Accessories

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(GunReports.com) -- Shootmyash, a software publisher and manufacturer of smart-targets known as a 'SmartAsh' for the Airsoft market, announced today that it is open for business.

For more years than I'd care to recall I've had a gun secluded on my person somewhere. No, I didn't always have a CCW permit. During all those years I've never had to present the gun to stop a fight, but many times along the way I was mighty glad I was armed.

Here at Gun Tests we do not often address intangibles. We measure performance in a logical manner. We test firearms, devices, and ammunition in a repeatable and verifiable manner. We do so in order to produce a level playing field for products. This is a credible standard for comparison. Just the same, sometimes a concept is worth a hard look. This month we are addressing the concept and execution of holsters that are designed to fill more than one mission. We have explored the concept and found that, at least in the case of some of the holsters tested, the concept is viable.

We wondered, is it possible to have a holster that fulfills several different jobs. Or would we find the truth of the adage, "jack of all trades—and master of none," and learn that a certain holster style is suited only to a single style of deployment? There have been numerous multi-function holsters advertised to fill more than one mission. We chose to cover six holsters that have been advertised as multiple-role holsters. These range from more-or-less standard holsters with extra belt loops to a holster with multi-directional belt loops.

But inquisitive GT readers (you know who you are) will challenge: Why compromise at all? Why not simply choose a single holster for each mission? Realistically, who wants to have to swap rigs to move from car to office to restaurant, especially for those of us living in a true four-season climate? If one holster can work inside the waistband (IWB) for concealment, as a strong-side belt scabbard offering real speed and comfort, and as a cross-draw holster for those who are seated or driving most of the day, that would indeed be a valuable piece of kit. Also, with quality custom leather and Kydex holsters approaching $100 dollars or more, it is important that we make a good choice.

Our test products were the Ted Blocker X 16, $97; Tauris Double Shift, $160; K&D Holsters' Thunderbird Defender, $95; Raven Concealment Systems Phantom, $90 (which includes an optional $20 loop kit); Simply Rugged Tribute, $95; (which includes $10 for IWB loops); and the Classic Old West Styles Four Way Holster, $38.

To start, we examined these units with an eye toward assessing the use of good materials, professional surface finish, and tight, durable stitching. How well the holsters function in the field is another matter, so we tested these holsters on the body extensively. Several team members wore a rig for at least a week each, then traded off holsters to various raters. We also drew handguns from them and shot targets at a range.

In particular, we focused on cant and rake during our field and shooting assessments. Cant is the angle of the holster away from the body. Rake is the angle of the muzzle. If the muzzle is pointed to the rear or spine of the holster, it's is a "rear rake" design. Almost all holsters are a rear rake design. A very few are a neutral cant, useful for the most part with compact handguns. The forward rake holster is most often seen as a competition holster for very tall shooters. A forward rake would expose the butt to printing on the garments and would be unsuitable in a concealed-carry holster.

At the end of the field and range work, we compiled the tester's pro-and-con comments during a roundtable discussion. To avoid a lackluster "jack of all trades, master of none" nomination, the holsters had to receive an A grade in one of their design missions and at least a B grade in the second. In other words, a strong-side holster that could be carried as an IWB needed an A grade as a strong side and a B grade as an IWB to pass.

(GunReports.com) –- Hunter Safety System has introduced a new line of safety vests designed just for the ever-increasing number of women hunters taking to treestands. The new Lady Pro Series safety harnesses offer all the features of the regular Pro Series HSS vest but with refinements specifically designed with the female physique.

(GunReports.com) -- Auction Arms, the official auction site of the NRA, and GunReports.Com have announced a letter of intent to establish the Auction Arms News Bureau, a weekly E-Letter that will deliver gun news, pricing trends and other information for the serious shooter.

(GunReports.com) — For at least the rest of the week, GunReports.com will continue to compile links to stories that document the threats being made to 2nd Amendment and other speech and property rights under the pretext of the Tucson tragedy.

(GunReports.com) -- Gun Owners of America issued an email alert in response to New York Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy's call for magazine and gun show bans in the wake of shooting of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords over the weekend.

(GunReports.com) -- Crimson Trace has announced the LG-412 Laserguard for the new Ruger LC9. The laserguard fits on the the trigger guard of Ruger's latest polymer-frame carry gun. Pre-zeroed from the factory, the Laserguard can be fine tuned by the individual user and will run for continuously for four hours on one 1/3N battery.

(GunReports.com) — Stealth Cam’s new Scouting Camera is a compact camera that is easy to conceal in the woods and features a 640x480 digital video with audio (10-180 seconds).

(GunReports.com) – DeSantis Gunhide is making an Intruder holster for the Ruger LCP 380 pistol and a Mini Slide style holster for the Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm/40cal Full-size and Compact.

(GunReports.com) – Bushmaster Firearms new Bore Squeeg-ETM Cleaning System is a pull-through system that includes what the company calls the Bore Squeeg-E, made from a proprietary polymer that is not affected by cleaning chemicals. It is designed to scrape the lands and grooves of the bore to a mirror-clean condition and keep abrasive carbon fouling from harming the bore. The Bore Squeeg-E is attached to a free rotating cleaning cable, preventing the tools from loosening while being pulled through the helical rifling.