 12 gauge model shown shows even consistent wear rather than eccentric wear. Considering the age the shotgun has been well taken care of. Have I fired it? Sure, after a careful safety inspection. I would be very hesitant to fire an earlier version without the bolt lock plunger. But then I am no expert or even intimately familiar with this type of shotgun. I would recommend locking the shotgun in a fixture for the first shot if you must fire this type of shotgun. I did so with an old T shirt wrapped around the bolt to detect gas leak. Works for me and I have fired the shotgun with standard birdshot. This shotgun has the special order straight stock we would call a skeet stock these days. This shotgun points and handles well. It was in the game field at some point as when I first purchased the shotgun it had a plug in the receiver limiting capacity to two shells per state law. I haven’t removed the plug, no point, I may take it bird hunting for the fun of it.
The Marlin hammer guns are an interesting bunch. I enjoy owning mine and occasionally handling the piece and wondering what hunts it was in on the past one hundred twenty years. They remain affordable and make a good conversation piece. But don’t put it on the front lines!
California has been strangling their handgun roster into obsolescence for a decade. The mythical wonder technology known as ‘microstamping’ being added to California law has resulted in a 10 year gap in technological and safety advancement between handguns available for sale in California and those available to the rest of the nation.
U.S. District Court Judge Cormac Carney, sitting in Santa Ana, wrote Monday that California’s requirements for new handguns are unconstitutional and cannot be enforced. Because of these restrictions, Carney wrote, no new models of semi-automatic handguns have been approved for sale since 2013 and Californians are forced to buy older and potentially less safe models. – AP Report
While California’s AG will never admit to it, the goal of this was to slowly choke handgun sales out of the state entirely in a bid to ‘make the state safer’ in some nebulous way. They will then blame surrounding states, full of older Americans and higher suicide rates, for the ‘gun death’ rates in California.
Judge Carney issued a preliminary injunction to take effect in two weeks (in force on April 3rd), meaning the state would have to stop enforcing the law. The delay gives the state Department of Justice time to appeal.
What an appeal will look like, we don’t know. Bonta, the windbag that California uses as alleged Attorney General, had this to say,
“The fact of the matter is, California’s gun safety laws save lives, and California’s Unsafe Handgun Act is no exception. We will continue to lead efforts to advance and defend California’s gun safety laws. As we move forward to determine next steps in this case, Californians should know that this injunction has not gone into effect and that California’s important gun safety requirements related to the Unsafe Handgun Act remain in effect.”
Sure Rob, that’s why California is one of the leading states for mass shooting and school shootings, and why Texas, the next largest state and with drastically more permissive gun laws, several large urban locations just like California, and many other comparable points like proximity to Mexico, is rather comparative in firearm violence rates. Your awesome gun laws.
California has had their cards called once again on another of their attempts to ban firearm ownership through sideways measures and it will be interesting to see what actual facts they can bring to court in the two week period to give them any hope of continuing their grift.
If the injunction stands and lands than starting in early April, up to date handgun models can be sold in California as the roster will be held unenforceable.
The SIG P320-XTEN has a Legion Slide with RMR and Romeo2 footprint. When mounting the optic the proper plate and mounting procedures are needed to ensure a good fit and proper function.
The Pistol Out of the Box
The XTEN is cut for a Romeo2 or Trijicon RMR. This is great as these are two very widely used footprints. However, and SIG even states this in the box, there is a spacer plate needed when mounting an optic. When purchasing and receiving the SIG P320-XTEN there are no options for a plate to come with the pistol as SIG does not offer a plate. Therefore this is on you in finding the correct plate for your optic choice. Remember, this is a Legion slide, and a filler plate is needed.
The footprint and pattern of the screw holes of the X Legion slide is actually pretty interesting. This will impact which optic plates fit and there are a couple of different patterns for the Legion slide so just ensure you find the right plate. The pointy ends of the CHPWS plate is to fit into a small gap in front of the cut.
Why a Filler Plate?
Using the Holosun 508T as reference, it is possible to direct mount this optic to the slide however, there is a huuuuuugeee gap in the front of it. This means that every time the pistol is shot and recoil is pushed through the gun the only thing that is harboring that recoil are the screws on the optic. More space, means more room for that optic to move, more chances for the screws to be sheared undur recoil and you to have an even bigger problem. Sheared screws are not easy to remove from a slide and you risk damaging your slide. Therefore, a spacer plate is needed to fill that gap.
This is the Holosun 508T without a plate. Notice the large amount of space in front of the optic. This is the Holosun 508T with a CHPWS filler plate. While it fills a lot of that gap there is still some play in the front of the optic but now there are recoil bosses accepting that.
The Plate Options
In short, there aren’t many. In your venture of finding the plate you are going to want to search something along the lines of “P320 X5 Legion optic plate”. This will pop up a whole two options. I’ll list them below. If you find another option, let us know in the comments. Note: There have been a few different cuts on the legion slides so ensure that you found the correct plate for the correctly drilled holes.
Forward Controls Design (Holosun specific optics aren’t specified to work but should due to this being an RMR plate. I haven’t myself tried this plate on the gun) Also, the dovetail on this sight is made for Glock sights, not SIG.
Always read the fine print when it comes to optic mounting..
Ben Stoegers pro shop has a good amount of options as far as if you want one with iron sights already thrown onto the plate.
Going back, I do wish I searched harder and found and purchased a Springer Precision plate or the Forward Controls Design plate as the CHPWS plate just doesn’t cut it for me. It is very thin and there is still a gap on the slide cut. Meaning no tight fit to accept the recoil of a 10mm. The Springer Precision plate looks beefier as does the Forward Controls plate considering it is made from steel and not aluminum.
How to Mount Optic
After finding the correct plate there will probably be a couple of sets of screws in front of you. These could be the screws from the company who sent you the plate or the screws that came with the optic itself. No matter, the proper length of screw needs to be used. If they aren’t, a malfunction can be caused or the optic can be loose.
4 threads are showing through the optic meaning that there will be 4 threads able to grip the threads inside the slide. Ensure that the screws are long enough that there is enough contact between the screws and slide but not too long that it interferes with the extractor or doesn’t tighten the optic completely down onto the slide.
To find the right size of screws..
Count the threads: Ensure that there are enough threads coming through the optic to mate with the slide. 4 threads is good.
Ensure the screws are flush: When tightening down the optic, ensure that the screws are flush on the top of the optic. if they aren’t there is a large chance that the optic isn’t totally tightened down.
Check the extractor: Dependent on the gun, the screw holes can be directly above the extractor. If you are using too long of screws these screws can interfere with the operation of the extractor. After tightening down the optic take your finger or a punch and move the extractor to ensure that it isn’t impeded.
Look for light under the Optic: If you see light under the optic it may not be totally tightened down to the slide.
Now, the threadlocker. Some use Vibratite, some use the blue Loctite 242. If using Vibratite, let the Vibratite dry before installing the screws. If using other threadlocker ensure that you don’t put too much on. A dab is fine. Threadlocker will now cause the torque to be heavier so when tightening the screws don’t overtighten. There should be an in-lb torque limit listed on the directions that came with the plate.
After installing, don’t forget to witness mark. The screws moving and those witness marks no longer being in line will be the first tell that the optic is loosening.
Iron Sights
The P320-XTEN does not come with tall enough iron sights to be used when an optic is mounted. After mounting a dot, or even before if you’re more prepared than I, be sure to find “suppressor high sights” or “cowitness sights”. Personally, the blacked out rear sights with a fiber optic red/green front work well in not giving my brain too much to focus on. An example being this Sight Set, for Sig P320/M17, Co-witness Black Rear and Fiber Optic Front, by Dawson Precision.
Don’t forget, SIG sights are different and install differently than normal Glock dovetail sights so be sure that you have the correct sight pusher.
The Henry Homesteader has been quite the draw. Henry, a lever gun company, has produced a semi-automatic, 9mm pistol caliber carbine. The gun was a hit at SHOT and fun to shoot to boot. For many, the wood furniture and old-school appearance were a major draw. As great as M-LOK and pic rails are, they can be tiring to look at. While the homesteader innovated by taking a step back, it’s not the first time we’ve seen a wood-stocked PCC. Let’s celebrate the OG retro PCCs many have forgotten about.
Marlin Camp Carbine
The Marlin Camp Carbine is the gun most likely to draw a comparison to the Homesteader. These retro PCCS were blowback-operated designs that chambered either 9mm or .45 ACP. The guns used popular pistol magazines of the era. That era was 1985 when the gun was first produced. Glock didn’t dominate just yet. The 9mm variant used S&W 59 and 69 magazines, and the .45 ACP variant clung to the classic 1911 design.
These guns had traditional wooden stocks and were optics-ready. Their barrels were 16.5 inches long, and the gun was 6.75 pounds. They were fairly light and fairly handy. Camp Carbines were produced all the way until 1999 and are still fairly common these days on the used market. They aren’t fancy but do have that charm and old school cool.
Ruger Model 44
The Ruger Model 44 is one of two retro PCCs from Ruger that both chambered the mighty .44 Magnum round. The Model 44 was originally called the Deerstalker, but Ithaca didn’t care for that, and Ruger went to the plain Model 44. The idea was for a short, light, and handy carbine for hunting in dense woods. A direct blowback design was not possible or safe with a .44 Magnum, so Ruger used a short-stroke gas piston design.
The Model 44 has an internal magazine that held found rounds of .44 Magnum. It was loaded much like a shotgun. The Model 44 is a pretty cool design and was fairly influential. The Ruger Model 10/22 would later use a similar layout and design, but minus the short-stroke gas piston system. The Model 44 lasted from 1960 to 1985.
Ruger Deerfield Carbine
After discontinuing the Model 44 Ruger went back to the .44 Magnum PCC with the Deerfield. They brought the gun back in 2000, but it was only produced until 2006. This makes it the shortest living of our retro PCCs. The Deerfield uses a short-stroke gas piston design like the Model 44, but was different in several ways.
It used an open-top design, much like an M1 carbine. The gun also used a removable, four round rotary magazine. Aftermarket options could ratchet capacity up to ten rounds. I imagine the Deerfield would be great for defensive use in ban states. Sadly it wasn’t very popular and died a quick death.
Retro PCCs Rule
The Homesteader offers shooters a little something different. It’s still a simple, blowback operated POCC, but it’s made with the same quality Henry is known for. Plus, the old-school look is tough to beat. As we can see, it’s not the first to take that approach either. I want a Homesteader, but if Henry were to make a .44 Magnum semi-auto, I’d have to snatch it up. A man can dream.
Regardless of how permissive a range is and how complex a drill or stage is allowed to be built, static targets are still static targets. We know they’re there. We know they aren’t going anywhere. We cannot help but game the drill, course, or scenario a little bit to maximize our efficiency. We want the highest scores and quickest times. This is normal human behavior, it’s how we better complete tasks that require repetitive sequential motion.
There is a significant drawback though. We are unable to effectively build that crucial stimulus and response path from our eyes, our most important sense in shooting against a real threat and determining a threat from a non-threat. Our eyes drive the gun, and when its time to pull the trigger they are our last best check at making certain what we are shooting is the target we should be shooting.
The most common ‘make do’ in range training is to use an audio stimulus instead. We use a beep on a shot timer or the instructor will yell “threat” or “contact”, some prior arranged audio trigger, to let us know that the target is now a ‘threat’ target. The problem with audio is that it still lacks the visual confirmation of ‘that is a valid target’, we’re being told the target is valid now but the target didn’t do anything to become valid. That is the wrong decision making chain if you are trying to build a response to action. The target needs to act.
Grizzly Targets aims to close that stimulus gap and bring forward a better training solution with their groundbreaking patented target system, Shoot No Shoot.
The Shoot No Shoot (SNS) is a remotely operated system that allows the users to activate their target, or targets, at distances up to nearly a mile. Almost instantaneous target response from the instructor or RO controlled remote to target system allows for on demand activation and on demand responses from the shooter(s). The remote will work through walls and on up to 4 targets. Law enforcement, military, or civilian, when your response time matters and those fractions of a second count towards a life saving response the Shoot No Shoot is built to hone that reactionary gap to its finest point.
The targets and base are highly durable SR500 steel and hardened against the elements for inclement weather use The target plates are safe for industry standard use of .308/7.62x51mm rifle use at 100 yards and beyond, and 25 yards and beyond for pistol and shotgun ammunition. Always wear appropriate PPE when shooting with steel targets.
The SNS uses common industry tool system batteries, Milwaukee 12v, and the targets will run for up to 9 hours on a charge. That batteries are quick changing and quick charging so a spare cell to swap keeps the targets up and running while the first one goes onto a charger.
The SNS is designed to do one thing better than any other easily training system out there, bring motion stimulus and eyes on target decision making back into the shooting process. Grizzly Target’s Shoot No Shoot is cutting edge of reactive moving target firearms training.
“The shoot no shoot is integral to what we do. As is deliberate, court-defensible actions on the objective. With qualified immunity coming under attack, that framework is necessary for LE as it always has been for civilians.” -GT SNS user, in use since Jan 2022
The war in Ukraine is still raging. We are soon to exit winter and enter spring. As the temperatures rise, we are likely to see a rise in violence. The war has been going on for a year at the time of this writing. In that year, Ukraine received billions in military aid. While the military aid offered by governments is massive, there has also been a push by American firearms companies to donate firearms to Ukraine to help resist Russian aggression. Today we are taking a peak at the donations made by the American firearms industry.
KelTec and the SUB 2000
One of the more interesting donations came from KelTec. They originally had an order pending for a member of the Ukraine firearms industry for 400 SUB-2000s. This seems to be a popular rifle in Ukraine, with several already being seen in the hand of civilians. When their contact disappeared, KelTec decided to donate the order to Ukraine.
These are pistol-caliber carbines that use a simple blowback operation. Additionally, they have the ability to fold in half to be quite compact. I could see them being handy for non frontline troops or citizen militias.
Adams Arms And Friends
Adams Arms is a small American firearms company out of Central Florida. They are mostly known for their piston-driven AR-15s. They have been a friend to Ukraine and donated 1,000 AR-15 rifles with a goal to hit 2,500 eventually.
Adams Arms also donated ten of their state-of-the-art, semi-automatic precision weapons. These .308 caliber rifles will offer Ukrainian snipers a long-range edge in fighting back against Russian aggression.
Adams Arms teamed up with several companies to ensure these rifles are as high-end as they can get. These are not the typical rifles you pick out of a catalog. The estimated value of each is about eight thousand dollars. Part of that is the donations by various companies to ensure these rifles are the best they can be.
Leupold donated both optics and mounts to the guns.
PROOF Research provided the barrels.
Rise Armament is providing the trigger.
Radian Weapons dished out the charging handles and safety selectors.
Luth AR is providing the stocks.
Hornady is providing the ammunition.
Kimber and Friends
Kimber is an American Firearms company that is mostly known for their M1911 handguns but for their donation. They focused on the new Mako Micro Compact 9mm. They donated 200 of the little guns to the war effort. Mission First Tactical also donated 200 Mako holsters and 4,000 AR-15 and AR-10 magazines to the fight.
Kimber also shipped 20 of their high-quality bolt action rifles chambering the .308 caliber round. Leupold stepped up again and donated 20 Mark LR/T 3.5-10X40mm optics. These will make the rifles a valuable sniping tool. Seemingly every week, you can find footage of Ukraine snipers dealing some serious damage to the Russian command apparatus.
All the Ammo
Ammo Inc. has donated 1 million rounds to the cause. Vista Outdoors, who owns Speer, Remington ammo, Federal, and CCI, has also donated 1 million rounds of ammunition. When Zelensky asked for ammunition, he certainly got it.
The American Firearms Industry Steps Up
The effort to arm Ukraine reminds me of the American Committee for the Defense of British Homes. This committee raised funds and guns to donate to the Brits in case of a Nazi invasion. Times have changed, and ITARs is a pain, so donating a gun from a private citizen seems like a real hassle, but firearms companies with international experience seem to be making it happen! It’s a great example of what American firearms companies are capable of!
This week on Gunday Brunch the boys are joined by Chris Baker from @LuckyGunner as they discuss whether or not sub-caliber rounds like 22 LR or 32 Long are actually suitable for self defense.
I mentioned during SHOT Week that I had found a new-to-me wool activewear company called Minus 33 . Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to try out a few of their products for myself and I must say that I am very impressed. This family-owned company produces many quality and extremely useful products for outdoor and activewear – whether that is skiing, hunting, hiking, or military and law enforcement use.
For those of you who have not yet been converted to wool as the ultimate performance fabric, here are a few important facts.
Merino wool is NOT itchy.
Modern wool fabrics like these are machine washable and often tumble dry-able.
The Woolverino Racerback Tank is an ultralight knit of 84% merino wool, 12% nylon, and 4% spandex. This weight makes the tank light and silky smooth enough to wear underneath office wear as an extra layer in the winter or as a super light layer over a sports bra for active wear in the summer heat.
Woolverino is their lightest weight line.
I’m frequently cold at my office and usually wear a sweatshirt fabric “white jacket” to stay warm while seeing patients. This soft merino tank provided a nice additional underlayer to tuck-in under a blouse for extra warmth from drafts. I’ve also started exercise walking in loops around the office building when there is a lull in the patient load, and this tank helped absorb and wick away moisture while doing that. As a special added bonus – wool doesn’t retain odors. Enough said about that.
So smooth and lightweight!
The seams on this tank are all flat locked and don’t chafe. The racerback straps stay up and don’t require constant adjustments. The merino washed up like a dream in the machine – cold water cycle and tumble dry low. I admit I’m not much for careful fabric care, so tumble dry was a plus for me. I cannot find a single thing I dislike about this tank, except that I only have one. I’ll be needing to buy more to satisfy my addiction!
Multiclava
The Woolverino Multiclava is a lightweight knit made from from 84% merino wool, 12% nylon and 4% spandex. I mentioned this particular clever item when I first saw it at SHOT. Now that I’ve acquired a Minus33 Multiclava of my own and had some time to play with configurations, I think I need to buy more than one of this as well. This green one is going to be my go-to hunting hat and face mask, so I’ll need another one to keep in my car get-home bag for weather emergencies.
As I mentioned in the previous article, this is a “multi”-clava because it can be worn in multiple configurations – as a beanie, a headband, a neck gaiter, and a balaclava.
I didn’t realize I looked so scary. But the balaclava configuration is beautiful!
As an added bonus – I discovered that the multiclava can accommodate a ponytail or braid through the top twist when wearing it as a beanie.
The ponytail fits right through the twist!
When wearing it as a balaclava my hair can either be gathered up in a “bag” at the nape of the neck or hang down underneath everything – it’s always good to have options. Then there’s the possibilities for the neck gaiter – like pulling it up into a facemask under a camo cap for deer and turkey hunting. I can also just use it for a headband when things get warm, or when only my ears are cold. The fabric is thin and breathable enough as a single layer that this Multiclava could also be worn for sun or bug protection if needed. With this many configurations the Multiclava would never need to go back in my daypack – I could just change how I wear it as the day warms up or cools down and never actually take it off!
Hoodie Action
The cherry on the top of these Minus33 products was the Woolverino Trailbreaker Full Zip Hoodie. This midweight layer hoodie is knit of 85% merino wool, 13% nylon, and 2% spandex. It has raglan sleeves, so it adjusts a bit to various to shoulder widths (I have fairly wide shoulders), and it has a trim, but stretchy cut so it’s not bulky and fits well under other layers. The trim fit makes this hoodie great to use as a mid-layer under an outer jacket in colder weather, and as a standalone light outer layer in later spring. The hood has a trim fit as well to allow for wear under a bike or ski helmet. It has thumbholes to keep my wrists and hands warm and to keep the sleeve from riding up when donning outer layers. It has three pockets – five if you count the mesh inside that forms the outer pockets. This is more than enough storage to carry earbuds, tissues, trail map, car keys, or any other necessary item when out and active.
Perfect as a midlayer.
So far, I’ve worn this Minus 33 hoodie for winter woods hikes, exercise walks, and even under a sweatshirt layer for spring yard clean-up. It has performed beautifully – kept me warm, but also wicked sweat when needed.
I also wore this hoodie over a wool t-shirt as an extra layer for just knocking around inside the cool house on days when I didn’t want to turn the thermostat up. It was a perfect layer for that as well.
Trim, but comfy cut.
Care-wise, this too required only machine wash cold and tumble dry low. Minus 33 is singing my song with this! I have much better things to do than special-wash my clothing.
I have worn this hoodie virtually every day-off I’ve had for the past month. It has already become my go-to hoodie, so you can’t have it.
You’ll just have to go to Minus33 and buy one of your own!
One of my favorite random means to exercise is to assign an exercise to a suite from a deck of playing cards and then do the exercise with whatever number I draw. I’m not alone. There are entire fitness decks out there that capitalize on this phenomenon. What if you treated dry fire the same way? That’s what the Dry Fire Training Cards do. They implement dry drills into playing cards.
Dry fire is pretty boring if you are just clicking along at a light switch time and time again. Finding ways to spice it up will not only keep your dry firing but increase your efficiency with dry fire. If you only have 15 minutes a day to dry fire, you likely want to make the best use of that 15 minutes. These cards can seemingly do that. It’s a cheap investment to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and enjoyment of dry fire.
The Dry Fire Training Cards – Get It On
The Dry Fire Training cards are a mix-up of several different types of drills, each with a corresponding color. These cards feature a huge mix of skills. They cover some stuff I never thought of, like low-light dry fire and using your weapon light for dry fire.
There is some complicated movement that requires just a hair of physical fitness. This includes squatting and push-ups while dry firing. There is also plenty of movement to test your ability to stay on target. There are plenty of complex drills that will keep you moving and dry firing.
The Dry Fire Training Cards number over 50, and you can slowly work your way through the deck over time. Some do work a lot better with a partner. While you could modify them for solo training, they are clearly partner based to get the most out of your training.
I’ve really enjoyed mixing these with the Mantis Laser Academy to give myself a more complicated set of challenges with real-time feedback. These two are a great mix.
Gripes and Complaints
I don’t have much to complain about. My main complaint is that some of the complicated drills required a few read-throughs to understand. Some had me scratching my head with a clear ‘wut’ face. I think having only a card’s worth of room to describe something can be challenging, and it shows here and there. Luckily, those drills are few and far between.
Click – Clack – Pow
The Dry Fire Training Cards is a very cheap tool to invest in. They cost less than 20 bucks online and give you an awesome degree of training for that much money. They are portable and interact well with other dry-fire devices. Why I never considered low light dry fire is beyond me, but I’m doing it now, and it will become a normal part of my training.
If you need to spice up your dry fire, this deck is a great way to do so. You’d be surprised at how challenging mixing in some simple movements can be. You’ll also be surprised by how much more enjoyable dry fire is when doing so.
Now to start, I have not been the greatest of fans of Vortex when it comes to their open emitter pistol and small RDS line. I think they’re closed emitter stuff, like the SparcSolAR, have been solid offerings but their dots for pistols lacked the care and attention to durability that something like the Razor line enjoyed.
I see none of those old concerns evidenced in the Defender-CCW they’re launching today.
BARNEVELD, Wis. – From increasing your effective range to shooting faster without sacrificing precision, the benefits of running a red dot on handguns are numerous and proven. The new Vortex® Defender-CCW™ lets anyone packing a full-size, subcompact, or even a micro-compact for self-defense experience the speed and accuracy advantage that’s so critical when facing a threat with nowhere to run.
Meant for people who prioritize personal protection, the Defender-CCW™ is focus-built for the demands of modern concealed-carry users. Ultra-compact and tough, it delivers the biggest sight window in its class for “both eyes open” shooting and enhanced peripheral vision. The smooth, slim profile means no extra bulk or width for a no-snag draw from under clothes and less chance of printing, so the only one on the street who knows you’re packing is you. Other design benefits include:
LARGE ASPHERICAL LENS for distortion-free sight picture and truer colors
SHOCKSHIELD™ polymerinsert to protect against hard, daily abuse
FAST-RACK™ textured front face that adds grip for racking slide
ADJUSTABLE BRIGHTNESS for customizable illumination settings
AUTO-SHUTOFF to preserve battery life
MOTION ACTIVATED for instant readiness when you need it
SHIELD RMS FOOTPRINT eliminates costly retro-fitting, extra plates, drill and tapping
3 or 6 MOA red dot reticles available
Rugged. Reliable. Ready to defend. Trust the Defender-CCW™ to help you carry discreetly and with more confidence, keeping you prepared for personal self-defense when the stakes are high.
Watch this detailed product overview video to learn more about the Defender-CCW™ Micro Red Dot.
For a list of specifications, frequently asked questions and high-resolution images, check out the Vortex New Product Portal.
About Vortex®: Your desire to be your best fuels our promise to provide nothing short of exceptional performance, unmatched service, and memorable experiences. The way we see it, your success is our success. Welcome to Vortex Nation™.
Expect to see these in the $250 to $350 range, making them a nicely accessible dot for slim pistols.
