Is your holiday gift on a container ship in the ocean that’s awaiting a space in port to be off-loaded? Not necessarily – but perhaps.
In the Land of Plenty, there’s still plenty. You just have to shop for it. I’ve combed through recent releases to see what’s (allegedly) available to assist in your gift-giving efforts this year. This is a short list, but it may get you started.
Custom Rig
I like holsters and associated carry gear. Even at this late date, there’s a lot of innovation in designs as well as materials. I’m a big fan of leather though, in spite of my advancing years I’m okay with synthetic holsters and some of the hybrid designs. You may or may not have enough time to get a custom leather holster from a firm like Simply Rugged – you can try.
Recently, holster mass-producer Blackhawk has announced Blackhawk Custom KYDEX. The holsters include inside the waistband or outside the waistband with a magazine pouch and even “dump trays.”
What’s custom about them? Various colors and prints for a finish, holsters made for light-bearing guns and guns with red dot optics are all offered.
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Going to their website gets you access to the decision-making steps for a gift combination suited to your favorite shooter. Get the color or print to match holster, mag pouch and dump tray.
“Begin by selecting the type of holster or accessory you are shopping for. Simply select your firearm manufacturer and model, whether you want a solid color or print, and include information about the firearm to ensure the holster is created to your fit. Have a light-bearing model? RMR cut? Threaded barrel? No problem. Our custom KYDEX holsters are designed to fit your needs.”
Do you need to wait on the container to make port – according to their release, “All of Blackhawk’s custom Kydex holsters are manufactured in the U.S. and are ready to ship within three business days.”
IWB holsters start at $73.95, OWB holsters at $90.95 and EDC dump trays at $59.95. Single pistol magazine carriers start at $35.95, double pistol magazine carriers at $59.95, AR rifle magazine carriers at $59.95 and AK rifle magazine carriers at $59.95. Prices vary depending on materials and configuration.
Easing the Ammo Crunch While Training
There’s another easy to acquire gift for the shooter on your gift list. While a number of companies have dryfire/laser cartridge devices – many with an associated application for your portable device – one has put together an interesting training program: MantisX.
Their Laser Academy product is packaged with a number of guided drills and feedback – along with card stock targets, images of which match targets actually used on the range. You can temporarily attach one or more targets to a (safe direction please) wall, with your phone/camera mounted on a supplied tripod aimed in at the target(s). After the camera acquires the target, select a drill and carry on.
I’ve not yet tried all the functionality of the app and I’ve yet to get the sound function working on the phone. That doesn’t prevent the accuracy aspect and I’ve gotten good, short dryfire practice on a daily basis – because of the MantisX Laser Academy setup. It makes willingness to do dry practice easy to come by.
And MantisX has other products geared to dry practice with firearms.
Small Items
My bride noticed that the Gunsite Proshop had holiday decorated coffee mugs to help celebrate the season. A raven on the mug is dressed in holiday attire and ready for the party. A 16 ounce ceramic coffee mug, it comes in at less than $9.
In addition, I noticed a facsimile of the Safety Rules sign printed on a ‘refrigerator’ magnet. I noticed it because I ignored the ‘refrigerator’ part – it’s perfect to attach to the safe door, a great reminder in the best place you could have it. For less than $5, it’s a handy mental programming tool.
Rule Five
Tufloc image.
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In an effort to keep a long gun secured, conforming with Rule 5, I came across a new product from Tufloc. The company, known for vehicle firearms locking racks, is now offering the X-LOCK. Like their vehicle racks, the X-Lock is made with stainless steel arms and aircraft grade aluminum which are heat-treated for strength.
A wide-range of long guns – rifles and shotguns – can be accommodated by the X-LOCK as can guns with optics and other accessories. You can get a rack to mount on solid surfaces, with a pair of keys, for around $200. A similar cost allows you to add a fingerprint reader.
For keeping a long gun close and ready, this is one possibility. I’ve never tried them – but the locking rack appeals to me.
-- Rich Grassi