I don't know much about the folks at ppdbillet.com but they produce really slick contoured CZ magazine base plates that turn the base of your CZ 75 from this:
To this:
A tip of Average Joe's hat to ppdbillet.com.
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Contoured Stainless Base Plates for CZ 75 Pistols
I don't know much about the folks at ppdbillet.com but they produce really slick contoured CZ magazine base plates that turn the base of your CZ 75 from this:
To this:
A tip of Average Joe's hat to ppdbillet.com.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Open Letter to Governor Dayton of Minnesota
Governor Dayton,
I am writing to urge you to sign HF 1467 into law. I realize that gun rights can be an emotional and polarizing issue but I ask you to recognize, as governor of this wonderful state, that an overwhelming majority of your constituents favor this bill. This is clearly evidenced by the number of Senators and Representatives who listened to the citizens within their districts and voted in accordance with the people whom they represent.
While some may draw away from the provision that would increase mutual reciprocity in recognizing the concealed carry permits of other states I would remind them that the rights afforded under the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution do not end at any state's boundary. Additionally I would posit that the concealed carry holders from other states with current reciprocity have not contributed to violent crime in Minnesota. Those who apply for the permit, pass the background check, pass the mandated concealed classes and obtain their permit, regardless of the state from which they are issued, are law abiding by nature and not people from whom the residents of Minnesota need to be protected.
Similarly the Emergency Powers reform is also a common sense provision of this legislation to protect Minnesotans from those who seek to limit 2nd Amendment rights in the event of a crisis. In the event that a civil tragedy befell Minnesota causing disruptions in the normal infrastructure, including communication and police services, this is not the time to leave the law abiding citizens at a loss to protect themselves from those who would take advantage of the situation.
Governor, thank you for your time and consideration of this important piece of legislation.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Versa Carry Generation II
On August 17 of last year I reviewed the Versa-Carry holster system and gave it a big thumbs up. I loved the minimalist design which promoted an easy and comfortable way to carry a concealed handgun inside your waist band which is why I chose to photograph the Versa Carry with the Colt New Agent.
This is the complete marriage between a minimalist pistol (you can't get any more minimalist than no sights) with a minimalist holster system. At that time I mentioned that they would be coming out with their Generation II model around October. Well shortly after my shoulder surgery last October a small package (good things come in small packages you know) arrived from the good people at Versa Carry. It was their new Generation II holster. Fortunately for me their holster system is completely ambidextrous since the surgery left me only able to use my left hand.
The Gen II models have replaced the Gen I models and this is fine with me as the evolution from the original to its sequel would make the predecessor obsolete. One of the most noticeable refinements are the different colored barrel retention rods which delineate the different calibers for which the holsters are designed.
Orange means .25 ACP
Blue is for the .32 ACP
Yellow equals .380 ACP or 9mm
Red stands for .40 S&W
White represents the color for the .45 ACP
I would imagine that quite a few owner's of the Versa Carry system purchased several different holsters for their various handguns but had a hard time telling them apart since they were all black with a white retention rod.
The next enhancement is for safety and it is a rounded insert that covers the trigger guard. The photo above and below shows the trigger guard in place on a SIG P238 and a Diamondback .380 ACP. The system in that photo shows a two-tone white and black holster which is done for the purposes of highlighting how the new trigger guard interfaces with the holster. The production models are all black.
The purpose of the trigger guard is to keep your finger off the trigger as you are inserting the unit into your waist band. The way to put this system on is to first put the pistol all the way into the holster so that the barrel is completely covering the retention rod and then insert the holster and pistol down, inside your waist band, slipping the clip over your belt. With the trigger guard in place you simply cannot get your finger on the trigger which will greatly prevent a negligent discharge while putting the holstered pistol in place.
The use of the trigger guard is optional. If you want to put it to use just slip it into the tight dovetail channel on the inside of the holster clip. It snaps very positively in place via a post on the inside of the dovetail channel and marries up to a corresponding notch in the trigger guard. If you don't wish to use the trigger guard the holster comes with two spacers that slip into the dovetailed channels.
On of the other things I noticed about this General II model; everything is tight. The trigger guard fits tightly into the inside of the holster, the retention rod fits tighter into the barrel and the clip grips your belt very tightly. In other words your pistol is going no where until you decide to remove it from the holster.
The pistol is comfortable, secure and at $19.99 they are very affordable. You can find them at http://versacarry.com/
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Console Vault Vehicle Safe--UPDATED 12/02/2011 with CV Coupon Code
I had intended to write a couple of articles about my ongoing intent to polish my left-handed shooting technique but an item has come to my attention that must be written about right away as it is the perfect gift for the concealed carry permit holder and it is the Console Vault.
Since writing this post on Sunday I have had the opportunity to correspond with Tom Duengel, the founder and president of Console Vault. I was surprised to find out that this company has been in business for 11 years. Perhaps the reason that the Average Joe is not familiar with them is because a large chunk of Console Vault's business is done with federal agencies such as the FBI, Border Patrol, and the U.S. Marshals as well as many state, county, and municipal police departments.
Tom explained to me that he began to focus on the consumer market after reading a government report which indicated that half of all guns stolen in the U.S. are stolen from the owner's vehicles and he knew his company could provide gun owners with a safe and secure way to store a weapon in their car or truck. They pride themselves in customizing their vaults specifically for the individual vehicle and designing mounting points so that the vault is securely attached to the vehicle's sub frame. Tom also explained that they build their products to tolerances equivalent to aerospace industry standards. I can certainly attest to the fit of the moving parts in the vault and it's exact fit into the Dodge Ram's console. Even without mounting it to the sub frame its fit in the console was so exact that you would have a difficult time removing it.
When I first took my console vault out of the box I wondered why they did not use electronic key pads with digital readout screens like the one on my big floor safe. Tom explained that they ruled out the use of any locking devices that were powered by either the vehicle's battery or a self contained battery pack. As Tom put that in perspective for me I realized that having mechanical locks eliminated the risk of the vault not opening due to a drained battery. Murphy's law always strikes at the worst time and I could envision a scenario when the vault would not open when I needed to access my firearm leaving me to wonder "when was the last time I changed the batteries in the vault".
Lastly Tom mentioned that they are always designing new covert products like their line of wall safes for the home or office. He further told me that they love to hear from their consumers about any design enhancements they would like to see or ideas for new products. Console Vault is also interested in hearing from Average Joe's readers. So much so that they are giving us a $10 discount off the price of any Console Vault product. All you have to do is enter the code AVGJOE10 in the coupon code box on the checkout screen or, if you are ordering via the telephone (800-878-1369) you can just mention the code and the operator will make sure you get $10 off the product of your choice. Couple the $10 discount with the free shipping that Console Vault is offering during the month of December and you have a pretty sweet deal on a pretty great product.
Everyone who carries a concealed weapon, outside of law enforcement officers, has encountered a situation where they were carrying their handgun and had to go to a location which was exempted from their local concealed carry statutes such as a school or government building and many of you live in states where your employer can bar you from carrying your weapon at work but cannot restrict you from leaving it in your vehicle. There are also those, whom I don't quite understand, that have a concealed carry permit but prefer to keep it stashed in their car rather than on their person. Well, the console vault (www.consolevault.com 800-878-1369) is the answer to our collective needs.
I am not a believer in locking my pistol in the glove box or stashing it in the unlocked console. Similarly I do not want to be seen putting it in the trunk and advertising for any observers (casual or otherwise) that it is there. There are too many risks involved here as someone could break into the trunk or car and steal the pistol. Additionally, I have teenage drivers at home. If I forget to remove the pistol from the glove compartment or console I run the risk that they will find it and while my teens have been well trained in the safe handling of firearms and know to leave it alone I cannot vouch for everyone of their friends who might be the person in the car that discovers the handgun.
Well, the good people at Console Vault have us covered. The console vault is a heavy duty, professional security vault that fits into the console of most trucks and SUVs. It is not something that you are going to find in your big box discount store and it is not neither cheap in materials and manufacture nor in price. Premium security never is and premium security plus peace of mind is what the console vault delivers. The Console Vault is made of heavy duty 12 gauge cold rolled plate steel with bank vault style hinged lock pins and drill resistant locks. The vault comes with either a high security barrel key lock or a key-less combination lock. They are also proudly made in the USA.
The vaults are custom designed and fitted to the individual vehicle make and model and have a very exact fit into the console. It fits snugly into the console and has two mounting holes and long steel screws that affix it very securely to the console's bolts.
The mounting holes can be seen in the top right and left hand corner of the above photograph of the bottom of the vault.
Bolt holes as seen from the interior of the vault. Between the tight fit of the vault in the console coupled with the mounting bolts you can feel safe that no one is going to be able to easily snatch the vault out of your vehicle.
I opted for the vault with the key-less combination lock. Once you have input the proper three digit number you merely twist the combination lock itself to clear the locking bolts. The spring assisted door then easily opens to reveal your handgun or any other valuable you may be transporting.
The vault comes with a felt liner which is OK but I would add a piece of egg crate foam for more cushion and to reduce the amount of sliding that the pistol may do as you round corners or stop. If you're like me then you probably have several old pistol or long arm cases you are no longer using from which you can cut an appropriately sized piece of foam.
As you can see, there is plenty of room for a full-sized pistol (even though I am showing a compact model), holster, extra ammunition, tactical knife and flashlight.
Once the console lid is closed no one can tell that the console vault is inside.
I would urge you to check out their website to see if they have a console vault for your vehicle and to also look at their line-up of portable vaults and discrete wall safes. Their wall safes are ingenious, one of which is disguised as an electrical panel and the other has a magnetic cover which can be painted to match your wall making the safe fairly invisible.
The console vaults run about $269.00 which is not inexpensive but well worth the money for the quality of product that you are receiving. I consider this this an essential accessory for the responsible concealed carry owner. If you contact the people at Console Vault please mention that you were referred by Average Joe.
Since writing this post on Sunday I have had the opportunity to correspond with Tom Duengel, the founder and president of Console Vault. I was surprised to find out that this company has been in business for 11 years. Perhaps the reason that the Average Joe is not familiar with them is because a large chunk of Console Vault's business is done with federal agencies such as the FBI, Border Patrol, and the U.S. Marshals as well as many state, county, and municipal police departments.
Tom explained to me that he began to focus on the consumer market after reading a government report which indicated that half of all guns stolen in the U.S. are stolen from the owner's vehicles and he knew his company could provide gun owners with a safe and secure way to store a weapon in their car or truck. They pride themselves in customizing their vaults specifically for the individual vehicle and designing mounting points so that the vault is securely attached to the vehicle's sub frame. Tom also explained that they build their products to tolerances equivalent to aerospace industry standards. I can certainly attest to the fit of the moving parts in the vault and it's exact fit into the Dodge Ram's console. Even without mounting it to the sub frame its fit in the console was so exact that you would have a difficult time removing it.
When I first took my console vault out of the box I wondered why they did not use electronic key pads with digital readout screens like the one on my big floor safe. Tom explained that they ruled out the use of any locking devices that were powered by either the vehicle's battery or a self contained battery pack. As Tom put that in perspective for me I realized that having mechanical locks eliminated the risk of the vault not opening due to a drained battery. Murphy's law always strikes at the worst time and I could envision a scenario when the vault would not open when I needed to access my firearm leaving me to wonder "when was the last time I changed the batteries in the vault".
Lastly Tom mentioned that they are always designing new covert products like their line of wall safes for the home or office. He further told me that they love to hear from their consumers about any design enhancements they would like to see or ideas for new products. Console Vault is also interested in hearing from Average Joe's readers. So much so that they are giving us a $10 discount off the price of any Console Vault product. All you have to do is enter the code AVGJOE10 in the coupon code box on the checkout screen or, if you are ordering via the telephone (800-878-1369) you can just mention the code and the operator will make sure you get $10 off the product of your choice. Couple the $10 discount with the free shipping that Console Vault is offering during the month of December and you have a pretty sweet deal on a pretty great product.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Recuperating From Shoulder Surgery
I am currently recuperating from shoulder surgery and will be several weeks before there will be any new postings. In the meantime I invite you to read or re-read some of my favorite past postings about some of my favorite handguns or other topics.
A Gun Won't Solve All of Your Problems
The Importance of Training
Fun Six Guns and Fighting Six Guns
Smith & Wesson Model 15 Combat Masterpiece
A Good Revolver
Colt Model 1908 .380
SIG P220 Carry Elite
Browning High-Power
Taurus OSS
SIG P6
Smith & Wesson Competition Pistols
and
SIG P250
Walther PPK and PPKS
Nighthawk Ladyhawk
CZ 75 Polished Stainless
Taurus PT709
STI Rogue 9mm
Glock Model 36
Glock Model 38
SIG 1911 RCS
Kimber RCP
Glock Model 39
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