My friend Tony works in maintenance for the MTA (New York City’s Subway system), a job where a flashlight is vital to inspect trains, tracks, and just check under seats and dark spaces. He uses the a Mini-One flashlight as a backup at work and swears by it for its small size, affordability, and reliability. He sent me a Jetbeam Mini-One as a gift and while not to seem ungrateful, I still thoroughly tested as I do with any other flashlight.
Keychain flashlights are not a new. I fondly remember owning a AA powered Disneyland keychain light that ran a small incandescent bulb. But today’s rechargeable LED powered flashlights are brighter than some AA powered tactical lights from a dozen years ago.
I’ve been reviewing more compact keychain EDC lights recently, but Mini-One stands out for its stainless steel construction. The Mini-One’s polished metal surface gives the flashlight a higher perceived value than the comparably priced OLIGHT I1R (and with twice as brightness). The unit recharges via USB-C port kept water-tight with a silicone plug cover.
A single tap on the silicone button activates the main CREE illuminator and a double tap activates the body panel lights. This is where I find fault in the design. A single tap could accidentally occur in your pocket when attached to your keychain. On one occasion, I pulled out my keys and found the light was on; who knows for how long. I would have preferred that the main CREE activate with a double tap and the side light with a triple tap to avoid this potential problem.
Another disappointment was in the light output. The packaging claims 500 lumens max. In my testing, my flashlight managed approximately 300 lumens. Jetbeam should have lead with that number, which is twice the output of an OLIGHT I1R but instead seems to have opted for inflating numbers like many budget light brands.
If you can get past the controls and the middling light output and controls, I can say that the light is well built. It survived my IPX-8 water immersion test and had a run time in excess of 1.5hrs. For a light smaller than my pinky, that was laudable.
Joe Rhea (aka. Cyclops Joe) is one YouTube’s most prolific and profane optics reviewers. I’ve been a long time fan and subscriber. He reached out to me when I first started posting pewpew videos and offered both praise on my editing skills and advice on YouTube as a business model. He profiled my work on his channel and I thought I’d return the favor by promoting the fact that he recently crossed the 100,000 subscriber benchmark.
I contacted leading brands in rifle optics and got many of them to send videos to this collaboration. There were quite a few more who wished to express their appreciation to Joe but were not able to send a video in time for me to include it. And a few who are good friends with Joe but can’t publicly admit that because their brand doesn’t want to be closely associated with a non-PC foul-mouth.
Here is the “clean” version of the video with the full length comments.
Feyachi sent me a set of their new S27 flip-up backup iron sights. These appear identical to generic A2 style flip-up iron sights I reviewed a year ago, save for one key feature: embedded fiber optics. Drilled into the rear CQB aperture peep sights and the front sight post are small colored fiber optic rods that provide high visibility reference points.
The sights come shipped in a black plastic case containing the front and rear sights and an allen key. The box is generic save for a decal with the Feyachi logo; which I may rag on but it is an obvious knock-off of the Ferrari logo. This always struck me as a bad branding move unless Feyachi’s goal is be considered THE knock-off brand.
The sights are all metal (“aircraft aluminum” which is more marketing buzz words). Feyachi offers them in a black, grey, and tan paint coating. The paint job is flat and textured and attempts to cover up for the meh quality milling work (or finishing of cast parts). On close inspection the sights are definitely “budget” in construction.
Despite the budget build quality, the design is robust and provides a stable and repeatable sighting device once mounted on a rifle with Picatinny rails. The sights are spring loaded and pop up quickly, locking into place. A locking pin on the left side hinge can be depressed releasing the sights, which can be folded down along your rail.
The fiber optic sights are very useful when attempting to aim your sights onto a dark silhouette or black bullseye target. On normal iron sights, your front sight post can easily disappear against a dark target but the S27’s red fiber optic dot provides a visible contrast point. The Close-range/low-light peep sights have 2 additional green dots for visual reference for alignment similar to rear dot sights on a pistol.
At the range, I was able to achieve MOA performance with non-match ammo at 50yrds. Sight adjustments were similar to any Mil-spec A2 sights. I was able to adjust the front sight post using my AR sight adjustment tool and the rear sights are finger adjustable with an indexing finger knob.
In my past experience with similar budget flip-up sights sold for airsoft, these sights have proven rugged enough but the metal is somewhat brittle in the cold. I don’t abuse my range rifles as much as my airsoft toys so only time will tell but I expect these budget Feyachi sights hold up to typical range use.
All in all, these S27 sights cost about the same price as traditional generic flip-up iron sights without fiber optics so it’s a no brainer to get these.
Amazon Prime Day runs from July 11-12 this year and Feyachi is offering discounts up to 30% off their normal prices for their entire product inventory. I’ve reviewed quite a few of their products which are already budget priced and with these Primer Day discounts, make them an even better deal.
I’m sharing these deals I got via email from Feyachi. Up to 30% on Feyachi’s Amazon store: https://amzn.to/3D081he
Rifle slings are some of the cheapest and least appreciated firearms accessory. Not only do slings help you carry your rifle when you want your hands to be free to do other things, they’re also helpful in improving your accuracy by providing a 5th contact point steadying your rifle to your body.
Feyachi sent me their newest tactical sling set to test and evaluate. This sling includes two MLOK-compatible QD swivel sling loops. The sling is made of nylon with polymer hardware with an adjustable nylon and bungie sling strap. The ends are are H&K style hooks with modified cut-outs to expand the gate opening to allow the hook to pass larger diameter loops
The QD swivel adapters attached securely into my KelTec Sub-2000’s moulded MLOK hand guard slots. I attached the rear hook on the sling the rifle buttstock’s built-in sling loop. The sling is rated for up to 100lbs; I tested this by dropping an equivalent of 50lbs attached to only one hook of the sling and it kept the lead weight attached.
The Feyachi sling kit proved to be reliable and resilient. Retailing for under $15 on Amazon, it also proved to be a affordable. The slings are available in black, OD, and tan.
At the Monstrum booth at Shot Show 2023 they introduced me to a prototype weapon light that they claim could output 2000 lumens. It was so new they didn’t have a name for it. Four months later Monstrum sent me their brand new weapon light called the Raider X1.
The Raider X1 comes in a compact box containing the light and a M-LOK/Picatinny rail. The weapon light is made of 6061 aircraft grade aluminum which feels quite durable and solid. It recharges via a covered USB-C port at the rear of the wedged shaped body.
The rear wedge functions as an angled fore grip. Not quite pistol grip (as that would violate many state’s gun laws), it provides an ergonomic hand position. The lens housing also functions as a hand stop, preventing your hand from moving forward which is useful as a safety feature in bullpups, short barreled rifles or pump shotguns like the KS7/KSG.
An single activation button is located on the left side of the body. A press turns the unit on in its high output mode. In my testing, I measured approximately 1850 lumens; which is still plenty bright. Pressing the button cycles the flashlight from high, to low, to off. Keeping the button pressed for 5-6 seconds activates the strobe mode.
The Raider lacks momentary on or mode memory; two features I consider to be vital for a modern weapon light. This control scheme was standard for weapon lights 15 years ago and for those that are used to this scheme may be a selling point but not for me.
What is a selling point is it’s performance and durability. Monstrum states that it has a 60 minute run time on high mode. Fully recharged, I tested its runtime and found it exceeded it’s claimed run time by over 17 minutes (crapping out at 78 minutes). It’s built so tough, I ran it over with my SUV twice, and despite some small nicks and scratches, it survived un-dented and functional.
The Raider X1 did fail one of my tests: I found the unit did not meet to IPX6 rating it claims. I hit it with a high pressure water hose at various angles for about 15-20 seconds. A few minutes later, I found that moisture beads appeared behind the lens and lifting the silicone charging port cover, I found water weeping out of the port.
After a number of minutes the went into strobe mode and the activation button became unresponsive. I left the unit outside in the sun for a few days to dry it out. After checking the charging port for moisture, I tried charging it up again and it appears to be working normally. While water getting into the unit is failure, it’s recovery from its wet condition may be a positive.
Perhaps because I’m not a Western Big Game hunter, but I wasn’t familiar with Huskemaw Optics. They’re a hunting scope maker based in Cody Wyoming that makes some of the most unique scopes I’ve come across. By chance I stopped by their booth at SHOT Show on the very last day of the show.
These scopes are purpose built for Western style hunting of big game, where distances are typically beyond 500yrds in high country with sustained cross-winds. These scopes are also pricy but high quality, built in Japan using German or Japanese glass depending on the model. These are the kind of scopes for well heeled hunters who hire guides or go on package hunting lodge trips in the Western high country.
I was struck by the unusual dragonfly shaped double-diamond reticle design of their scopes. And after striking up a conversation with Jim at their booth, I discovered the uniqueness doesn’t stop there. They have a two part elevation turret which is calibrated for wind holds of 10mph. An extra set of “wind hold” numbers at the top of the turret inform you of the number of minute/sub-tensions you’ll need to hold over to compensate for a cross-wind.
2. Take a screen shot of the channel screen showing you have subscribed/followed.
3. Email me with the Subject:June 11 Contest • Attach the JPG or PNG screen shot • Include your full name and ship-to address in the email (so I can confirm you live in the US or Canada)
4. BONUS ENTRY: Email the answer to the question “Why have Smoke Markers been banned from OPBB this year?”. The answer is in the first 5 minutes of our June 4th Livestream
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By entering your contest, participants agree to abide by the SPONSOR’s Official Rules and decisions. The SPONSOR retain the right to refuse, withdraw, or disqualify entries at their sole discretion. By submitting an entry, the participant agrees to accept the decision of the SPONSOR as final and binding.
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This contest requires your skill in navigating your phone or computer controls to screen capture an image of the following YouTube channels/Social Media accounts. Subscribe or Follow and make a screen capture of those pages showing a greyed out Subscribe button or indicator that your account is Following that page. Send a screen capture image file of any of those sites to contest@moondogindustries.com . One entry per person or per Social Media account. Fraudulent methods of entry, photo retouched, or other methods of circumvention of the rules may result in the SPONSOR invalidating a participant’s entries.
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The winner will be chosen at random by the SPONSOR from among the entrants that demonstrated the skill to navigate the electronic entry and have met the minimum requirements. Winners will be contacted via the email used to enter the contest no later than December 31, 2023.
SPONSOR are not liable for the winner’s failure to receive notification of winning if he or she provided a wrong email address or if their email security settings caused your prize notification to go into the spam or junk folder. If a winner does not respond within 24hrs of sending a notification, the SPONSOR will select an alternate winner. Receipt of the prize is upon the condition of compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
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The SPONSOR, upon submission of an entry into the giveaway or contest, has the right to use the participant’s submission, voice, likeness, image, statements about the contest, etc., for publicity, news, advertising, promotional purposes, trade, and so forth, without any further notice, review, consent, compensation or remuneration.
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As a condition of participating in the promotion, the participant agrees to resolve all disputes with an arbitrator designated by the SPONSOR in the state of California, without resorting to any form of class action. Entrants waive all rights to punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
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Participants may request a list of winners by submitting a request in writing to Moondog Industries for up to 30 days after the contest ends.
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Hi-Lux is an optics company best known for making reproduction vintage-style scopes. But at Shot Show this year, their show stopper was their newest modern ELR/PRS scope, their PR5-R a 5-25x56mm beast of a scope. They were kind enough to send me a sample to text and evaluate.
Out of the box the scope is massive. It is 16″ long even without the included sunshade. It is perhaps the heaviest scope I’ve yet tested, weighing in at 2.5lbs (40oz). The package includes the aforementioned 56mm sunshade, front and rear flip-up caps, and a throw lever.
The scope has equally massive and oversized turrets which have nice loud clicks and are tactile positive. The elevation has a zero-stop reminiscent of Leupold’s spiral groove design but with the spiral under the cap instead of the base of the turret. While interesting, I found correctly lining up the stopping pin in the grove to be sometimes finicky.
In addition, Hi-Lux’s “Zero Stop” is designed to stop 1 MIL past 0. So perhaps they should call it a “1 Stop” or “+1 Stop” instead? Moreover, my turret didn’t stop at 1 MIL, instead stopping sometimes at 1.2 or 1.3 MIL. While you can correct for this by adjusting your initial zero, I find this lack of precision problematic. But as I so not use Zero Stops my disappointment is somewhat moot.
The magnification dial was moderately stiff but movable without the throw lever. The ocular focus was smooth and the eye-piece features rotation markings making. This is an often overlooked feature on scopes and I wish more makers put them on their scopes because this makes it easier to return to a known focus when sharing a rifle with a guest shooter.
The most interesting feature of the scope is it’s digital illumination controls. The brightness and activation on controlled by two rubberized buttons next to the paralax focus knob. The model I tested had red illumination but Hi-Lux also sells a green illumination model.
The entire central sub-tensioned cross-hair and Christmas tree is illuminated. The two lowest brightness settings are designed for night vision and were not visible to my naked eye. The highest level (11) was not daylight bright but more than bright enough for dusk. It is powered by a CR2032 coin battery in the parallax knob, which can focus down to 10 yards.
At the range I noted distortion along the outer edge of the image and chromatic aberration at 5x which is usually the best image seen through a scope. I was therefore surprised when the outer edge and color distortion improved at 25x. We did lose light and there was a noticeable reduction in the eye-box.
In overall sharpness and contrast the scope was middling to average for a $800 scope (I’ve seen street price ranges from $800-$1300 depending on retailer) but its resolution was as good or better than similarly priced Athlon and Arken scopes I’ve reviewed.
This scope was designed to appeal to ELR and Bench Rest Precision shooters for whom a +40oz tank of a scope is not a problem but an advantage. It’s turrets are oversized, easy to read and control. But it’s finicky Zero Stop may be a deal breaker for some competitive shooters.
The contest Prize will be chosen from all entries submitted from April 30, 2023 through may 6, 2023. Entries must be received no later than 12pm EST on May 6, 2023.
The contest Prize will be chosen from all entries submitted from May 27, 2023 through June 3, 2023. Entries must be received no later than 12pm EST on June 3, 2023.
2. Take a screen shot of the channel screen showing you have subscribed/followed.
3. Email me with the Subject:June 4 Contest • Attach the JPG or PNG screen shot • Include your full name and ship-to address in the email (so I can confirm you live in the US or Canada)
4. BONUS: Share this with a friend and get them to enter the contest too. Ask them to reference your name and email address in the body of their message ie. “My buddy johndoe@gmail.com clued me into the contest”, and I’ll award you an extra-bonus entry to the contest. It’s important that they reference your email so I can easily look up your entry. Each friend that subscribes and refers to you in their email will earn you another bonus entry for a maximum of 10 entries (including yours).
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER. YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING DO NOT INCREASE WITH A PURCHASE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
1. Eligibility
Void where prohibited by law. Must be legal resident within the USA or Canada. Moondog Industries employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies, employees’ immediate family members, are ineligible participate in the contest/giveaway.
Entrants must be willing and able to appear on YouTube to discuss the contest and post images of the prize on their social feed should they win the contest.
2. Sponsors and Platforms
Moondog Industries (known as the SPONSOR) is a video Edutainment producer and game promotor based in San Francisco, CA. YouTube, TikTok, Rumble, and online video platforms (known as PLATFORMS) are not SPONSORS or in any way affiliated with the contest or content.
3. Agreement to Rules
By entering your contest, participants agree to abide by the SPONSOR’s Official Rules and decisions. The SPONSOR retain the right to refuse, withdraw, or disqualify entries at their sole discretion. By submitting an entry, the participant agrees to accept the decision of the SPONSOR as final and binding.
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Contest email entries must be received between: 12:00pm EST 27 May 2023 and 12:00pm EST 3 June 2023
5. How to Enter
This contest requires your skill in navigating your phone or computer controls to screen capture an image of the following YouTube channels/Social Media accounts. Subscribe or Follow and make a screen capture of those pages showing a greyed out Subscribe button or indicator that your account is Following that page. Send a screen capture image file of any of those sites to contest@moondogindustries.com . One entry per person or per Social Media account. Fraudulent methods of entry, photo retouched, or other methods of circumvention of the rules may result in the SPONSOR invalidating a participant’s entries.
6. Prizes
Winner must be able to receive the prize by e-mail or by physical mail. Prize may be substituted at the sole discretion of the SPONSOR. Acceptance of the prize grants SPONSOR permission to use the Winners entry, name, and likeness for advertising, promotion, and trade without further compensation or remuneration unless prohibited by law.
7. Odds
Odds of winning is dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.
8. Selection and Notification of the Winner
The winner will be chosen at random by the SPONSOR from among the entrants that demonstrated the skill to navigate the electronic entry and have met the minimum requirements. Winners will be contacted via the email used to enter the contest no later than December 31, 2023.
SPONSOR are not liable for the winner’s failure to receive notification of winning if he or she provided a wrong email address or if their email security settings caused your prize notification to go into the spam or junk folder. If a winner does not respond within 24hrs of sending a notification, the SPONSOR will select an alternate winner. Receipt of the prize is upon the condition of compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
9. Rights Granted by the Entrant
The SPONSOR, upon submission of an entry into the giveaway or contest, has the right to use the participant’s submission, voice, likeness, image, statements about the contest, etc., for publicity, news, advertising, promotional purposes, trade, and so forth, without any further notice, review, consent, compensation or remuneration.
Participants shall defend or settle against such claims at their sole expense, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SPONSOR from any suit due to damage of or by the prize.
10. Terms & Conditions
The SPONSOR reserves the right to modify, suspend, cancel or terminate in the event that non-authorized human intervention, a bug or virus, fraud, or other causes beyond your control impact or corrupt the security, fairness, proper conduct, or administration of the contest/giveaway.
11. Limitation of Liability
Entry into this contest constitutes the participants agreement to release and hold harmless the SPONSOR and PLATFORMS, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, etc., against all claims liability, illness, injury, death, loss, etc., that occurs directly or indirectly from participation in the contest or use/misuse of the awarded prize.
12. Disputes
As a condition of participating in the promotion, the participant agrees to resolve all disputes with an arbitrator designated by the SPONSOR in the state of California, without resorting to any form of class action. Entrants waive all rights to punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
13. Privacy Policy
Participants agree to abide by all privacy and NDA laws in the State of California and any federal laws of the United State of America.
14. Winners List
Participants may request a list of winners by submitting a request in writing to Moondog Industries for up to 30 days after the contest ends.
15. Social Media Platform Rules
Winners will agree to post a photo of the prize on their social media channels in such a way as does not violate any rules of that platform. The winners also agree to appear for an interview where they will discuss the prize and its performance. If there are functional problems with the prize, the winner agrees to make a good-faith effort to resolve all issues with the SPONSOR prior to posting reviews or opinions about the prize.
16. Affirmation of Acceptance of and Agreement to All of the Official Rules
By entering the contest, the entrant has affirmatively reviewed, accepted, and agreed to all of the them.
