Whenever I get a red dot to review, I check YouTube to see who has previously reviewed that model and try to find details not previously covered by other PewTubers. But one thing noticed about most red dot reviews is … Read More
I picked up this portable bluetooth speaker and wireless mic set in an Amazon Prime Day deal. It’s clean Scandinavianesque design adds visual appeal to what is essentially a PA speaker, without the tackiness of most bluetooth party speakers. The … Read More
In my recent accuracy performance tests of 22LR ammo, I mixed ammo makes (ie. CCI Mini-Mags vs Aguila Super Extra vs Federal Auto Match) within the same test session to average out changes in groupings due to barrel heating. But … Read More
I’ll be honest I always thought hanging brass-catchers to be the ugliest most unappealing gun accessory. It’s like hanging a colostomy bag hanging off a rifle and I have never wanted to put one on any of my guns. Until … Read More
Whenever I get a red dot to review, I check YouTube to see who has previously reviewed that model and try to find details not previously covered by other PewTubers. But one thing noticed about most red dot reviews is that many don’t bother showing what the reticle looks like.
I totally understand. It’s a pain to set up a camera behind an optic to accurately capture how sharp (or distorted) a reticle appears to the naked eye. Very often, the reviewer may be using a fully automatic action camera or phone that doesn’t allow them to manually focus the image. This is why their red dot often appears bloated and blurry.
I picked up this portable bluetooth speaker and wireless mic set in an Amazon Prime Day deal. It’s clean Scandinavianesque design adds visual appeal to what is essentially a PA speaker, without the tackiness of most bluetooth party speakers.
The wireless mic it ships with paired automatically with the unit. It offers the option of pairing an additional JYX wireless mic allowing you to sing duets while playing music through the bluetooth connection to your phone or similar device. Separate volume knobs control the mic volume and music volume separately.
In many ways this would be the perfect portable speaker save one; bass. Despite what appeared to be a woffer port in the back of the unit, it has mediocre bass response. I connected to my Roland drum kit to try it as a practice amp. The kick drum sounded like a knock instead of a thump. Streaming pop or dance music through the speaker sounded more like a clock radio.
In my recent accuracy performance tests of 22LR ammo, I mixed ammo makes (ie. CCI Mini-Mags vs Aguila Super Extra vs Federal Auto Match) within the same test session to average out changes in groupings due to barrel heating. But 22LR precision shooters told me my testing method was flawed because I didn’t properly “season” the bore. Seasoning is a process by which the melted wax, from lead-round-nose rounds (LRN), coats the bore and normalizes the performance of that bullet.
So this time, I’ve only tested a single ammo type, Federal Auto Match LRN, in a testing session of 7 targets. I shot 20 rounds of that ammo to season the bore before measuring the groups. I’ve cleaned the bore before changing ammo to CCI Standard LRN and measured those groups.
The results I got were “cleaner” results but those results were surprisingly close to the previous test with mixed ammo types. That leads me to some possibilities or a combination of them:
• Seasoning the barrel doesn’t make a significant difference with factory standard rifles
• Seasoning the barrel doesn’t make a significant difference at 50yrds-100yrds
• My previous mixed ammo tests were valid; one ammo’s fouling residue doesn’t significantly influence a different ammo’s performance.
I’ll be honest I always thought hanging brass-catchers to be the ugliest most unappealing gun accessory. It’s like hanging a colostomy bag hanging off a rifle and I have never wanted to put one on any of my guns. Until now.
Recently I’ve found myself shooting 22LR, at a range that has a dirt floor. Sweeping up brass with a broom just causes dust storms that annoy fellow shooters and 22LR brass is too small to get picked up by standard center-fire brass rollers. Fortunately, Marmot contacted me and offered to send me one of their universal brass catchers to try out and review. Marmot Tactical is not owned or affiliated with Marmot Outdoor Clothing company (which I think also makes great gear by the way if you want me to stuff to review [wink]).
It fit on my 10/22 and all of my rifles very easily. And son-of-a-gun, it captured almost all of my ejected brass and made clean up a breeze. I’m sold. Heck at $9 I can afford to buy for each rifle bag. And if you reload and collect your brass, this will make sorting so much easier and foolproof than having to go through your brass you sweep up.
I’ve had this mini-body cam since May. Though I have not like I’ve used this on a daily basis, I keep it in my car in case I get into an ‘incident’. In that time I’ve had some insights and worked through some issues.
When you press the power button, the camera powers up and automatically begins to record footage. A small blue indicator light confirms power-up but turns itself off after 10-seconds but I found it to be problematic. It’s easy to forget if you’ve actually turned the camera on. The seemingly only way to re-confirm it’s reconfirm it is recording is to press the power button and turn it off (short red light) and then turn it on again.
I discovered that you can confirm it’s on/recording by flicking the Inferred LAMP switch which causes the indicator light to blink back on briefly confirming the unit is powered up. In the video, I show how you can use a digital camera to see the IR-LEDs when the LAMP switch is set to ‘On’. Keep this in mind that digital cameras can see IR-LEDs if you have them turned on especially in very dark settings.
Physically the unit has held up to the heat of a car and the rather flimsy clip hasn’t broken yet. The manufacturer’s stated battery life on the unit is 4.5hrs. I left it on and its last video file was stamped at around 4.25hrs. Close enough though electronics companies should stop inflating operating hours and battery capacity.
The field of view appears to a 40mm-50mm normal lens. A wider lens would be better because you can’t always wear position the camera in the center of your field of view. You’re likely to miss key scenes if you’re wearing this camera in a shirt pocket, pants pocket, or a purse.
I tested it’s low-light sensitivity without the LAMP mode and found it to be adequate. About as good as the old GoPro Hero 1-2 or a typical WiFi security cam. The overall video quality is closer to a 720p digital camera. Still, not bad for a rechargeable mini digital camera for less than $50.
Recently I conducted a head-to-head accuracy-test between CCI, Federal, and Aguila 22LR. In that test, surprisingly (to me) CCI-Mags 36gr HP (Hollow-Point) came in last place with the loosest groups. I wondered if this result was because I was shooting the hollow-point variety.
This week I compared three different CCI cartridges, Mini-Mag 36gr HP, Mini-Mag 40gr CPRN, and Standard Velocity 40gr LRN. I tested 5-rounds of each ammo at 6″ targets 50yrds. And averaged the results of 3 sets of tests and rotated each ammo type to average out the effects of barrel heating barrel. As with the previous test, I used my Ruger 10/22 Takedown as my testbed rifle.
Here were the detailed results measured using the Range Buddy app.
I created a detailed review and demonstration of function for this Mini-Bodycam. It takes some of the best footage of any sub $50 bodycam including at night but it’s hamstrung by some clunky controls. It’s too easy to accidentally turn-off the cam when you’re trying to start recording. And it’s impossible to confirm that it’s still recording without turning it off. I notified Lenofocus of my difficulties (and a possible manufacturing defect in the indicator light) and they’re interested in sending me another model to review.
PRO
• Good low-light and night capture
• Compact size
• Built-in magnetic mount
CON
• Shakey/Choppy footage
• Clunky user controls
• Weakly attached clip
VIDEO LINK
https://youtu.be/az4EaQG9O6U
Aguila Super Extra HV vs. Federal Auto Match vs. CCI Mini-Mag. Guess which ammo came in first in our test? The test results were surprising to me because CCI’s have been the gold-standard for high-quality 22LR. I rotated between the different ammo brands during the test to isolate the effects of barrel heating affecting the group size (any heating would affect all brands equally).
The results below were calculated using the Range Buddy App for Android OS.
I wasn’t expecting much out of an airsoft replica Surefire. But was pleasantly surprised by how well it was built and it’s light output. It survived my 6ft drop tests into the dirt and my pressure washer, so there’s that. When the local ranges reopen (from COVID and wildfireds) I’ll see how it holds up to 9mm recoil.
CVLife sent me their 4-Reticle red/green dot to review. I was a bit dubious as there are soooooo many knock-offs of Sightmark’s Sure Shot reflex sight. It has become the most ubiquitous budget red dot design. I do like it’s very open, almost frameless design which offers almost no obstructions to your field of view. Perfect for action sports, birding, or a range gun. The trade-off is that this design is that the thin frame is vulnerable to rough handling and drops.
PRO: The CVLife looks a lot better up-close than other budget reflex sights. Nice detailing and no blemishes on the body. Clean sharp reticles with no blooming when the reticle moves off the center. The windage adjustment gave positive clicks and seemed accurate to 1/4″ MOA per click device specifications. Held zero after 25 shots mounted on a break-barrel .22cal
CON: Windage shifted once between shots while testing tracking. Elevation was mushy and often did not give a click on adjustment so was impossible to judge how accurate it was to 1/4″ MOA?
I’m working the video review after I get a chance to do more durability testing.
Available on Amazon for around $30 https://amzn.to/2E00btb