Shooting Accessories

This is a review of the KST1000 Shot Timer by Kestrel Ballistics. When Kestrel is mentioned as a company, most people think of their weather and wind meters. Rightly so (and we’re going to review one of those soon enough), but they also make an excellent shot timer that is designed and made in the USA.

Garmin’s Xero C1 chronograph is the hottest chrono on the market, but Annex Defense is making it even better. The new rubber protective case adds an additional layer of insurance around these $600 pocket chronographs. Let’s look at the available models.

In the world of rifle accessories, the amount of products available today is nearly endless. With multiple versions of every product out there, it’s important to know what you want and what some quality options are in each category. Regarding Back Up Iron Sights (BUIS) there are typically a few variations of folding or fixed sights. Some will say offset should be in a variant but typically those fold as well. For people just getting into shooting, they oftentimes don’t know what to look for or what they want when it comes to iron sights. Let’s take a closer look at the breakdown on back up iron sights.

Streamlight has a new, brighter compact weapon light. The TLR-7 HL-X USB packs 1,000 lumens and 22,000 candela into a small package. It also can run on multiple power sources.

Garmin made some real shockwaves when it introduced the Xero C1 Pro Chronograph. It fits the advanced technology of a radar chronograph into a handy little pocket-sized tool with a simple setup and operation. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype.

C&H Precision has a new series of scope tube mounts for micro red dot optics. They are available in a range of tube diameters and footprints. Let’s take a closer look at the feature set.

Want to add an optic to your shotgun, but it’s set up for bird- or clay-busting, with a vent rib? Good news: Warne has a new rib-mounted scope base that allows you to attach a red dot optic to your shotgun’s barrel, for improved wing shooting or even stationary targets.

Mystery Ranch is one of the biggest names in outdoor backpacks. They make a wide range of hiking, hunting, wildfire, and military bags. Recently I found myself in need of a dedicated backpack to haul my writing gear to the range. The 2-Day Assault Pack looked like a good option so I picked one up. This review will cover my experiences using it on and off the range over the course of the last year.

At SHOT Show 2024, Aimtech showcased two new additions to its lineup of bipods. The offerings included a fresh entry in the Pan-and-Pivot series and a Warhammer-series bipod designed for an M-LOK stud mounting system.

Zeta6, a company known for its innovative speed loaders and speed strips for revolvers, expanded its product line with the introduction of the SafeSnap Dry Fire Training Discs. Designed for revolver enthusiasts who engage in dry fire practice, the new SafeSnap discs are engineered to preserve the lifespan of the firearm by preventing firing pin damage during dry fire sessions.

Caldwell  announced the introduction of the Claymore Solo Clay Thrower, the latest addition to its lineup of shooting sports equipment designed for enthusiasts looking to enhance their clay target shooting experience. The new Claymore Solo comes as a refined alternative to the previously released Claymore clay target thrower, now featuring a more streamlined design for ease of use and transportation.

Making their debut at SHOT 2024, the Double Action Reactive Targets are taking the shooting practice community by storm. Distributed by American Animal Arms, these innovative targets add a new dimension to shooting practice by introducing a color reaction to impact points.

Warne is probably most well-known for producing scope rings. However, more recently, Warne has started to diversify its offerings and has released its second bipod the new Skyline Lite. The Skyline Lite bipod is a durable yet lightweight (17 oz) bipod that incorporates the most desired features for PRS and carbine shooting but at a more affordable price for most shooters.

Viridian has a new combination light laser unit for concealed carry pistols. The C5L Micro combines a green laser with a 550-lumen light. It is sized to fit on the most popular everyday carry guns.

Magpul is back again with another new DAKA product. This time it is the DAKA double pistol case. It stores two handguns, magazines, and small tools in a layout that roughly resembles a laptop case.

ETS Group is known for its line of translucent polymer magazines. But their newest offering, the Omega magazine, adds metal reinforcements at key points. Let’s take a closer look.

Savage has long been known for their extensive lineup of long guns for hunters, recreational, and precision shooters. Many of their firearms usually get paired with a bipod to make the entire rig more useful and that’s why Savage is proud to introduce the new Savage Bipod line. This new in-house line of Bipods from savage will come in both M-LOK and Swivel variants and weighs in at around 11 ounces keeping it night and lightweight like other polymer bipods. It also features simple-to-use controls and a bunch of other small features that make it perfect for those who like to get their rifles in the dirt and brush.

The days of the old “levels” of body armor are coming to an end. Finally, the National Institute of Justice released their long-awaited new armor classification guide. Let’s take a look at NIJ 0101.07 and NIJ 0123.00 to see what the new ratings look like. 

Springfield Armory’s expansive line of Hellcat models has a new bundle option. This Sportsman’s Warehouse exclusive Hellcat Pro model adds several accessories from Viridian. One unique new item in that bundle is the Viridian CTL light, which has not been seen previously.

When it comes to staying accurate on the bench at the range, or on the move at a PRS competition, shooting bags are the behind-the-scenes heroes. They’re the silent partners that shooters rely on for that crucial stability and precision. Warhorse Developments, an already well-established manufacturer of shooting bags, has been acquired by MDT and will now add to the overall spectrum of precision shooting gear that MDT can offer its customers.

Hornady’s new 2024 releases are not limited to cartridges, bullets, and ammunition. There are also new additions to the range of gun storage options. The Mobilis series of safes are modular and available in various sizes. Also new is a range of welded gun cabinets in varying sizes.

Third-party accessories for the Springfield Hellion are slowly trickling out. Lunartech Designs made some Hellion upgrades. Specifically, a flared magwell and extended bolt release.

Months ago I was able to check out the Haley Strategic and Safariland IncogX. The new holster meant for the Glock 19 pistol originally, was always meant to have more fits and today Safariland has announced that the IncogX can now host the SIG Sauer P365 X-Macro. The P365 X-Macro was introduced about a year ago and is the highest capacity evolution of the P365 lineup of micro-compact 9mm pistols. The IncogX is an updated version of the previous iteration of the original Incog IWB holster, with the new holster featuring a new suede outer coating, and an adjustable wedge for improved concealment.

I was assured when I started carrying my guns in an appendix inside the waistband (AIWB) holster, that I would promptly shoot myself in a very important area. Four years later, I am happy to report that I remain completely intact and a moderate proponent of AIWB carry. My current AIWB holster for my GLOCK 45 MOS with RMR and a full-size SureFire X300 Ultra weapon light has been my favorite for more than a year. But today we are going to take a look at the new Safariland INCOGX IWB holster system, a collaboration with Haley Strategic Partners. How does the new Safariland INCOGX stack up? Let’s take a look.

The Glock 43X and 48 have been some of the most popular carry guns as of late, often considered some of the best options on the market among other carry pistols of the same class like the SIG P365, Springfield Hellcat, and the S&W Shield Plus. Pretty much all of these handguns, save for the latest iteration of the SIG P365, are nice and compact, and have a higher capacity than previous generations of carry pistols, but somewhat suffer in the recoil department simply because of the reduced weight. Compensators are one way to improve the recoil characteristics without really sacrificing much in the concealment department and that’s why Backup Tactical is proud to introduce their newest Perfect Fit PROComp, this time for the Glcok 43X and Glock 48.

For people who truly nerd out at the range making handloads and chronicling data via a chronograph, we have exciting news by the way of Garmin with their latest product announcement. The new Garmin Xero C1 Pro chronograph couples modern technologies and is impressive in what it can accomplish for you. Even registering suppressed fire and odd muzzle devices for an assortment of firearms.

Caldwell produces a wide range of shooting gear. From targets to rests to chronographs, they are a brand found in most sporting goods stores. One of their key product areas is shooting rests and sandbags. They also make the Precision Turret Rest, which is a hybrid between a machine gun tripod and a clamp-type rest typically used on tall tripods. I bought one to see how it works and thought that would be worth sharing with you all.

I love my Hellcat Pro. The pistol has accompanied me almost every day since it was released. There is, however, always room for improvement. Adding accessories to your carry gun can enhance your ability to be effective if the need arises. There are also accessories that are purely cosmetic and add only to the carrier’s pride of ownership. I was getting the itch and it wasn’t the pollen in the air. It was time to customize my Hellcat Pro, and my eye was caught by the Tyrant CNC upgrades for the Hellcat and Hellcat Pro.

One of the most critical components when it comes to carrying a firearm is your belt. Without a stable platform to hold the weight of your pistol, holster, magazines, and IFAK, you’re in for a frustrating and embarrassing afternoon at the range. Of course, there are different considerations for concealed and overt carry, so let’s focus on the latter today. My wife recently attended the A Girl and A Gun National Conference and has since been in the market for a new battle belt. Due to the consistency of 5.11 Tactical’s gear, we thought the Maverick Battle Belt would be a great place to start. This is my…well, our review.

Do you want to get more out of shooting? Have you considered getting a chronograph? Measuring the muzzle velocity of your projectiles is helpful, especially for load development and calculating bullet drop at distance. Well, I bought the Bulletseeker Mach4 chronograph and have been using it this past year so I will share my experience with you.