by Scott Smith | Contributing Editor
Since you will be reading this shortly before the Christmas holidays, this might be a good time to consider some useful last minute gifts, or maybe suggest practical ways to use any gift cards you receive. Most of winter is still ahead of us. Instead of purchasing another t-shirt because it’s on sale at your favorite big box store let’s look at a few items we might actually put to use.
The first couple of items I have been putting to use are from Camelbak (Phone: 877-404-7673); the 1 Liter Chute and the Forge insulated mug. Both items will keep your favorite beverage close at hand so you have a drink on the range, in the field or on the road.
You can easily store the cap of the Chute in the carry ring.
First up is the new Chute 1 Liter bottle. This is a 100% BPA/BPS free bottle that is dishwasher safe. The Chute is available in bluegrass, indigo, sage, rust and charcoal with gray caps and contrasting cap tethers. While the colors are unique, the cap is what sets the Chute apart from other drink bottles. The cap snaps on the spout and screws on so it is secure, leak proof and is easily opened with one hand. When the cap is open it slides into the lid. Another unique feature is the angled spout that keeps you from getting spilled on when drinking on the move. The mouth is large enough to drop in ice cubes and to clean the bottle with a dish cloth. I have been using a Chute bottle for a year; it is the best outdoor drink bottle I have seen and worth the $14 price tag.
Camelbak’s other container is a vacuum-sealed, stainless steel thermal caffeine transfer unit; aka an insulated coffee mug. Unlike most other travel mugs the Forge has a spring close seal that truly seals and prevents spillage of the all important coffee; if you must, it will work for tea. The Forge holds 12 or 16 ounces of a hot beverage and will keep it warm for up to four hours. This means you can have a hot drink when you are done with a winter trip to the range. You can get the Forge in a variety of colors ghost (white), olive sky, aubergine, deep sea, blaze, midnight lilac, ghost berry (white with berry closure), steel, and black smoke. While I have been using this mug, I have found it does all Camelbak said it will. When knocked over numerous times, it does not leak. This is a $30 travel mug that is worth the money, especially when you need a hot drink on a cold day.
The o-ring seal of the Forge prevents spills even if you turn the cup upside down.
Another item that you will appreciate if you do not already use one or more is MTM Case-Gard’s (Phone: 800-543-0548) Ammo Can. This is a modern polymer version of the famous steel GI 30/50 caliber ammunition box. MTM’s model is substantially lighter, can be locked and is available in green, black and purple. I have been using MTM Ammo Cans for years to store ammunition, cleaning equipment and just plain stuff. These containers stack neatly and are tough enough to use as a step stool in the coldest or wettest conditions. This Ammo Can is available online for around $11; plus shipping and they are worth every penny.
If you wish to enhance the usefulness of the Ammo Can 50, MTM offers an Ammo Can Organizer, which not only fits MTM Ammo Cans but the real GI 50-Cal. can. This three tray kit has dividers to organize cleaning kits, choke tubes; the smallest one holds 50 round 22LR boxes or any other stuff you need to organize. For around $9, this kit will get those small tools, gun parts, etc. secure and out of the way so it saves you from having to order another lost part. These two items are but the smallest sample of gear MTM Case-Gard makes for shooters so check out their website for other great items from tables to clay bird throwers.
MTM’s 50-Cal Ammo box in purple with three Ammo Can Organizer trays. Note the various sizes to store a wide array of items.
One of the items many folks look for but never seem to get at Christmas is a new holster. The question that has been posed when something like a holster is on the list is: why do you need yet another holster. Well, because! Holsters to men are like shoes and purses are to women. With more women shooting, they too are finding you need more than one holster to properly conceal or compete with your pistol. One of the holsters I have been using is Front Line Holster’s KNG Paddle (the KBG17P-BK, retails for $60.48) for my Glock 17.
Front Line Holsters (Phone: (631) 843-0490) is a division of the Mako Group. Mako has been manufacturing and distributing equipment to the IDF for years, so they know a thing or two about hard use functional gear. The KNG holster line is yet another example of form following function.
The KNG I chose is a paddle style for easy on/off, but it is available in a traditional belt slide. This holster is a four-layer holster with the outer layer being Kydex, then a molded Cordura, then molded PVC for a perfect boned fit to protect the pistol, and finally waterproof velvet which protects the finish while giving a quiet draw. This holster fits my decades-old G17 like it was the latest Gen4 which is really cool, since some holsters don’t fit perfectly. I found the G17/KNG a good daily carry combination and for use in IDPA competition because it is secure, fast and conceals well. If you didn’t get that new holster for Christmas, check out the entire line from Front Line Holsters. You will be glad you did.
Front Line’s KNG Glock 17 holster, keeps your pistol secure with fast access and looks good doing it.
If you are like millions of folks you get gift cards to your favorite big box store. A good gift for you is a concealed carry pistol. Over the past several years I have endured a few knee replacements and found I couldn’t always carry my preferred full-size pistol. This past year I broke down and purchased a sub-compact pistol from Smith&Wesson (Phone: 800-331-0852); the M&P Bodyguard 380, (with an included Crimson Trace laser) has a retail price of $449, shipping with two 6-round magazines and a soft zipper case.
The M&P Bodyguard with test ammo; the pistol performed well showing no preference for bullet design or weight.
This pistol has been on the market for a couple of years as The Bodyguard, but Smith enhanced it and added it to the M&P line. The only major change I could find from the original Bodyguard to the M&P version is the cocking serrations. These were changed from vertical cuts to the waves popularized on the M&P line. When you look at the BG380 you will notice there is a slide lock, take down lever and single-side safety, plus ambidextrous activation button for the Crimson Trace Laser. While the safety is functional, its diminutive size makes it something I would not use when carrying the pistol.
After giving the M&P BG380 its once over, it was off to the range. Fortunately it was a cloudy day so I could see the laser. I had a mix of loads from Federal (90-grain Hydra Shok), Hornady (90-grain FTX), Remington (102-grain Golden Saber) and Winchester (85-grain Silver Tip). Once I activated the laser; a single push of the button for constant on or a double tap to make the beam blink, it was time to shoot the pistol. I verified the laser was properly set with a mix of full metal jacket ammunition that I had. Out of the box the laser needed just a bit of tweaking before it was point of aim/impact. After that the pistol showed no real preference for manufacturer or bullet weight, which is good with the uncertain availability of loads for small caliber pistols. In daylight the laser was visible out to about ten yards, at this distance the pistol consistently fired 6-shot groups hovering around 2”. With the factory sights the pistol would perform about the same. It was work to get the pistol to shoot accurately with those barely-a-hump factory sights.
From front to back the Bodyguard’s controls; laser switch, take down lever, slide lock, single side safety. All are small and do not catch on pocket holsters.
To fix the problem of my over 50 eyes barely being able to find the factory sights, an email was sent to XS Sights (Phone: (817) 536-0136) for a set of their Standard Dot Tritium Sights that retail for $90 and are worth every penny. The sights fit the dovetails perfectly and when centered on the slide were dead-on with any of the defensive loads I tested. Adding the XS Sights made this a truly usable pistol in all light conditions even if the Crimson Trace Laser failed. With the XS Sights, I could ring out four-inch 6-shot groups at 15 yards. This may not be “match grade,” but this is out of a 2¾” barrel with a nine-pound DAO pull.
Overall I found the Smith&Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380 CTC to be a fine pistol. While I am not a fan of pocket pistols, with the laser and XS Sights, I do not feel under-armed when carrying only this pistol. In the world of true pocket pistols, this is one of the best. The M&P 380BG is accurate, reliable and conceals wearing virtually anything.
