By R.K. Bob Campbell | Contributing Editor
Every so often we see a feature on an individual’s loadout. This is the handgun, ammunition, holster, spare magazines, and load bearing devices the shooter deploys.
Mine is more complex than needed, I admit , but then by avocation and profession I test a lot of guns. My primary focus isn’t to impress but to be certain that I am using reliable gear. This means service grade.
Anyone who has served in an institutional environment has seen gear fail. The best handguns will misfeed, break parts, lose an extractor, crack frames, and even burst a barrel. As long as men and women make the parts they are subject to failure.
Handguns today are the most reliable ever manufactured. But just the same, incidents occur. Imagine the problems you will bring upon yourself if you choose second- or third-rate gear. That said, I took a hard look at some of the gear I deploy, took in the whole picture and determined if I was getting the best gear for the money.
Ammunition is a deep subject we will cover elsewhere. Suffice to say I don’t choose ammunition based solely on terminal ballistics. A clean powder burn minimal muzzle flash and absolute reliability of function count for the most. Service grade holsters much be chosen, gear with a good balance of retention and speed. There is room for individual choice in holsters. But then we have a other areas of concern the modern shooter must face. These are the combat light and carry optics.
The New Budget
In this era we are looking at expenses on top of the handgun. These include a carry optic and a combat light. It reminds me of the time when a factory 1911 was purchased and then sent to a gunsmith for good sights and a trigger job. This is no longer necessary as there are superb factory 1911 handguns available. But they are very expensive. T
Today the baseline for defense is the Glock 9mm. If you pay less than the Glock for a similar handgun then you may be certain that something has been cut somewhere. It may be the sights, fitting, components, or grip inserts, but somewhere corners have been cut. By the same token if you purchase a striker fired polymer frame handgun that costs more than the Glock be certain to do a realistic assessment of what you are getting for your money. Sometimes it isn’t as much as you would think. But the gun that cost a hundred dollars less than the Glock is worth less than that.
Even among Glock handguns there are different choices. (If you choose a CZ P10, Smith & Wesson Military & Police, Springfield Echelon or Shadow Systems MR920 no gripe from me. I am using Glock as an example.) The Glock 19 Generation 5 has an average price of $640. The pistol is supplied with four MOS plates and three magazines. For $689 the Glock 19X MOS also comes with MOS plates, grip inserts, three magazines, and a hard case. But this is a Lipsey’s edition with FDE finish a threaded barrel and night sights. So, do you need to spend the extra $149? If you like the larger grip and need a threaded barrel sure. Night sights? Yes I like them very much. But if you are going to use a carry optic perhaps the night sights are not a necessary expense. Carry optics cancel out any advantage of a long sight radius. Carry optics provide the same sight picture in a short slide pistol.
If choosing any other handgun also consider the price of spare magazines. Glock magazines are plentiful and affordable some competitors are not. A handgun that isn’t supplied with optics plates and demands the user purchase plates at fifty to ninety dollars each isn’t economical.
Carry Optics
I looked at carry optics I deploy on personal Glock handguns. These include two Holosun sights. One is the 407 at $199.99 and the other is the 509T at $429.99. The less expensive sight cuts off at a set period of inactivity and features shake awake; it turns on from movement.
There is a single reticle. (There are several variations on the theme, both compact and full size 407 sights.) The 407 offers good adjustment. Is it as durable as the more expensive 509T? The 407 is as reliable as any Holosun and that is very good. With the 509T you get an enclosed emitter optic. That is a big step in durability and an outer cover that protects the LED. Plus- the 509T body is titanium not aluminum.
The 509T offers three different reticle options. You may set the sight for a dot, a circle, or a dot in a circle, and either red or green reticle. The 509T features a solar failsafe panel that charges the battery in direct sunlight. There is a lot of technology offered there. You get what you pay for, and you may also do a great job with the 407. It depends on what degree of technology you are comfortable with. In common with the Glock 19 the less expensive optic is reliable- and the 509T and Glock 19X are also reliable but each has more features.
There are carry optics on both ends of the price spectrum I have enjoyed using. The TruGlo Nexus red dot sight has served on a half dozen test guns. I obtained it as an inexpensive carry optic suitable for use in testing firearms. This sight offers an RMR direct mount system. There are ten brightness settings, shake awake features, and a 3 MOA red dot. This carry optic features an IPX 7 water rating which is a meter of water for thirty minutes. Price is $202.99. It is a useful sight per my testing.
Then at another end of the scale we have the Steiner MPS. This is a modern enclosed emitter optic with a body resembling a carapace. This sight features eight brightness settings plus two more for night vision. The sight’s unique 3.3 MOA red dot is a good choice for a mix of speed and precision. The MPS cost $549.99 average. Worth the money? Only the end user may answer that but if you are immersed in soupy mud nothing will invade the sights interior. A brush of the thumb clears the sight’s lens. (As I finished this report Steiner introduced a compact version.)
At this point we are taking the time to consider what features we need, we want, and must have.
For many years I faced the not so sane in a hostile environment. This isn’t the threat you wish to face with poor training – the type of training you hated nine of every ten minutes of—and poor equipment. You must earmark a certain amount of funds to your carry gear.
The main priority is the handgun. The budget must be set. We all have budgets, some larger, some smaller. If the budget is $1,100 dollars, the Glock 19 9mm will take half of that. Do you have room left in the piggy bank for a quality red dot sight? And a combat light? You may always buy the gear incrementally the handgun first. Keep in mind if you purchase a combat light the holster must be light ready and it will be molded for a specific combination.
As an example if you choose the Streamlight TRL8 your holster options are more limited as many makers do not cover the TRL8 but do cover the TRL 7. The gun and holster combination are important- and think ahead on the holster- and realize that some light ready holsters don’t properly retain a handgun that doesn’t have the light mounted. The holster must be optics ready. While I recognize the advantage in speed and accuracy with a carry optic, be certain you will be able to afford to train and master the carry optic. It is a steeper learning curve for some than others. If you purchase an MOS Glock or Glock Generation 6 you have most options covered. If you choose an ACRO footprint such as the Aimpoint or Hologun 509T then you will spend a minimum of sixty dollars for a mounting plate. If you purchase a CZ P10C which is often sold for less than a Glock, you will have to add an optics plate- which eliminates the price advantage. Much the same goes for Walther and HK handguns. Some magazines are pricier than others. Look at the whole picture and make a list- even a spread sheet.
In combat lights there are several choices. The Inforce, at $173.67, is an optic many shooters praise. This light offers rugged construction. The gold standard among professionals is the Streamlight TRL7 at $185.49. A strong point is secure and versatile mounting. This light runs 500 lumens for 1.5 hours. This Multi fuel light runs on a 2032 battery or a rechargeable battery pack.
Streamlight TRL8 at $269.99 offers a laser sight option. Set the TRL8 for light or laser only or a combination. This light features a safe off feature. I like this light, however, I am not certain the option of the laser is worth the expense. Be certain to consider holster availability as the TRL8 is larger than the TRL7 and demands a different holster cut.
Then we have the TruGlo SiteLine at 100 lumens and $69.99. Now, a 1000 lumen light is difficult to gauge as brighter than a 500 lumen light but the 100 lumen light isn’t that bright- but in darkness it illuminates the threat. To a degree- It will not illuminate the rear deck or complete attic. If illumination isn’t very important to you this is a place to scrimp. Be certain you understand the attachment of the TruGlo light. It isn’t for warfighting but will serve in some types of duty.
The Conclusion
So how much must be spent on the load out?
If we purchase the Glock 19 handgun Holosun 407 carry optic and Inforce Wild 2 light we have spent $915.00. That is reasonable for service grade gear. If we purchase the Glock 19X, Holsun 509T, and Streamlight TRL8, we have spent closer to $1390. That is significant. You may find two cases of 9mm ammunition for that difference or at the least purchase a quality concealed carry holster, magazine carrier, spare magazines and some duty ammunition.
It is all about priority. The handgun is the most important purchase. No question there. A carry optic allows the shooter to be all they can be. Problems such as astigmatism and cross eye dominance are cancelled out by the red dot and a trained shooter. It is all about features more than bling. Consider the likely expense in totality before you begin. Choose basic service grade gear with a good reputation and search out the best prices from legitimate outlets. In the end- the handgun may be fitted with upgraded gear later. The handgun is the most important part of the loadout.
Don’t forget to proof the guns
An agency using the .40-caliber pistol suffered several malfunctions in training. I have never experienced such a short cycle but the problem came when the pistol was fired with a weapon mounted light. I have fired thousands of rounds in 9mm Glock pistols with combat light without any type of failure. Just the same, proof the combination! When Vortex designed the new Defender enclosed emitter red dot sight testing was rigorous. The Defender is affordable but runs and runs without any type of problem. This carry optic was extensively tested, but just the same, no matter what you mount on the gun conduct a firing test.
