Five Must Have Products for your New Handgun | Pistol

Oct 20 • News • 20825

Have you recently purchased your first handgun, or simply a new pistol, and realized there are still a few things you’ll have to purchase?  I hope that this short guide will help you get that range bag filled with all the basics you’ll need to start shooting regularly.  These are also products that mostly range under the $50 price range, so these are also great gift suggestions for the novice shooter all the way to the avid pistolero!

 

Cleaning Kit

 

It should go without saying that you should keep your pistol clean.  It is imperative that you always clean your gun after a day at the range. Gunpowder residue and other crud tends to build up in the nooks and crannies, and a proper cleaning will ensure that everything is working smoothly.  Learning to clean your firearm will also teach you how all of the internal mechanisms work together, and will help you troubleshoot unexpected mechanical issues that may pop up at the range.

 

You can view our “How To” cleaning guides here:  How to Clean a Revolver | How to Clean a Glock

 

 

If you’re an owner of multiple firearms, a universal cleaning kit would be a great addition to any range bag.  There are also plenty of options in caliber specific portable cleaning kits.  These will include everything needed to properly maintain your weapon, including bore brushes, jags and patches, solvent and oil, and are compact enough to fit in a small pocket.  Most of the caliber specific kits will include additional tools for more in depth cleansing.  These products range from just over $10 for a bare bones kit, and upwards of $50 for a premium kit.

 

Holster

 

Whether you intend to use your handgun for home defense or for carrying concealed, you should own a properly fitting holster.  A holster will allow the user easy access to their weapon in the event of an emergency, and can also provide some additional security from unauthorized use.  For instance, if someone picks up a firearm in a holster with level III or IV retention, there’s a good chance they will not be able to release that weapon.

 

 

You can learn How to Choose a Holster at this link.  The choice is yours, and choose wisely.  Larger people shouldn’t expect an IWB in the appendix location to be suitable choice.  Carrying in the small of the back, for instance, may be a better option.  Remember that choosing to go inside the waistband may also mean a bit of a wardrobe update since some extra room will be needed for comfort.  Before making a purchase that may force you to completely update your wardrobe, take a look at outside the waistband concealable holsters.

 

Eye and Ear Protection

 

If you’re intending to be responsible, a good set of eye and ear protection is a necessity.  You want eye protection with an ANSI 87.1 rating, and ear protection that provides an NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) of at least 20-30db.

 

 

Shooting glasses will run anywhere from a few bucks to close to a hundred dollars, depending on the quality and options you are interested in.  Some glass kits will include separate lenses for different  conditions, as well as extra frame parts in the event of wear and tear.  Of course there are many inexpensive options that will get the job done, and won’t break the bank.  Anything that is ANSI 87.1 rated is the only way to go.  This rating is provided by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to ensure personal eye and face protection products provide the necessary protection from impact and liquid splash accidents.

 

 

Ear protection can run anywhere from a couple of bucks for some foam earplugs, all the way up to hundreds of dollars for electronic ear muffs that have an active microphone system.  This system allows the wearer to have a conversation at a normal volume, and cuts off the audio in the event of a loud sound.  The more expensive active muffs are highly recommended to instructors and students.  However, for someone who is just looking for hearing protection for standard range days, a decent set of passive muffs will certainly do the job.

 

Check out our Introduction to Hearing Protection for more detailed information.

 

Speed Loader | Magazine Loader

 

If you purchased a revolver, speed loaders always a great accessory to have both at the range and for your every day carry.  I personally own a Taurus .357 revolver that I like to shoot at my local range that charges by the hour.  I’m sure it’s only a few minutes of that hour that I save, but it sure feels like I get more shooting in when I have the speed loaders ready to go.

 

 

Automatic pistol magazines can be a bit hard to load, especially straight from the factory.  There are speed loaders for these as well!  A product like the Mag Lula is a reasonably priced item to add to any range bag, and saves plenty of time loading magazines.  It is extremely simply to use, and is much better at loading magazines to capacity that is your busted up thumb.

 

Range Bag

 

Most reputable handgun manufacturers will include a carrying case for your new weapon.  However, most of these cases will only hold the gun and maybe a few mags.  If you’re intending on making more than a few visits every year to your local range, and good range bag is highly recommended.  They range in sizes small enough to carry a sub compact and some accessories, and large enough to carry multiple pistols and a few boxes of ammo, as well as your eye and ear protection.

 

 

All of the products mentioned above can be purchased at OpticsPlanet.com.  Our call center staff is available to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have.  We employ many firearm enthusiasts who can point you in the right direction, and also answer any complex questions that may arise.  Be sure to shoot straight, and shoot often!

 

 

 

Mike C • No Comments on Five Must Have Products for your New Handgun | Pistol

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Gear Up for a Cause 2016 a Resounding Success!

Oct 14 • News • 4666

Gear Up for a Cause 2016 was a resounding success!  This was OpticsPlanet Inc’s second year in a row running the cause-based campaign, and although it only ran two weeks shorter than last year’s event, we were able to exceed last year’s donation by $2,000!  We are honored to be able to assist active military and veterans through our gift of $27,000 to the Hope For The Warriors®. We are also thankful for the 10 corporate sponsors who agreed to donate FIVE times that of the standard donation.  Campaigns like Gear Up for a Cause would not yield as great of a donation without the generosity of these companies.  However, the real heroes of this campaign were OpticsPlanet customers!  Raising funds for such a notable charity would be impossible without people placing orders, so we are very appreciative of our repeat customers, as well as the shopper checking out our website for just a thing or two.  Every order placed between May 6^th and June 19^th generated a donation, and every customer can feel great about a portion of their order going to such an amazing cause!

 

Quite a bit of planning goes into these types of events, and we are always surprised by how many of our vendors are willing to help.  We’d like to give our heartfelt appreciation to Bushnell, Crimson Trace, EOTech, Leupold, Nikon, Pulsar, Steiner, Streamlight, Trijicon, and Vortex.  Without their pledge to make such generous donations, we would have been well below the amount that we raised.

 

Hope For the Warriors

 

When we decided to continue to run the Gear up For a Cause campaign, we wanted to me sure that the charity that was chosen was one of honor, integrity, and respect.  Hope For the Warriors topped our list quickly, as they are a charity that we could trust to meet our needs.

Hope For The Warriors® is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in North Carolina in 2006 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune as they witnessed, firsthand, the effects of war on their families and communities. They provide a full cycle of care to restore self, family, and hope to post-9/11 service members, their families, and families of the fallen. Their mission is to help those touched by military service to succeed at home by restoring their sense of self, family, and hope. Nationally, Hope For The Warriors® provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans, and military families that are focused on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement, and connections to community resources.

 

 

OpticsPlanet Inc. Strives to Continue Charitable Campaigns

 

Over our 16 years in business, OpticsPlanet Inc. has run multiple cause-based campaigns with the intention of assisting our first responders as well as our active and former military.  Every Christmas season our employees leave toys in our main lobby for the Toys for Tots drive.  Our Gear Up for a Cause campaign from last year raised $25,000 towards the Fisher House Foundation, which provides housing for ill, injured, and diseased service members and their families when they need it most. The Foundation has drastically grown in its mission to provide military families with the housing they need within the vicinity of a VA hospital.  Even our annual Summer and Holiday parties have an underlying theme in which a charity is chosen for proceeds to be sent to.

 

OpticsPlanet Inc. thanks Hope for the Warriors; our Customers; and all of our corporate sponsors who made this campaign such a success!  OpticsPlanet Inc. appreciates the assistance our customers provide when running these events, and we look forward to many more to come in the future!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike C • No Comments on Gear Up for a Cause 2016 a Resounding Success!

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Our Brilliance Awards are BACK! Vote on the 2016 Nominees!

Oct 7 • News • 5214

It’s that time of year for YOU to have your voice heard!  That’s right, it’s Brilliance Awards time!  Voting doesn’t just let us know what your favorite is, it also enters you into our drawing in which SIX winners will win OpticsPlanet eGift Certificates!  Click HERE to Vote!

This year we’ve greatly expanded our categories, allowing you to vote for the best of the following:

• Product of the Year
• Rifle Scope
• Red Dot
• Holster
• Laser Sight
• Night Sights
• Night Vision
• Thermal Imager
• Sunglass
• Reticle
• The list goes ON and ON!

OpticsPlanet.com depends on customer feedback and reviews, and this is a great way to let us know how you feel!  We greatly appreciate the participation our fans generate every year for the Brilliance Awards.  Make sure to VOTE as soon as possible, as this year’s voting ends on November 3rd, 2016!

 

Previous Years Brilliance Awards Winners

 

The 2015 Product of the Year was the Vortex Strike Eagle Rifle Scope.

 

 

The 2014 Product of the Year was the Nikon M-223 1.5-6x24mm Rifle Scope.

 

 

The 2013 Product of the Years was the Armasight Orion 5x Gen 1Night Vision Rifle Scope.

 

 

 

Mike C • No Comments on Our Brilliance Awards are BACK! Vote on the 2016 Nominees!

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Bates Footwear: Don’t Ride Without Them

Sep 7 • News • 4951

I’m proud to say I’ve never traded safety for style when riding a motorcycle, but many times have I been guilty of trading comfort for safety. Thanks to Bates Powersports footwear, I no longer need to make that choice. It’s been 10 years in the making but I finally found a pair of riding boots that I enjoy wearing. I started with just a helmet and a jacket, then added gloves and riding pants over the years, I never could resign myself to wear proper footwear until now.

 

 

 

Most of the riding footwear I see seems to be designed for non-sportbike riders, which in my experience tend to feel clunky and are difficult to get on/off as well as being awkward to walk around in. Sportbike focused designs like the footwear by ICON motorsports or Joe Rocket seemed to be better in terms of comfort and appearance, but left room for improvement in the protective capabilities.

 

If you are like me, as in not a police officer, then there is a good chance that you have never heard of Bates Footwear. If you are an officer, or know one, then you are likely aware that Bates is the savior of feet for many of those who wear the blue uniform. Designs based on research and experience combined with innovative materials has helped Bates be a leading supplier of footwear for Police and Military.

 

But there are still plenty of applications for us civilians where Bates Footwear is an excellent choice. Their Strike Composite Toe Chelsea is a great slip on style boot for shoveling snow or when using the snow blower, even though it was designed with Firefighters in mind. In fact I was considering the Special Response Tactical Shoe as the prime candidate to replace my Adidas Sambas as riding shoes when I found out that Bates had just released a line specifically for powersports like motorcycles and ATVs.

 

 

Figuring it had been long enough since I had tried a shoe designed for riding, I might as well give it a go instead of continuing to ride with sub-par foot protection. It is a decision that I have not regretted for a single moment. I went with the Taser model since it had a more casual look than a technical one but still provided the safety that every rider should have. The side impact foam for ankle support and molded heel protection are likely things you won’t appreciate until you need them but the hidden lacing system and oil/slip resistant outsole make a notable difference every time you go out riding.

 

 

The first time I wore the Taser’s to work, I brought a pair of shoes to change in to for the day. It was past noon before I realized I had never changed my footwear. The boots were simply that comfortable and had not drawn enough attention to themselves for anyone to question what I was wearing. When someone finally did ask me about my footwear, they were somewhat disappointed to hear that they were specifically for riding and not just cool looking casual footwear. Since I’m often riding from one location to another, instead of recreationally riding for extended periods of time, the ability to be comfortable off the bike and not stand out as peculiar footwear are features I greatly value in my riding boots.

 

 

For me, the greatest aspect of the Taser’s was how easy it is to get them on and take them off. What is usually a five minute struggle for me became as simple as putting on my regular shoes. They are even easier than putting on my hiking boots! If you think that means they aren’t secure when they are on, you would be wrong. They lace up tight and provide great support while still allowing flex for shifting.

 

So far I have put in several months of riding wearing these boots and they have held up to the abuse I’ve thrown their way, which is saying something. I haven’t even felt the need to clean them which gives me more time to be out riding.

 

 

Whether you own a pair of dedicated powersports boots or not, you owe it to your feet to take a hard look at Bates Powersports footwear. They have several models to choose from so finding the boot that meets your style, budget, and needs should be easy. If you value quality footwear, then you should buy Bates. Chances are that they offer a piece of footwear you could use in your life. Show your feet some appreciation and get them a pair of Bates boots!

 

Matt S. • No Comments on Bates Footwear: Don’t Ride Without Them

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