G&A's Gift Guide for the Tactical Guy

November 28, 2012 By J. Guthrie

In addition to terrible sweaters, cast iron fruit cake and your Uncle Earl getting hammered, saying mean-but-true things about mother-in-law and passing out by the fire — again — you can expect to get deluged by endless gift guides as Christmas nears. G&A would never pass up the chance to jump on a bandwagon, but at least our tactical gift guide is interesting and full of stuff you can actually use. Fill your shooting buddy's stocking with Pow! Pow! awesomeness, pass the eggnog and the ammo.

TacStrike Steel Quarter Scale Target System

In the words of a firearms trainer friend of mine, the TacStrike ¼ scale silhouette will 'humble your ass. ' The plate is a mere 18x9.5 inches, which really makes you double down and follow that front sight or dot during drills. Any bullet slinger can ring up a full-size target, but it takes a focused shooter to smash the ¼ scale target. The small size also makes it very portable at 52 pounds. Cut from near indestructible AR 500 steel, the plate floats inside its carrier to help absorb bullet strikes. Opt for the base with arched feet if you are shooting on uneven ground.

Price: $275

Deployable Systems Pelican Storm FieldPak Rifle Case

Gun cases are gun cases, but the Pelican Storm FieldPak builds additional function into this essential item. Instead of crappy diced foam, the durable hard-shell case holds a two-rifle soft case sized to fit perfectly. After flying well protected into your battle space, you can ditch the hard case when heading to a final firing point. Completely adjustable, the soft-shell bag is MOLLE compatible inside and can be made to securely hold just about any rifle or carbine under the sun. The hard shell case is made from HPX resin and is watertight with a Vortex valve for equalizing pressure. Six latches lock down the lid which is secured on the back end with one long piano hinge. Padlock hasps are molded into the case and soft-grip handles make a long trip across the tarmac bearable.

Price: $395

Galco M6X Auto Locking Holster

There are lots of expensive, bulky retention holsters and quite a few inexpensive, passive-retention holsters. Until now it was really hard to find a concealable, active-retention holster that was inexpensive. Galco's Matrix line of injection-molded plastic holster has proven very popular with shooters and is now available with a thumb release lever — located on the inside of the weapon — for guys who want active-retention, concealable holster. Currently available for Glock, SIG and Smith & Wesson duty pistols, the holster's neutral cant is comfortable and fast. The adjustable slots fit 1 ¼- to 2-inch belts.

Price: $40

Kuhl Revolvr Pants

I have railed against wearing tactical clothing out in the real world — in my view it's a great way to volunteer yourself as the first target. But we still need pants that are durable and hold all of daily carry gear. Enter Kuhl, which got their start building mountain wear. The Revolvr pants, wonderful for those of us living in warmer climes, are made from a lightweight, 5.1-ounce cotton/nylon blend that is durable and breathable. The athletic cut looks good, is anatomically correct, and the spacious, well thought out pockets allow you to carry all your stuff without looking like a tactard.

Price: $69

LaserLyte LT-Pro Pistol Laser Trainer

In a whole catalog of fun and affordable products, the Laserlyte LT-Pro laser trainer just might be the coolest, useful thing LaserLyte has to offer besides the zombie pistol bayonet. It fits any handgun with a 2-inch or longer barrel and runs the caliber gamut, from .38/9 mm up to .45. The sound-activated device drops down the barrel and is customized for caliber by means of an expanding arbor in the back and tapered front. Each time you drop the hammer or striker on your favorite self-defense pistol, a bright red laser flashes for 100 milliseconds, which I think is close to half a second. Since the device only extends a few millimeters past the muzzle, it will work with your carry holster allowing you to see where your practice shots hit during dry fire and draw-and-shoot drills. The batteries last for 3,000 shots.

Price: $110

M-Pro 7 Advanced Small Arms Cleaning Kit with Leatherman MUT

Every bug-out and range bag should be equipped with field maintenance kit and the SACK absolutely rocks. M-Pro 7 consulted with the military to come up with something that handles just about everything and it fits into a handy, MOLLE-compatible pouch. The high lights include lubricant, cleaner, Bore Snakes, brushes, jags, a cleaning rod, chamber mops, picks, patches — it's all there for mil-spec calibers and weapons. The Leatherman MUT tool has dozens of functions and includes a carbon scraper, bolt override tool, wire cutters, wrench for optics mounting and punches just to name a few and is covered by Leatherman's 25-year warranty. It may be the most versatile, best field maintenance kit ever.

Price: $397

Magpul PMAG 30 GEN M3

Ah, the Magpul PMAG, the wonderful, plastic PMAG. Just when you thought this little gem of reliable, affordable, AR-feeding wholesomeness couldn't get any better, a new generation appears. The rub against previous models has always been suspect performance in other weapon systems that used AR mags. The new GEN M3 addresses this and works find in FN's SCAR 16/16S, the Marine Corps' M27 IAR, the HK 416 and even Britain's SA-80. Magpul used a newer, tougher polymer and redesigned the bolt catch notch for increased clearance. An over-insertion stop was added and the floor plate reworked for strength and ease of disassembly. Who knew you could pack so much into a $15 piece of plastic?

Price: $15

'Stay in the Fight!! Warriors Guide to the Combat Pistol' Book/DVD Combo

Quite a few of us buy fancy pistols, concealment holsters and uber-bright flash lights but have no freaking clue how to actually use the stuff in a life-or-death fight. Kyle Lamb does, having perfected his techniques during an 18-year career as a Delta assaulter and sniper. If you can't make it to a Vikings Tactics class, put this book/DVD combo on your list for Santa. Read the book on those cold winter nights by the fire and watch and learn skill-sharpening drills via the two DVDs. Lamb is one of the best firearms trainers in the world and implementing his techniques and practicing the drills he designed will give you an edge when something wicked this way comes.

Price: $72

SOG Tactical Tomahawk

The tactical guy needs to give off the distinct impression that he's modern. No Buck Knives or genuine hickory tomahawks will ever find their way into his personal defense repertoire. In steps the SOG Tactical Tomahawk to fill this void--a versatile tool built to the specs of the AR crowd. This extreme evolution of the original Vietnam Tomahawk can be used in breaching operations, excavation, obstacle removal, extraction, and other utility applications. The stainless steel head sports a polished satin finish and plays well with the nylon handle, sending the aesthetic value of this cutter through the roof. But looks aren't everything, this thing is built to pound. The tactical guy on your list will find great comfort in going to work with the SOG tomahawk's heavy-duty bolts and steel ferrule as backup.

Price: $64.25

Slide Fire Colt AR-15: Hydro

OK, so you are probably already well aware of Slide Fire's popular slide stock that can transform your measly semi-auto AR into a rapid-fire attention getter. Up to this point, the Texas-based company has only been known to offer an aftermarket add-on stock. That's all changed with the recent addition of the Slide Fire Colt AR-15: Hydro, a Colt LE 6920 custom tailored specifically for the Slide Fire stock. The company is nice enough (for a small fee, of course) to have already installed all the items found to work best including the SSAR-15 OGR Hydro Stock, accompanied by ergonomically designed Hydro hand guards. The rifles will also be equipped with a Custom Precision Trigger. The bottom line here is your tactical guy has an out-of-the-box range toy with absolutely no assembly required. That will leave him a lot more time to play.

Price: $1,950.00

HIVIZ FastDot H3 Handgun Sights

Optics

HIVIZ FastDot H3 Handgun Sights

Blending the speed and simplicity of a red-dot optic with the reliability and small footprint of iron sights, the new FastDot H3 from HIVIZ might be the best all-purpose handgun sighting system designed to date.

Optics

Meprolight's M22 Dual-Illumination No Batteries Reflex Sight: Video Review

Optics

Meprolight's M22 Dual-Illumination No Batteries Reflex Sight: Video Review

What happens to electro-optics when batteries run out? With the Mepro M22 self-illuminated reflex sight, you won't need to think about batteries at all.

Other

Ballistic Advantage Continues Excellence in Barrel Design

Other

Ballistic Advantage Continues Excellence in Barrel Design

Eric Poole meets up with Adam Wainio, founder and president of Ballistic Advantage. His company is a premier barrel maker and provides top-quality pipes to both major gun manufacturers and small-shop gunsmiths. Ballistic Advantage has been a pioneer for profiled barrel blanks and experimenting with a barrel's mass and contours to wring out the best performance. Looking forward, Ballistic Advantage is working on its take on weight-saving carbon fiber barrels and is keeping ahead of new chamberings with interesting offerings like the 8.6 Blackout.

Rifles

Winchester Ranger Returns! Now In .22

Rifles

Winchester Ranger Returns! Now In .22

If Winchester is known for one thing in firearms, it's lever guns. Both the historic examples and modern renditions are held in high regard, and the centerfire models can command a premium price due to desirability. New for 2024, Winchester is lowering the barrier to entry and raising the fun factor with the return of the Ranger. Now, though, the iconic lever action is chambered for .22 Long Rifle. What's more fun than a rimfire rifle? Probably nothing, that's why Winchester has invested in the recent Wildcat semiauto, Xpert bolt action, and now the Range, all in .22. Eric Poole and Winchester's Rafe Neilson discuss the latest lever addition.

Rifles

Latest Name In Lever Guns: Aero Precision

Rifles

Latest Name In Lever Guns: Aero Precision

Aero Precision is a go-to source for rifle-building components including receivers, handguards, and all the necessaries. New this year is the M4E1 Pro kit, which offers ambidextrous controls: bolt catch/release, radial selector, and even the magazine release. Besides being lefty friendly, the M4E1 Pro also sports the new overbuilt Mod4 handguard designed specifically for professional users and shooters that are just plain hard on their gear. Stepping away from rifle parts, the company is also expanding its suppressor offerings with the new Tephra-22 rimfire can. Finally, the company is teasing the most talked about firearm at SHOT Show 2024: The Aero Precision Lever Action. Kirk Foreman of Aero Precision joins Eric Poole to talk shop from the show floor.

Rifles

SAKO 90 Quest Lightweight Hunting Rifle

Rifles

SAKO 90 Quest Lightweight Hunting Rifle

SAKO's new 90-series bolt-action rifles have finally hit the U.S. market. Guns & Ammo's Joe Kurtenbach was one of the first American sportsmen to take these guns afield. In pursuit of Colorado elk and mule deer, Kurtenbach takes a break from climbing mountains to describe the SAKO 90 Quest, a lightweight hunter that benefits from modern construction and precision-inspired features.

Optics

Warne Scope Mounts New Red Dot Risers

Optics

Warne Scope Mounts New Red Dot Risers

Warne Scope Mounts has unveiled several new red-dot sight riser mounts at the 2024 SHOT Show. One of the challenges of mounting a red dot to a long gun is getting the optimal height setting. These mounts feature included spacers to adjust the height setting to fit individual preference. Warne has also introduced a universal rib mount to easily attach red dots to shotgun ribs. Many turkey shotguns don't have a Pic rail, so this mount gives you access to the entire rib on a shotgun to mount a red dot. If you've never turkey hunted with a red-dot sight, it's a game changer!

Accessories

New Warne Scope Mounts Skyline Lite Bipods

Accessories

New Warne Scope Mounts Skyline Lite Bipods

Warne Scope Mounts has upgraded its popular line of Skyline bipods to the new Skyline lite, with three different options for ARCA, Pic rail and QD pic rail mounting options. The Skyline Lite bipods feature 13 micro adjustments to fine-tune rifle height, 0-, 45-, and 90-degree leg positions, and the universal-style head accepts multiple mounting configurations. Built from premium aluminum and steel, the Skyline Lite bipods have all the modern features we expect while keeping weight low.

Handguns

Smith & Wesson Response PCC: Now Taking SIG Mags

Handguns

Smith & Wesson Response PCC: Now Taking SIG Mags

Smith & Wesson's John Myles has been a regular on the New Product Premier, and he joins Joe Kurtenbach to run it back again at SHOT Show 2024. Last year the company introduced the Response pistol caliber carbine (PCC), an AR-styled platform designed to run off commonly available semiautomatic pistol magazines. A direct-blowback action powers the Response, but what sets the gun apart is its interchangeable magazine well. Mag wells are easy to swap for owners, and the Response comes with both an M&P mag option, as well as a mag well for Glock-pattern 9mm magazines. New for 2024 is a magazine well for SIG Sauer P320 mags. No matter what pistol platform you choose to shoot, Smith & Wesson wants you to rely on the Response for your PCC needs.

Optics

Mark 4HD Riflescopes: The Latest Tactical Line From Leupold

Optics

Mark 4HD Riflescopes: The Latest Tactical Line From Leupold

John Snodgrass from Leupold joins Joe Kurtenbach to discuss the latest edition to the company's tactical line of magnified optics: The Mark 4HD riflescope family. The new series utilizes a 4X zoom ratio across five magnification ranges: 1-4.5X, 2.5-10X, 4.5-18X, 6-24X, and 8-32X. Each magnification will include multiple scope variants offering first- or second-focal-plane reticles, as well as different reticle designs and illumination options. Like the Mark 5HD series, there is a Mark 4HD riflescope for nearly any ballistic pursuit, all build to Leupold's rigorous standard for reliability, durability, and optical performance.

Rifles

Show Stopper: Smith & Wesson 1854 Lever-Action Rifle

Rifles

Show Stopper: Smith & Wesson 1854 Lever-Action Rifle

Live from the show floor, Joe Kurtenbach visits Grant Dubuc at the Smith & Wesson booth to talk lever guns. The new Model 1854 in .44 Rem. Mag. was an absolute stunner at SHOT Show 2024, and Guns & Ammo was on hand to get all the details. Drawing inspiration from Horace Smith and Dan Wesson's Volcanic lever-action firearms, the Model 1854 combines classic lines with modern materials and design. To maximize utility, the gun's polymer furniture and stainless finish offer all-weather durability while the optics rail and flat-faced trigger account for modern tastes. The new platform from Smith & Wesson is going to fun to watch this year!

Suppressors

FN 509 Pistol Updates and New Suppressors!

Suppressors

FN 509 Pistol Updates and New Suppressors!

Its seems like every year is a busy year FN, and 2024 is no different. Joe Kurtenbach is joined by Chris Johnson and Rich Spalla at SHOT Show to learn about the company's latest offerings. For the FN 509 family, compensators are the biggest news. Not only are new models featuring compensators from the factory, FN is also going to sell barrel and compensator accessory packages so users can update their guns. On the suppressor front, the FN team is eager to talk tech, and the Rush Ti is packed full innovative design. Even better, there is now a .22 can — FN's new Catch 22 suppressor.