QUARTERMASTER FEATURING GUNS ALL-STARS! Safety, Security & tranSport hide ’eM, Move ’eM, KeeP ’eM sAfe! S John Connor Wiley X “VALOR” glasses provide comfort, ballistic protection and distortion-free viewing. afety and security just ain’t as much fun or intrinsically interesting as guns and shooting, so most folks don’t pay as much attention to it. However, if you want to go on shooting—with both eyes, working ears, a full complement of fingers and guns to do it with—well, you might wanta check out these products I’ve rooted out for you. Let’s go from light to heavy to power-tools-required, OK? Among their current contributions to the shooting sports is the GunSportI’m an admitted fanatic about PRO GSP-15 hearing protection kit. quality eye protection, and by “qual- The in-ear inserts have two selectable ity” I mean ballistic ratings, which modes. One allows a natural hearmeet or exceed ANSI and military ing level and gunshot blast protection specifications, comfortable yet secure when background noise is absent, autoframes, and sharp, shatterproof, matically and gradually increasing in distortion-free lenses with great resis- suppression as loud continuous noise tance to scratches and abrasion. If from vehicles, machinery or repeated they have changeable nearby gunfire occurs. lenses, they’ve got to With the flip of a switch, be quick and easy to ambient sound is amplified swap out, and stay put up to 5X, with gunshots despite rough handling suppressed to a Noise and violent action. I’ve Reduction Rating of 25dB. been using the Wiley X The GSP-15 kit VALOR 3-lens set for contains a protective case, months now, on the one pair of high-definirange and off, and I tion electronic earplugs, give ’em 5 stars. an assortment of differThe set designated ent ACCU-fit eartips in CHVAL06 includes varying sizes and shapes, smoke-grey lenses for a filter tool and ACCUsun, light rust for sharp filters, cleaning tool, No. definition in pre-dawn 312 zinc batteries, a neck and twilight, and clear GunSport-PRO in-the-ear elec- cord and user’s manual. It lenses with glare reduc- tronic earplugs offer protection retails for $499. See more gunshots and amplification tion. A detachable from details and options on of ambient sound in a complete leash, cleaning cloth package. their website. and a partitioned, If you want low-profile zippered case complete hearing protection withthe package, with a out batteries to die or elecretail of $95. tronics to fry, check out If any company EarPro EP4 Plus Sonic could be expected to Defenders by SureFire. produce superior hearThey’ve been refining and ing protection, it would improving the design for be the inventors of years. I use them and can “insert earphones,” tell you they’re comfortpioneers in auditory and able for prolonged wear, acoustic technology— and so well ergonomiand they have done cally shaped they stay put that. Etymotic Research Inc. (etymotic through any activity. With their little means “true to the ear”) has been a top filter caps open, you can hear normal research, development and manufac- conversations while gunshots are turing company in a field you might reduced to below damaging levels. If call “sound management” for 30 years. hearing ambient sound isn’t critical, EarPro 4 Plus hearing protection from SureFire delivers surprising performance without batteries. EyES, EARS & MUzzLES or if background noise is too high, just push the filter caps on for a full 24dB of noise reduction and suppression of gunshots. One pair, with detachable lanyard, lists for $14.95, and they’ll last me for five to six months of frequent use. A good muzzle cover can protect against crown damage and possibly lethal accidental bore obstructions, as well as just keeping your barrel dust-free and dry. There are lots of cheap plastic muzzle caps made to fit carbines with mil-spec flash suppressors available, but to my knowledge, Bore Tex is the only outfit offering durable, long-lasting, properly fitting muzzle covers for a wide array of rifles and shotguns. Bore Tex caps are made from a specialized flexible PVC, with a smooth inner surface and matte textured outer surface, with an integrated grab tag so you can yank ’em off in an instant. But if you forget or you’ve got a 1-second window for the shot of a lifetime, you can shoot right through them Durable, affordable Bore Tex muzzle protectors guard against all kinds of hazards, including accidentally plugged barrels. 76 W W W. G U N S M AG A Z I N E . C O M • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 3
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