GearExpert

It’s Time To Gear Up for a Cause – 2016!

May 8 • News • 5183

We’re doing it AGAIN! It’s that time of year to Gear Up for a Cause! OpticsPlanet has selected Hope For The Warriors® as this year’s charity. During this six week campaign, May 9th through June 19th, a portion of EVERY sale will generate a donation to Hope For The Warriors® in our goal to meet $50,000 in contributions. This is twice as much as we donated to last year’s charity!

Here’s how it works: When you place an order at OpticsPlanet.com through June 19th, your purchase will trigger a donation. OpticsPlanet will set aside a portion of net proceeds to donate to Hope For The Warriors®. To make it even better, each one of our 10 charity partners have agreed to give as much as FIVE TIMES their sales proceeds towards their donation. For more information visit OpticsPlanet.com/GearUp

OpticsPlanet’s customer base is full of current and past military, and we made sure to pick a great cause. As a customer, you can be assured that a portion of your purchase during the six week campaign will go to a very reputable charity. You don’t want to miss the discount opportunities we’ll be running, so make sure to sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of any OpticsPlanet.com webpage!

Gear Up for a Cause Charity Partners

After making sure we chose the right charity, we wanted to make sure that we chose quality charity partners. This year our partners have committed to donating FIVE TIMES the amount of the standard donation. If you order any product from these partners during the Gear Up for a Cause campaign, you are ensuring a larger donation to this great cause. The 2016 charity partners are: Vortex, Sellmark (Pulsar), Vista Outdoor (Bushnell), Crimson Trace, Nikon, Streamlight, Leupold, Steiner, EOTech, and Trijicon.

Hope For The Warriors®

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. Hope For The Warriors is dedicated to serving those who have served. 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. Hope For The Warriors® 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.

They have done many great things for Veterans in their 10 years, and are enjoying their accolade of being in their fifth year as a 4 star charity at Charity Navigator. As anyone who understands the complexities of charitable causes, that is an easy feat! Their A Warriors Wish® grant provides injured veterans, and even sick family members, a chance of fulfilling their dreams. From Disney World trips to Bass boats and campers, they do it all! They’ve donated racing bicycles to injured veterans, and also provide Sports and Recreation programs. It doesn’t stop there! They provide Clinical Health & Wellness; Transition Services; Community Engagement and Development; the list just goes on and on.

As you can see, the donation from your purchase is going to an amazing charity that does awesome things for our veterans. Feel great about spending money, and Gear Up for a Cause!

We’ll be posting more about Gear Up for a Cause in the days and weeks to come. Keep an eye out for great deals at OpticsPlanet.com!

Mike C • No Comments on It’s Time To Gear Up for a Cause – 2016!
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Bring Your Target Out of the Shadows

Apr 27 • Reviews, News • 6047

As a general rule, it’s hard to hit what you can’t see. Apply that to shooting disciplines and it becomes “It’s hard and dangerous to try to hit what you can’t see”, which is why I recommend a weapon mounted light for any firearm that could be employed in a dangerous situation. While there are many advantages to having just a regular flashlight, I prefer a weapon light for my home defense/conceal carry guns. Fortunately there are many great options available, so I’ll cover some of my favorites.

Streamlight

They are probably my go to brand for a weapon mounted light. I think they have excellent value for the price point and are more than sufficient for your average user. The TLR-1 HL, recently updated to 800 lumens and offered in two FDE finishes, is a great choice for any full size handgun and most compact handguns. Finding a compatible holster is usually painless and the light can be mounted to anything with a picatinny rail, like an AR or a shotgun. I have the 630 lumen model and have zero complaints. There is a great line of accessories such as filters and switches so you can fine tune the setup for almost any application.

TLR 1 HL FDE

Don’t worry subcompact owners, there’s a TLR for you too. The TLR6 is the newest addition to the TLR line and covers popular subcompacts like the G42/43, G26/27/33, Kimber Micro, S&W SHIELD, Sig 238/938, and several Kahr models. The 100 lumen light and red laser make your carry gun a more effective tool and just like the TLR-1, there are already compatible holsters available.

TLR 6 FDE

If you prefer a dedicated light for your rifle, the ProTac Rail Mount is a great choice. It can use either AA or CR123 batteries, has high/low /strobe outputs, and comes with everything you need to get it mounted. You will get better performance out of the CR123 (350 lumen high vs 150 lumen high) but it’s nice to have options in a pinch.

Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount

Crimson Trace

While you probably think of lasers when you hear Crimson Trace, they also make model specific and universal fit weapon lights. One of their newest offerings, the Laserguard Pro, has both a light and a laser which is my favorite setup for a subcompact carry gun. Combined with Blade Tech holster support, you get everything you need to stay safe. The green version is set to come out this fall and can be preordered directly with Crimson Trace.

Crimson Trace Laserguard Pro on XDS

Surefire

You really can’t talk about weapon lights without discussing Surefire. Actually, that applies to flashlights or muzzle devices or just about anything else that Surefire makes. They really are committed to making the best and while the price points can be intimidating for most, it’s still hard to argue that their products aren’t worth it. Their newest light, the XC1, is easily one of the lowest profile weapon lights available. The X300 is a well proven light and I have yet to meet someone who regrets investing in one. But the Scout light series is what I recommend to many people for their first Surefire weapon light. Well designed, extremely robust, and lots of aftermarket support.

Surefire XC1 weapon light

Elzetta

While the Mini CQB weapon light is a strong contender to the Surefire Scout lights, Elzetta also makes exceptional light mounts for shotguns and ARs. The mounts are unbelievably affordable, very well made, and give you the ability to use most flashlights, possibly one that you already have. Their AR15 Tactical mount attaches to an A2 front sight base for a really cool, clean look that still stands out.

Elzetta CQB Weapon Light

Of course this doesn’t cover every option out there, or even all of my preferred choices so contact us if you have some questions or want a specific recommendation. When making a selection, I try to consider budget, typical application, and holster availability. A good light is an invaluable tool for knowing your target and what’s beyond it. Don’t let the dark catch you unprepared.

Matt S. • No Comments on Bring Your Target Out of the Shadows
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Nikon CoolShot 40i Golf Rangefinder

Apr 22 • Reviews • 7433

We get a ton of questions about rangefinders. A lot of hunters also like to blow off some steam by hitting some golf balls around. One of the most common questions is whether a hunting rangefinder can be used for golf; and vice versa. Now that we’re well into Spring, I figured we’d give a little bit of a lesson, including a review of an excellent choice for a Nikon Golf Rangefinder!

Near Priority vs. Distant Priority

It may seem obvious, but there are only a couple of differences in Golfing vs. Hunting rangers:

A golf rangefinder uses nearest target priority – software that automatically seeks the nearest target, namely the flag, and at the same time ignores distant objects beyond the flag. This makes sense, because the flag is always the nearest target, unless you happen to find yourself back in the woods after a bad shot. Some golf rangefinders will include a “slope” function. This function gives the true distance to pin when terrain elevation may vary from tee to pin.

A hunting rangefinder uses distant target priority – software that seeks distant objects and ignores objects that are close. This is very appropriate for hunting because you are nearly always in a situation where you want a laser rangefinder to ignore close objects and seek game beyond the brush. Some hunting rangefinders also include a “slope” function. This function obviously helps the shooter get a “true ballistic range” when shooting up a hill or down a hill.

You can get much more information by viewing our Hunting vs. Golfing Rangefinders by clicking the following link: Hunting vs. Golfing Rangefinders

With all that techno mumbo-jumbo out of the way, let’s get into this review!

Nikon CoolShot 40i

CoolShot 40i Dimensions

I must make a confession: I do not play “Ball” Golf. This is probably a term most “Ball” golfers have never heard of, because… well, it’s just “Golf” to them. Well, I’m a “Disc” golfer (AKA Frisbee Golf, AKA Frolf). I’d never heard the term “Ball” golf until I started playing Disc Golf. It is a term used very often by Disc Golfers to differentiate the two sports. However, the premise of the game is virtually the same, with certain natural and man-made obstacles purposely placed to make the hole just a little bit harder. In Disc Golf, we have up hill and down hill shots. The sport that’s being played does not negate the effects of gravity. Gravity affects discs the same as it affects a golf ball. What goes up must come down, and hole (also called the “basket” in Disc Golf) distance may not be quite accurate if we’re throwing up hill or down hill.

Practice Basket @ Fountain Hills Disc Golf Course, Fountain Hills, AZ

I recently used the Nikon CoolShot 40i during the 2016 Prairie Open at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside in Kenosha, WI. The great thing about this tournament was the addition of three “temporary” holes, which made the regularly 18 basket course a 21 hole course. The “temp” tees did have tee signs with a distance from tee to pin, and they were mostly accurate. However, 2 of these baskets were “raised,” which is intended to punish bad putts. If you’re throwing up into the basket and you miss, your disc will obviously land further away from the basket, compared to if the basket is at regular height. When I ranged these baskets, the tee sign was fairly accurate; only IF the basket was at regular height. Since these baskets were elevated, I placed the crosshairs on the “sweet spot” of the basket. The distance changed 1 yard on the lower “raised” basket. The other temp hole that had an elevated basket also played up a slight hill. The basket was placed on what appeared to be a raised manhole cover access; a brick structure about 3 feet high. When I ranged this basket, both aspects of the elevation added 2.5 yards to the actual distance that was on the tee sign! My card mates were very impressed with this function, and one of the guys I played with in the 2^nd round won the “CTP” (closest to pin) prize, specifically because I informed him that the elevated basket and structure added almost 10 feet to the distance on the tee sign.

Slope Function

I also used the CoolShot at the 5^th best course in Illinois; The Canyons at Dellwood Park in Lockport, IL. I wanted to use the Nikon here, as there are a few shots where we throw down hill. This was a perfect experiment to see how accurate the tee signs were in regards to the distance. As you’ll see in the picture below, there’s a good drop right off the 16th tee and down to an area about 50-60 feet below. The tee sign said 250 feet, and without the slope function, this was quite accurate. However, when the slope function was activated, the TRUE distance was just over 200 feet. As any “ball” golfer will tell you, you want to practice the motion of your swing to increase muscle memory. When you go to the driving range, you want to practice your form in trying to hit that 200 yard sign. This is obviously the same with Disc Golf. If I had used the same amount of force in my swing as a straight 250 foot shot, I would have been well past the basket. So with my muscle memory, I laid it up a bit, and sure enough, just 15 feet from the basket!

Hole 16 @ the Canyons in Lockport, IL (picture courtesy of dgcoursereview.com)

Scan Mode

The CoolShot 40i is extremely easy to use. Just press the power button once, and the device turns on. Aim the crosshairs on your target, and press the button again. This will give you the distance to your target. For scan mode, put the reticle on your target, hold the button down, and you can scan left to right, up and down, to get the distance to your target, AND range the distance of any obstacles. In Disc Golf, we regularly play in the woods. As you can see in the picture below, the scan option was a very welcomed function! It lets you know where your obstacles lie; how far you should throw to get past them; and also gives you the distance to the basket through those obstacles.

Hole 9 @ the Canyons in Lockport, IL (picture courtesy of dgcoursereview.com)

How Well Did The Nikon CoolShot 40i Perform?

Overall, the Nikon CoolShot 40i was very compact, extremely easy to use, and according to the tee signs, extraordinarily accurate! Nikon has made this product very affordable. Our normal sale price is around $299.95, but Nikon is offering an instant $50 rebate that expires May 1st, 2016. Hurry up and get yours!!!

The author throwing hole 18 at the Canyons in Lockport, IL

Full Disclosure: Golf rangefinders with a “slope” function are NOT tournament legal in any PGA or many other “ball” golf events. Make sure to check with your Tournament Director before showing up with an illegal rangefinder. There are no rules against them for PDGA events, so I did not commit any violations. Get your Golf on, and get yourself a rangefinder! Let us know if you need any help finding tournament legal rangers, we carry plenty!

Mike C • No Comments on Nikon CoolShot 40i Golf Rangefinder
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Be Ready For Those Spring Storm Power Outages!

Apr 15 • How-To, Reviews • 9391

It’s the stormy season here in the Chicagoland area! It gets pretty windy this time of year, and this wind almost guarantees a few power outages in our near future. At Optics Planet, we carry everything you need to survive a stormy Spring!

Weather Radio

We’ve all heard the terrifying stories from tornado survivors interviewed after the big storm: some never even heard the sirens, or they never saw the funnel cloud. This isn’t necessarily the fault of the Weather Service, since it’s just bad luck when that funnel cloud hits the ground without warning. A great way to protect yourself and get that early warning is by investing in a decent Weather Radio.

Battery Powered

Eton Zoneguard+ Weather Alert Clock Radio NZG200B

The Eton Zoneguard Weather Alert Clock Radio, Black is an excellent choice if you’re in a storm prone area. The main unit itself has some amazing features, such as the S.A.M.E. technology (specific area message encoding). Just enter your S.A.M.E. county code and if there’s a warning, watch or advisory you’ll see it-with flashing red, orange or green lights-and hear about it, too. You can set up to 25 locations so you’ll be safe, wherever you are. It even includes 2 wireless remote modules with a 90db buzzer, and you can set these up anywhere around your house or business within 164 feet (50 meters) from the main unit to extend the your warning range! Eton Zoneguard Additional Module, Black ZG200MOD are available as well, and the main unit allows you to use an unlimited amount of modules! Simply plug in the ZoneGuard+ base station using the AC adapter or, for emergency backup, pop in AA batteries (sold separately). The remote modules each use 3 AAA batteries (also sold separately).

Hand Cranked

Eton FRX3 Hand Turbine AM/FM/NOAA Radio w/ Weather Alert

Eton is on top of things, and the Eton FRX3 Hand Turbine AM/FM/NOAA Radio With Weather Alert, NFRX3WXR has a whole bunch of bells and whistles. Not only will 1 minute of cranking give you 10 minutes of charge, this product also has a solar panel for passive charging; DC power adaptability; and you can also insert 3 AAA batteries for additional battery power. It also includes an LED flashlight, glow in the dark indicator so you can find it easily in the dark, a USB port to charge your personal electronics, and you can tune in to AM/FM stations as well as all 7 NOAA weather stations!

Lantern/Flashlight

Battery Powered

UST 60-Day Lantern, Silver 20-PLN0C6D002

UST has a couple of LED lanterns that are a great addition to any emergency kit! The UST UST 30Day Lantern WG01567 runs on 3 D batteries, and will run for 30 days straight at the lowest setting! The UST 60-Day Lantern, Silver 20-PLN0C6D002 uses 6 D batteries, and will run for (you guessed it!) 60 days straight! But don’t let that “low” setting fool you. Both devices have 3 brightness settings, as well as an SOS pattern setting. The high setting on both of these lanterns will light up a fairly large area, and the globe is removable for even more light!

Hand Cranked

Goal Zero Lighthouse 250 Lantern 32001

Goal Zero is a leading manufacturer of Portable Solar Powered items, and they certainly don’t leave out any bells and whistles on the Goal Zero Lighthouse 250 Lantern 32001! This device has a hand crank on the top, and allows you to charge the internal battery pack for 10 minutes of use with every 1 minute of cranking. It is also USB rechargeable, with a USB cable attached. The cable can be plugged into any USB port, including the USB ports available in the Goal Zero solar panels. They allow multiple brightness settings, including up to 48 hours of continuous use with only 1 side of the lamp lit; 24 hours with both sides of the lighting element on. They’ve also included a USB port to charge portable electronics!

Emergency Lights

Eton Blackout Buddy American Red Cross Light, ARCBB200WSNG

One more flashlight type we’d recommend for a power outage situation would be the Eton Blackout Buddy American Red Cross Light, ARCBB200WSNG. This light doubles as a night light, so they will light up the area in the event of a power outage, and are easy to find when you need them!

First Aid Kit

Stanley Personal Protection Medium First Aid Kit RST-60002

It’s generally a great idea to have a first aid kit handy all the time, anyways. However, one thing that is a great addition to any kit is a Clotting Agent. Clotting agents work by chemically cauterizing a wound. If you’ve ever seen a neighborhood after a tornado has touched down, you can realize why something like this would be recommended. A lot of the clotting agents we carry are only intended for military/law enforcement, but we do carry Sport related items, such as the QuikClot Sport Advanced Clotting Sponge, 50G 5020-0018. This specific item is available through Optics Planet for the civilian market.

Signal Whistle

ACR HotShot Mirror and Signal Whistle 1700

FEMA recommends a Signal Whistle to add to your emergency kit. Another signal item to add, in our opinion, is a signal mirror. Well what do you know, we carry the ACR Hotshot Signal Mirror W/float and Whistle 1700! This is an inexpensive item to add for any kit, and is a great item to add for a backpacking trip as well.

Multi-tool

OPMOD Survival Series 20-in-1 Emergency Shovel DJSV-OS

A great emergency kit should include a great multi-tool. There are some very good products out there, but for the topic we are addressing, a great item to add would be the OPMOD Survival Series 20-in-1 Emergency Shovel Flashlight,Charcoal Grey DJSV-OS! This product includes EVERYTHING you would need in a weather related emergency:
- Shovel
- Axe
- Hoe
- Saw
- Hammer
- Knife
- Fire Flint
- Bottle Opener
- Glass Breaker
- Extension Bar
- Warning Light
- Flashlight
- Work Lamp
- Tourniquet
- Emergency Whistle
- 110v AC Charger w/ USB Adaptor
- Screwdriver
- Ruler
- Ice Pick
- Paracord
- And More!
Leatherman Crunch Heavy Duty MultiTool 831539

Another great tool to add to this type of kit is the Leatherman Crunch Heavy Duty 15-in-1 MultiTool, Stainless, Black Molle Leather Sheath 831539. This is a bit less expensive, but does everything you’d need in an emergency toolkit:
- Lanyard Ring
- All Locking Blades and Tools
- Stainless Steel Handle
- Locking Pliers
- Regular Pliers
- Wire Cutters
- Hard-wire Cutters
- 420HC Serrated Knife
- Wood/Metal File
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Large Screwdriver
- Medium Screwdriver
- Small Screwdriver
- Ruler (8 inch/19 cm)
- Bottle Opener
- Wire Stripper
- Pin Vice
- Hex Bit Driver
Water Storage/Filtration

Truspec Collasible Water Bag 4707000

Emergency water storage calls for 1 gallon per day, per person. One great way to store this amount of water in a pinch would be to have something like the Truspec Collasible Water Bag 4707000. This can be stored in a small space, ready to be filled when the emergency happens. It is easy to carry once filled, and can provide 1 person with an emergency supply for up to 5 days. Another option, in the even that you do not have access to a water spout, is a water filtration system. Good pump filters can be pretty expensive, but items like the Katadyn Pocket Microfilter 8013618 work extremely well. However, there are also much less expensive options, such as the Solarbag Water Purifier SB10004. The Solarbag SB10004 filters 3 liters at a time (2-6 hours, depending on cloud cover), and can be used multiple times per day.

Food

Wise Foods Wise Emergency Food Kit 56 Servings

Obviously, refrigerated food will be the first to spoil in an extended power outage. Keeping easily cook grains in the pantry is a great choice. Extra rations of canned food is another option to abide by. However, there are companies out there that provide “buckets” of dehydrated food, and most of these buckets can last days, if not weeks.

Texsport Stove, 2 x Burner 14205TEX

If you have a gas stove, the gas should still be flowing during a power outage, and can be lit with a match/lighter. If you have electric stove, that will likely be an issue. A great item to add to your emergency kit would be something like the Camp Chef Mountain Series Butane Stove w/ Single Burner. If you have a family that may be involved in the emergency, then a dual burner stove like the Texsport Stove, 2 x Burner, Steel, Brass, Metal Socket 14205TEX is a great choice.

Other items to consider
- Prescription medications and glasses
- Infant formula and diapers
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container
- Cash or traveler’s checks and change
- Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from http://www.ready.gov/
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
- Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
- Fire Extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
Are You Ready?

Hopefully, you’ll never need to use your Emergency Kit, but it’s a great idea to be prepared. We have everything you need!

Mike C • No Comments on Be Ready For Those Spring Storm Power Outages!
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Have You Built Out Your Belt?

Apr 12 • Reviews • 13320

More often than not, a “good gun belt” is one of the first recommendations that you hear when you start a conversation about beginning to carry, or even when discussing getting a holster in general. It is the “foundation” that you build your setup upon.

For shooting events or training classes, I prefer a “battle belt” for my foundation. Essentially a tactical cummerbund, a battle belt wraps around the waist to provide a more comfortable, accessible, and configurable foundation for your gear. They are often used either in conjunction with a vest/plate carrier, or even instead of one, since they provide additional mounting space and allow a greater reconfiguration of gear. Usually they are made from Cordura and are designed to be compatible with both MOLLE and standard belt attachments. The extra width and padding that they typically provide is great for addressing any potential weight issues you may encounter when loading out your typical gun belt.

5.11 Brokos VTAC Battle Belt

What I love most about using a battle belt though is that is separates your gun belt from your pants. By that I mean you can put on or remove your belt without needing to thread it through the belt loops on your pants. Similarly, you can change the gear on the battle belt much easier than the normal process involved with using just a gun belt. I can configure the battle belt for whatever I need and throw it in the range bag, then put it on or take it off during an event as needed. My holster, mag pouches, dump pouch, etc. will always be in the same spot and I don’t have to waste time threading my belt through each item.

HSGI Slim Grip Padded Belt

Battle belts can come in a variety of configurations depending on your application and preference. Most belts are roughly the same width, but HSGI has a Slim Sure Grip belt for a lower profile look and feel while the Element Gear Alto belt has a raised back for additional support and greater mounting space. While most belts are Cordura nylon, some can be polyester or other materials.

Element Gear Bajo Belt

Even the Cordura ones can differ in material weight (1000 denier vs 500 denier for example). Also, many battle belts do not include the actual belt which allows the user to use a gun belt that they already have or they can select the specific belt that best meets their application/budget. Some battle belts can be attached to a vest or chest harness which increases their max load capacity.

HSGI Cobra 1.5″ Rigger Belts

Depending on the features you are going for, a battle belt can be setup for a reasonable price or it can be another significant gear investment. Whether you go top of the line or just grab a basic setup, I highly recommend a battle belt for anyone looking to get more involved in shooting sports or skills training classes. Once you realize the benefits, it’s a good bet that you will consider getting a second.

Matt S. • No Comments on Have You Built Out Your Belt?
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