UM3 Sight Mount & Holster by UM Tactical Review
Photo by Brandon Dieterich - dieterichphotography.com
Before getting the UM3 I had been bouncing back and forth about having my G34 slide milled for an optic for a while. While I liked the idea of using a red dot for shooting a pistol, I didn't really have enough experience to know if I would want to shoot with an optic for competition. Having the G34's slide milled felt like an expensive experiment, there are so many options if you go that route. I would have had to pick an optic, then find someone to do the mill work, or decide if I should just buy a new milled slide, the dollar signs kept multiplying. So, I was thrilled to find an alternative with the UM3 Sight Mount while Niki and I were at SHOT Show this year.
UM Tactical's UM3 Sight Mount is a simple, lightweight but effective design that you can quickly mount (and unmount) from just about any pistol with a front rail, and you don't need tools to do it. The UM3 just slides on the rail of the gun, clicks into place, you add your optic to the mount, tighten it, and that locks the mount securely into place. I am pretty tough on my guns, especially at and after matches, and the mount has never moved and keeps a tight fit. Most small optics will fit on it's Picatinny rail, UM Tactical even offers a couple of low cost optics on their website. The design of the UM3 also allows you to use your iron sights as well as the optic, which was an important feature for me since you never know when your optic is going to malfunction. Another feature the UM3 boasts is that you can maintain zero if you have to take the optic and mount off. I was skeptical of this, but it tested to be true. After shooting with my zeroed optic a few different times I removed the mount, left it off for a while, and once remounted it was still zeroed. As if the mount itself wasn't enough UM Tactical has an awesome holster solution, too. The UMH3 Universal Holster works with various belt widths, and because the carbon fiber holster is made to fit to the UM3 mount (not the gun) you can use it with pretty much any gun. It's a speed style holster that is really easy to adjust, comes with your choice of Blade-Tech attachment (belt loop, paddle, tek-lok), and is made for right or left hand use. It comes in a number of hydro-dip Kryptek and camo finishes, including Muddy Girl. With Level 1 retention it's great for running around the range, so far I've really liked it during matches and drills. It's probably not solid enough retention for daily carry, and I'm curious how it will perform in match situations that require real running or unusual positions. On a side note, I'm not in love with the UM Tactical 6 MOA Red Dot. When it's on it is bright and easy to see. However, for some reason it occasionally turned off while actively shooting. I sent my first one back, UM sent me a replacement immediately. I zeroed the 2nd optic and tested it at an indoor range, worked fine. Unfortunately, once outdoors and on the move, it happened again. I thought maybe I was just having sight acquisition issues, but another shooter was able to recreate the issue. While disappointing, it's not a huge issue for me since I have a Leopold DeltaPoint on it's way for this gun, and I will try the UM optic on my rifle. I really like this mount and holster combo. I can shoot with the optic or with my iron sights, which I feel gives me a lot of versatility without a big investment. This seems like a really good option for shooters in a similar situation trying to decide if they want to commit to an optic on their pistol. Plus, Brian and Janet Wilson of UM Tactical care about their customers and their products. That means a lot to me.
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Radians RSG-3 Interchangeable Shooting Glasses ReviewOne of the things I remember about my dad and his competitive shooting back in the ‘80s was his “cool-guy” yellow-lensed, aviator-style shooting glasses. When I moved to Texas in 2005 and began shooting regularly, I found his old pair and often tried wearing them, but they were way too big for my face. I never liked the wraparound style that is ubiquitous in the world of shooting, and they also look terrible on me. So, I’ve had a hard time finding eye protection I like.
At SHOT Show, I was discussing with the Radians rep how I never seem to find shooting glasses in a style and shape I love, so he suggested that the ladies of the Sure Shots try out a wide array of their styles, and sent us a box of various eye protection. Soon after, at one of our Sure Shots Ladies Day at the Range events, we did just that, and it was there that I saw one pair stand out from the rest: The Radians RSG-3 Interchangeable Shooting Glasses. The shape of the lenses is what I noticed first; they are definitely reminiscent of the ones my dad rocked, yet sized smaller, which is perfect for my face. The best feature of these glasses is that the lenses are interchangeable—they come with clear, amber, and orange, and all you have to do is pop them in and out. While the ones I coveted had a very thin metal frame, these are frameless, which offers an unobstructed field of vision. On an overcast day the yellow lenses make everything brighter, crisper and sharper—definitely a plus when you’re acquiring a target. The orange lenses are perfect for a bright day, giving you the same crispness without adding brightness. The clear lenses are my go-to for indoor shooting. The lenses pop in and out with a snap, but one thing I noticed is that they pop in and out a touch too easily; if you aren’t careful you can lose a lens, which happened to me on two separate occasions. Luckily, they didn’t get scratched or damaged, so I was able to pop them right back in. What I don’t love about the RSG-3s is the wire temples that wrap around the back of the ear. Maybe it’s because I have very small ears, but the curved ends don’t fit my ears well, and they aren’t adjustable. I shot a 3-Gun match with them and the first part of the day, when I was wearing over-the-ear hearing protection with them, the temples didn’t bother me much since the ear pro “locked” the glasses into position. But when I switched to earplugs for the second half of the day, the glasses slipped down my nose every time I bent down to reset steel. Since 90% of my shooting is done while wearing over-the-ear protection, I still plan on making the RSG-3s my primary eye protection. An added bonus is the case the RSG-3s come in a sturdy vinyl case with velcro closure and slots for the alternate lenses, ensuring they are always kept together in the same place. There is even a cleaning cloth included. These glasses are 99.9% UVA/UVB protection and meet ANSI Z87.1 + standards. They retail for $54.99. radians.com - Niki Jones |
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