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Browsing January, 2012

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bushnell gforce 1300 SHOT show by GearExpert

Bushnell GForce 1300 ARC Rangefinder Video Interview from SHOT Show!

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Brian

Bushnell makes some of the best laser rangefinders in the world.  Their gear is used by hunters all over the world because it is accurate, reliable and affordable.  In our third Bushnell SHOT Show Video Steve and Bushnell’s Jordan Vermillion discuss one of their newest hunting tools, the Bushnell GForce 1300 ARC Rangefinder.

Steve is already a huge fan of the Bushnell Scout 1000 Rangefinder because of it’s amazing balance of performance and price.  Well, Bushnell has upped their game for SHOT Show 2012 with the GForce 1300.  It is a compact rangefinder, and from the video you can see how small and easy carry it is.  The Bushnell GForce 1300 has angle range compensation, modes for rifles and bows, and in the rifle mode it’ll also give you bullet drop compensation and holdover data.  That’s huge for a lot of hunters, as the whole point of a rangefinder is to determine how much bullet drop you’ll need to compensate for.

The Vivid Display Technology is another nice feature added to the GForce 1300.  At the touch of a button you’ll be able to see the display in a variety of different lighting situations.  At 6x magnification this quality display and the great glass are going to make a big difference.

The Bushnell SHOT Show display this year really impressed us, and the Bushnell GForce 1300 will undoubtedly be a great addition to the already stellar line of Bushnell Rangefinders at OpticsPlanet!

Steiner Scopes SHOT Show by GearExpert

Steiner Predator Xtreme Binoculars Video from SHOT Show! New Steiner Hunting Scopes!

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Brian

We’re all big fans of Steiner here at GearExpert by OpticsPlanet.  They have really high quality glass that’s about the best in the business, but for about the last twenty years their glass has been used in binoculars.  While we love Steiner Binoculars, it’s been tough to not have a great Steiner Rifle Scope for a big hunt.

Well, Steiner fans no longer need to wish for the return of Steiner Scopes.  As you can see in our Steiner SHOT Show 2012 Video, they’ve brought back rifle scopes in a big way.  The Steiner Predator Xtreme Rifle Scopes are part of the same family of products as the Predator Xtreme Binoculars, which are an amazingly high value line of binoculars for hunters, birders and military professionals.  The new Predator Xtreme Scopes have the same spirit as the popular binoculars, as they’re both intended for the hunter.  Sure, these scopes have awesome features that target shooters love like a hunting knob with target features, which allow you to reset to zero quickly and easily.

As you can see from the SHOT Show Steiner Video, Trevor is very excited by these new scopes and he can’t wait to try them out when they’re released a little later this year!

Bushnell Fusion Binos SHOT Show by GearExpert

Bushnell Fusion 1600 Rangefinder Binoculars Video from SHOT Show

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Brian

Part two of our Bushnell Video Interview from SHOT Show focuses on a really innovative and award-winning new product, the Bushnell Fusion 1600 ARC Rangefinder Binocular.  There were two models on display, separated by slightly different magnifications.  The 10X42mm Fusion 1600s were released first, and they won the ‘Optic of the Year Award’ from the NRA, and they are a fantastic piece of technology.

What makes the Fusion 1600s so cool is that they help free up some space in your pack when you’re out hunting.  A laser rangefinder and a pair of binoculars are indispensable tools for any hunter these days.  But carrying a quality pair of binoculars and a really good laser rangefinder can be bulky and heavy.  You want your pack as light as possible.  The idea of combining these two great tools into one package is great, but Bushnell took it a step further.  They didn’t just want average binoculars or a decent rangefinder.  The glass in the Fusion 1600 is very high quality.  In fact, it’s about on par with the glass in the Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Binoculars!  WOW!

When you combine that glass with a rangefinder that can get accurate readings out to 1600 yards, or as Bushnell’s Jordan Vermillion says possibly even as far as 1800 yards, then you really have something special.  I’m very impressed by the Fusion 1600s.

Since they were such a success, Bushnell recently added a second model, this time a 12x50mm, so you get even more magnification and an even brighter image.  You can’t go wrong with Bushnell.  They’re always thinking about how to make your hunting trips more successful.

Bushnell Elite Tactical SHOT Show by GearExpert

Bushnell Elite Tactical and Legend Series Video Interview from SHOT Show!

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Brian

The first of our Bushnell Video Interviews from SHOT Show is now ready to view, and the conversation between Steve and Bushnell’s Tim Tanker is pretty extensive.  They go through a few of the new Bushnell Rifle Scopes displayed at SHOT Show this year, with the Elite Tactical and Legend Lines both bringing exciting new optics for hunters and shooters in 2012.

Bushnell Elite Tactical Rifle Scopes Combine Durability with Usability

The Elite Tactical really got Steve excited this year.  He’s had plenty of chances to use the awesome quality of Bushnell before, so he knows just how good the glass and construction are, but the Elite Tactical Line takes all that quality and pushes it a step further.  The first thing to note is that these scopes were designed to hold up to the punishment a soldier might put them through in a combat situation.  Having that level of technology and durability for commercial use is going to be great for those hunters who hike long distances in search of game and don’t want to worry about every little bump along the road messing up their scope.  The scope isn’t too long, yet it still has a 3.5-21x magnification, so you can use this Elite Tactical Scope for a wide variety of applications.  There are also a number of different reticle options, and there are a ton of great little features like locking target turrets with click stops and a large tube for greater elevation and windage adjustments. Tim also shows off the Elite Tactical CQB Scope, which is closer in performance to a red dot sight in performance, as you can use it with both eyes open, and he hits upon so many awesome features that it’s hard to imagine anyone NOT wanting one of these Elite Tactical Rifle Scopes by Bushnell!

Bushnell Legend Ultra HD Scopes Bring Serious Value!

But if there is a scope that might pull you away from the Elite Tactical, it’s the new additions to the Bushnell Legend Series.  These are a bit more economical than the Elite Tactical, but the quality is still great, with a variety of magnification ranges, so you can find the option that’s perfect for your needs.  The Legend Ultra HD Scopes feature one piece tube construction for extra durability, and on certain models there is also a side parallax adjustment.  That’s really going to come in handy for a lot of hunters.  There are also a number of different reticles available for the Legend Ultra HD Riflescopes, so I have no doubt these will be top sellers in 2012!

Oh, and the best thing?  Bushnell’s new 100% Bulletproof Money Back guarantee.  If you don’t like one of these new scopes within one year of buying it you can return it for full money back.  No questions asked.  Bushnell really pulled out all the stops with their SHOT Show lineup this year, and their scopes looked really awesome!  Stay tuned because I’ll have the second part of our Bushnell SHOT Show Video Interview up in a little bit, and you won’t want to miss the news on their latest rangefinders!

Streamlight Sidewinder SHOT Show by GearExpert

Streamlight SL20L & Sidewinder Rechargeable Flashlights from SHOT Show!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Brian

The third part of our SHOT Show Streamlight interview covered two new flashlights that offer a huge bang for your buck!  Both lights can use a rechargeable battery so that, over time, you save a lot of money while still getting the great Streamlight performance you expect.

Streamlight SL20L SHOT Show by GearExpertThe Streamlight SL20L is the highest powered LED rechargeable flashlight from Streamlight.  It has three settings, with high, medium and low output to help you maximize battery life, and it’ll give you 350 lumens of light at high output, which is blindingly bright, 160 lumens at medium and on low it’ll still give you 10 lumens.  For each power setting you’ll get a good amount of battery life, with about 2 hours at high, 4 at medium, and (incredibly) 50 HOURS on low.  50 HOURS!  That’s just amazing.

One other thing I really like about the SL20L is the recharging sleeve.  Check out the picture.  You mount the sleeve on a wall and plug it in, then you just slide it into the sleeve to charge it.  It’s really simple to do, and a red light turns on when it’s charging so you can be certain it’s always ready when you need it.  Very cool.

The other great new light Streamlight showed off is a headlamp.  The Streamlight Sidewinder 2 is the latest addition to the Sidewinder family, and it is a versatile new headlamp because it’ll allow you to use three different types of batteries: a Lithium, a regular AA or a rechargeable AA.  That rechargeable AA will save you a lot of money in the long run, and you lose almost no power because of your choice of battery.Streamlight Sidewinder SHOT Show by GearExpert

The Sidewinder 2 has four different LEDs, with a white, red, blue and infrared all available at the flip of a switch.  These LEDs have four output settings as well, from low to high, and there’s a beacon mode that flashes in case of emergency.  You should be able to get one in just a couple weeks!

Streamlight really wowed us at SHOT Show with their impressive new technology and innovative designs.  Our Streamlight SHOT Show Videos have been a big hit, and 2012 will no doubt be another great year for Steamlight and anyone who wants a fantastic flashlight!

Streamlight ProTac Flashlights SHOT Show by GearExpert

Streamlight ProTac Flashlights from SHOT Show – Super Bright & Handheld!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Brian

My last post was about two great new Streamlight Weapon Lights that impressed Steve at SHOT Show this year, but now I want to give you the second part of Steve’s video interview with Streamlight’s Mike Nelson.  This time we have two great handheld lights that combine incredible brightness, durability and light weight.

First up, we see the Streamlight ProTac 2 AAA.  As the name implies, it uses AAA batteries.  There are already great ProTac Flashlight that use AA and Lithium batteries, but the new ProTac 2 AAA is even smaller and lighter, while maintaining the awesome features you’ve come to expect from this great line of flashlights.  It has high and low strobe functions at up to 80 lumens!  That’s a TON of light for such a tiny light that runs on AAA batteries.  As you can see from the video, it’s roughly the size of a pen, and has a sturdy clip to keep it in your pocket.

The other great new Streamlight ProTac flashlight shown at SHOT Show is the ProTac HL.  The HL stands for High Lumen, and it certainly is.  The ProTac HL puts out 600 lumens of LED light!  It uses two Lithium batteries, and will last about an hour and a half at full power!  That is some serious performance.  600 lumens is amazing.  The other cool feature is the way you can program this new Streamlight Flashlight.  As Mike and Steve discuss, different people prefer different strobe options, with some who like high-low, and others who prefer low-high.  The ProTac HL has a one inch tube, so you’ll be able to mount it on a lot of guns as well.  It seems that Streamlight thought of everything with this new entry into the ProTac series.

Be sure to check out the Streamlight ProTac SHOT Show Video above.  Seeing these flashlights in action is AWESOME!

Streamlight TLR4 SHOT Show by GearExpert

Streamlight TLR-4 & TLR-HP Weapon Lights Video from SHOT Show

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Brian

We’ve fielded a lot of questions already about the new Streamlight products from SHOT Show.  Well, now we can give you even more info, and a little video of their new weapon-mountable lights in action!  Watch as Steve talks with Streamlight’s Mike Nelson about the TLR-4 and TLR-HP.

The TLR-4 Flashlight and Laser Sight combo was one of the more talked about new pieces of gear from SHOT Show, and that’s because it takes an already outstanding light, the Streamlight TLR-3, and made it even more versatile.  The TLR-4 is a light/laser combo small enough to fit compact handguns.  It’s pretty impressive that Streamlight could bring out a light and laser that will fit any gun that has a rail.  And, to make it even sweeter, it has the great quality you’d expect from Streamlight, so it’s tough, bright and useful for a variety of situations.  The easy-to-use button on the bottom of the light allows you to switch from having just the light, just the laser, or both the light and laser on at the same time.  The finger switch that’s within reach of your index finger without changing your grip allows you to use momentary or constant on, so you can enjoy the performance you want.  And it won’t break the bank!  The Streamlight TLR-4 should be available at OpticsPlanet soon, so check back frequently so you can be one of the first to try it out!

The other really interesting new weapon light from Streamlight is the TLR-HP.  This weapon light was specifically designed for an AR platform, though it should work for most guns with a picatinny rail.  The biggest thing about the TLR-HP is how bright the light is, and how sharply that light is focused.  You get 200 lumens of light, which is awesome, and the deep reflector focuses it so you get a tight beam that will travel far!  Mike mentions that you will have usable light for 450 meters!  That’s huge!  And it uses LEDs, so it’s really tough, and the battery life is very good for all that power.  You can leave the Streamlight TLR-HP on for about an hour and forty-five minutes before it runs out of juice.  This is a fantastic light, and a perfect option when you need power.

These two new Streamlight Weapon Lights are a perfect way to accessorize your firearm for greater performance.  Great news this year from Streamlight at SHOT Show!

Galco Concealed Purse SHOT Show by GearExpert

Galco Concealed Carry Bags for Ladies at SHOT Show!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Brian

Galco hasn’t forgotten that there are a number of women out there who want a fashionable and effective concealed carry bag.  In our Galco SHOT Show video, Yelena speaks with Mike Barham about their line of purses that not only look good, but were made using quality materials and feature designs that allow women to carry everything they normally would in a handbag, but also their pistol for defensive purposes.

You can see in the Galco video just how great these bags look.  There are a number of different options behind Yelena and Mike that will fit a wide variety of personal fashion preferences.  I can’t claim to be an expert on women’s handbag fashion (yet…), but the bag Yelena’s holding looks perfect with her outfit.  You would never know she’s carrying a firearm.  And she won’t have to leave any of her essentials at home to make room for the pistol, as pockets for a wallet, cell phone and more were designed into the bag!

We have a number of great Galco Carrying Bags available right now, so be sure to stop by OpticsPlanet and learn more about each individual style.  You’ll find the perfect option to complement your look.

Weaver Kaspa SHOT Show by GearExpert

Weaver Kaspa Rifle Scopes at SHOT Show – Kaspa Hunting and Tactical Scopes!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Brian

Trevor was able to get an interview with Weaver representative Tim Brandt at SHOT Show, and they discussed the Weaver Kaspa Series of Rifle Scopes.  These new scopes are available right now from OpticsPlanet, so be sure to check out all the different models, as there are a number of magnification options, with unique reticles as well to allow you to find the exact scope you need for your job.

As Tim and Trevor point out, you rarely see scopes of this quality with this many features for such an affordable price.  You don’t find this kind of value very often.  The lenses on the Kaspa Rifle Scopes are multi-coated, and the quality is consistent with Weaver’s other great scopes.  Seeing the wide variety and great prices of the new Weaver Scopes at SHOT Show was great, and we’re really excited to be seeing more of them this year!  Check out the video, and stay tuned.  I’ll have more videos from SHOT Show up soon!

BLACKHAWK Women's Clothing SHOT SHOW by GearExpert

BLACKHAWK Women’s Clothing Lines at SHOT Show – BLACKHAWK Tactical Clothes!

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Brian

I know all the ladies out there are going to be excited about our new BLACKHAWK SHOT Show Video!  In it, we talk with Aysha Webb at about great new tactical clothes that were designed from the ground up for use by women!

The BLACKHAWK Women’s Apparel Line has all the great features and functionality of other BLACKHAWK Apparel, but the style is much better suited to a woman’s figure.  They hope that the days of women being forced to wear smaller sizes of men’s clothing are behind us.  You can see in the video how nice everything looks, while still maintaining performance features such as extra thick belt loops for a heavy belt and holster.

The women’s off-duty pants are very comfortable while also being durable.  BLACKHAWK designed them to look great for a day in court or just casual wear, and they’re great for undercover use as well.  I think the undercover nature of many of these pants is huge.  Women who go undercover by want top performance might try to wear their traditional tactical pants, and they’ll stick out like a sore thumb.  These new pants really compliment a woman’s figure.

There’s also a great new BLACKHAWK women’s shirt that was designed for concealed carry.  It contours to a woman’s figure while not hugging so tight to the sides as to show the holster and gun.  Very cool, and they look great!

This is really a huge deal for many women.  Men’s clothing is designed for a man’s shape.  Just because the size is smaller doesn’t mean the pants or shirt will fit a woman.  In addition, having an ideal fit means there is less loose fabric, and they’ll give greater functional performance for women in the field.  As Aysha is a firearms instructor, she knows exactly what a woman needs to perform at her best.  There are a lot of really great features in these new BLACKHAWK Women’s Apparel Options.  Check out the BLACKHAWK SHOT Show Video for way more info and to see just how amazing these clothes look!

Trevor Blackhawk Holsters SHOT Show by GearExpert

BLACKHAWK SERPA Holsters at SHOT Show 2012! BlackHawk Paddle and Belt Holsters!

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Brian

BLACKHAWK makes some of the toughest and most functional duty and tactical gear on the planet.  We knew they’d be bringing some great stuff to SHOT Show, and they did not disappoint.  The BLACKHAWK SHOT Show Video above is one of the most informative of our videos, because their representative Chuck Buis does an amazing job explaining the various holsters and what they can be used for.  Even seasoned hunters and shooters can learn from this video interview, and that’s awesome.

Of course, because this is BLACKHAWK, you’ll get to see the SERPA holster system.  This system allows you to make the same draw every time, with a wide variety of handguns.  As they are spring-loaded holsters, as soon as your gun is placed back in the holster, it is locked in.  These holsters are outstanding, which is why the US Marines have recently adopted them for use.  If they’re good enough for the Marines, I’d bet they’re good enough for you.

As Chuck and Trevor say, BLACKHAWK is about more than just SERPA.  They have great leather and nylon holsters for traditionalists and sport shooters.  They have concealed holsters that are both comfortable and easy to access.  Very interesting.

I’d rather you learn all the great info about BLACKHAWK holsters from Chuck and Trevor, as they’re better able to convey the amazing features on these great holsters!  Unfortunately, we don’t have any footage of Trevor doing cartwheels yet, but we’ll keep bugging him.  Maybe we’ll have a follow up video sometime!

Fobus Holster SHOT show by GearExpert

New Fobus Holsters from SHOT Show – Fobus LC-9, Fobus Kel-Tec & More!

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Brian

This Fobus SHOT Show video interview shows off some of the new models from Fobus this year.  A number of great new holster options, from injected molded paddle holsters and tactical thigh rigs to MOLLE system holsters.

Trevor and Fobus’ Jerry Plum talk about the various models and how consistent they are, which is really important from one holster to another because of muscle memory.  You don’t want to train using one holster, switch to another, and find that your draw or re-holstering style has completely changed.  Very cool.  Very interesting.  And as Trevor points out, Fobus is a great company to work with.  We can always get the gear we need from them quickly and easily.  No hassles and great products?  It has to be Fobus.  Check out the video now!

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