Aaron, Author at Blue Sheepdog

RMA Armament Adds New Level III+ Armor Plates

RMA Armament has just introduced their newest Level III+ rifle-graded ballistic plates, the Model 1090. These new ballistic plates are made from highly resistant but lighter weight polyethylene, and come in a single curve configuration. The use of rifle-grade ballistic plates used to be reserved for military units, and specialized tactical teams (SWAT) for law enforcement. However, in recent decades the advent of high-profile mass killings and police response to active shooter or spree killer incidents has revealed the need for police officers to have rifle-grade ballistic protection available even at the patrol officer level.

Though a relative newcomer to the ballistic armor market, RMA has made a very positive impact on those in need of ballistic protection. Making their ballistic plates to the highest NIJ specifications, RMA Armament has quickly gained the reputation for high quality ballistic plates suitable for SWAT or Patrol officer use. In particular, the use of polyethylene (UHMWP) has been a vital improvement in the overall portability of heavy armor plates, and RMA Armament has mastered its use in armor plates providing excellent protection, while helping to reduce overall weight.

BlueSheepdog has had the opportunity to examine RMA ballistic plates at SHOT Show several times. The quality of construction is top-notch, and staff extremely friendly and helpful, and the tests products clearly indicate a superior product capable of protecting as advertised. Another benefit of using polyethylene is the user gains a bit of bouyancy, where heavy ceramic or steel plates will only add to the weight dragging an officer under the surface should they find themselves in water.

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SIG Sauer Academy Adds Pistol Mounted Optics Instructor Course

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SIG Sauer Academy’s new Pistol Mounted Optics Instructor course will likely become the hallmark of pistol optics instruction.

SIG Sauer Academy continues to expand their instructional opportunities with the addition of a pistol mounted optics instructor course coming in 2019. Over the last several years, the addition of red dot/reflex optics to pistols has seen an enormous expansion. This growth perhaps saw its biggest growth in the competitive shooting fields highlighted by the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), and the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), but has in recent years expanded well into the civilian defensive pistol market.

This expansion in red dot/reflex optic popularity is not a simple trend either. Just as red dot/reflex optics provide rifle shooters incredible advantages over traditional iron sights or magnified optics, the same benefits can be found when using a red dot/reflex optic on a pistol. In fact, some say the benefit of a red dot/reflex optic is experienced more when using a pistol over a rifle or shotgun. These optics can provide incredibly faster and more accurate shooting, designed to draw the shooter’s eye to a specific and lit aiming point rather than pairing up a front and rear sight.

The SIG Sauer Academy began operation in 1990 as the SIGARMS Academy. The Academy is dedicated to instructing shooters, armorers, and firearms instructors on SIG Sauer firearms, but also general firearms skills with the shooter’s chosen firearm as well. Though many have believed the Academy will only teach shooting on SIG Sauer firearms, one of the Academy mottos is, “No matter what firearm you shoot, we’ll make you a better shooter, guaranteed.” The Academy provides courses in handguns, shotguns, rifles, precision rifles, and even enhanced tactics.

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Strike Industries Viper Enhanced AR-15 Pistol Grip

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Strike Industries Viper Enhanced Pistol Grip gives the shooter options on grip angle.

Strike Industries has just released their Viper Enhanced Pistol Grip for the AR-15 or AR-10 model rifles. The new Viper grip incorporates several design features to enhance the shooter’s grip and comfort while shooting. Of particular note, is the optional grip angle the Viper offers to maximize the individualized preferences of shooters. This is an incredible development and quite frankly something that should have been available for years.

In the last few years Strike Industries has been producing an incredible amount of new products, pushing the envelope on design enhancements, and overall kicking butt in offering products with real-life improvements over simple aesthetic appeal. BlueSheepdog has had the opportunity to review several S.I. products, and each time we have come out on the other end pleased with the products’ design and manufacturing quality, and enhancement of end-user compatibility.

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BolaWrap™ 100 Police “Lasso Gun” Less Lethal Device

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The BolaWrap 100 discharges an 8-foot Kevlar tether to restrain unruly suspects.

Wrap Technologies of Las Vegas, Nevada has introduced the BolaWrap™ 100 less lethal device for law enforcement. The BolaWrap is a hand-held device appearing to be a cross between a large remote control and a flat electric razor, and has earned a nickname of the “Lasso Gun.” Using an easy bush-button trigger, the BolaWrap is designed to propel a Kevlar tether at about 380 feet-per-second (fps) towards the intended target. As the Kevlar tether leaves the BolaWrap cartridge it expands out in a horizontal line. Upon impact with a target the tether wraps around legs, body or arms of the target with enough energy to wrap the target several times, leaving no unused portion of the tether dangling free.

Police use of force is one of the hottest debates in America today, so law enforcement leaders and officers must take note and continue to examine, review, and even modify training and procedures. Along with those reviews, keeping abreast of new technology, techniques, and opportunities to de-escalate dangerous confrontations should be paramount. There are plenty of gimmicks on the market to avoid, so wise police administrators should be cautious when evaluating the newest device or technique. However, occasionally the new idea makes a lot of sense. We’ll dive into the benefits and limitations of the BolaWrap and let you decide.

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Otis Tactical Cleaning Kit

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The OTIS Tactical Cleaning Kit contains supplies for pistol, rifle, and shotgun.

Otis Technology has just announced the release of their Tactical Cleaning Kit. This compact cleaning kit is designed to provide the most applicable cleaning supplies for a variety of highly popular firearm calibers. According to Otis, this new cleaning kit is a descendant of the “Whole Kit and Caboodle” cleaning kits.

The benefit of the Tactical Cleaning Kit is a very compact cleaning kit that can be packed in a backpack, range bag, go-bag, or even pocket with ease, and yet still offers a significant amount of cleaning supplies for some of the most popular caliber firearms on the market. The “Tactical” name is very appropriate, considering the kit contains cleaning supplies for almost every firearm a police officer will field (pistol, rifle, and shotgun).

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Strike Industries New Improved Glock Flat Trigger

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Strike Industries has just released their new Improved Flat Trigger for Glock pistols. The Improved Flat Trigger is compatible with most models from Generation 1-4. So far the newest Gen 5 models are not compatible, but look for that to change in the future. Made from billeted aluminum, the Improved Flat Trigger is specifically designed to enhance the ergonomics and geometry of the Glock trigger pull.

Strike Industries has been one of the most innovative and progressive firearms accessories companies over the last several years, producing dozens of new components to enhance the overall shooter experience. The Improved Glock Flat Trigger will offer shooters the same trigger safety as OEM Glock triggers, but with the flat face design. In addition, shooters can customize their pistols from four available colors.

EDITOR’S NOTE: BlueSheepdog does not have any financial connection with Strike Industries, or any manufacturer for that matter. This allows us to provide independent and objective reviews without outside influence. We do participate in the Amazon Affiliates program. By clicking on links in our post, and purchasing items from those links, we receive a small percentage of the sale without raising the price you pay. These purchases keep us operational.

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Crosstac Tactical Ambi Sling Review

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Push-in attachment clips, (2) D-ring single-point attachments, and a detachable section for rapid donning/doffing.

The Crosstac Tactical Ambi Sling is a multi-attachment point rifle sling particularly suited for use with patrol rifles like the AR-15, or SWAT entry sub-machine guns like the HK MP-5 or IWI Tavor. The BlueSheepdog Crew decided to examine a few of the AR-15 slings on the market to ensure we were using the best option for our needs, and also to examine some of the different designs available to shooters and evaluate the pros and cons of each design.

There are several carry options when using the Tactical Ambi Sling, and the Crosstac design allows the shooter to quickly adjust the Ambi Sling to the best carry method for their situation. The Tactical Ambi Sling combines a quality nylon strap with a partial bungee cord design. There are (2) mounting D-rings, and each end of the sling has a mounting clip. This allows the shooter to decide from (2) different single-point carry positions, or to attach both clips to the rifle for a more traditional 2-point carry. The quality materials and multi-positional design make this sling an ideal selection for use by Patrol Officers, SWAT, competition shooters, and responsibly armed citizens.

EDITOR’S NOTE: BlueSheepdog does not sell advertisements on our website, nor do we conduct paid reviews. This allows us the freedom to provide independent, and unbiased reviews for our readers. We do participate in the Amazon Affiliates program. By clicking on the links in our posts, and buying products, BlueSheepdog receives a small percentage of the sale from Amazon without changing the price you pay. These purchases literally keep this site running, so if you’re in the market for a product please use our links to buy! Thank you for reading.

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1791 Gunleather Carbon Fiber Premium Leather Holster

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1791 Gunleather Project Stealth holster offer premium steerhide combined with CX6 carbon fiber.

1791 Gunleather® has just released their innovative new “Project Stealth” holster line combining carbon fiber and premium leather. These new holsters will pair heavy native steerhide with state-of-the-art flexible carbon fiber in a proprietary, patent-pending combination of the two materials. The carbon fiber used in the 1791 Gunleather holsters is the patented CX-6® carbon fiber manufactured by Carbitex, well-known for premium brands in the automotive, high-end luggage, and professional athlete apparel markets.

Carbon fiber firearm accessories have been very popular in recent years, as the product is extremely durable and strong, while also being much lighter than traditional steel or aluminum parts. At least one firearm manufacturer has even incorporated carbon fiber barrels in their widely praised precision rifles. Another reason carbon fiber has been so popular is the very attractive appearance of the dark gray, basket-weave styling presenting a very unique profile.

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SIG Sauer U.S. Army M17 Hits Civilian Market

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The new SIG Sauer P320-M17 in Coyote Tan is the civilian version of the Army’s MHS M17 selection.

SIG Sauer won the U.S. Army Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition last year, with a modified P320. There was an enormous amount of activity at the SIG Sauer booth during the 2017 SHOT Show, and then the announcement was made of their selection. Interestingly, other than announcing their win with a modified P320, SIG Sauer officials were still fairly hush-hush at the time concerning details. Civilian interest in the M17 was immediate, and now SIG Sauer has responded to the demand. The U.S. Army version has been designated the M17. SIG Sauer is now offering the M17 to the civilian market, a move that will likely garner the company a significant amount of additional revenue. History has shown the U.S. Army’s selected handgun gains wide support from American shooters.

The venerable Model 1911 is still popular today, and in fact is experiencing a renewed rise in popularity and technological advancements. The Beretta M9 (Model 92) became wildly popular after the U.S. Army selection (and perhaps the movie Lethal Weapon as well). Now, the SIG Sauer M17 (P320) will likely experience that same surge in popularity, and delivering almost the exact U.S. Army firearm to the civilian market is a wise move by SIG Sauer.

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SIG Sauer Academy Adds Covert Carry and Micro-Pistol Course

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The new SIG Sauer Academy Cover Carry and Micro Pistol course is tailored to concealed carry.

SIG Sauer Academy has just announced the addition of a Covert Carry and Micro Pistol Course to their already impressive list of courses. This new SIG Sauer Academy course is specifically designed for the concealed carry shooter, and highlights the micro SIG Sauer P365 9mm pistol. In fact, course attendees will have the option to borrow a P365 during the course if they desire. This course is a great opportunity for law enforcement investigators, off-duty carry, and civilian concealed carry shooters as well.

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