Month: January 2020

By: Fifty Shades of FDE

5.11 has always been about their motto: Always Be Ready. This year they want to make sure that includes everyone from all walks of life and not just the first responders in the tactical industry. There are more tools, knives, illumination tools and nylon goods that cover different price ranges.

The Atlas Shoe System was designed around making sure someone’s actual work weight is covered, not just their normal weight. For an example, a police officer weighing in at 200 pounds normal weight is about give or take 230 pounds actual work weight when they go 10-8 with vest, duty belt and everything on it. If they’re on SWAT and get activated, they could be gaining an additional 10 to 30 pounds depending on their loadout. The Atlas features a Ecofoam proprietary sole that is lightweight that has a higher compression and return rate. This will carry the work weight with more comfort on your feet.

The Atlas is available in trainers, mid height and full boot. The duty boot has a side zipper and improved airflow built in.

The Rush 100 pack is a fully adjustable load bearing backpack. It features a large main compartment that has a divider if you so choose to use it that will create a separate lower compartment that is accessible from the outside towards the bottom. It features a frame for torsion control that could be molded to your back.

There’s plenty more coming from 5.11 this year so be on the lookout!

By: Fifty Shades of FDE

The tactical weapon light forecast shows a high chance of REIN. Cloud Defensive showed up to SHOT Show 2020 with their version of the traditional WML: the REIN (Rail mounted Environmental IllumiNator), not the best acronym but it goes with the whole Cloud theme.

The REIN comes in two sizes. The full size REIN will take a 18650 battery and the Micro will take a 13650 battery. They take traditional mounting options and will ship with a picatinny rail mount.

Tentative performance is very potent. The REIN will have 1300+ lumens and over 58K candela. The light temperature will stay warm at 4K. Runtime for the full size REIN is 85-120 minutes, depending on the battery and the Micro will have understandably less.

The tailcap will feature a push button and a remote switch that comes out of the side. The button and remote switch are independent of each other should on fail, you still have one that does. The remote switch will go into a new generation LCS mount.

Patented Battery Jack. Since there isn’t a standardized size for 18650s, the guys at Cloud Defensive came out with the battery jack which keeps the battery from bouncing back and forth during recoil.

The REIN forecast according to Cloud Defensive will be coming in around April.

If you’re at SHOT, visit their booth at N351 in the Next Level section.

To watch my interview with Sean McCauley, click here:

Check www.clouddefensive.com for updates.

Don’t forget to use code: 50shades at checkout for a discount on your entire order!

By Fifty Shades of FDE

Adams Arms introduced their custom Glock slides in the past and now they are offering a complete firearm, the AA19.

Their custom slide will have OEM parts, optic cut out, a polymer frame with the Vickers Tactical Carry Trigger by Tango Down. It comes with a cover plate for the cut out. Optic specific plates will be an available option.

The AA19 is a Compact size, similar to the Glock 19 platform. For the time being, the included barrel will be a threaded one with a thread protector. This is a serialized firearm and will require shipment to a FFL. MSRP is at $999.99 and should be available soon.

New also this year is their rail. It has been redesigned, lightened with a extended barrel nut to increase strength and rigidity. The rail will accommodate both 5.56 and 7.62 systems instead of being separate offerings.

For more information, please visit www.adamsarms.net

By: Fifty Shades of FDE

I am back in Vegas for SHOT Show 2020. Today was the Industry Day at the Range. If you’ve never been, it’s like a test drive of the latest products in the Industry where ammo is provided and you don’t worry about cleaning any weapons afterwards.

I stopped by the Eotech booth to check out their new magnified optics.

The G43 is a micro version of their proven G33 3X. It is one of the most compact and light weight magnifiers. It features adjustments without the use of tools. The glass is clean and crisp just as the G33 and it makes shooting the targets at the end of the berm an easy task with greater accuracy.

Need more magnification? No problem! The G45 gives you 5x the magnification in a similar sized package of the G33. That extra 2x magnification allowed me to see the targets closer to get more precision on my shots.

On the LPVO or Low Power Variable Optics side, the Vudu 1-8×24 SFP (Second Focal Plane) scope has 2x more magnification over their 1-6×24 FFP with a simpler reticle that stays the same no matter the magnification level. Getting zoomed in at 8x made hitting the steel targets a piece of cake and the throw lever is probably the best on any LPVO that I’ve used.

I also took a look at the Vudu 5-25×50 FFP with the Horus H59 reticle. This was released a little over a year ago and I shot it on top of a 5.56×45 bolt gun that was suppressed with a GSL Technology suppressor. The whole setup was a great matchup. I was hitting the hostage target with ease and the suppressor took out a lot of the noise and recoil.

The Eotech HWS is a very fast system for CQB and when you need to reach out further or get more information for PID, the flip on magnifiers are very versatile and the Vudu line gives you a more traditional scope with even more magnification. Eotech seems to have you cover from short to longer ranges with their high quality optics.

By: Fifty Shades of FDE

I met with Wild Things team last year for the first time. This time around I visited them at their booth, #146.

Wild Things Gear are known for their high quality cold weather apparel. They added the White Out Overwhite Jacket and Pant. This system also has in it’s lineup, a cover for their knuckle roaster, pack as well as for helmets.

The Overwhite Jacket and Pant are more than a cover to help blend in with the Multicam Alpine pattern; they are an extra layer that adds resistance to the wind, water as well as IR signature.

Everything Wild Things Gear manufactures is done by Americans with materials sourced here in the United States in order to have the highest level of quality control and performance.

There will be more products coming down the line.

Please visit www.wildthingsgear.com for more information.