Merry X-Mas to me! SF M300, Safariland 6004-DFA

I've been trying to avoid writing strictly about gun stuff of late, which is why I haven't been posting as often as I used to. I'm coming to a realization, though: outside of Jesus, my life kinda revolves around shooting. Like Dave used to say, a decade ago at The Cutler's Cupboard: "It's better than drugs or other women". I guess so!

These weren't actually "Christmas presents", but they were close enough. The one advantage to my job is that it tends to bring schwag my way, because smart representatives know that getting stuff in my hands is a good way to sell more product. Smart people, those reps!

First up, the excellent new Surefire M300 Mini Scout light. As I understand it, this was the brain child of, or at the very least ramrodded by, Surefire's Director of Military Sales. It makes perfect sense, really: take the already successful Scout light, and do more of what made it successful, which was to make it slimmer and lighter. What it ends up being is a 4.5 ounce light that's only 4 inches long, with at least 110 lumens output. It runs on a single battery, but with an LED emitter, it has a 1+ hour run time. In a light of this type, I'll get a year out of that battery.

Also of note is the SR07 rail mount tape switch. I'm not typically a tape switch guy, but this one's seriously beefy. Its a pressure pad and an on-off button that's designed specifically to mount to a rail. Two things that need to be mentioned about the switch: mine is a much "harder" switch than ones that I've used in the past. It takes a significant amount of pressure to engage the light. The possibility of a white light ND is still there, but probably less likely. Surefire still sells switch blockers for tape switches, so I think I'm going to secure one, just for general purposes. The other interesting engineering feat with this switch is that they made the on/off switch an "on at release" button. The light doesn't come on until the circuit is closed when the button is released. That means bumping the button won't ND the light. Smart.




This one I added just to show my carbine without the magnifier. I can't he'p it, I'm a dork.

The chest rig, the UW Chest Rig Gen III from Mayflower R&C wasn't a Christmas present, but it was a gift from my friend Travis, who happens to own and run Mayflower. It's a feather; the body of the harness is 500 D Cordura, while the lid flaps are 300 D. Travis has a ton of experience in using gear in the real world, as well as a very creative and analytical mind. His gear is among the best available anywhere, at any price. That his stuff is so reasonably priced is a bonus!

The Safariland 6004/6005 holsters have been a staple of the tactical holster line for a really, really long time, and still are. However, with the introduction of the MLS line of modular components, the platform was revolutionized. The trend in the past couple years has been to take a Dremel tool to the two-strap shroud and shorten it. Safariland noticed, and started making one of their own. Then they added the MLS locking plate to it, and a modular drop leg was born. However, that wasn't good enough, so the DFA was born. Lotta borning going on over there at Safariland. Basically, they got rid of the old belt loop and put a flexible polymer belt attachment in it's place. The advantage is that once it's in place on the belt, it doesn't move. You can't adjust the thing without creating slack in the belt, i.e. taking it off. It locks on. I put it on my inch and 3/4 Bianchi Accumold gun belt, specifically because it's a rather slim belt. Works like a champ. Currently, it's got my Duty ALS holster for the Glock 17 with light. Now all I gotta get is an ALS holster for my MnP with light on an ATS War Belt, and that'll be my training rig. To quote the Bard, Eric Cartman: "Schweeeeet".

The reason the MLS parts are Flat Dark Earth rather than foliage green is that the FG parts that came with the DFA were really, really tight. I had a spare MLS kit, so I slapped it on there. The seem to be two slightly different types of plastic, but I have no idea if that's true or if it just seems that way. It's probably just a lot-to-lot variance of some sort. For whatever reason, it fit a whole lot easier, so I just left it. If nothing else, it makes it easier to see the photos.




And, just because I know both readers of my blog are curious about the gun in that holster, I give you this:

Its got a Wolff competition spring kit in it, Warren Sevigny competition sights, and a grip texturing job by my friend James. He gripitated the frame, and rounded and textured the trigger guard. The light was a gift from my home boy Matt, who has one of the coolest jobs in the world.

What can I say? Sometimes my job doesn't suck. lol!