The Next Echelon
Springfield Armory – the name invokes images of a few historic firearms. Two are their M1A rifles and 1911s. However, we'll be discussing the new thumb safety version of the Echelon. What the Gun Is [...]
Superior Concealment By Phlster
Most experts acknowledge that small revolvers still have a place in law enforcement as dependable backup guns. Revolvers also excel as deep-cover guns for officers working in undercover capacities. The rounded shape lends itself to [...]
Making Sense Of Duty Holsters And Retention Levels — Part 2
Editor's note: Part 1 is here Safariland retained the retention levels when they purchased the Rogers Holster Company and its designs in 1985. Actually, Safariland didn't just keep the protocol; they expanded it, adding new [...]
Making Sense Of Duty Holsters And Retention Levels — Part 1
I was comparing notes on new products with American Cop Editor Erick Gelhaus at the 2023 SHOT Show, and the conversation turned towards law enforcement duty holsters. Each of us had seen some promising leads, [...]
BEYOND EVERYDAY CARRY | Tools for WROL
Things are often just fine, until they’re not. For this, and many other reasons, some folks never leave home without some basic survival items – think folding knife, pocket flashlight, self-defense tool(s), small first aid [...]
Nighthawk Mammoth Knife Collection
The Wooly Mammoth roamed the earth between 30,000 and 10,000 years ago in what is present day Alaska and Siberia Russia. These grips and knife handles are a cross section of Wooly Mammoth tusk found [...]
MAGPUL RIGGER EDC
The Magpul Frame Lock – Rigger EDC includes the same design and craftsmanship we built into our Limited Edition versions of the Rigger. It has the same functionality, features, and exceptional ergonomics of our previous [...]
ON THE CUTTING EDGE | Three Must-Have Survival Blades
For many of us a knife is the ultimate survival tool. The notion of leaving home without one is well, unthinkable. If you’re like me, you probably have a favorite “go to” knife that you [...]
Umarex GLOCK 17 Gen5 Paintball Marker
This all-new marker is an authentic counterpart of the GLOCK 17 Gen5 and is compatible with the full range of GLOCK-typical accessories. Made in Germany from top-grade materials, the Co2-operated Umarex GLOCK 17 Gen5 is [...]
Less Lethal: Talking Advantage Of New Technology
Tools For A Variety Of Situations And Distances. The oldest-known weapon used by man was an impact weapon, be it a bone, rock or tree branch. In this most-simple form, they were used, literally, to [...]
Phazzer Enforcer
By Ben Douglas Phiscally-Phriendly Conductive Electrical Weapons. Aagh!” was all I could get out as I seized up and fell to the mat. I had “enthusiastically” volunteered to experience a full 5-second TASER cycle back [...]
Pass The Pepper
The US military began using chemical agents as weapons in 1918. Law enforcement personnel followed suit, but not until the late 1960s when they began using chemicals to quell group civil disturbances — think riots. Everyone who works in the business knows once it happens on the outside, it’s only a matter of time before it moves inside. Most prisons recognize chemical agents are an effective option when group resistance elevates or when individual detainees act out.
Illuminating Tactics: Searching With A Weapon-Mounted Light
In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of law enforcement agencies equipping or authorizing weapon-mounted lights (WMLs) on duty handguns, rifles, and shotguns. As technology advances, these lights have become [...]
Princeton Tec’s Charge-X — A Multi-Fuel Helmet Light
The Charge X® from Princeton Tec is a new helmet light that offers exceptional versatility and adaptability, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. Its utility extends beyond the tactical, although that's what [...]
From One To The Next — Some Handheld Light Techniques
We are far more likely to use and need a hand-held flashlight than we are a pistol-mounted light. Never mind lights mounted on shotguns and carbines. Those are for another discussion. Before we get into [...]
Candela & Lumens
Role “2: a function or part performed especially in a particular operation or process.” It's safe to say that "we" – the whole community of uniformed personnel and decent, normal humans who want to be [...]
Random Reviews – Books To Targets
From time to time, I have a number of things worth discussing here too short for an entire post. I've combined the following "reviews" to help shed light on useful items and ideas I've discovered. [...]
Satellite Communications
Staying informed and communicating with others is essential, especially during a crisis. In our daily lives, most of us rely heavily on technology and service providers. Think of internet and cell phone service, as well [...]
Emergency Dental First Aid Kit
Suffering a dental injury is always stressful and often very painful. Having it happen during a crisis takes it to a whole other level. Being prepared for these events provides you with options and buys [...]
Stay Ready: Why Off-Duty Officers Should Carry a Spare Magazine
The necessity of carrying a spare magazine while off-duty is often debated. Statistically, the likelihood of needing one is quite low. Most gunfights occur at close range, with law enforcement data showing an average distance [...]
Math On The Range
Fun and math are two words that rarely intersect in my world. However, you need to step out of your comfort zone and try something different. PRS Before I retired, one of my guys frequently [...]
First Impressions – Aimpoint’s COA and Glock’s A-Cut
For as long as we've been mounting miniaturized optics on pistol slides, there have been debates over the mounting footprints. Several designs have come and gone, while a few have established themselves across multiple manufacturers. [...]
Dot In A Box — Trijicon’s RCR
When Trijicon released the RCR—Ruggedized Close Reflex—in '23, there was much discussion of the optic's form, especially of the mounting system. The RCR is an enclosed emitter optic, like the Aimpoint Acro, Steiner MPS, and [...]
Pistol Mounted Optics — Revisited
Back in 2012 (I know, I know—that is like Prehistoric times), I started using a pistol-mounted optic on duty. Initially, that was going to be a one-year experiment to see what my old organization might [...]