ARCHIVE - ISSUE NINE - OCTOBER 2014 COVER - FEATURED PICTORIAL - TRAINING - LIFESTYLE - REVIEWS ARCHIVE - ISSUE NINE - OCTOBER 2014
NORB (No Ordinary Range Bag) by OffHand Gear Review
One of my favorite pieces of gear has to be the No Ordinary Range Bag, NORB, made by OffHand Gear. Its looks are quite deceiving. At a casual glance it could pass for a messenger bag but it holds all my range essentials & then some.
The rear inside pocket is padded & split. It holds two handguns of just about any size. The design is great and I have never had to worry about my firearms sliding out or being unsecure. The main pocket has ample room for hearing and eye protection, as well as ammunition, cleaning kit, notebook, tools or whatever you take to the range. At 14”x12”x3” you will be surprised at what all you can fit inside. The outer pockets include two mag pouches, a zippered mesh pouch which is great for keys & other small item & an elastic top mesh pouch which is great for a cell phone. It is easy to take everything you need & have it organized for a great range session. Another thing I love about the NORB is it’s a great option for off body conceal carry. The bag can easily pass for a crossbody or messenger style bag. Your firearm is easily accessed by a zippered top. This is great if you draw left-handed, as I do, and it’s a feature you don’t see often in a conceal carry bag. In place of range gear it holds my tablet and an assortment of off range “mom” essentials. The ripstop fabric is easy to clean and has been very durable. I've been very pleased with it and how easy it transitions from off-range to on-range. As a working wife and mom it can be hard to stay organized & my NORB helps me do it. - Amy Lloyd 
Austin Sure Shots - we practice every week at Red's Indoor Range.
Come shoot like a girl! Check out Austin Sure Shots and San Antonio Sure Shots for details. |
The Well Armed Woman IWB
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I've been carrying a gun by virtue of my Concealed Handgun License for the past nine years. Within those nine years, there have been countless combinations of carry-guns and carry-methods. For the longest time, I was convinced my only option was to carry in my purse, as I couldn't imagine how I could possibly conceal a firearm under my usually-fitted clothing. Within the past few years, I began to work an IWB (Inside Waistband) holster into my repertoire whenever I could (i.e.; when my clothing allowed). I found that I felt a lot more secure knowing my firearm was on my person, and drawing from my waist was a lot quicker and smoother than drawing from my bag. However, I had a hard time finding an IWB holster that didn't stab me in the femoral artery whenever I sat down—the holster's contact with my nerve was a deal-breaker.
After trying a bunch of kydex and hard-leather holsters, one day I was going for a walk with my dogs and grabbed one of my cheap neoprene holster "sleeves" that I have attached in my purse to carry my gun, and put that in my waistband. During the walk, it was so comfortable that I could barely feel it, so I tried sitting with it, and to my surprise it didn't give me that femoral "stab" like the others. I began carrying regularly this way, convinced a hard IWB holster was not for me.
That all changed when I ordered a kydex IWB holster from The Well Armed Woman for my Sig P938. My partner-in-crime Carrin had a gorgeous lemon-yellow version, and said when she swore it was different and more comfortable than other holsters. I figured I'd get it, and worst-case scenario: I'd use it during the times I'd be standing for long periods of time, like Sure Shots practice. While ordering, I had a hard time choosing which color/pattern—there were so many, including animal prints! I chose a zebra print.
When it arrived, it looked and felt like it was made very well, of good-quality thick kydex. The design was clean and compact, and the clip was strong, with a really good hold. This is very important to me, as I never wear a belt. When I draw my firearm, the holster needs to stay put. Which brings me to the tension of the actual holster itself. This one has the perfect amount of tension to hold the gun in (even if I were to do a handstand, yet it is easy to pull out the gun when drawing. In my opinion, this balance is the most important thing when it comes to holsters that rely only on holster tension for firearm retention.
When I put it in my waistband, I was surprised by how smooth and comfortable it was. I walked around with it for awhile, and barely was aware it was there. This was definitely a keeper for events when I'd be standing for long periods. But what about sitting? Turns out this holster is just as comfortable while sitting as it is while standing! I couldn't believe it. I don't know if it's the cut, the length, the shape, or how it sits in my waistband, but I was able to sit with the holster on and my Sig P938 in it an entire day at work comfortably, plus while driving to and from the office. I was sold! The Well Armed Woman certainly knows what they're doing when it comes to products for women. At $47.99 (+$7 for some patterns), this is definitely a fantastic and affordable holster!
- Niki Jones
After trying a bunch of kydex and hard-leather holsters, one day I was going for a walk with my dogs and grabbed one of my cheap neoprene holster "sleeves" that I have attached in my purse to carry my gun, and put that in my waistband. During the walk, it was so comfortable that I could barely feel it, so I tried sitting with it, and to my surprise it didn't give me that femoral "stab" like the others. I began carrying regularly this way, convinced a hard IWB holster was not for me.
That all changed when I ordered a kydex IWB holster from The Well Armed Woman for my Sig P938. My partner-in-crime Carrin had a gorgeous lemon-yellow version, and said when she swore it was different and more comfortable than other holsters. I figured I'd get it, and worst-case scenario: I'd use it during the times I'd be standing for long periods of time, like Sure Shots practice. While ordering, I had a hard time choosing which color/pattern—there were so many, including animal prints! I chose a zebra print.
When it arrived, it looked and felt like it was made very well, of good-quality thick kydex. The design was clean and compact, and the clip was strong, with a really good hold. This is very important to me, as I never wear a belt. When I draw my firearm, the holster needs to stay put. Which brings me to the tension of the actual holster itself. This one has the perfect amount of tension to hold the gun in (even if I were to do a handstand, yet it is easy to pull out the gun when drawing. In my opinion, this balance is the most important thing when it comes to holsters that rely only on holster tension for firearm retention.
When I put it in my waistband, I was surprised by how smooth and comfortable it was. I walked around with it for awhile, and barely was aware it was there. This was definitely a keeper for events when I'd be standing for long periods. But what about sitting? Turns out this holster is just as comfortable while sitting as it is while standing! I couldn't believe it. I don't know if it's the cut, the length, the shape, or how it sits in my waistband, but I was able to sit with the holster on and my Sig P938 in it an entire day at work comfortably, plus while driving to and from the office. I was sold! The Well Armed Woman certainly knows what they're doing when it comes to products for women. At $47.99 (+$7 for some patterns), this is definitely a fantastic and affordable holster!
- Niki Jones
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Springco M4/CAR-15 Enhanced Power Buffer Spring and M16/AR Platform Enhanced Power Extractor Spring Review
Having just built my AR-15 rifle during the Sure Shots Rifle Build project last year, I have been awash in a sea of seemingly never-ending upgrade opportunities. From tactical flashlight attachments to costly electronic sights, decked out rail guards to zombie-green colored grips, it seems that all the upgrades new rifle owners gravitate towards are the flashy ones. When offered the opportunity to test and evaluate a buffer spring set from Sprinco, I was thrilled! It would give me a chance to focus on upgrading the internal components of my rifle rather than just the flashy external ones. After all, performance always trumps aesthetics, no matter how cool they may be. I immediately sent a detailed description of both my XDm 9mm pistol and my custom-built AR-15 to our Sprinco contact, Jack Purcell, for recommendations on products that may benefit me. He told me that while the XDm series is currently under development, he had just the set-up I needed for my AR-15. A couple of weeks later, I ventured out to the San Antonio Gun Show to meet up with Sprinco and get my new gear. After describing to him my detailed set-up, including barrel length, caliber, gas type, buffer system and various other detailed specs for my rifle along with the type of ammunition I currently shoot, he was able to recommend a buffer spring and bolt carrier extractor spring combination to suit my needs. Into the bag he threw my two new springs, installation instructions, a sample of some Machine Gunners Lube. I thanked him and went on my way, excited to install and try out the goods. |
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The two components of my new set-up are the M4/CAR-15 Enhanced Power Buffer Spring and M16/AR Platform Enhanced Power Extractor Spring. Both of these springs are constructed from Chrome Silicon, the same material used in springs for high-stress applications such as NASCAR, Formula One, and Moto GP motor valve springs that enables them to withstand extreme heat and high cyclic rates. The spring is heat treated, stress relieved, shot peened, and moly-plated. In addition, the bolt carrier extractor spring is cryogenically processed in order to increase the strength and wear life. An AR-15 buffer spring’s main function is to push the bolt carrier forward to pick up another round after one has been fired. Standard buffer springs are made of stainless steel and typically last between 5,000-8,000 shots. The Chrome-Silicon Enhanced Power Buffer Spring claims a life cycle in excess of 1,500,000 shots! This means that it will likely never need to be replaced throughout the life span of the carbine, eliminating the need for future maintenance. The bolt carrier extractor spring assists the extractor in removing spent cases. Sprinco claims that their bolt carrier extractor springs may last round counts in excess of 200,000, again, eliminating the need for replacement throughout the lifespan of the carbine. Having an upgraded bolt carrier extractor spring is a stealthy upgrade, since you likely won’t ever notice it. That’s because it will always work exactly as it is supposed to, and will probably never wear out and need replacement. Upgrading to a higher quality spring system has other major advantages in addition to extending life span and preventing future maintenance. These advantages include reduced cycle rate and bolt bounce, faster sight recovery, increased platform stability, fewer malfunctions (especially double-feeds and failure-to-extract malfunctions), improved cyclic operation for hundreds of thousands of rounds, and greater resistance to heat induced performance degradation.
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I could hardly wait until I got a chance to try out my new setup. Prior to the test fire, I engaged Alan in an exhaustive email conversation regarding how to install, what I should be on the
look-out for, and what other products could further benefit my setup. He took my barrage of questions (“What’s the difference between the white and blue springs?” “What is a buffer weight?”
“How should I evaluate my ejection trajectory?”) with much appreciated patience, and never hesitated to offer further assistance in both the installation and evaluation of my new gear. The
buffer spring was incredibly easy to install, and the entire installation took me less than 5 minutes. Installing the tiny bolt carrier extractor spring was a bit more involved. After trying
unsuccessfully to do it at home, I took it to a gunsmith friend who was able to walk me through the install in about 5 minutes. Considering I’ll never have to replace it again, it was well worth
the extra effort. As soon as I got my new bolt carrier extractor spring installed, I was ready for the fun part, the T&E! Luckily, I had six other Sure Shots to share the fun with me.
My rifle functioned like a dream. Smooth and flawless. Not one of the Sure Shots who tested my AR-15 that day had ever fired one before, yet everyone’s feedback was the same: “That was
awesome!” Although I still have some more work to do before my setup is perfect, the spring upgrades were a great start to that goal. Not only did the upgrades significantly enhance my
rifle’s performance, but I had fun and learned plenty in the process!
Valuable internal upgrades to a rifle are not readily visible and thus may be overlooked in favor of fancy, “tacti-cool” external gadgets. That’s a shame, since a tricked-out rifle that is not
functional is essentially worthless. The experts at Sprinco USA and Tactical Springs, LLC helped me find the perfect upgrades for my particular set-up, ensuring I’m not stuck using my rifle as
a (really cool looking) club when the going gets rough! My enhanced set-up will no doubt see me through countless spent rounds and plenty of 2-gun, 3-gun, and carbine matches in the near
future.
When describing the lifetime durability of their products, Sprinco says, “After installing/using our springs, if you forget about us, we have done our job”. While that is a great motto, I certainly
won’t forget the friendly and helpful staff at Sprinco USA and Tactical Springs, LLC anytime soon. After all, I want to be the first one on board when the new XDm setup comes out!
- Becca Spinks
Special thanks to BSG Security Services and Nardis Gun Club for contributing to this project!
look-out for, and what other products could further benefit my setup. He took my barrage of questions (“What’s the difference between the white and blue springs?” “What is a buffer weight?”
“How should I evaluate my ejection trajectory?”) with much appreciated patience, and never hesitated to offer further assistance in both the installation and evaluation of my new gear. The
buffer spring was incredibly easy to install, and the entire installation took me less than 5 minutes. Installing the tiny bolt carrier extractor spring was a bit more involved. After trying
unsuccessfully to do it at home, I took it to a gunsmith friend who was able to walk me through the install in about 5 minutes. Considering I’ll never have to replace it again, it was well worth
the extra effort. As soon as I got my new bolt carrier extractor spring installed, I was ready for the fun part, the T&E! Luckily, I had six other Sure Shots to share the fun with me.
My rifle functioned like a dream. Smooth and flawless. Not one of the Sure Shots who tested my AR-15 that day had ever fired one before, yet everyone’s feedback was the same: “That was
awesome!” Although I still have some more work to do before my setup is perfect, the spring upgrades were a great start to that goal. Not only did the upgrades significantly enhance my
rifle’s performance, but I had fun and learned plenty in the process!
Valuable internal upgrades to a rifle are not readily visible and thus may be overlooked in favor of fancy, “tacti-cool” external gadgets. That’s a shame, since a tricked-out rifle that is not
functional is essentially worthless. The experts at Sprinco USA and Tactical Springs, LLC helped me find the perfect upgrades for my particular set-up, ensuring I’m not stuck using my rifle as
a (really cool looking) club when the going gets rough! My enhanced set-up will no doubt see me through countless spent rounds and plenty of 2-gun, 3-gun, and carbine matches in the near
future.
When describing the lifetime durability of their products, Sprinco says, “After installing/using our springs, if you forget about us, we have done our job”. While that is a great motto, I certainly
won’t forget the friendly and helpful staff at Sprinco USA and Tactical Springs, LLC anytime soon. After all, I want to be the first one on board when the new XDm setup comes out!
- Becca Spinks
Special thanks to BSG Security Services and Nardis Gun Club for contributing to this project!
