Write me a suggestion for what to see and do at Shot Show 2022?
Add Bluetooth to your old Earpro
Comsoon J25 Bluetooth Receiver allows you to add Bluetooth audio to your old wired headphones or earbuds or your car through its AUX audio port, for less than $20. Far less than the cost of a new pair of Bluetooth headsets or even the cost of a J25 and a new pair of non-Bluetooth earpro.
It’s small enough to mount directly onto your earpro and with the right connector cable, you can get the firing tucked away and even make it look like original equipment.
PRODUCT LINK
J25 https://amzn.to/3k6wWWJ
Right-angle cable https://amzn.to/3nZr04N
Velcro dots https://amzn.to/3CVEl2s
AT3 ARO Red Dot
AT3 ARO (Adaptable Reflex Optic) is a micro red dot optic and mount system. For those who aren’t familiar with the AT3 brand (which up to this point included me), AT3 is an AR parts maker and retailer based in Minnesota. They sent me an ARO to review.
I found the fit and build on the ARO to be excellent. There was a slight blem in the paint job of the co-witness mount, it was not visible when the red dot was mounted. It was designed to fit Burris Fastfire/Vortex Venom compatible mounts and slides (check their website for a list of compatible pistols and slides).
The ARO retails for about $150 with the co-witness mount. The Sig Sauer Romeo Zero is about the same price but doesn’t come with mounts. Unlike the Romeo, the ARO lacks any printed markings or design on the rear of the unit, which would allow it to be used as a rear iron sight when mounted on a pistol slide.
The ARO has 6 levels of brightness. While plenty bright for indoor range or CQB use; in mid-day outdoors, the dot is not bright enough. If AT3 could double or treble the max brightness, they’d have a serious competition to the Sig Sauer Romeo or Vortex Viper.
AMAZON LINKS https://amzn.to/3kmofZ8
THE GOOD
Upon testing at the range, I found the ARO to hold zero even after banging it up with a plastic ammo box. On the riser adapter, it co-witnessed to my KAC flip-up sights.
THE BAD
Even at its brightest, the red dot was hard to see in bright daylight. With only 6 levels of brightness, it is too dim for outdoor and seems better suited for indoor range or CQB.
SANAG A11S Pro Headsets
A marketing Rep with SANAG contacted me and offered a pair of sports headphones for me to test out. They appeared to be bone-conductive headsets but the Rep said they were not. Oddly the box says they are but my tests seem to indicate that the Rep was correct.
My first impression was positive. The box made it look like a piece of electronics that you would spend +$50 on (MSRP $80).
My initial impression upon taking it out was also positive. The headset appeared well made and completely covered in a rubber-like coating which would be expected from a “sweat-proof” headset.
Bluetooth pairing was easy. It also comes with 32GB of onboard memory so you can play music directly from the headset by loading up songs from your PC or phone via the included USB-C cable. It came with about 40 pre-loaded Mandarin songs (ummm ok).
Its audio quality was disappointing. The sound was thin and distant, like when you pull your earbuds out of your ear and hang them. The sole positive feature is that as over-the-ear headsets, these allow you to hear your real-world environment while listening to tunes. But for the price, I’d want better audio fedelity.
SPECS
• 8hr battery life
• 10hr standby time
• Bluetooth connectivity
• IP67 Waterproof
• Sweatproof
• Noise Reduction microphone
• 32GB internal memory
• Weight 26g
Amazon https://amzn.to/3yytIC7
Wybenz Solar Christmas Lights
WYBENZ sent me a set of Solar Christmas String Lights to test and review. I own a similar set solar-powered lights but these have much heavier duty wiring. These look quite nice and beautify our exteriors without having to be plugged. This makes them much more versatile in where you place them around your house.
SPECS
- Length: 66ft
- Control Wire: 6ft
- Strand LED: 200
- Setting Modes: 11
- Battery Capacity: 1200mah
- Waterproof: IP65
- Solar Panel: 2V 400MA
- Working Time:Up to 15hours
MODES
- Steady On White
- Steady On Warm White
- Steady On 50/50 Mix White and Warm White
- Slow Flash White
- Quick Flash White
- Slow Flash Warm White
- Quick Flash Warm White
- Slow Alternate White to Warm White
- Quick Alternate White to Warm White
- Slow Flash 50/50 Mix White
- Quick Flash 50/50 Mix White
A2 PG Grip Plug
Missouri Tactical sent me two of these grip plugs to test out. It allows you to convert any Ar15 MilSpec A2 grip into a handy storage space. It features a storage holder for a CR2032 or similar sized coin battery and a hole for a small allen/hex wrench. This is very useful if you run illuminated optics or red dots because it’s all too common to forget to turn them off and you end up with a dead red dot.
It comes in either black or FDE colored silicone.
Available on Amazon
Black https://amzn.to/3roNPRx
Tan https://amzn.to/3D8qEgL
AEGIS 300 Body Cam
My Geko Gear sent me their new Aegis 300 Body Cam to test and review. This is a professional grade body camera with password and encrypted footage and a rugged splash-proof body. It is an upgrade from the Aegis 200 (which I reviewed a few months ago) featuring such improvements as 1552p resolution, a removable/swappable battery pack, GPS, wifi, and electronic image stabilization (EIS).
On the last feature, the results were somewhat disappointing. The footage I got out of the camera were still shaky. In fact, not really any better than without the EIS.
Is the Aegis 300 worth the $50-$80 premium in price from the Aegis 200? If the EIS had significantly improved the footage quality, that would be an unequivocal yes but lacking that, I’m somewhat on the fence. It’s external battery packs are an improvement but they are proprietary and replacement packs are not yet available through MyGekoGear website.
Despite that, with essentially all-day battery life and recording capability, this camera (which is about the size of an old-school Nokia flip-phone) makes for a rugged alternative to most action cams.
AMAZON https://amzn.to/3kMa008
MyGekoGear: https://shop.mygekogear.com/collections/body-cameras/products/aegis-300
Get 35% off using coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY35
Fairy String Lights
A Marketing Rep at LERTDAI contacted me through Facebook about reviewing a set of their battery-powered LED string lights. They come in a box of 16 lights. All turned and worked though one was flakey at first. Pressing the battery box flat seemed to fix it and it didn’t cause any problems afterward. Some of the LED bulbs do flicker/twinkle adding to the “fairy” or “firefly” effect.
A product photo on their Amazon page shows the lights in a glass of water. Their product specs say they are IP44 rated, which doesn’t mean they are resistant to spray jets of water. The first number in 2 number IP rating is dust penetration, the second number is its waterproof rating. An item has to be IP7 or IP8 rated for it to be classed as immersive waterproof. While I believe the LEDs and wiring is coated to allow them to be waterproof, the battery compartment is not, so I wouldn’t expose that part of the device to water.
The lights can be put in a bottle, vase, or jar to make a decorative centerpiece. Or you can wear it as portable holiday lights. It’s perfect for the season. Currently the entire box set of 16 lights retails for less than $15 on Amazon which makes them a pretty good deal.
AMAZON Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3kCTAXW
AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK https://amzn.to/3kCTAXW
Baby Bore Cleaning Rod
I needed to get a new cleaning rod after I bent my 25 year old Hoppes aluminum cleaning rod. I opted to get a brass rod and I wanted a segmented rod that I pack away more easily than a 1-piece rod. I found the Baby Bore Rod Kit.
I was honestly surprised at how small the envelope was. And when I first took it out, I still couldn’t believe it could form a +30″ cleaning rod. But it turned out to be the perfect packable cleaning tool. I’ve since bought a second kit to put in my range bag in case I need to clear a squib or to clean my bore between ammo tests.
PRODUCT AFFILIATE LINK
https://amzn.to/3mZY9ge
Black Friday 2021
I’m sharing coupon codes and deals from some of the products I’ve tested and reviewed this year. This is by no means an exhaustive list and I hope to be updating in the days up to and after Thanksgiving as deals pop-up. Let me know if you find anything better or have updates.
SPORTSMANS WAREHOUSE
In store deals. $239 for Savage Axis rifle and Bushnell 4-12x scope package, and Aguila 22LR is reportedly $15/250 box?
Feyachi
10%-40% Off products on their Amazon store: https://amzn.to/3qRrKei
AT3
Minnesota based AR parts and accessories company offering Door buster deals up to 50% off UTG and 20% off their select AT3 accessories https://www.at3tactical.com/pages/black-friday-sale-2021
BIG 5
My go-to local gun store and sporting goods. Throughout the pandemic, lines regularly form on their “ammo delivery” mornings and popular calibers usually sell out that day. Aguila Super Extra HV will be on sale for $20/250rnd box https://www.big5sportinggoods.com/store/ways+to+save/Weekly+Ad
PSA
Black Friday Deals all week including Free Shipping
https://palmettostatearmory.com/
Federal Blue Box $79/800 10¢/rnd
Carpenter 158 BCG $69.99
Missouri Tactical
15% off everything on our website use code: MD15
https://motacpro.com/
MyGekoGear
35% off orders including personal security body cams. Code: BLACKFRIDAY35 https://shop.mygekogear.com/
O-LIght
40%-50% and get a Free IR2 micro-EDC light with any purchase www.olights.com
OPTICS PLANET
Some door busters deals on AR drop-in triggers https://shrsl.com/39j9y
.30cal MilSpec ammo cans $16 https://shrsl.com/39j9w
TOWAND
Towand 7500 lumen 1080p projector 20% Off https://amzn.to/3ClABan
ULANZI
Great products like their VL49, VL49 RGB mini-LED light cubes and the BG-3 Battery Grip I reviewed. https://www.ulanzi.com?aff=264
Friday 22% Off
CODE BlackF22
Cyber Monday 20%
CODES:
Cyber15
Cyber25
Cyber45
EVIKE
Black Friday deals up to 50% off. www.evike.com
Taran Tactical custom STI Combat Master 2011
Matrix .25g Bio BBs:
SMT Digital Target System:
BASS PRO / CABELLA’S
Nothing amazing but I’m including a link as a courtesy
https://www.basspro.com/r/shop/en/black-friday-all-week-shooting
ALI EXPRESS
AliExpress is kind of like the Amazon of China. Yeah, that’s not as bad as it sounds. Or maybe it is? It’s a step up from buying from Wish.com. If you’re not above directly supporting CCP affiliated companies (Chinese Communist Party), and don’t mind +30 day slow delivery from China. Here are some discount codes: Black/Super Friday Fest
https://www.aliexpress.com/
On Sale: 25th Nov 00:00:00-29th Nov 23:59:59 PST
Codes have been effective already (limited quantity, please hurry to promote).
Promo Codes all products on Aliexpress (valid for 25.11.2021 PST – 29.11.2021 PST)
$7 OFF $50 with code: BFCM7
$12 OFF $100 with code: BFCM12
$18 OFF $150 with code: BFCM18
$23 OFF $190 with code: BFCM23
$30 OFF $250 with code: BFCM30
COMSOON
This company contacted me directly with a coupon code for the Bluetooth Adapter that I used to add Bluetooth connectivity to my range earmuffs. 10% discount code for the J25: UXB5555T valid through 3rd December.