By J. Scott Rupp
Peltor Sport Tactical 500 Peltor’s Tactical 500s offer a noise reduction rating of 26 and feature Clear Voice Tracking—in addition to Bluetooth and phone functions. Dynamic Suppression Time and Gunshot Recognition features combine to optimize hearing protection. Recessed mics cut down on wind noise, and the top band is vented to accommodate the button on the top of a ballcap. Power button is logically placed for a right-hander’s thumb, and the unit powers down automatically after about two hours. Low-profile ear cups won’t get in the way when you’re shooting long guns. Our tester says they’re comfortable enough for all-day wear, and he tells us they’ve been the best he’s tried in terms of both wind-noise suppression and voice intelligibility.
$100-$120 street price, www.peltor.com
Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA This handheld will use either one CR123A lithium battery or one AA alkaline battery—both of which are provided. You’ll get more power on high (350 lumens) with the lithium than with the alkaline (150), but the flexibility to run either power source makes this a handy and versatile light. Comes from the factory set in high/strobe/low mode, but thanks to the company’s TenTap programming, it’s simple to change it to either high-only or low/high modes. Available in black or coyote tan.
$71, www.streamlight.com
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Hornady Outfitter Hoodie A sharp-looking hoodie for those chilly mornings at the range or out scouting for the upcoming big game seasons. It’s 52 percent cotton, 48 percent polyester, which means it will wick moisture far better than pure cotton. Available in medium, large, XL and XXL ($1 more for this size).
$49, www.hornady.com
MTM Case-Gard Screw-It Deluxe Bore Guide Kit Bore guides are an integral part of any serious cleaning regimen. The Screw-It kit is designed to work with both bolt actions and ARs, and an AR link and collar nut are included. The interchangeable tips provide a tight chamber fit to prevent bore wear. The kit works with bolt diameters 0.695 inch or smaller and is compatible with cleaning rods up to 0.375 inch in diameter.
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$15, www.mtmcase-gard.com
Leupold Tracer Shooting Glasses There are five styles in Leupold’s new Performance Eyewear line, and they all have lenses with hydrophobic coatings to fight dirt, water and fingerprints, and they’re diamond-coat-hardened to prevent scratches. They have complete UV protection and a no-slip nose bridge design. The Tracer (shown) features interchangeable lenses—including clear and yellow—that meet or exceed ANSI Z87.1 high velocity impact standards, and they come in tan or black frames.
$180 (tan), $150 (black); www.leupold.com
SK Semi-Auto .22 This new .22 load is specifically engineered to function reliably in semiautomatics. It uses clean-burning propellants, a key to flawless function, and enough oomph at 1,132 fps out of the muzzle to keep your gun running right. It also promises excellent accuracy, which is important to competitors and hunters alike. It should be available about the time you read this or shortly thereafter.
www.SK-Ammunition.com
Hoppe’s Dual-Side Lockable Gun Vise The legendary gun cleaning company is branching out from chemicals into accessories, and the new vise locks front and back for a secure workspace—with rubber overmolded feet to make it even more stable. Built on a polymer frame, it can accommodate traditional rifles as well as ARs, and it’s got a ton of handy compartments for all manner of accessories, including cleaning rods.
$60, www.hoppes.com
Ruger Over-Bore Knife A real looker of a folding knife with a silver stonewash finish and holographic Ruger eagle logo in the stainless steel handle. The 2.95-inch blade is of 8Cr13MOV steel and locks via a frame lock. opens easily thanks to a thumb stud, and it features a pocket clip. Overall length is 6.9 inches, and it weighs just 3.4 ounces.
$30, www.shopruger.com
Springfield Armory USA Range Bag You can never have too many range bags! This one boasts 1,803 cubic inches of volume for all your gear, and heavy duty hardware and self-repairing zippers will bring years of service. Size is 18x13x7 inches, and it has two zippered pockets and three easy-access front pockets. There’s an adjustable internal divider, and removable panels allow the bag to fold flat for storage. Comes with a removable, adjustable and fully padded non-slip shoulder strap.
$60, www.springfield-armory.com
Savage Keychain Who can’t use another keychain? Certainly any Savage fan will appreciate this sharp-looking domed keychain. It’s made of fully polished zinc alloy and comes in a custom-molded gift box.
$7.50, www.savagearms.com
Bravo Company Gift Certificate Is your dad an AR-15 or AR-10 shooter, but you don’t know what to get him? Get him a gift certificate to Bravo Company USA, a one-stop shop for all manner of upper receivers, lower receivers, fore-ends, stocks—basically an AR component, part or accessory you can think of.
www.bravocompanyusa.com
