John, The Head

I was once, and for a long time, a Surefire man.  I carried Surefire products without fail, and was opposed to anything else.  As I mellowed, I decided to pick up my first Streamlight.  It was a Stinger, which is an excellent rechargeable light.  Soon therafter, I picked up a Strion, which is a Surefire sized rechargable light.  This light goes with me most everywhere.  Why do I like it so much?  It seems to be as bright as my Surefire light, but it doesn’t cost me $6.00 to use it for an hour.

Recently I was at Cop Stop and saw the new (or at least pretty new) Scorpoin LED.  This is a 6V lithium light with a 1W super high-flux LED with a 10,000 hour life.  It boasts 47 lumens typical output and 1.75 hours runtime at full intensity, and 2 hours additional with declining intensity.  This appealed to me because it is a long runtime, it is bright, it is sturdy, and the batteries have a 10 year shelf life.  I picked it up for my “oh shit” bag.  The 47 lumens is a little misleading.  LED lights tend to put out light over less of the visual spectrum.  The “white” LEDs tend to be a bit on the blue side.  For some reason, it seems like it is easier to see with the blue tinted light.  The light is bright enough to be uncomfortable when shined in the face during the day.  This is often a good indicator of a tactical light that is bright enough.

All in all, at $59.95, it’s a great deal!  I just wish Streamlight would get on the ball and make me an integrated vertical foregrip light for less than the ballpark of $700…

I recently picked up an M7X Matrix for my Glock 27 from Cop Stop.  I decided that I needed another holster for my Glock 27, because I only have two, and my DeSantis Leather Holster just wasn’t cutting it for me. 

Priced at a low $23.95 or therabouts, I kind of classed the holster in the area of a Fobus or Uncle Mikes.  I would say that the quality, fit, and finish is definately on par with those manufacturers–It’s not pretty, but it works and works very well.  The main thing that I love about this holster is the belt attachement method.  It attaches with plastic wraparound loops with pull-dot snap closures.  When I tried it, I noticed that it was surprisingly stable.  It holds the weapon close into my body, which is exactly what I want a concealment holster to do.  I’m back in the business of COMFORTABLY carrying a concealed handgun in the summer.  Wouldn’t it have to be the end of the summer before I discover this?  Oh well…

The retention of the holster is great.  Holstering requires minimal effort, and unholstering requires a positive upward snap.  While the tension is not adjustable, it is sufficient, if not a little on the heavy side.  Once the trigger-guard retention is cleared, the weapon draws free and clear, with no drag that I have noticed.  All in all, it is a pretty fast holster.

I have noticed that over the years I have started to move further and further away from leather.  Sure, nothing looks quite as good as a $1000+ 1911 in a $200+ holster with matching belt and magazine carrier, but for the sheer utility of a holster, plastic is about as good as it’s going to get.  There will be no sweat soaking, shrinking, or stretching.  This is a definate bonus for me, as, at times, I tend to sweat a lot…  Something I am sure my few readers are dying to know about me.

I digress…  I think this holster is an outstanding peice of gear, and worth every bit of what I paid for it.  It’s not a “fine” holster, but it’s a damned good one.