FEATURE
Stumped For the Holidays? Don't Be
With the holiday gift-giving season
barreling down on us, there's really not
a lot of time left to find the perfect
gift for the shooter on your list. If
you happen to be the shooter on
someone's list, here are a few
suggestions you might want to consider
"hinting" to your gift givers.
As always, there's nothing here one of
the editors at The Outdoor Wire Digital
Network hasn't tried - or liked. We're
not here to offer anything but positive
suggestions (maybe even to people
shopping for us this season).
I'm a big fan of multi-tools, although I
know a multi-tool doesn't give you the
optimal tool for every situation.
Sometimes using a multi-tool requires a
Rube Goldberg-ish configuration of the
do-it-all multi-tool. Being one of those
people who chronically overpacks
everything from suitcases to range bags,
carrying a multi-tool makes sense.
The Remington 1911 Multi
Tool might be the last 1911
gift you give your shooter
to commemorate the hundredth
anniversary of the 1911. A
tool that's specific to the
1911 and is useful for other
applications as well might
be one your shooter's missed
to this point. OWDN Photo.
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Being a big fan of the venerable 1911,
I'm known to carry a bushing tool (or
two) along with a punch for the
mainspring housing, along with a bit
driver and a couple of other basics. In
essence, I'm trying to put together a
mini gunsmithing tool kit. Not
practical. Last year, while testing
Remington's version of the 1911 (their
1911R1), I was gifted with one solution
to my too-many-tools problem with the
1911: the Remington 1911 Multi Tool.
The Remington 1911 Multi Tool looks a
lot like other multi-tools with the
addition of the combination dual bushing
wrench to the plier head and a
mainspring housing punch in the handle.
If you've needed those and not had them,
you know they're critical for working on
your 1911 without causing unnecessary
aggravation or cosmetic damage.
It includes a belt case, bit driver with
five double-sided bits, file, bottle
opener and screwdriver, and a knife
that's a combo drop point and serrated
blade.
Did I mention it's all in the
always-fashionable tactical black?
Seriously, it's a gift that your 1911
fan will appreciate that won't break
your bank and works with virtually any
company's 1911 in any size. It's
available online at a variety of
retailers, with prices in the $40-43.
MSRP $49.95.
If you're not fortunate enough to have a
safe that's climate controlled and worry
about protecting your firearms, knives,
parts or whatever from rust during
extended storage, you'll like the
vacuum-sealed long-term storage and
preservation bags from ZCORR.
ZCORR's best known inside the military
as the supplier of arsenal storage bags
to the USMC. When the Marines serviced,
refurbished and stored M-16 rifles, they
were looking for a solution that would
protect the guns for up to 20 years.
ZCORR provided an answer in their bags
with a vapor corrosion inhibitor
impregnation. They also made the bags
vacuum sealing.
Yep, it's an AR-style rifle
in a protective bag (above)
ZCORR Photo. The ZCORR bags,
however come in a variety of
sizes for virtually anything
metal you care to protect
(below) OWDN photo.
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They're simple to operate. Clean and
normally lube your firearm (sizes
available for long guns, carbines,
handguns and ammo/parts) put it into the
ZCORR bag, take your vacuum cleaner and
apply it to the one-way valve, pull out
the air and you're done.
I've used ZCORR bags in the past, but
the latest firearms versions are
reusable, equally durable (they're far
tougher than a plastic bag) and
available in sizes that will protect
pistols, carbines and long rifles. Their
Collector Series storage bags and
Ammunition and Parts Pouches use zip
closures to protect a variety of sizes
of parts, ammo or whatever.
And finally, who doesn't need more ammo?
Especially if you have a competition
handgun shooter on your list.
Any handgun competitor on your shopping
list will thank you for an ammo gift
that not only shows your appreciation
for their sport, it demonstrates you've
taken time to find ammo that's the
ammo-of-choice for many of the world's
top-level practical shooters.
We first heard of ASYM Precision ammo
from Julie Golob. As captain of the
Smith & Wesson Shooting Team and the
only person to have ever won all the
USPSA world titles, we listen when she
offers advice. She swears by ASYM ammo.
Julie introduced us to Stan Chen,
world-class gun guy, and the owner of
ASYM Precision ammunition. We tried his
ammo and now we're hooked- although we
promise our results have nothing to do
with his ammo and everything to do with
our abilities. (We shot some of Julie's
-just to make certain).
Earlier this week, we received the very
first production boxes of ASYM's new 9mm
115-grain JHP Match Ammo. This is a
brand-new super-accurate and
soft-shooting load tuned up especially
for Steel Challenge and Bianchi
Cup-style matches.
I headed to the range with the Match
Ammo and ran two magazines through one
of my M&P Pro pistols. It produced very
tight groups in slow fire, cycled
reliably in rapid fire (OK, my version
of rapid fire isn't Jerry Miculek or Rob
Leatham, but you get the picture) and
had a decided reduction in recoil over
other ammo I've used.
It's terrific stuff for those kinds of
speed matches.
The proof is in the shooting
when it comes to ASYM's
Action Match Ammo.
Unfortunately, the target's
not ours- those are Stan
Chen's initials on the
target. ASYM Precision
photo.
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Along with the 9mm, I also received a
first-run box of ASYM Precision's new
Law Enforcement and Personal Defense
Ammo in .45ACP. This stuff is a thumper-
a 230 Grain JHP Tactical XTP, but it's
not one of those rounds that punishes
you when you're shooting it. ASYM has
once again managed to tune the load to
get optimal performance and minimal
recoil. I don't pretend to understand
the science behind tuning loads, but I
appreciate the results.
You can get ASYM Precision ammo in a
variety of calibers (45ACP, 9mm, .380
Auto, .223 and .308) and
mission-specific loads as shown by the
soft-shooting 115 Grain 9mm Action Match
Ammo to the 230 Grain JHP Tactical XTP
in .45ACP for Law Enforcement or
Personal Defense situations.
There's really not much bad ammo
manufactured in the United States, but
ASYM is one of those top-shelf brands.
Since Chen and his company don't
manufacture components, they
meticulously choose and rigorously test
combinations of components to tune loads
to specific purposes.
Like any top-shelf brand, this stuff
comes at a premium. You can check what's
available for yourself at
http://store.chencustom.com/default.asp.
Like all boutique operations, not every
caliber is available al the time. You
might also want to check out the other
offerings while you're there.
Just a few suggestions, with more to
follow.
--Jim Shepherd
