• Game Camera Catches Thief In the Act! Bushnell Helps Keep Our Streets Safe!!

    Feb 20 • News • 9755

    I just read a news report and watched a short video about neighborhood residents in Tyler, TX that have taken matters into their own hands after a string of car break-ins in recent weeks.  Since the thief has been so successful thus far at avoiding police residents decided to try to help police catch the thief in the act!  Don’t worry, they didn’t put themselves in danger.  Rather, as one resident is a hunter, he set up his trail camera to see if anyone came near his car during the night.

    There was a short video clip from the evening news talking about the incident, and though they don’t specifically mention it, you can see clear as day that the trail camera is made by Bushnell, and I’m about 99% sure it’s the Bushnell 8MP HD Trophy Cam.Busnell HD Trophy Cam

    This is actually a fantastic camera for catching burglars in the act, as the same features that are so helpful to tracking game will help keep the camera hidden and effective.  The first useful feature is that the Bushnell HD is a night vision camera.  Much like deer, burglars are often only out at night.  They feel the cover of darkness is their friend, and in many cases they’re right.  While you sleep they break into your car and take your stereo and other valuables.  If you want to actually catch them breaking the law, you can’t have a visible flash go off on the camera.  Yet again like deer, burglars will be scared off by the flash.  You might be able to get a picture of an unsavory-looking gentleman acting suspiciously, but if you want actual criminal evidence you need to keep your surveillance inconspicuous.  The black LED lights on the Bushnell Camera are invisible to the human eye, but will give off plenty of illumination for the game camera to catch your prey.

    The HD Trophy Cam can also take up to 60 seconds of video, and with a 32GB SD card it can take up to 20,000 images.  The massive memory is more useful for hunters who travel out to their favorite hunting grounds and leave the trail camera for months collecting images and data to better help them determine when and where to hunt.  If you have your camera setup in your front yard you can quickly and easily check it every day, but it’s still nice to have the super long battery life (up to 1 year!) and huge memory size.

    The man caught on tape is a suspect in as many as 25 break-ins.  Though he has not been caught yet, when police arrived on the scene, the victim was able to show the officers a series of photos that document the theft pretty well.  The suspect’s identity is not currently known, but police now know at least some of his facial features, what he was wearing, how he broke into the vehicle, and that he had a backpack.  None of these details were known previously, and should help the police as they patrol the area.  I’m pretty sure if they see someone fitting the description of the man in the photos they can question him on his activities.

    I think there’s a very good chance these surveillance photos from a trail camera will help lead to an arrest and a conviction.  Trail cameras may have been originally designed for use by hunters, but they are exceptional for home surveillance as well.  Installing complex security cameras can be costly and difficult, but Bushnell Trail Cameras are small, lightweight, easy to attach to a tree or wall, and are virtually invisible in the dark.  While they’re constantly on in a passive mode, they only take photos or video (based on your preference) when movement occurs.

    I actually set one up one day to see what my dogs do when I’m gone for the day.  There were three sets of photos over an 9 hour period.  The first set showed my little guy Mickey jumping up onto the dinner table and falling asleep, the final set was him waking up when I got home.  In the middle were a few shots of what I believe was him chasing a bunny in his sleep.  The movement was subtle, but his legs twitched a bit, and his tail wagged.

    Keep an eye on the trails, catch burglars or discover your puppy’s whole day consists of waiting for you with a trail camera!

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  • Bear Witness to the Amazing Quality of ATN’s Co-Witness Night Vision Scopes!

    Feb 17 • News • 9872

    As one of the world’s premiere manufacturers of night vision devices, ATN understands not only how to give you a great image in low light situations, but also that shooters need a great deal of versatility from their optics.  Anyone who has spent time sighting in their favorite rifle scope knows that it is hard to swap it out for a night vision scope.  The US Army saw that their soldiers had very specific preferences, and were most successful when using gear they are familiar with.  Because of this, the Army asked manufacturers for night vision devices that could work in conjunction with existing scopes.  Thus, co-witnessing was born.

    ATN Night Vision is truly top of the line.  They’ve been able to combine advanced technology with extraordinary construction for night vision scopes that can stand up to the shock of recoil like very few other companies have.  But they always take a look at what YOU want and need.  They’ve heard the demand for co-witnessing with their fantastic night vision, so they developed a couple great new options.

    The ATN PS40 Gen 2 Night Vision System (photo above) is a perfect option for those who love their daytime scope.  You need a bit of extra rail space to get both scopes mounted, but that isn’t a problem for most rifles.  What’s really cool is that once you’ve sighted in your regular scope you don’t need to re-zero when you attach the night vision.  This is really helpful for soldiers in the field who have missions that run from day to night.  They can’t spend time sighting in their night vision.  Hunters also really love the versatility, as nighttime hunting has grown in popularity in recent years as well.  The PS40 has 1X magnification, which is perfect for pairing with a magnified scope, since having two powers combined will throw off your aim.  The quick release mount enables you to use it as a handheld monocular and quickly switch to scope mounted, so you can use the ATN PS40 the way you want!

    ATN PS22-3P Night Vision by GearExpertAnother really amazing option for night vision co-witnessing is the ATN PS22-3P Day/Night Tactical Kit.  This package deal comes with an ATN PS22-3P Night Vision scope AND either a Leupold Mark 4 Riflescope or a Trijicon ACOG Scope.  These are two of the finest daytime riflescopes in the world, and these packages have been put together to make it easy for you to get an AMAZING set of scopes.  Much like the PS40, the PS22-3P has 1X magnification, and it comes with an IR illuminator, which is extremely helpful for dark situations.  Night Vision works by amplifying existing ambient light, but in certain situations there’s virtually no light to amplify, which is where the IR Illuminator comes in handy.  While the light it emits is not visible to the human eye, it works like a bright flashlight for night vision.  It’s a really handy feature for any night vision device.

    Also like the PS40, the ATN PS22-3P does not need to be re-zeroed when placed in front of your daytime scope, so you can attach it and go!  These are two absolutely fantastic night vision options from ATN, and they’ll keep you shooting at your best regardless of the lighting conditions.

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  • Shooting Range Double Feature! Champion Target and Gunslick Cleaning Kit Videos!

    Feb 13 • News, Videos • 4055

    Our SHOT Show coverage may be over, but that doesn’t mean that GearExpert is going to stop giving you fantastic info on all things hunting, shooting, outdoors and more for passionate professionals and enthusiasts!

    Today, we have a couple new videos.  They’re for two very different products, yet each product is going to help you make the most of a day at the range!

    Champion Centerfire Pistol Spinner Target Makes Plinking Even MORE Fun!

    Champion is one of the best manufacturers of shooting targets in the world.  One of my personal favorites is the Champion VisiColor Zombie Target.  They’re a fun way to add some undead glee to your shooting practice, but they’re not a perfect choice for plinking.  For these times I prefer the Champion Centerfire Pistol Spinner Target.  Definitely check out the video above, as Trevor will take you through the many great features of this superb target!  As a brief overview, the Champion Centerfire has:

    • Tough, solid steel welded construction
    • Interchangeable Stickers
    • Smart Design so that the target goes right back to its starting point after a successful hit.

    Gunslick AR-15 Cleaning Kits Take some of the Hassle out of Cleaning your Rifle!

    As Mark mentions in the video below, his favorite gun is the one he doesn’t have to clean.  That’s a pretty common thought amongst shooters, so taking some of the strain out of cleaning your AR-15 is always welcome.  For safety and prolonging the life of your rifle, it’s always a smart move to keep your firearm clean.  You generally need more than one tool to do a thorough job though, so we suggest the Gunslick AR-15 Cleaning Kit.  Included in the kit are:

    • Ultra-Klenz, a fantastic copper dissolver and remover
    • Ultra-Lube, a top of the line gun oil
    • Patches
    • A Three Section Steel Rod
    • Slotted Tip, Bore Brush, Chamber Brush, and a mop
    • A convenient carrying case so you can keep all your cleaning supplies in one place

    This is a truly outstanding cleaning kit that will enable you to keep your AR-15 clean and operating at peak performance for years and years.

    Find both the Champion Spinner Target and the Gunslick Cleaning Kit at OpticsPlanet today!

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  • Safariland Competition Holsters & Belts from SHOT Show – Safariland 014, 032 ELS & More!

    Feb 8 • News, Videos • 5546

    There are a ton of awesome features that Safariland Competition Holsters have that most holsters do not, and you can learn all about them in our new Safariland SHOT Show Video!  Alessandro talks with James Dawson from Safariland about the great new holster options that are coming out in 2012!

    Safariland Model 014 Competition Shooting Holster

    There are a few unique features on the Safariland 014 Holster.  First, it is extremely customizable.  Every shooter is different, and the 4-access control point allows you to adjust the cant of the holster to the exact angle you prefer.  The barrel length is also adjustable, so it will accommodate a number of different guns, though it was primarily designed with 1911-style guns in mind.  It’s a really interesting looking holster, and you can see just by looking at it how useful it will be in a competition.

    Safariland Model 032 ELS Competition Belt

    For yet another incredibly adjustable competition weapon accessory, check out the Safariland 032 ELS Belt.  There are a number of ways to customize this belt.  First, there are holes all around the belt.  This way you can put your holster, mag pouches and more where ever you want.  As it’s name implies, the Safariland 032 ELS Belt uses their ELS system, which is awesome as it allows you to use the belt for multiple types of competitions.  You can put Safariland ELS plates on the belt really simply, and attach a holster for a handgun, AR-15 mag pouches, or shotgun shell holders on there.  This is huge for competition shooters that compete with more than one firearm.  One belt will satisfy multiple needs.  Very cool, and a big money saver.

    The Safariland Holsters SHOT Show Video above is super informative, and showcases some of the best new products from SHOT Show.  Check it out and be sure to take a look at all the great Safariland Gear at OpticsPlanet.com!

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  • Bianchi & Safariland Concealed Carry Holsters from SHOT Show!

    Feb 8 • News, Videos • 4918

    Bianchi and Safariland are two of the premiere holster manufacturers in the world, but many people don’t know that they actually work together quite often to bring the best new features to the market.  While they are technically part of the same company, each brand has their own unique take on what you need from a holster.  That said, when one brand comes up with a great new feature, it often finds its way into options from the other brand.  Regardless of your preference for Bianchi or Safariland, you’ll want to take a look at our Bianchi SHOT Show Video for great info on the latest concealed carry holsters that will be coming out in 2012.

    Bianchi Illusion Combine Materials for a Unique New Holster

    The new Bianchi Illusion Holsters have taken the best of two worlds, leather and synthetic holsters, and brought them together for an amazing new line that’s better than either individually.  It’s kinda like peanut butter and chocolate.  Each is phenomenal on their own, but when brought together the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  The Bianchi Illusion is a leather holster, but on the inside there is a synthetic material for added features.  The look and feel of models like the Bianchi 125 Consent or the Bianchi 130 Classified is leather, with that classic style and comfortable feel, but they have a retention detente with an audible click to let you know your handgun is fully holstered.  The draw and reholstering is also a bit smoother than with many leather holsters.  The 130 Classified has all the features of the 125 Consent but with an added thumb break.

    One more concealed option from Bianchi is the Bianchi 135 Suppression, which has the awesome features of the 130 and 125, but it’s a tuckable holster for greater concealment.  As it’s tuckable, Bianchi wanted to improve the comfort level, so the skin-facing side of the holster is made of a anti-microbial mesh and foam for comfort and hygiene.  This is going to make it way more comfortable and fight bacteria, which anyone who has worn a belt for months is going to really appreciate.

    The Safariland ALS Holster with a Brand New Finish

    The Safariland ALS Holster is already super popular, but there have been a number of shooters who want a new aesthetic on this hard shelled holster.  These still have all the awesome features of the regular ALS Holsters, but it has a Cordura finish, which allows Safariland to put multi-cam, ranger green and more patterns to the holster for a wider variety of styles.

    All in all, Safariland and Bianchi showed off some awesome new concealed carry holsters at SHOT Show this year, so be sure to check out the video above, and stay tuned because I’m going to post another Safariland SHOT Show Video in a little bit that showcases some of their great new competition holsters and belts.  You wont’ want to miss it!

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