Get ThinBlueFlorida via Email
Search ThinBlueFlorida.com
Follow ThinBlueFlorida.com!
Popular Articles
- A Revolver Qualification Brings Out the Old Guys
- GAP Enterprises Glock Finger Rest Extension Review
- Liberty Ammunition Civil Defense Review
- The One-Ass-To-Risk Story
- Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 Laser Batteries
- H&K MP5: The Best CQB Weapon I've Ever Kicked to the Curb
- Update to LAPD Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 Review
- New Charter Arms Pitbull .40 S&W Revolver Review
- Aaron on SHOT Show Handguns
- Windermere Police Officer Killed in the Line of Duty
Author Archives: Randall
New Remington R51 Pistol
Remington Arms Company is introducing the new R51, a modern interpretation of the the Remington Model 51 “pocket pistol” from the turn of the century. The R51 is intended to be a 9mm Parabellum concealed carry pistol with a single-stacked magazine and 7+1 round capacity. Its futuristic looking exterior disguises 100-year-old technology—in a good way. The original pistol was designed in 1917 by John Pedersen and incorporated his locking breech block and hesitation-locked action. Yeah, I’m not sure exactly how those work, either. But they do provide a low bore axis for the R51’s fixed barrel. Remington goes on to say the Pedersen action absorbs some of the kick as … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged concealed carry gun, Police Back-Up Gun, Remington, SHOT Show
4 Comments
Shooting the New Glock 42 at SHOT Show 2014 Media Day at the Range
As I wrote in Glock Misses Perfection…, I was glad we made it to the Austrian (and USA) gunmaker early at SHOT Show 2014’s Media Day at the Range. There was so much controversy regarding the release of the Glock 42 in .380 ACP that I haaaad to shoot one. ASAP. I own several Glocks. A G23, sporting a 22 round stick magazine, Speer GDHP’s, and Streamlight TRL-1S, is my current nightstand pistol. I carry a Gen 4 G27 daily in my role as a detective sergeant. I am not necessarily a fanboy. I own and enjoy a safe full of other maker’s handguns, but I admire the utility of … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged Concealed Carry, concealed carry gun, Glock, SHOT Show
1 Comment
New Taurus View Revolver–Pushing the Limits of Minimalism
Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc. is pushing the envelope with the new “View” handgun. Where their large Judge model expanded the continuum in one direction, the View stretches the opposing limit for minimalism in a personal defense revolver. I was able to handle the View at Taurus’ SHOT Show 2014 booth. A few thoughts… Sporting a 1.41″ barrel and tiny hand grip, the profile of the View is smaller than even the most stripped down Smith & Wesson J-frame snubbies. My immediate concern is in the size of the handle. I have small-to-medium sized hands. When I gripped the View tightly, I could barely get my ring finger above the very … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, SHOT Show
Tagged Concealed Carry, concealed carry gun, Police Back-Up Gun, SHOT Show
Leave a comment
Rebar: Friend…or Foe?
SHOT Show is the fifth largest convention in Las Vegas. But larger still is the Concrete Convention next March (well, it has a different name, but you get the gist). I guess any convention makes sense to its attendees. At dinner, writers Richard, Aaron, and I were trying to figure out what kind of seminars you would have for the concrete, asphalt, and construction crowd. “Rebar: Friend…or Foe?” I said dramatically. Laughing, Richard suggested I use it as the title to an article. I think I also suggested, “Concrete Stamping and the Modern Aesthetic.” Rebar was better. I have been busily running around the Show floor for the last two … Continue reading
Media Day at the Range 2014
The high desert was good to us this morning. Temperatures were a balmy 45 degrees for SHOT Show’s Media Day at the Range 2014. Compare that to last year’s 28 degree deep freezer. The winds, though prevalent again, were also relatively tame. Richard, Aaron, and I rode out to Boulder City on one of the shuttle buses, arriving promptly at 0800 after the 45 minute commute from the Strip. Approximately 700 media members were invited to the morning session. The rest of the general media could come after noon. There seemed to be less of a crush this year, although we had a comical end to the bus ride when … Continue reading
SHOT Show 2014
Mid-January is that time of year when I pack up my gear for the annual Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas known as SHOT Show. Armed with a press pass, I will again assault Media Day at the Range and the Show floor to bring back any battlefield pick-ups of information I can record on my reconnoiter. I already published articles about two guns that will be “introduced” at the Show: the Glock 42 and S&W M&P Bodyguard 380. I have been receiving press releases non-stop for the last several months about new products that can be seen at SHOT. With over 1,600 exhibitors on hand, it … Continue reading
New Glock Model 42 Misses Perfection by 2mm
Haters, Haters, Come Out to Play! Glock has drawn much ire from firearms fans, pundits, and trolls over the company’s decision to manufacture a single stack .380 ACP pistol (9 x 17mm), instead of one chambered for the more powerful 9 x 19mm Parabellum. That lousy little 2mm of case length, it seems, has raised a hue and cry. The Glock pistol platform is accepted by many as a reliable and durable firearm. Simple in its lack of external controls, it has developed strong followings in the civilian, Military, and law enforcement markets. Ah, but the Teutonic stubborness of this Austrian company. For many years, Glockophiles have clamored for everything … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged concealed carry gun, Glock, Police Back-Up Gun
5 Comments
New Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380
Smith & Wesson has announced a variant of their popular Bodyguard 380. This will be marketed as the M&P Bodyguard 380, adding to their Military & Police line. Noticeably absent from this gun is the integral InSight laser. When I first wrote at BlueSheepdog.com about the LAPD approving the Bodyguard 380 for on and off duty use, back in April of 2011, the Los Angeles Police Department had mandated that both the laser and manual safety be deactivated. This version solves one of those requests. I am ambivalent about the InSight laser. I have kept mine functional and I occasionally use it at the range. The activation buttons’ stiffness can … Continue reading
Tactical Medical Solutions Uniformed Medical Kit
Tactical Medical Solutions, Inc. provides products and training resources for both combat and tactical medical applications. Their Uniformed Medical Kit allows a police officer to carry vital medical supplies beneath his or her uniform shirt. The pouch attaches with hook side Velcro™ to the loop field on the adjustable strap area of concealed body armor. More loop material on the front of the UMK is available for the strap ends to affix. Tactical Medical Solutions gives the following benefits to the UMK: Central placement provides the officer instant, ambidextrous access to
Posted in Medical, Misc., Officer Down, Officer Safety, Protective Armor
Tagged Officer Safety
Leave a comment
Tactical Tailor Nylon MOLLE Archery Quiver
Back on 4/1/2013, ITS Tactical posted a new archery product from Zulu Nylon Gear called The MOLLE Quiver. H.S.,L.D. for traditional weaponry. When you clicked on the link–waaa, waaaa–it was an April Fools joke. But after readers showed much interest in buying the actual quiver, Zulu started a FaceBook page for the product. It has yet to be released. Having been a recurve bow archer for the last thirty years (on and off), I decided to get an inexpensive nylon MOLLE quiver of my own. After surfing around and finding nothing to my liking, I settled on using a basic Tactical Tailor modular hydration pack. I had written a review … Continue reading
SWAT Round-Up 2013 Video Courtesy of Venture Ballistics
http://cf.cdn.vid.ly/r1h8r2/mp4.mp4 Todd Garrett over at Venture Ballistic Composites sent me this cool video of the SWAT Round-Up 2013 competition. It captures the events’ preparation and perspiration. If you competed this year or visited the SRI, you might see yourself in the movie. Check it out. Thanks, Mr. Garrett! Randall
Posted in Florida Companies, SWAT
Tagged SWAT Round-Up International, Venture Ballistic Composites
Leave a comment
SmartWater CSI Forensic Marking Technology
SmartWater CSI, LLC is a British company that has been involved in forensic marking technology for over 17 years. Their products include a chemical “DNA” marker that can be applied to a piece of property to give a positive identification at a later date, should it be illegally appropriated, and a sort of invisible dye pack that can be employed by law enforcement to “mark” a criminal suspect during the crime. Business owners can install SmartWater devices that spray the marking chemicals on robbers and thieves so the suspects are tagged as they leave. Recently, SmartWater has begun North American operations out of Ft. Lauderdale. I spoke to a representative … Continue reading
Posted in Technology
Leave a comment
Do You FLEPRU?
The Florida Law Enforcement Property Recovery Unit, more colloquially known as FLEPRU (FLEE-proo), is a non-profit entity that was started in the Tampa Bay area in 1987 by a group of detectives whose mission was to aid victims in the recovery of their stolen property and increase the effective prosecution of the perpetrators. FLEPRU provides information, networking, and education not only for sworn law enforcement, but retail, commercial, and recycling industries as well. Additionally, FLEPRU works to enact legislation, and better the statutes already on the books, by lobbying in Tallahassee on behalf of crime victims and cops. Toward that end, FLEPRU has directed much of its lobbying efforts at … Continue reading
Posted in Detectives
Leave a comment
LaserLyte Introduces Laser Can Plinking!
Press release from LaserLyte: COTTONWOOD, AZ (November 2013) – LaserLyte®, innovators in firearms laser technologies, is proud to introduce the innovative and entertaining Laser-Plinking-Can. When hit with a laser from any of the LaserLyte® training cartridges or other laser trainer tools, the cans react by jumping up and falling over just as a real can would. This reaction is all powered by a 9V battery (included) and a spring loaded plunger released by a solenoid. To reset the cans, simply stand them up and depress the plunger. The LaserLyte® laser reactive Laser Plinking Can Set provides hours of training and entertainment indoors or outdoors without the cost of ammunition or … Continue reading
New Firebird Tactical Reactive Targets
I kept seeing flashes and smoke at the west end of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Range at SWAT Round-Up International. At the far north end of vendor row, I got to speak to Andrew Mahwhinney of Firebird Tactical. He showed us some of the cool metal target discs that react when hit by bullets. Firebird Tactical, a division of Firebird Reactive Targets, Ltd., was started to introduce their parent company’s products to the Military and Law Enforcement. SWAT Round-Up International is the U.S. launch of the brand. Firebird Tactical markets 40mm and 65mm-sized targets called either SniperFire Standard or SniperFire Mil-spec. SniperFire Standard targets affix to a backer with … Continue reading