Archive for October, 2013

Lots of new things coming in based on local customer feedback

Philadelphia Police SuppliesWe did an entire overhaul of our Broomall showroom this year and probable 85% of the new products we have in are things that our local Police Departments have asked us to bring in.   If you’re a Glock 21 owner, we’ve probable got more Glock 21 holsters in our store than for any other firearm.   Being this close to some of the largest police departments in the State, we have to carry a lot of inventory to make sure we are always relevant to what our customers needs and wants.   Recently we started stocking more of the Safariland  holsters, not just the duty holsters, but paddle holsters that hold the TLR-1S Flashlights.   Many of our customers have been asking for items like this for off duty or even for going to court.

This is industry is very flood in some regards but there are always new products coming out that do things better than their competitors and if you  don’t attend some of the National and International Trade shows you won’t really have a clue what is going on  in the industry.  In recent months we have been attending shows and many Philadelphia Police Supplies are changing over from previous brands.   More AR15 and Glock firearm accessories are hitting the streets like the Glock Trijicon High Definition sights.   Most Cops have learned to get with the program and improve their ability to see at night.   Streamlight Flashlights have made  huge advancements in the brightness of their lights and many of the new products are an 85% improvement over last  years models.

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Measure rifle cases and what effects accessorizing your AR15

bulldog gun casesWe sold a boat load of gun cases in recent weeks and most of it because people are looking to keep their guns protected as well as organized.   We’ve been getting a lot of horror stories from local police departments about the gear they have an all of the things that can and will go wrong with hard use.   I would probable say that most SWAT guys spend more time carrying firearms around, either in a car or in and out of a Police Department.   Some Cops tell me they don’t like flashlights that have click switches.  Why?  because they’ve had enough experience with them to know that they break, its a major difference between Surefire and a lot of the Streamlight flashlight product lines.   Weapon mounted lights also can get trick with the rifle cases and here’s some pointers on what to think about.

I’ve you’ve got a pressure switch, I hope you’ve looked into the failure rates with them and why so many pros don’t even mount them on their guns.   When you are choosing a gun case you might want to look at the Bulldog gun cases if you just want to clean up your mags and maybe label the gun case for a specific firearm and keep your Magpul Pmags and sight in tools in their.   Zippers are also something else to think about because the sturdyness of a gun case is something you can feel as soon as you pick it up.    The differences between a firearm may not be just the barrel length, it’s more about the OAL of a firearm because butt stocks and grips and optics can also have an impact on whether or  not a certain type of tactical nylon gun case is going to work for you.

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Tru-Spec product line overview- Tactical Shirt options

truspec shirtsI have been very new to the Tru-Spec product line since I have so many shirts from the Woolrich Elite Series Tactical and the Eotac product lines.   Most of the shirts are still in very good condition.   When we moved on from that Era of tactical clothing, we dealt with far more of the polyester styles of clothing, at first most of these felt too hard and not as soft, but I’ve been won over to adding the Tru-Spec ultra-lightweight tactical shirts to my personal inventory.   I got around to testing out these items right at the tail end of the summer and I was very happy with them.  Having the proper venting is a must and next time the weather warms up I will also be testing out and  posting reviews about the Blackhawk Warrior wear.  Gusseted arms and venting are things that are going to be about how well it matches up to your body type.  The best thing about the Tru-Spec product line is they really give us a good option for people accustomed to the 5.11 product line.

The stiffer feel of the Tru-Spec polyester/cotton rip stop material seems to be more fitting for those in uniform and are fell less maintenance than some of the 100% cotton ripstop.   Having a material that doesn’t shrink, fade or fall apart is not that common and the TruSpec shirts we sell have a very high approval rating in this regard.   Their selection of performance polos and different fitting cotton polos have large selection of color options as well as long and short sleeve.   Many of our local departments have switched over to the Tru-Spec 24.7 Series polos and now that Tru-Spec has started doing silk screening and embroidering it’s really helped us to grow our business.

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Aimpoint vs Eotech vs Trijicon and the various options for short, medium and longer range engagements

eotech sightsWe just filled out dealer listing for the Aimpoint product line and this was based on a large customer base that wanted it.   We were actually contacted directly by Aimpoint to carry their product line because so many people came in here and wanted it.  We usually listen to what are customers are asking for and depending on what it is, we fill out the dealer applications and order what we know is going to move.   The Aimpoint Patrol Optic seems to be the biggest hit and not because it’s something fancy, it’s because it’s not that expensive and it gets the job done.  We still have a large selection of combat optics because our customers are Military, Law Enforcement and even just competition shooters.   The Trijicon optics are higher priced but there are certain levels our customers.

If  you want adjustable power, which is something many law enforcement are asking for, you may want to think about the Trijicon SRS sight or go with the Eotech sights.   The most popular sights right now are the EXPS2-0 and the XPS2-0, these Eotech sights have a more compact look to them and can really help remove the bulk from your AR15.   The Eotech 512 is very popular if you want to stick with AA batteries and don’t want to use a Magnifier but with the Eotech 556 you can have the advantage of having left side access to the adjustable power levels and still access them when using a magnifier.   Various gun  owners that own everything from a Windham AR15 to a Spikes or LWRC M6A2 rifle use Eotech sights, why, because they have good reputations for CQB.

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Tactical holsters, duty holsters and off duty holster options for Safariland

safariland holstersWe’ve expanded our tactical holster line in recent months and really moved away from just CCW style holsters and into a lot of Law Enforcement products.  It seems that a lot of our local Delaware County Police Departments and even Philadelphia Police are not happy with various vendors and then there are also a lot of tactical teams that do different types of training than Patrolmen and want various holsters with flashlights.   Most Patrolmen want to keep their load as light as possible so sometimes tasers and pepper sprays sit back in the locker.   We had some requests for Safariland Level III holsters for Glock 21 and Glock 38 guns so we decided to check out some of their Paddle holsters that hold the TLR1 flashlights.

The Glock 21 seems to have taken over most of the Delaware County and now the Pennsylvania State Police.   The State Police have switched from the Glock 38 to the Safariland holsters that hold the Glock 21.     They are using the Surefire X300 as opposed to most Police in our using the TLR1 Flashlights.   Its sometimes easier for Police to take their duty guns and just use a paddle holster if they have to appear in Court.   We are still in the early stages of figuring out what type of holsters we should stock because just a change on one person at a Police Department can mean a change in firearms and duty gear.   Switching from the Safariland 6280  holster to the 5188-3832 holster is a very easy thing and we have a store full of them for right handed and left handed shooters.

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Customizing cleaning kits to your firearms

Otis gun cleaning kitsI have purchased probable close to 5 types of cleaning kits in my lifetime and I believe I have all of the parts minus one cleaning rod, and possible a few brushes.   I have learned that certain cleaning kits are better for certain firearms and others are mostly for traveling.  The clean kit i use the most is probable the Otis 556 cleaning kit but I still resort to a one piece cleaning rod.   Boresnakes are very usefull but they are caliber specific and with the Otis gun cleaning system you can basically have a multi caliber gun cleaning cord.   The only negative I find with the Otis kits is sometimes the parts fall out of the foam and you will have too many parts if you buy too many kits.  It’s best to learn the pros and cons of a system like this because you may want to consider getting the larger universal cleaning system.

When it comes to gun lubrication, I’m not sure if Otis is going to come out with a green cleaning system like M-Pro7 or Slip 2000.   I still  use several lubes and gun grease but the Otis gun cleaning kits are still in wide use in my gun collection.   I find this system to be excellent for the AR15 rifles as well as 22 caliber guns like my Ruger 10/22 and my Marlin 882 22magnum.   I still prefer a cleaning rod for bolt actions and my DS FAL rifle.   I personally have not noticed any difference in how well the items clean, but I do notice differences in the time it takes to actually clean a firearm.  Every firearm disassembles differently and I choose the gun cleaning system accordingly.

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Smith Optics Boogie regulator reviews after 2yrs

Smith Optics Elite boogie regulatorWhen we first found out about the Smith Optics Elite boogie regulator, we were shocked at the price point.   $40 for a ballistic optic sounds too low for an optics company that puts out $180 Turbo goggles.  The first experiences I had with them were not great because I immediately had fogging issues, but this really is one of those items that you need to know why it was designed the way it is.   This goggle is designed for people that are constantly on the move, jumpers, airsoft and even bikers love these.   I’ve got lots of biker friends that have told me of all of the stories of people getting hit in the face by debris and ballistic eyewear means as much to them as someone on a firing range.   People that like to “ride” know what I’m talking about and we’ve had several Harley’s parked in front of our store.

We hear references to ESS eyewear, and Wiley X, and Smith Optics are priced way up there but if you understand the venting system on the Smith Optics Elite eyewear this eyewear may be for you and it’s only $40.   I personally have used the Smith Optics Elite boogie regulators playing paintball but most are using them for airsoft.   Even in that business you gotta wear good eyewear but if you aren’t sure what to get, buying online or finding a store near you that stock this product line is a way to get a hold of them unless you know somebody that already has them.  Usually the best way to know if you want something is to ask around and get first hand feedback.

 

 

 

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New inventory and new colors this Fall

TruSpec softshell jacketsWe will be getting a sneak peak at the Fall Tru-Spec outwear sometimes this week and we heard TruSpec will be doing another Softshell jacket promo in late November or early December.   The Sofshell jacket really is an excellent water proof jacket even though i’ve been  in situations where the jacket worked and I’d say I was dry.  I won’t use it for scuba diving but this is a very versatile jacket to use for most of the year.   I have a closet with heavy winter jackets and rain coats that I rarely use because the bright yellow rain gear is just too goofy looking to wear around except while working traffic or major events.  I have to worry about getting in and out of cars and keeping my gear in easy to reach locations and this means pulling my knives and flashlights out of my pants pockets and moving them up to the jacket.

We do sell the Tru-Spec waterproof pants and some other outwear but much of that look Police uniforms, these jackets are something that looks like a security or military contractor, TruSpec Softshell jackets also have velcro patches so you can attach any Team emblem or security department or just an American Flag.  We recently started selling the Blackhawk Patches until Elite Survival Systems approached us and made up several other color patterns.   This Jacket is something we have in stock for the most part of the year due to it’s versatility and according to the positive product reviews from local Law Enforcement.  A large part of the Upper Police Department are now wearing our stuff.

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Galco Kingtuk Reviews and lots of feedback

Galco holstersI have a ton of holsters in my closet, mostly nylon ones I picked up at various points of my gun carrying carrier.   Most of them don’t get used but they are still there because I may occasionally use them for open carry or when I am going on a hike.   I use various IWB holsters in the summer but have retired my leather ones because they don’t hold  up very well in the Pennsylvania summers because it can get pretty darn  hot up here and Kydex holsters are what I switch to.  I have tried various kydex holster companies, and some of them fit me well, but there are always small things about them that I wish would get improved.   Most of the kydex holsters I’ve used in the past broke up on me in less than 2 years and I just stopped buying certain brands.  There is still a desire for leather holsters because they look nice, but leather is not as good in the long term for re-holstering firearms.

I have checked out some of the Crossbreed holsters after many of my friends have suggested them, but after looking through some of my dealer product lines I found something very close.   The Kingtuk holster made by Galco Holsters are a great find,  I’ve sold many to Detectives and CCW holders that have not come back and complained about them.   Some of the Desantis IWB holsters like the Scorpion didn’t hold up because the clips were made of kydex and broke after several weeks of wearing them.  The Kingtuk holsters are a tuckable holster that work well with the Sig 229, Sig 220 and most all of the Glock holster including the larger framed Glock 21.

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Elite Survival bags

Elite Survival bagsOne of the things that made  us go with being a stocking dealer for various tactical gun case, range bags, and modern computer cases like the Elite Survival Messenger bag was because so many people were calling us on the phone and asking us all of the technical specs for various products we had listed on our website.   One thing we have found is that everyone can tell you the length of their rifle barrel but nobody has a clue what the overall length of their AR15 is.    Laptops and various technical gadgets are the same thing, everyone knows their monitory size but nobody knows what bag is going to fit it.  Sometimes its easier to just bring your gear in and see.   Sometimes people need to pack up their gear and see if it all fits in, we understand.

The Elite Survival systems tactical messenger bag has a waterproof compartment that protects electronics from the elements.   More of the Elite Survival  bags have features that are very well designed and sometimes we get questions from customers and have to ask the manufacturer why they did what they did and then pass it on to the customer so they really understand what they are getting and why a tactical backpack or carry bag is what it is.  Lots of people are asking for I-phone cases because so many Police and Military personnel are using them and need them on a tactical vest.   There are some really neat hydration systems, so stop  in and check them out.

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