What makes LaserLyte such an ideal laser aiming device is that you won’t need a special holster or change your custom grips. This is a great opportunity to pick one up for your Springfield XD / XDM.

Just a few years ago having a 60 lumen xenon bulb qualified you as the Incredible Hulk. We then saw enterprising young companies (read working from their garage) introduce the light emitting diode that could be biased to generated 120 lumens – double the output! Tactical lighting has become such a lucrative business that companies with core competencies in other areas have begun to add lighting products to their lines. I’m not talking about household flashlights either! I am referring to 200+ lumens in an aluminum waterproof housing complete with striking bezels. So, just who is responsible for all this? A young company with tremendous vision, which recognized that a photon could become a weapon system, Surefire LLC in Fountain Valley, CA.

Companies come and go but few retain a conspicuous leadership position over the long run. Not the case with Surefire LLC who demonstrated, to all, at Shot Show 2012 that it was still king of the tactical lighting business with a slew of new product offerings in the 500 lumen output range. You’ve read it correctly, 500 whopping lumens of perfectly colimated kick-ass tactical light.

In the 500 lumen category two that I felt were particularly interesting is the M900L weapon mounted light and the Maximus headlamp.

Surefire's New For 2012 M900L - 500 lumens 90 mrt.

In the headlamp category. I was pleased to see that all Minimus headlamps now ship with three filters – red, blue and green. LONG OVERDUE.

If you require a higher output headlamp be sure to checkout the Surefire Maximus, which is rechargeable and offers a maximum rated output of 500 lumens.

These are but a few of Surefire’s new high output lights. Check them all out as they become available throughout the year.

CK-SWAT on S&W Airweight

If you own a Smith & Wesson J-Frame, like an Airweight, or a Taurus Judge you’ve probably had few choices in aiming laser. LaserLyte® from Cottonwood AZ has made that concern null and void with its introduction of the CK-SWAT laser.

The new LaserLyte^® CK-SWAT laser mounts easily underneath the grip and is the only laser system available that allows the customer to retain the factory grip and comfortably and easily holster the firearm. The CK-SWAT is also compatible with many aftermarket grips including Hogue^® and Pachmayr^®.

CK-SWAT on Taurus Judge

To install the LaserLyte^® CK-SWAT, choose one of the four included base plates that fit the revolver, remove the grip and screw the unit into place. Replace the grip and sight in the firearm with common X and Y adjustments. When ready to activate, simply press the button located at the back of the laser as you draw the firearm from the holster. The laser is easily programmable to either constant on or pulse mode.  The “auto-off” feature displays a unique flash after 5-minutes of operation, and automatically turns the unit off after 6-minutes. This feature can be reset at anytime to prevent accidental activation and battery depletion.

The LaserLyte^® CK-SWAT unit can also be easily removed and placed on any other compatible firearms.

LaserLyte^® CK-SWAT Specifications:

• Compatible Firearms: Fits all Smith & Wesson J-frame revolvers and all Taurus revolvers, including the Judge
• Power Output: Class IIIA, 5mw
• Laser module: 650nm
• Batteries: four 377 batteries
• Battery Life: 5 hrs. constant on, 10 hrs. pulse mode (normal usage*)
• Weight (with plate): .875 oz., 23 g
• Length/Width/Height: .85 in./.42 in./1 in., 21.59 mm/ 10.67 mm/ 25.40 mm
• Range at Night: 500 yd., 457.2 m
• MSRP: $149.95

For more information, visit www.laserlyte.com and on Facebook.

The company has launched the compact Night Com^® UV flashlight, which features six UV LEDs to provide ultraviolet light for a variety of detection purposes. The versatile new light also provides a white LED for general and distance use.

Offering three separate lighting modes, the lithium battery-powered Night Com UV features a white C4^® LED, and a total of six UV LEDs, including three 365 nanometer and three 390 nanometer UV LEDs.

“The Night Com UV is specially designed for professionals, such as police and security officers, automotive technicians and HVAC repairmen, who rely on ultraviolet light for detecting fraudulent documents, checking driver’s licenses, or for engine or HVAC leak detection,” said Streamlight President and Chief Executive Officer Ray Sharrah. “The light also is equipped with a powerful white LED for general purpose and distance use.”

A mode-selection switch lets users easily choose the desired lighting mode, including a high- or low-power white LED setting, or the UV LED setting.  The light also features a “safety” mode that ensures the light cannot be turned on by mistake during transport.

The light’s C4 LED has a textured reflector that provides a widespread beam, along with a sharp hotspot for distance use.  It boasts a 50,000-hour lifetime, and offers 115 lumens and 4,200 candela peak beam intensity on the high setting, and 50 lumens and 1,600 candela on the low setting.  On the UV setting, the combined six UV LEDs provide 24 mW measured system output and feature a 100,000 hour lifetime.

On high, the light provides 4.25 continuous hours of run time.  On the low setting, the Night Com UV runs for 13.5 continuous hours, and on the UV setting, for 10 continuous hours.

Powered by the two included CR123A lithium batteries, the Night Com UV weighs only 5.44 ounces, measures just 5.40 inches in length and features an unbreakable poly-carbonate lens. The flashlight also features a casing of machined aluminum with a matte black anodized finish and a non-slip knurled grip.  The light’s push-button tailcap switch provides for Momentary On and Hard Click On and Off operation.

The Night Com UV is IPX4-rated for water-resistant operation and is impact resistance-tested to one meter.  All openings are o-ring sealed.  It has an MSRP of $90.00. The light comes with a high-strength wrist lanyard and Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

The month of February will see a review of SealSkinz waterproof socks. I certainly don’t want to steal any thunder from the review, but if you hunt or hike you’ll want a few pairs of them in your kit.

We’ll also be at the range trying out Setpoint’s custom designed ammunition. A great concept from an innovative young company!

March 2012 will see a comprehensive article on the AK47. It departs from much of the literature in that it is not designed to be a historical piece. Instead, it focuses on the platform’s strengths and weaknesses with a discussion of emerging technologies from young companies, like U.S.Palm, Scottsdale, AZ. This level of innovation mitigates the AK’s weaknesses making it a credible modern combat weapon system. We’re excited about it.

We also have a number of knife reviews in the works. So if you’re looking for a tactical or EDC folder, you won’t want to miss our reviews from two leading manufacturer’s

The age of a la cart reading is upon us as evidenced by diminishing magazine & newspaper subscriptions.  The record industry’s response was to seek injunctions against similar trends in music rather than respond to the change in consumer demand and consumption, which is why we value your comments and suggestions.

Visit regularly, comment frequently, request what you’d like to see and support our industry partners.

Thank You!

Sal Palma

Publisher & Editor

A review from the abyss; I’m glad I’m finally sitting down to write it. I’ll make myself clearer later in the article; however, rest assured that SealSkinz developer, Danalco, is not the reason for the attribute. I’ll explain.

While at the SOFIC Conference, in 2008, I ran across the SealSkinz booth. The display caught my eye as did the claim of a waterproof sock – when have I heard that before… I contacted Danalco, in Southern California and arranged for a sample which I planned to test on a large fountain in my patio. It just so happened that I was also working on a review of OTB’s SAR boot, so I said to myself; wouldn’t it be great if I combine the two. The concept was absolutely righteous, since a comfortable boot with a bad pair of socks is a bad boot, and a great pair of socks in bad shoes an equally poor choice.  My plan was to put on the SAR[1] boots over the SealSkinz and go for a short swim. Well, I won’t subject you to the details, but in the ensuing three years I was unable to find an indoor facility that would allow me to enter the water, swim two laps with boots and videotape the event. The problem, believe it or not, was not entering the water with boots on, it was videotaping the event.  WTF Go figure!

Danalco and OTB you have my absolute apology, but I feel strongly that your product deserves more than just a YouTube video of someone soaking his or her foot in a bucket of water. Now, your time has come.

Look for my review this month !

Press Release:

Madison, NC – Freedom Group, Inc., (FGI) through a wholly owned subsidiary has announced today that it has finalized an asset purchase agreement to acquire certain assets of Para USA, INC., (Para).

Founded in 1985, Para has built a solid and enviable reputation for innovation, performance and reliability. Firearms enthusiasts, serious shooting competitors and law enforcement agencies choose with confidence from a wide and growing variety of Para pistols. Para’s revolutionary high-capacity frame and light double action ( LDA ™) trigger systems, are part of the innovation that Para has brought to the world-famous 1911 design.

“We welcome Para into the Freedom Group Family of Companies,” stated. E. Scott Blackwell, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Freedom Group Inc. “Para USA is a leader in handgun technology and their fine products exemplify quality, innovation and performance. Para is a perfect complement to our industry-leading family of brands, and our success in 2011 with the Remington R1 - 1911. We look forward to deploying both human and financial resources to continue to develop and supply current and future handguns for consumers and our channel partners. We also wish to thank all its employees for their continued dedication that has made Para a success.”

Para will continue day-to-day operations at their Pineville, NC based facility.

PCP’s spokesman, Tony Padgett, claims a 30% weight reduction over brass cased ammunition. All else being equal, if the ammunition performs reliably in current weapon systems, the DoD should be beating a path to its doors. For well over 3 years, the DoD has had weight reduction initiatives on the table, and ammunition is a major component of the total weight currently humped by soldiers and SOF operators.

PCP’s product line includes 5.56×45, 7.62×51, .300 WinMag, 338 Lapua Magnum, 6.8 SPC and .50BMG. According to its spokesman, the company has tested across its product line extensively and feels that its ammunition is ready for prime time.

One of the challenges associated with polymer cased ammunition is firearm chamber temperatures. The danger of a cook-off is certainly a consideration but our greatest concern is a case meltdown potentially damaging the chamber making the weapon unusable. So, our question to PCP is: are your QC processes tight enough to detect a polymeric breakdown (for example through hydrolysis which can be catalyzed with even mild acids; a byproduct of contaminants under storage conditions) where the case may melt at lower than design temperatures.

We recognize the importance of its development and we are terribly excited about its prospects. It is certainly exciting and positively great news!

Video: Defense Review Interview Courtesy Defense Review

John agreed and set about the task of designing a handgun that was as reliable as he could make it with an excellent sight radius and thumb safety, and held 7 rounds of what God named .45ACP. One day while at the shop, God appeared to John saying: “John I’m here to see what you’ve accomplished and to run through a couple of mags.” John hands God the handgun and saw that He was pleased. “Lord” said John, “what shall we call it?” God looked upon John and said “The 1911.”

After running through two magazines God decided that he needed a better way to aim it, especially for hasty shots or firing from a covered position. God then turns to John saying: “John I want you to build a laser grip!” John, bewildered by God’s request said sheepishly: “Lord I don’t know what a LASER is.” God turns to John and says: “Oy Vey, I will create Crimson Trace”

Many years passed and John was now in Heaven when a young company calling itself Crimson Trace began building laser grips – not just for God’s 1911 but for all guns in the land. One day, God drops in on Crimson Trace to see what they accomplished and run through a few mags. When God saw that he could make accurate and fast shots from any firing position His face beamed with joy and looking down on Crimson Trace said: “You are CTC in whom I am well pleased.”

Well, all who were present rejoiced. There was great jubilation at CTC’s Oregon plant when suddenly a huge bolt of lightning strikes and God’s voice thundering through the clouds says: “Drek, we forgot a light!”

The bright young men at Crimson Trace said: “God, that’s cool dude we can get it done and we’ll install it on the Picatinny rail.” But, God sighs saying: “the shmuck John did not build a 1911 with a Picatinny rail.” Recognizing how disappointed God was, the young men at CTC set out to design a light for God’s 1911 that could be easily operated, did not require a Picatinny rail mount, required no gunsmiths to install and produced 100 lumens of beautiful white light. The young men at CTC  were pleased and debuted the prototype at SHOT SHOW 2012 in Las Vegas and its is called LIGHTGUARD.