Tactical

A plate carrier for the big boys: AR500’s Testudo Gen 2 is a good pick for large frames

Plate carriers are among the most fiercely debated pieces of kit on the market today and it’s easy to see why. With so many options and prices that can range from thirty bucks to three hundred, just about everybody has an opinion on what you need for your purposes. Like most things, it’s been my experience that neither the cheapest nor the most expensive options on the market are right for most users, and what really matters is finding the kit that works best for you, rather than the one that’ll score you the most cool-guy points in the Tacticool subreddits.

AR500 offers a number of different kinds of plate carriers meant to meet various needs and budgets. I opted to review the Testudo Gen 2 because it can support both standard 10″ by 12″ ballistic plates as well as the larger 11″ by 14″ plates reserved for those of us that shop at Big and Tall outlets. I’m not as skinny as I was on active duty, so the Testudo also offers the added benefit of not making me look like a gorilla in a tank top.

I ran this carrier with plates provided to me by ShotStop that are among the lightest on the market, which when combined with the 3d webbing AR500 uses on most of the interior of this plate carrier, made running and gunning in the Georgia woods survivable even in June when the humidity is just north of what you’ll find in the Amazon rain forest. The combination of light weight and breathability made my range session not only tolerable, but as pleasant as Georgia summers can get.

At $160, this probably isn’t the right plate carrier for preppers that like to stockpile their gear but rarely run and gun in their kit. If, however, you’re a bigger dude that wears your plate carrier for work, the 3D webbing and good quality stitching make this an excellent choice. That same 3D webbing, however, can be pretty abrasive if you’re wearing a thin undershirt. I’d imagine that gets better over time, but at least so far, I’ve stuck to thick tee shirts and had no trouble.

You can get your own Testudo Gen 2 Plate Carrier from AR500 Armor here.

And you can get your own ShotStop Ballistic plates here.

RavenCrest Tactical Out the Front Knife, the Guardian is Ready When You Need It

Knives are useful tools. Often when you need a knife, one of your hands is already occupied. Auto knives and assisted opening knives are great. When you’re done with the knife, closing it safely, while your hand is still occupied, can be a pain or even a hazard to put away.

RavenCrest Tactical OTF (out the front) knives are a great option for those of you looking to solve the open and close problem that knives can present when your hands are occupied.

I recently got my hands on the RavenCrest Tactical “Guardian” OTF knife equipped with a Tanto Serrated blade and I’ve fallen in love with it. I love how it sits deep in my pocket and has a flat feel to it. Pulling it out of the pocket, it opens with ease with the push of my thumb and closes back up just as easily.

Putting the business end of the blade up against an object to simulate my leg, the blade quickly stops and loses resistance. A quick flick of the wrist to put the blade back out and it’s back in business, opening and closing with the push of a button.

The Guardian OTF knife feels like quality in your hand with a balance and weight that just feels right. This version of the knife is lighter than its predecessor with the use of CNC Aviation Aluminum, coming in at 200g total weight. The blade is CNC 440C Stainless Steel with a hardness of 58HRC. The blade is 4 inches long and the total length open is 9.5 inches. The handle has a smart and modern “tire tread” textured grip that gives it a positive seat in your hand when you get to work with it.

RavenCrest Guardian OTF knives also feature a pocket clip with a glass breaker built in, available when you need it.

RavenCrest backs their knives for life. Every OTF Knife from RavenCrest has a Lifetime Warranty. If your RavenCrest knife fails you for any reason, simply send it back to them and they will first attempt to repair the knife. If the knife is beyond repair, they will replace it with a new one.

RavenCrest Tactical is a family owned and operated business out of Mesa, Arizona with a mission to build and develop tactical products that will serve their operators well for a lifetime.

If you’re looking for a great tool for your pocket, a supplement to your self-defense, or a great steak knife while one-handed; this knife might just be for you. Prior to having this knife in my hands, I would have struggled with justifying the price point. Now that I’ve carried it on duty for a few weeks, I’m in love with it and would have no problems coughing up the cash (just don’t tell my wife!)

DETAILS

Total Length: 24.13cm / 9.5in
Blade Length: 10.16cm / 4in
Blade Thickness: 0.3175cm / .125in
Blade Width: 2.54cm / 1in
Blade Material: CNC 440C Stainless Steel
Handle: CNC Aviation Aluminum
Hardness: 58HRC **
Total Weight: 200g / 7oz
MSRP $269.00

Photos by author

Tactipup Extreme Collar and Leash: Tactical dog gear, Perfected

On a nice sunny day, I decided to take Loki (my Wirehair Pointing Griffon) for a trip to the beach. The family and I decided on the Sequalitchew (try to say it out loud) Creek Trail. The trailhead starts at the Depont city hall (WA) and descends towards the ocean for about 1.5 miles (3-mile round trip). It’s an easy walk, which first takes you through traditional Washington forests (Ferns, Cedars, etc.), and as you come to the ocean there is a pedestrian tunnel with disconnected timeworn train tracks. You cannot see the ocean until you come out of the tunnel, which makes it a unique experience. The beach is composed of large rocks (similar to river rocks), and old pier pilings scattered around.

Tactipup Extreme Collar & Leash — Pedestrian tunnel at the end of the Sequalitchew Creek Trail

Loki decided to take a quick dip in the frigid Puget Sound waters while we were at the beach. When we got back to my truck I needed to dry him off, so I took his collar off and then loaded him into the truck. What I didn’t realize, until I got home, was that I had left his collar on the back bumper of my truck. Loki had that collar for a little over a year and it was a bummer that I lost it, but it meant that we were in the market for a new one.

I have had the standard ½-1” nylon and leather collars before and although these collars worked fine, I really wanted to get something different. After doing a little cruising on the internet I came across Tactipup, a company specializing in tactical style dog collars and leashes. Their website describes the company as a:

“Law enforcement family owned business based out of the Tampa Bay Florida Area. Our company started when we were searching for stylish tactical style dog collars and leashes made in the USA and could not find anything we got excited about. We started making our own collars to fill the void, and quickly found that lots of people were looking for the same thing and we started selling these collars online. Our collars and leashes are built with an extreme focus on perfection. If a collar is made and every last detail is not perfect, we will throw it away and start over. Our customers do not pay us for middle of the road quality and we’re certainly not sending something out that we’re not proud of.”

The first thing I noticed was just how cool these collars looked. There is a range of color options (mostly different camouflage patterns): multicam (green, alpine, arid, tropic, and black), Kryptek (mandrake, highlander, nomad, raid and typhon), non-camouflage patterned (blue and red). They are wider than your average collar coming in at 1.5” (they have a lite version at 1” if you prefer a smaller collar) and they’re all custom fit based on your dog’s neck size. All you need to do is provide your dog’s neck size. To measure you can take a length of rope (550 cord, string, whatever) and wrap it around your dog’s neck at the thickest area making sure you can fit 2 fingers between the rope and your dog’s neck.

There were a ton of different designs to choose from. Some had extra handles, some Velcro panels for your patch collections. I ended up settling on the Extreme Custom Embroidered Collar. I picked this one mainly because I wanted Loki’s name on the collar, and the design Tactipup uses for this is awesome. You can pick a counter-color so the name pops, or a matching color so it’s a little more subtle. Finally, I finished off the collar design with a subdued American flag patch because, America.

Aside from collars Tactipup also has a line of leashes: Ultra tactical, and Extreme tactical. The real difference between the two is the clasp hardware. The Ultra has a standard dog leash clasp while the Extreme uses a Kong Frog connector give it a more aggressive appearance and more overall strength. Both leashes come in varying lengths you just select the length which works best for you.

I was in a bit of a bind because I was supposed to be leaving for Canada in a few days and I really needed a collar before we left. After ordering the gear I reached out to Tactipup and told them of my time crunch. I was blown away by the customer service I was provided. Not only were they willing to expedite the order (remember it was a customs order), they worked with me on shipping to make sure it would arrive before I left on my trip. I really can’t say enough good things about the customer service I experienced.

When the gear arrived the first thing I noticed was the quality. The heavy webbing and quality stitching reminded me of the gear I used to get done at Tactical Tailor (was a small custom sewing shop specializing in pouches and military gear modifications-now is a large well-known company) while I was still in the Military. The custom embroidery turned out great, Loki’s name is clearly visible right beside his American flag patch. The collar is so different from what people normally see that I get stopped while walking him so folks can ask where I got it from.

I used the collar and leash while on our road trip to Canada, and Loki has used it every day since without issue. The only thing I hadn’t considered was the difference in the Extreme collars V-ring compared to standard rings on dog collars. It is thicker, so I needed to get a different ring set on Loki’s rabies/chip tags so that it could fit onto the V-ring. Not a big deal, but it is something you will run into if your State requires you to have certain tags on your dog.

If you are in the market for a collar that isn’t like all the other ones out there take a look at Tactipup’s line up.

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Hey ladies, Dene Adams has a holster solution for you

SHOT Show 2019 has helped me find a holster solution for the ladies in my life, Dene Adams a company making holsters for the ladies. Men – show this article to your gal. With the right holster, maybe she’ll want to start carrying concealed after all.

Founded on a Legacy, Holsters Made for Women

Founded on the legacy of Anna’s grandfather, Dene Adams supplies creative solutions for concealed carry with women in mind (and now a new line for men.)

Anna Taylor of Dene Adams has a passion for what she does and it shows in her creativity and enthusiasm for her products. Anna calls her holster creations a “compression concealed carry holster for women.” Anna’s innovation and design efforts allow women to carry concealed comfortably without a change in wardrobe.

I teach a basic pistol course for civilians and a question that I am frequently asked is from the ladies. “What holster options do you have for us women? I don’t want to wear a belt, I want to keep my pretty outfits.”

I usually show the ladies in my class a collection of holsters that I have that work for me. Kydex, leather, and even some plastic that are mostly OWB hip carry and some IWB appendix carry. These holsters work for me but I’m a big fella at 6’6″. I always wear a belt and usually a loose shirt that easily conceals even a large frame pistol. My girth helps with the concealment.

My big fella holster solutions don’t always work for the ladies.

Solutions by Anna

Instead of listening to a big dumb guy tell you why these holsters work and make me awkwardly talk about things like “the ladies,” “boob sweat,” “smoothing the back fat,” and stuff like that; how about you listen to Anna tell you about it.

How to Survive Anything: Be prepared for an inbound hurricane

Hurricane season on the Atlantic coast usually runs from the beginning of June to the end of November. So far this season, we’ve been fortunate to only see on full scale hurricane and a hand full of tropical storms meander their way toward shore. However, as history has shown, it only takes one serious storm to cripple an entire region of the nation.

If you find yourself in a hurricane’s path, there are a few things you can do around the house to help minimize your risks while you wait out the storm, as well as to help better position you for success once the storm is over… But remember, the best thing you can do to prepare for a hurricane is to get clear of the storm well before it makes landfall.

Stock up on non-perishable foods well ahead of time
Cover windows with plywood (use wood screws, not nails)
Store loose gear indoors or tie it down
Survey your property for trees or tree limbs that look like they could come down. If possible, deal with them ahead of time. If not, avoid rooms in the house near those threats.
Make sure you know how to turn off the gas, electricity, and water in your home.
Put together some water storage
Shelter in an interior room, away from any windows.

REFactor Advanced Special Operations (ASO) Bag

I’ll admit it. I have a bag problem. In my garage, there is an entire storage shelf where I keep my wide assortment of shoulder bags, rucks, backpacks, duffels… you name it. There are many categories and I have at least one entry from each. Although I have a wide variety of them, my favorite bags tend to be those with a high level of compartmentalization. Call it the former military in me, call it OCD, call it whatever you want but I enjoy having a well-organized bag.

So, when I found out about the Advanced Special Operations (ASO) bag from REFactor Tactical, I was very interested. The company, founded by a former Green Beret, has put a lot of attention into this bag and you can tell that it was designed for utility by people who have a lot of experience. That experience informed the design of the bag and some good forethought made it accessible to a very wide market. It comes in a variety of colors, including navy blue in case you want to be a little less conspicuous.

Advertised as a bag “specifically designed for the individual who needs the ability to travel with a tactical bag, without the tactical look” which is mostly accurate except for the color choices. I don’t think you’re fooling anyone if you carry a Multicam or Ranger Green bag but certainly, the black and blue offerings look ordinary. The ASO bag is constructed to last, using very sturdy stitching and durable materials. The bottom of the bag, as well as ¼ of the sides, are covered with a vinyl material which goes a long way toward keeping the contents of the bag dry, even if set in standing water.

The three exterior Velcro pockets are great for smaller items that need to be readily accessible. I tend to use those for snacks, simple first aid items and to stow the strap the bag comes with. Using those straps, this duffle can turn into a shoulder bag or a backpack in a matter of seconds. There is also a medium-sized zipper pocket on the right side of the bag which I use for a more extensive trauma kit, but could fit a few pistols, several magazines or boxes of ammunition, 3 boxes of power bars or whatever you prefer.

The large main compartment is large enough for me to fit my kit (plate carrier, helmet, battle belt) and a carbine. I have a folding stock on my rifle, but you could fit a full-sized AR15 if you detached the upper receiver. The lid to the main compartment has 3 mesh zipper pockets and the inside of the compartment has MOLLE lining in case you wanted to add pouches for even further compartmentalization.

Conclusion: The Advanced Special Operations bag is an excellent and sturdy addition to anyone’s range, bug-out or duty gear, especially if there is a desire or requirement for low-visibility.

Durability – 5/5

Design/Use of Space – 5/5

Color Choices – 4/5

Utility – 5/5

Author – Eddy South is a security consultant working in both the government and private sectors, where he works in full spectrum security operations in austere environments. Previously he served in the U.S. Army for 10 years as a Combat Engineer, Infantryman and finally Psychological Operations specialist for an SMU. He is an enthusiastic shooter, boater, snowboarder, gamer and traveler.