Veteran's Memorial Park

Memorial Day, 2016

This is a video that we shot at the Veteran's Memorial Park in Cedar Park, TX on Memorial Day. Given the design of the park we thought it would be fitting to film it from the air to show the overall design. The monument was designed by artist Gregory Beck of Fort Worth, TX and opened in 2011. The path leading up to the center of the monument is lined with engraved paver stones with the names and dates of service of brave men and women who have served both past and present. There are also two paver stones that honor the victims of 9-11 and the firefighters and police officers that gave their lives that day.

Along the pathway their stands a box that you can deposit retired American flags in. The flags are then properly disposed of in a fire pit a few yards away. At the center of the spiral pathway is a 22ft marble statue that has laser engraved panels with very realistic pictures representing each branch of the U.S. Military. The statue of the soldier that stands watch over the park was modeled after a local soldier, Matthew Morris, who was killed in 2008 by a bomb in Iraq. We can only imagine how his family feels when they visit the park and see their loved one forever standing guard over the memorial.

We have been to the park several times over the years but we had never seen the park from the air. As soon as I piloted the drone over the memorial itself we were in awe of the overall design. You cannot fully appreciate the spiral design unless you see it from above so we decided to share what we saw so others can appreciate it also. Even though it is a little long, we hope you enjoy this video.

All gave some...some gave all...

Dang Texas Weather

What was supposed to be a weekend full of fun and shooting has now officially turned into a weekend of thunderstorms and mud! We were going to Copperhead Creek Shooting Range today in Marble Falls, Texas to watch the 3 Gun Nation 3 gun match and to support our friends that were shooting this weekend. INSTEAD, what are we doing? We are sitting on the back porch watching the rain come down!

Tomorrow's plans might get messed up as well since most of the local ranges turn inhospitable after a good downpour. Our plans were to travel to Temple, Texas and shoot a USPSA match put on by Temple Gun Club. Since those plans might quickly wash away as well I guess we will have time to start working on our blog again! We have a few new products to review and a couple of events to blog about so I guess we have played the lazy game long enough and need to get to work. We have, however, been keeping up with our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and the new gun friendly, Instagram-esque app called Gun Squad. Be sure to check them out and download the app. You won't regret it!

Selfies, Drills and Drones - An Hour At The Range

Well, we officially got back from SHOT Show 2016 in Vegas a week ago. After a week of decompressing, relaxing tired feet and getting over being sick we decided it was time to get back to shooting. With some upcoming competitions around the corner we decided to take advantage of this gorgeous day and head to the range to run some drills and have some fun. And most importantly, enjoy the sun.

We strolled into the range house like we owned the place [feels like we should after all the money we have spent there] and we were quickly brought back to reality when the kind lady behind the counter informed us that there was a wait.....a LONG wait! What else did we have to do on this great day? We made the obvious choice and decided to wait...and wait...and wait! It felt like we were at a fine dining establishment at dinner time, and we were h-u-n-g-r-y! As we sat in the range house counting the number of 5.11 pants that strolled through [Christy's didn't count], we did what we knew how to do best, SELFIES!! The one selfie that makes it on to Instagram or Facebook is the generally the most serious one out of the hundred goofy ones that we took!

By the time our names were called we only had an hour but we were determined to make it count and have a good time! We made our way to our bay and started to get set up. The Range Master decided to do a couple of drive by's just to say hi and make sure we had everything we needed. As always, he quizzed us on range rule #21 [everyone should know this one according to him]. Range Rule #21 clearly states, "It is mandatory that I MUST take my wife out to a nice meal after leaving the range." He further dictates that Sonic Drive In does not count as fine dining! Who knew? Of course, all of this talk about food actually did make us hungry.

We ran through as many drills as we could in the short amount of time that we had and just like any other time that we shoot together, it turned into a friendly husband and wife competition. If you ask Christy who won she would proudly tell you she did! If you ask me who won, I will quickly change the subject to prevent the repercussions I would face once you walked away! [She actually just rolled her eyes as I typed this]. We were both enjoying ourselves, as we always do together at the range, that there was no way that we weren't both winners.

To wrap up the short amount of time before the final "cease fire" was called for the day, I wanted to test my AR after some recent changes to my rifle. I also brought our big drone out to practice aerial range photography. For fun, I loaded up a 30 round mag, lifted the bird [drone] up into the sky and then turned Christy loose on a unsuspecting target while I filmed her from about 20' up. Filming with a drone definitely adds a different perspective that you cannot get using a regular camera.

Even though we didn't have a lot of time and felt rushed we managed to get everything done that we wanted to do. This lends credence to the saying, "A bad day at the range is better than a good day at the office!" We then wrapped up the day by going to eat with our good friends from Diversified Defense that were at the range teaching a class. Looking back, I'm glad we decided to wait instead of leaving and going back home!

SHOT Show 2016 - Sunday 1-17-16

Hey everyone! We haven't been doing much on here for the past couple of months but we have been active on Instagram and our Facebook page. Not much new has been going on except we have been staying extremely busy and a lot of changes have been going on. We still have been staying active with shooting competitions though. We are never too busy for that!

What has been occupying our time recently was getting ready for SHOT Show 2016! We can't believe it is that time already. I still can't believe it and I am typing this while staring at the giant High Roller ferris wheel from our hotel room window! We arrived at the hotel at 4pm today and had just enough time to unpack and then we headed downstairs to the Flour and Barley restaurant where we gorged ourselves on some awesome tasting food. Hopefully we can squeeze into our shooting jerseys tomorrow!

Speaking of tomorrow, we will be heading out to the Clark County Shooting Complex for the Sig Sauer Range Day! We are going to get to check out their newest products, eat some good food and most importantly put some round down range! As always we will be including pictures and stories of our adventures so be sure to tune in for more to come from SHOT Show 2016, Las Vegas NV.

Comp-Tac International Holster

I have been thinking about trying out a new competition holster for a while. I needed a drop and offset holster since I've definitely got some hips and it is the type of holster that I am used to using. Women are allowed to use drop and offset holsters in competition because of our build. It puts the gun in a more natural position for the draw.

I eventually settled on the Comp-Tac International Holster. Actually, Gene has been using a Comp-Tac holster for years with his 1911 and loves it.  Now, the International is not only made for women. It can be used in the standard configuration that it is shipped in or as a drop and offset holster. It can be worn on a belt or the paddle mount can be used. The holster can be canted as well. In total, it can be set up in 16 different configurations which makes this a very versatile holster.

The International can be used on a 1.5" or 2" belt, however once it has been adjusted for a 2" belt, it cannot be adjusted back to 1.5" usage. I wear two different types of 1.5" belts myself and the holster fits both of them perfectly. One belt is a reinforced leather Flashbang belt and the other is a nylon Tuff Products competition belt. I switch belts depending on what type of match I am doing. The tab on either side of the holster kept it very stable on the belts. It is very secure and I really like that I do not have to worry about adjusting shims and possibly losing them during a match. I have had that problem somewhat recently with another holster.

As I mentioned earlier, the International Holster can also be used with the provided paddle mount. I am not a paddle mount girl myself, but Gene uses this set up for his Comp-Tac holster. He actually prefers it over wearing it on a belt because to him it is easier to put on and take off. Another benefit is that it is more compatible with all pants types, so you do not have to worry about where the belt loops are located.

The holster is made of rigid kydex and the inside is very slick which will protect the gun's finish and promotes ease of draw. It has three adjustment points which allows the user to adjust the retention for their intended use. An example of this is that a 3 Gun competitor may want to tighten the retention since there is more running with the handgun in the holster versus some other competitions.

This holster has a cutout in the front which allows the gun to clear the holster faster while still maintaining safety. The competition holster that I was using did not have this feature. I was very impressed with the smoothness and speed of my draw with my International holster.

Another unique aspect to Comp-Tac holsters is that they have raised lettering on the outside of the holster which specifies the make and model of the gun that the holster is made for. This way you can be sure not to grab the wrong holster when packing up for a match or a day of practice at the range. This will be especially helpful as Gene and I acquire more of these holsters.

Now for the fun stuff, color. This holster is available in five colors. Black, red, pink, blue, and my favorite purple. Of course, you know what I color I chose. It goes great with my gear and shooting jersey. Regardless of the color you choose, all of the hardware that comes with it is black.

I am very happy with my new International holster and I recommend it to anyone regardless of how you prefer to wear it.

ALG Defense EMR V2 Handguard and Sidewinder Muzzle Brake

Several months back we ordered an ALG Defense EMR V2 M-LOK handguard from Gun Connection in Taylor, TX. Their motto is you buy it, we'll install it so of course we took them up on it. The day we took my AR into the store to have the handguard installed, store owner Dan Kaminkow told us that ALG Defense had sent them a few Sidewinder muzzle brakes. He said that he didn't know anything about them and asked if I wanted to try one out on my AR to review. The muzzle brake that was currently on my AR was stock so there was no way I was going to resist that offer.

Once he installed the new handguard and muzzle brake on my AR it felt like I had a brand new rifle. Not only did it look better, but it was lighter too.  I had ordered the 13" handguard instead of the 10" one because my arms are really long. I like to shoot with my left arm completely extended because it helps me to control my rifle. This length allows for a longer reach than my previous handguard which makes my grip and stance feel more natural. Not only is this handguard functional but it comes in purple which I just had to order because I love the way it looks and it goes with the rest of my gear. The V2 also comes in standard colors such as Black, Desert Dirt Color, and Gray.

 Shortly after the upgrades, Gene and I did a two gun competition with our ARs and handguns. The Sidewinder muzzle brake performed very well. It really helped with recoil and I was able to keep my rifle on target. Several guys on our squad came up to me and said that my rifle did not move at all. They wanted to know what kind of muzzle brake I had and where could they get one. When I showed them the Sidewinder they were surprised how simple it is. We did another two gun competition just a couple of weeks ago and again several people on our squad commented on my muzzle brake and the lack of movement. I would like to think that some of that was my ability, but I guess I have to give the Sidewinder some of the credit. I am very impressed with both of these ALG products and I highly recommend them.

Gene: Well, first off, the color of the ALG front end is not the color I would have chosen but I am a guy, so...... lol Seriously though, no matter what the color is this handguard feels and looks good! It is solid and has a very low profile which makes it easy to use no matter how you choose to grip the handguard with your off-hand. Aside from the small section of picatinny rail at the front of the handguard, if you want to mount accessories this would be easily accomplished using M-Lok attachments. Another great thing about this handguard is that it dissipates heat very well which makes shooting in the summer possible without having to worry about leaving skin behind.

Now, for my take on the Sidewinder muzzle brake. As soon as we took Christy's AR to the range for some testing, the first thing I noticed was the lack of movement from the gun as she started to fire it. Now, I am not taking away from Christy's ability to control an AR. As a matter of fact, she controls an AR better than most people I know. Combine her ability with the sidewinder and it looks like she is shooting a .22 . When I finally convinced her to let me try it out I was surprised at how such a minimalistic design can work so well. I was really impressed with the groupings I was obtaining with the Sidewinder and how it minimized muzzle climb which made quick follow up shots a breeze. It's funny listening to all of the comments that people make at matches about the muzzle brake when Christy is shooting. I often have to remind them that a girl can actually be good with an AR and the Sidewinder makes her even better! Now I may actually have to get one for my AR.

Sig Sauer P238

For those of you that have been reading for a while you may remember my article about my XDs and how I said that it is my favorite handgun. I am a Springfield fan through and through and as much as I love my XDs something about the Sig Sauer P238 and P938 kept appealing to me.

The P238 is a .380 and the P938 is a 9mm. I have primarily been a 9mm shooter from the beginning. I like the idea of all my handguns being the same caliber so I had a really hard time choosing between the two Sigs. Most everyone I asked said they like both, but a overall I was told that the P238 has less recoil and that they had better shot placement with it.

Once I finally settled on the P238 my next decision was which one to choose. I think it is safe to say that this little gun has the largest variety of options that I have seen of any gun on the market. There a different color slides, frames, grip styles, sights, and even scrollwork available. They even have one with a built in laser.

The journey to find my new handgun commenced. I searched and searched.  The minute I saw it I immediately knew that it was the one. Well, purple IS my favorite color. The frame is black, but the slide and grips are purple. Purple pearl grips to be exact. The safety, slide lock, magazine release, and screws have a rainbow titanium finish. It is a real thing of beauty.

Not only is it beautiful, but it also has SIGLITE night sights which I am a big fan of since this is a carry gun. The sights on this gun are bright and are easily visible which I am very pleased with.

Some of the P238s come with two magazines, one 6 round magazine and one extended 7 round magazine. Mine only came with one 6 round magazine, so I immediately purchased an extended magazine. The extended 7 round magazine has a pinky extension which is nice for my grip since I do have big hands "for a girl".

I could not wait to take this little gun to the range and try it out. I was curious to see how it would feel since most small guns are uncomfortable to shoot, especially after a magazine or two. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my P238 not only looks good, but shooting it feels good too. I did not experience any discomfort shooting it and the gun is accurate too. I was able to shoot some really tight groups which is obviously the most important factor.

I have always been a little leery of pearl grips because I have always thought they are slick and would make it difficult to maintain a good grip on the gun. These pearl grips are a different because they are actually made of a rubber material. They look slick, but work really well.

If you know anything about my XD, XDm, and XDs you know that they are striker fired handguns. My Sig Sauer P238 is basically a miniature 1911 with a thumb safety. I thought that it might be awkward for me to transition to a hammer fired handgun but it actually seemed natural to me to use the thumb safety.

One of my favorite things about this gun is the concealability. This is the smallest gun that I own which makes it much easier to conceal carry than my other handguns. The P238 is 5.5 inches long, 3.9 inches high, and 1.1 inches wide. It has a barrel length of 2.7 inches and weighs only 15.2 oz. without a magazine. Due to it's size, there are more carrying positions available than the other guns that I own. I am very happy with my purchase and Gene likes it so much that he is considering one for himself.

[Gene] As Christy said, I really like this gun. I am a 1911 shooter and, despite its diminutive size, it is a 1911 so it feels natural to me to shoot it. The 238 feels great in my meat paws, I mean hands, even without using the extended mag. This gun feels substantial to me compared to other .380s I have shot of this size. This is due in part to the metal frame versus a polymer frame found in other .380 sub compacts.

Another thing I like about this gun is the sights. Sig decided to use regular sights instead of some chopped down version which makes shots beyond 7 yards much easier. Even though I already have a compact 1911 [Springfield EMP] this gun would be a great carry option when something a little smaller makes more sense. Overall I am impressed with the 238 and I looking to pick one up for myself. Well, maybe I will make mine a "little" less flashy, and with the dozens of variations this gun comes in it will not be hard to find one to suit my taste. I will just continue to enjoy Christy's in the meantime!