YQ from United States, OH Public Profile

I picked this up to organize my chokes. I run Carlson extended chokes in 3gun and carry 3 for each gun. Case size is perfect for 6 extended chokes. I don’t use the plastic tubes but may be a good bonus for folks with standard size chokes.

When I decided to get into 3-gun, I did a lot of reading on gear. These seem fairly new, but I figured they had to be good quality if they have the Safariland name. Indeed, these are rock solid. The aluminum portions are probably way thicker than they need to be, but the weight isn't obscene. These certainly hold the shells better than any other caddy I have tried. I mainly run the Invictus Practical eight-plates right now because I load doubles, but I got this to continue to practice quad loading.

I ordered the 1911 version of this holster for my STI DVC, hoping there would be a way to swap out the nub that goes in the tip of the barrel, but alas there was no easy solution. That said, I was impressed by the overall build quality, fit and finish when I tried it with a different 1911. I’m not sure if I’ll go with a 2 point Mount like this or a single point that only attaches to the trigger guard, but for now I’m just running a GLS on a the USPSA Mount.

I did a lot of reading on belts before buying anything. I ended up disappointed in the ELS belt, but i do prefer the ELS fork/plate setup over the TekLok system. The down side is that I have to drill holes in my new DAA belt, but they are relatively small holes, and I really like the quick detach capability. The kit is pretty expensive for what it is, but it's worth it in my opinion.

If you are looking for the most technologically advanced long strip of Velcro, this isn’t it. If you want a simple inner belt to support your outer competition belt, this will do. I’ve had this as well as the DAA. Minus some minor graphics on the DAA, they are essentially the same thing. Good solid product for a very reasonable price.

Let me start off by saying that a lot of my review is personal preference. I wanted a good stuff competition belt and I like the Safariland ELS fork/plate system, so this belt made sense to try. I do like that the ELS plates attached through the prefabbed holes in the belt, which means you get more velcro attachment to the inner belt vs. tekloks. However, I tried two of these belts and there were several locations where the hole pattern was inconsistent and didn't allow the ELS plate holes to align (you could move the plate one hole left/right and be ok).

I also didn't like the fastening system, which was difficult to get fastened since the two prongs have to align almost perfectly when you put the outer belt onto your inner belt. This gets even more complicated if, like most people, you want to fasten it in the back to maximize your equipment mounting real estate on the front.

At first I just figured this was something I would just have to get used to, but then i did some reading on other competition belts and decided to try a DAA Competition/Premium belt. These have a similar design with inner/outer belts, but the outer belt also uses velcro to fasten to itself, with a small wrap-around strap to keep the end from catching on anything. While this may not sound as "clean" as the Safariland method, the adjustment is infinitely variable and I am able to install the belt much more quickly and consistently, even in the back. The down side is that for attachments you eithe

I purchased this light to compare to my Streamlight TLR-1 HL, which I love. The APL is about the width of most of my pistols, which makes it very holster-friendly and sleek. Obviously, there are some tradeoffs in that the APL only has one battery (TLR-1 has two) and the APL is only rated at 400 lumens (TLR-1 is 800 lumens). I don't feel like the TLR-1 is too bulky by any means, but I figured it can't hurt to have some options. I will say that the TLR-1 does not seem twice as bright as the APL, though there is some obvious difference. I actually prefer the controls on the TLR-1 a bit, but that is personal preference. The APL is mainly plastic, so it doesn't feel quite as durable as the all-aluminum TLR-1, but the APL doesn't feel cheap or cheesy by any means. Overall, I decided to keep it just for fun.

I typically run Aimpoints and Eotechs but decided to give this a go for a more authentic look on my X95. Full disclosure, I much prefer active illumination, which I knew, and the only thing I don't like about the M21 is the lack of reticle brightness and adjustability, and there is no etched black base reticle like an ACOG (that you could use with the fiber optic covered). That aside, the optic is rock solid, the mount is rock solid. I assume the glass is tinted to provide more contrast with the passive reticle, but its not too dark. I really like the triangle reticle, similar aiming strategy to an ACOG. Overall, this is a solidly build optic, it's just not for me.

I had a hard time dropping so much money on a fairly simple item, but I figured that so many people love them, it's worth a shot. I still prefer my Eotechs for 3-gun type stuff, but if you are looking for a light, compact, rugged optic with incredible battery life, this is a great option. To be clear, i have tried a dozen or so red dots (and still have several of them), and for a lot of people, this may not be worth the extra dough. I really like the clarity of the glass (no tint like most others). I am not a fan of the LRP mount that came with mine as it did not cowitness in the center (off to the right right) and the latching seemed less robust than others like the Larue or American Defense. The optic itself though is great.

I got this to go on my FNX45 to complete the tacticool package but ended up putting it on my nightstand gun. The controls are easy to manipulate (I am not a fan of the pressure switch options, prefer this). Switch is nice in that it can latch, do momentary, and there's even a strobe feature. I was impressed at the quality given the relatively low price point.