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Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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No Content Available

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\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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No Content Available

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\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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No Content Available

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\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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POPULAR

No Content Available

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\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

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\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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No Content Available

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\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
$\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

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\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

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BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

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\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

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\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

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\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

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\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

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\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

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\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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No Content Available

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\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

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\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

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\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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What I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

POPULAR

No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

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\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

Page 2 of 144 Previous 1 2 3 … 144 Next

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No Content Available

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\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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No Content Available

BROWSE BY BRAND

\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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$\"Primary$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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The second focal plane design ensures that the reticle size remains constant regardless of magnification, which many users find beneficial for rapid target acquisition at lower magnifications. The scope also includes a smooth magnification ring with a built-in throw lever for quick adjustments in the field. It is one of the smoothest rings in the optics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Primary$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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This is more than just a good-looking optic. It is meant for serious use. the PLxC 1-8x24 is constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with a hard anodized coating. It is waterproof, fog-resistant, and shockproof, ensuring consistent performance in challenging conditions. The scope has been tested to handle heavy recoil, making it a dependable choice for calibers ranging from 5.56 NATO to .308 Winchester and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second focal plane design ensures that the reticle size remains constant regardless of magnification, which many users find beneficial for rapid target acquisition at lower magnifications. The scope also includes a smooth magnification ring with a built-in throw lever for quick adjustments in the field. It is one of the smoothest rings in the optics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Primary$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO - Built to Last<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is more than just a good-looking optic. It is meant for serious use. the PLxC 1-8x24 is constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with a hard anodized coating. It is waterproof, fog-resistant, and shockproof, ensuring consistent performance in challenging conditions. The scope has been tested to handle heavy recoil, making it a dependable choice for calibers ranging from 5.56 NATO to .308 Winchester and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second focal plane design ensures that the reticle size remains constant regardless of magnification, which many users find beneficial for rapid target acquisition at lower magnifications. The scope also includes a smooth magnification ring with a built-in throw lever for quick adjustments in the field. It is one of the smoothest rings in the optics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Primary$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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\n
$\"Nova$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO - Built to Last<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is more than just a good-looking optic. It is meant for serious use. the PLxC 1-8x24 is constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with a hard anodized coating. It is waterproof, fog-resistant, and shockproof, ensuring consistent performance in challenging conditions. The scope has been tested to handle heavy recoil, making it a dependable choice for calibers ranging from 5.56 NATO to .308 Winchester and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second focal plane design ensures that the reticle size remains constant regardless of magnification, which many users find beneficial for rapid target acquisition at lower magnifications. The scope also includes a smooth magnification ring with a built-in throw lever for quick adjustments in the field. It is one of the smoothest rings in the optics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Primary$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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The PLxC features premium Japanese glass with exceptional clarity, edge-to-edge sharpness, and color fidelity. This ensures that users can confidently identify and engage targets, even in low-light conditions. The multi-coated lenses also reduce glare and enhance light transmission, contributing to high performance in varying environments. Primary Arms is known for its innovative reticle designs, and the PLxC 1-8x24 is no exception. It includes the ACSS NOVA Reticle. The ACSS NOVA is a purpose-built reticle that leverages a high-efficiency fiber optic wire for Red Dot Bright\u00a0illumination. With built-in target ranging, MIL subtensions, and moving target leads, this reticle provides a broad, intuitive toolset for engaging targets from close quarters to long-range. It is a perfect for the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Nova$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO - Built to Last<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is more than just a good-looking optic. It is meant for serious use. the PLxC 1-8x24 is constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with a hard anodized coating. It is waterproof, fog-resistant, and shockproof, ensuring consistent performance in challenging conditions. The scope has been tested to handle heavy recoil, making it a dependable choice for calibers ranging from 5.56 NATO to .308 Winchester and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second focal plane design ensures that the reticle size remains constant regardless of magnification, which many users find beneficial for rapid target acquisition at lower magnifications. The scope also includes a smooth magnification ring with a built-in throw lever for quick adjustments in the field. It is one of the smoothest rings in the optics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Primary$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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Nova Reticle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The PLxC features premium Japanese glass with exceptional clarity, edge-to-edge sharpness, and color fidelity. This ensures that users can confidently identify and engage targets, even in low-light conditions. The multi-coated lenses also reduce glare and enhance light transmission, contributing to high performance in varying environments. Primary Arms is known for its innovative reticle designs, and the PLxC 1-8x24 is no exception. It includes the ACSS NOVA Reticle. The ACSS NOVA is a purpose-built reticle that leverages a high-efficiency fiber optic wire for Red Dot Bright\u00a0illumination. With built-in target ranging, MIL subtensions, and moving target leads, this reticle provides a broad, intuitive toolset for engaging targets from close quarters to long-range. It is a perfect for the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Nova$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO - Built to Last<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is more than just a good-looking optic. It is meant for serious use. the PLxC 1-8x24 is constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with a hard anodized coating. It is waterproof, fog-resistant, and shockproof, ensuring consistent performance in challenging conditions. The scope has been tested to handle heavy recoil, making it a dependable choice for calibers ranging from 5.56 NATO to .308 Winchester and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second focal plane design ensures that the reticle size remains constant regardless of magnification, which many users find beneficial for rapid target acquisition at lower magnifications. The scope also includes a smooth magnification ring with a built-in throw lever for quick adjustments in the field. It is one of the smoothest rings in the optics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Primary$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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$\"1-8$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nova Reticle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The PLxC features premium Japanese glass with exceptional clarity, edge-to-edge sharpness, and color fidelity. This ensures that users can confidently identify and engage targets, even in low-light conditions. The multi-coated lenses also reduce glare and enhance light transmission, contributing to high performance in varying environments. Primary Arms is known for its innovative reticle designs, and the PLxC 1-8x24 is no exception. It includes the ACSS NOVA Reticle. The ACSS NOVA is a purpose-built reticle that leverages a high-efficiency fiber optic wire for Red Dot Bright\u00a0illumination. With built-in target ranging, MIL subtensions, and moving target leads, this reticle provides a broad, intuitive toolset for engaging targets from close quarters to long-range. It is a perfect for the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Nova$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO - Built to Last<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is more than just a good-looking optic. It is meant for serious use. the PLxC 1-8x24 is constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with a hard anodized coating. It is waterproof, fog-resistant, and shockproof, ensuring consistent performance in challenging conditions. The scope has been tested to handle heavy recoil, making it a dependable choice for calibers ranging from 5.56 NATO to .308 Winchester and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second focal plane design ensures that the reticle size remains constant regardless of magnification, which many users find beneficial for rapid target acquisition at lower magnifications. The scope also includes a smooth magnification ring with a built-in throw lever for quick adjustments in the field. It is one of the smoothest rings in the optics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Primary$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"primary-arms-compact-plxc-1-8x24sfp-lpvo","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/the-primary-arms-glx-microprism\/","post_modified":"2024-12-24 14:28:03","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-24 19:28:03","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=395005","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":394960,"post_author":"1219","post_date":"2024-12-25 14:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-25 19:00:00","post_content":"\n
We hear the phrase often. \"This isn't your grandfather's\u2026insert item here\". Well, the Aimpoint <\/a>Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight was indeed your grandfather's red dot. And it's worth a second to take a look at it. This, my friends, is where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The WAS Your Grandfather's Red Dot Sight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It all started in 1974 when technician and inventor Arne Ekstrand wanted to improve his accuracy on moving targets during hunting and while on the shooting range. The idea of a red dot sight was hatched when Arne stood and shaved in front of the mirror and saw that the light reflection on the wall behind him did not move, regardless of whether he was moving his head. Arne got an idea and started sketching a concept, resulting in a prototype based on an empty toilet paper roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arne Ekstrand himself did not have the financial strength to pursue the project further. Instead, he contacted visionary and entrepreneur Gunnar Sandberg from ElektroSandberg. With ElektroSandberg's financial support, the development of the first red dot sight began. In February 1975, the first patent was approved, and Aimpoint AB was founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Aimpoint$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint Inventor Arne Ekstrand <\/p>\n\n\n\n
External Windage and Elevation Adjustments<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By today's standard, it was crude. It is mounted on an A.R.M.S. carry handle mount for AR rifle use or a weaver rail for pistol use. It had external elevation and windage adjustments. This meant that the entire unit would be adjusted to elevation and windage. Yes, the body of the optic and all. You would slightly loosen the mount, turn the adjustment knobs, then tighten the unit back down\u2014a far reach from our hyper-precise internal adjustments of today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small Objective Lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The battery for the G1 was the RM1N. If you think finding batteries for some of our modern optics is hard, hold my beer. As the generations of optics evolved, they found it easier to source batteries. Another challenge was the actual objective window of the optic. It measured only 14mm or .55 inches. While not optimum, it was revolutionary at the time. Most modern micro-optics have windows larger than that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Early$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Evolution of the Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Aimpoint has come a long way. They are indeed the genesis of modern red dots and continue to lead us today. From their humble beginnings with item #00001 to the high-tech wonders of today, they have led the way. Aimpoint tells me, \"Believe it or not, but even today, there are a lot of Electronic sights still in use around the world. The fact that a sight manufactured over 45 years ago is still in use is a hallmark of the high quality all red dot sights from Aimpoint are characterized by.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit:https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/about-us\/our-history\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Aimpoint Electronic Red Dot Reflex Sight - The OG Red Dot!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"aimpoint-electronic-red-dot-reflex-sight","to_ping":"","pinged":"\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/aimpoint-acro-c-2\/","post_modified":"2024-12-26 10:12:40","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-26 15:12:40","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=394960","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":391455,"post_author":"1227","post_date":"2024-12-16 09:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-16 14:00:00","post_content":"\n
I recall the first time I looked at a handgun with an optic on it. It was a 1911<\/a> with a C-More sight on a non-reciprocating frame mount. It was cool and looked fast. I recall thinking, \u201cThat\u2019ll never make it into the carry industry.\u201d I was correct in a way and incorrect in many other ways. With the rising popularity of optics<\/a>, let\u2019s discuss the different types designed for handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics for Handguns: The New Normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhat I didn\u2019t realize was that optics were going to get smaller, more reliable, and were going to be slide-mounted. They are now ubiquitous, and for good reason. Optics are one of the greatest advancements to handguns<\/a> ever made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The focus of this article is primarily going to be on the RMR footprint of optics. I know that there is a wide assortment of optics to pick from. However, I stick with the things that I know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trijicon<\/a> RMR has been my bread-and-butter optic for about 12 years. I have repeatedly said in articles and videos that I don't like battery-dependent optics for handguns. People assume that I\u2019m saying that I don't like optics on<\/em> handguns. That couldn\u2019t be further from the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Trijicon$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
To say that is to say that one wants a fair fight. There is no such thing! I want to dominate any fight I find myself embroiled in. Not to mention, by the time you are reduced to a handgun, you are already well behind and need every advantage you can get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My go-to has always been, and will always be, the Trijicon RMR06 for battery-driven optics. I know that the HD model is out now. That is unobtainium to me, so today we are talking about the amazing<\/em> RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only do I have them on handguns, but I also have them on rifles<\/a> and shotguns<\/a>. It bears noting that if you're going to have an optic on a handgun, you need to have a serious conversation with yourself about how much you trust an electronic<\/em> device that is being exposed to massive inertial recoil forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Modern$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the first concern. The second one is where those optics come from. I know that there are a slew of instructors and people whose first name is \u201cformer\" who are busy pushing Chinese-made optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I get it, this economy sucks, and money is tight\u2014I have Chinese-made optics, too. However, I do not trust my life to them. I relegate them to training guns that I hand out to students on the range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my many classes, I have seen all<\/em> optics go down, including those from Aimpoint and Trijicon. However, none have gone down as much as those from China. Please consider my words and act accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Folks, I have seen things. Oh my goodness, have I seen things. Glocks in mud, blood, and full submersion. I have seen Glocks<\/a> banged off of fence posts, car doors, bumpers, wheels, and concrete curbs. I have personally racked Glocks off of steel barrels, railroad ties, and on the edges of belts and holsters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are going to put an optic on a handgun, make sure it\u2019s made by Trijicon. Like I said, I\u2019ve seen stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My favorite fiber optic dot is the Trijicon RMR04. It features a 7 MOA amber dot that is crisp with well-defined edges. Unlike the RMR06, which is battery-driven, the RMR04 uses tightly bundled strands of fiber optics to create the dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nighttime use, it depends on a vial of gaseous tritium. That vial creates a soft glow of light, born of radioactive decay. I have fully tested it in total darkness, looking towards a lighted target, and I could still see the dot clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Mounting$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I totally stacked the deck on myself by flashing a handheld light across my eyes to completely wreck my night vision before I started the test. Even so, I was able to clearly see the dot against a lit, white target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The RMR04 has fully proven itself to me and that is why it is on my EDC G17<\/a>. Here is a fact about fiber optic RMRs that I have never seen anyone aware of until I show them. The RMR04 emits a cleaner, more useable dot than an RMR06.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh boy, them\u2019s fightin\u2019 words! How is this possible out of a fiber optic-driven dot? If you try this indoors or outdoors, the result is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber Optic vs. Battery-Driven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Battery-driven dots have to be turned up to be clearly seen. However, fiberoptic dots project dots with a larger MOA surface area that the eye can pick up. If you take two guns with RMRs and hold them side by side, you will notice that the RMR06 starbursts when you turn it up bright enough to be seen in daylight. The RMR04 does not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because the 06 is a 3.25 MOA dot and the 04 is a 7 MOA dot. That larger dot makes all the difference. The funny thing is that the 06, when dialed up, is the same MOA size as the 7 MOA RMR04. The starburst effect makes it appear about 7MOA, if not larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to mention, never needing to remove the optic for battery maintenance is a lovely thing. Oh, and the RMR04 costs less than the RMR06. You\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slide Milling Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is something to consider when it comes to mounting an optic to your slide. Specifically, adding that extra weight can cause an imbalance in the moment of inertia needed to cycle the weapon. This is where a machined OEM slide is a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that a slide with top serrations, front check straps, and side panel cuts has about the same amount of weight removed as what is added by an RMR. In essence, what you are doing is a 1:1 swap of mass. Doing this keeps your handgun running within the same parameters set by the manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This equates to a handgun that feels the same, under recoil, as it would without an optic. However, now you have the superior advantage of being able to be threat-fixated, through the optic rather than front-sight fixated, as is the case with legacy handgun sights. Oh, how times have changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fiber optics-driven dots are something that I have spent a considerable amount of time working with. Initially, my first one was the Trijicon RMR08G. This model features a 12 MOA triangle that is excellent for CQC work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It lacks at distance, but inside of 15 yards, good lord, this thing is fast! It sits on top of my G17 PDW and creates more giggles on the range than anything I have ever seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Solar Driven Optics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis category lands squarely in the lap of Holosun<\/a>. I know that Chinese optics are something that engenders loud comments from the yea and nay crowds. I hear both sides, trust me. If you are strapped for cash there are other options for you that are far more affordable than Holosun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wouldn\u2019t call Holosun a bargain optics company. Holosun is more like mid to upper class. What I have seen of their optics has impressed me. Especially the SCS MOS series. This is an optic that was designed to take the failure points of the Glock MOS series and do away with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This optic effectively turns the gimpy MOS footprint into a custom-milled surface that is a direct mount for the SCS optic. Talk about making lemonade. I have seen a couple of these in the wild, and they have really impressed me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are extremely <\/em>low profile, made of titanium, and have a solar panel and internal battery backup. Likewise, they even have body serrations that are a 100% match to the host Glock. Come on, you gotta love that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holosun Considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lest I sound like a Holoson cheerleader, it bears noting that I have seen more failures from Holosun than from anything else. I have seen optics just die, seals fail, battery trays leak, and lenses fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defense and reasoning for buying a Holosun is that they have a very supportive return policy. However, that does nothing to fix the immediate problem of your optic failing in a fight or competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had this problem before, with an EOTECH, when I was a cop. I had an EOTECH 552 fog over on me when we went from cold to warm as we entered a home. We pushed through by cheeking the rifles and using visual landmarks along the length of the gun as index points. Imagine how scared I was to bring my rifle up and see nothing but a fogged-over optic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mounting a Holosun Optic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to solar panel with battery back-up optics, Holosun dominates this sector. Also, the company\u2019s series of optics is designed to go right onto the MOS footprint without a plate. Brilliant!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Solar-powered$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nothing is more irritating than dealing with those ridiculous MOS plates. Those things are failures waiting to happen. Likewise, slide adapter plates are the bane of my existence as an armorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I need to be blunt on this because there is no time to be gentle. If you choose to shoot crappy guns, you need to expect crappy results. I choose the Glock 17 Gen3. It is the most globally supported handgun in history. Everything<\/em> is made for the G17 Gen3!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even optics that are made to go onto the slide of a Glock as a direct mount will require a plate if you decide to put that same optic onto a Smith & Wesson Equalizer. Trust me, I did this very thing two weeks ago. Suddenly, your great price on that Holosun optic that mounts directly to a Glock now requires a $70 adapter plate to go on your boomer blaster because you don\u2019t like Glocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just get a Glock! Bruh!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. No, seriously, I\u2019m writing this article because I work hard at educating people. When someone tells me that they don't have enough money to buy a Glock, I tell them that the reason Glocks cost as much as they do is because they mitigate failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People buy other handguns because they cost less. However, they create problems that must be fixed by spending money. In the past six weeks, I attended three training classes. During two, I watched a Shadow Systems and a Smith & Wesson<\/a>, have mechanical failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I and others were shooting Glocks. All we did was sit back, hydrate, and watch while the instructors and students wrestled with their bargain guns to get back into the class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glocks are the most supported handguns on the planet, that is why you buy a Glock. If you can't afford a new one, then go to Aimsurplus and buy a law-enforcement trade-in Glock. It will have a few scratches on it, but it will essentially be a brand-new handgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Optics$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Cops don't put a lot of rounds on their guns. They look a little chewed up because they get carried in holsters and get scraped and banged for their entire service life. However, mechanically, that is a brand-new gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Optics choices are like so many other things in life\u2014very subjective. What I think is \"the best\" may not be so for you. However, the fact is that the first person who gets a solid hit on the other, typically<\/em> wins the fight. The best way to dominate the fight is with an optic on your handgun. Choose wisely and train hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As always, God bless you all, get those guns out and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information, please visit Trijicon.com<\/a>, Aimpoint.us<\/a>, Aimsurplus.com<\/a>, and Holosun.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","post_title":"Understanding the Different Types of Optics for Handguns","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"optics-for-handguns","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-13 15:04:31","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 20:04:31","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=391455","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":393619,"post_author":"850","post_date":"2024-12-12 07:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2024-12-12 12:00:00","post_content":"\n
Welcome to the seventh annual Ballistic\u2019s Best Guns of the Year Awards! If it\u2019s your first time here, buckle up, because we\u2019re about to explain what makes this the most epic gun showdown of the year. At the end of every year, our editorial staff and content creators come together to pull off something truly wild: testing and ranking over 90 firearms on the range. (Yes, it\u2019s as fun and chaotic as it sounds.) After crunching the scores from our multi-point system, we crown winners in nine categories, awarding them the highly coveted Ballistic\u2019s Best trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best 2024 Categories<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n
Full-Size Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Compact Handguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
1911s\/2011s<\/strong> (this year we\u2019ve doubled the fun with single-stack and double-stack divisions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Revolvers<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Lever-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Shotguns<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
AR-15s<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
Hunting Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong> (two divisions separated by price points)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Precision Bolt-Action Rifles<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n $\"Ballistic's$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Now, pulling this off is no small task. Imagine herding cats\u2014except the cats are teams of experts, stacks of ammo, optics, and a bunch of firearms. It\u2019s a logistical circus. No wonder no one else in the gun media world attempts it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to give a massive shoutout to our expert team leaders and their squads of dedicated evaluators. Thanks for putting up with our endless demands, tight deadlines, and occasional \u201ccreative\u201d ideas. You\u2019re the real MVPs, and we couldn\u2019t do it without you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re ridiculously proud of this year\u2019s results. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll bring you the results with a full report on each individual category. Keep your eyes peeled for the Ballistic\u2019s Best Awards right here on AthlonOutdoors.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballistic's Best Editors' Choice Awards 2024<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and as if our main awards weren\u2019t enough, we\u2019ve also got the Editors\u2019 Choice Awards. These are for the companies and products that made us go, \u201cWow, now that\u2019s cool.\u201d We take into account a full year of covering the entire gun industry, from completely new product introductions to added value, innovation, customer demand, performance and more. So without further ado, let's get to the good stuff! (Follow all the links for full coverage and reports!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Manufacturer Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
IWI <\/a>(Wait till you see what\u2019s coming!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At our Rendezvous Event we had the privilege to examine some new and upcoming projects from IWI that were definitely\u00a0the talk of the day. Currently, IWI makes one of the most popular bullpups on the market, the X95, modern\u00a0AK variants in the Galil ACE\u00a0series and their best balance in value and performance on the AR-15 market with the three Zion-15 variants. We are definitely excited for their future projects coming to compliment and improve on these three pillars.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bullet Of The Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Black Hills Honey Badger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Direction <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kimber New Line-Up of Pistols<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
2K11<\/a>, CDS9<\/a>, R7 Carbon Compact, KDS9c<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Best New Shotguns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mossberg Optic-Ready Shotguns<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Revolver Series<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taurus Executive Grade <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Holographic Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
EOTech<\/a> EXPS3-DCR (Danger Close Reticle)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New AR Accessories <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reptilia<\/a> (Mounts, Grips, Stocks & More)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best New Air Gun<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umarex Komplete NCR Rifle<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Ballistic's Best 2024: The Ultimate Gun Showdown!","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ballistics-best-2024","to_ping":"","pinged":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-2k11\/\nhttps:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/article\/kimber-cds9\/","post_modified":"2024-12-13 11:02:55","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-13 16:02:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dev.athlonoutdoors.com\/?p=393619","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":2},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_23"};

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One of the PLxC 1-8x24's most impressive features is its compact size. Weighing only 16.95 ounces, it is among the lightest scopes in its category, making it ideal for a lightweight fighting or competition rifle. The scope measures just over 9.28 inches in length.
Despite its compact size, the scope delivers a versatile 1-8x magnification range. At 1x magnification, it functions like a red dot sight, offering rapid target acquisition with both eyes open. At 8x magnification, it allows for precision shots at extended ranges, making it suitable for various shooting scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"1-8$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nova Reticle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The PLxC features premium Japanese glass with exceptional clarity, edge-to-edge sharpness, and color fidelity. This ensures that users can confidently identify and engage targets, even in low-light conditions. The multi-coated lenses also reduce glare and enhance light transmission, contributing to high performance in varying environments. Primary Arms is known for its innovative reticle designs, and the PLxC 1-8x24 is no exception. It includes the ACSS NOVA Reticle. The ACSS NOVA is a purpose-built reticle that leverages a high-efficiency fiber optic wire for Red Dot Bright\u00a0illumination. With built-in target ranging, MIL subtensions, and moving target leads, this reticle provides a broad, intuitive toolset for engaging targets from close quarters to long-range. It is a perfect for the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Nova$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO - Built to Last<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is more than just a good-looking optic. It is meant for serious use. the PLxC 1-8x24 is constructed from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with a hard anodized coating. It is waterproof, fog-resistant, and shockproof, ensuring consistent performance in challenging conditions. The scope has been tested to handle heavy recoil, making it a dependable choice for calibers ranging from 5.56 NATO to .308 Winchester and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second focal plane design ensures that the reticle size remains constant regardless of magnification, which many users find beneficial for rapid target acquisition at lower magnifications. The scope also includes a smooth magnification ring with a built-in throw lever for quick adjustments in the field. It is one of the smoothest rings in the optics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Primary$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
11 Brightness Settings in the Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP LPVO<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, the illuminated reticle offers 11 brightness settings, adaptable to daylight and low-light shooting scenarios. Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the illumination system is efficient and easy to replace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Primary Arms <\/a>Compact PLxC 1-8x24 SFP Rifle Scope is a masterclass in blending functionality, durability, and cutting-edge optics. Its compact design, superior glass quality, and innovative ACSS Nova reticle make it a versatile choice for various applications, from competitive shooting to home defense and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery Type<\/strong><\/td> CR2032 3V Lithium Coin<\/td><\/tr>
Click Value<\/strong>0<\/td> .1 Mil<\/td><\/tr>
Exit Pupil Diameter <\/strong><\/td> Low: 8mm \/ High: 3mm<\/td><\/tr>
Eye Relief <\/strong><\/td> Low: 3.2 in \/ High: 3.7 in<\/td><\/tr>
Field View 100 <\/strong><\/td> Low: 121 ft \/ High: 15 ft<\/td><\/tr>
Focal Plane  <\/strong><\/td> Second Focal Plane<\/td><\/tr>
Illuminated<\/strong><\/td> Illuminated<\/td><\/tr>
Length<\/strong><\/td> 9.2 in.<\/td><\/tr>
Magnification<\/strong><\/td> 1X - 8X<\/td><\/tr>
Mount Compatibility <\/strong><\/td> 30mm<\/td><\/tr>
Objective Diameter <\/strong><\/td> 24mm <\/td><\/tr>
Optic Series <\/strong><\/td> PLx<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle<\/strong><\/td> ACSS NOVA<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Color <\/strong><\/td> Red<\/td><\/tr>
Reticle Type <\/strong><\/td> MRAD<\/td><\/tr>
Total Elevation Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Total Windage Adjustment <\/strong><\/td> 100 MOA<\/td><\/tr>
Turret Features <\/strong><\/td> Capped Turrets, Low Profile, Tool Adjustable<\/td><\/tr>
Warranty<\/strong><\/td> Lifetime<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/strong><\/td> 16.8 oz.<\/td><\/tr>
MSRP<\/strong><\/td> $1499.00<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For more information, visit: https:\/\/www.primaryarms.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","post_title":"Primary Arms Compact PLxC 1-8X24 SFP Rifle Scope","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post