511 / Blade-tech:Training Pistol Barrel - Sig 226
This is a straight forward item that assists in training safety and identification. To install ones just breaks their gun down and replaces their real barrel with this one. No tools or wacky techniques are required further than what your weapon already required. Once in, there is no way for bullets to be chambered so the weapon is completely safe even with live magazines inserted. When in normal slide forward mode, the training barrel can easily be seen with all of its bright yellow glory in the ejection port area and muzzle end. Alternatively, when the slide is back, more of the barrel is visible while the ejection port yellow can only be seen from the rear. Personally I like to use the training barrel when I am doing dry fire exercises off and on throughout a day. I can pick up the weapon and immediately manipulate it in confidence since the yellow is easily visible. Otherwise one has to blow a little time double checking to make sure no rounds are in the chamber and no loaded magazines are inserted before "playing" with their gun. The usefulness applies in groups as well for displaying the safe status to others when on the range or during training.
The only downside is one cannot practice racking their pistol as if it had a minor malfunction in a real situation. The normal functionality with ammunition in the magazine would be for the weapon to automatically release the slide after a rack since ammo is still left in the magazine. With the training barrel, the slide will release after a rack if ammo is in the magazine, but since the bullet has no where to go, it will just be smashed between the slide and hole-less training barrel. Other than that, this product is simple while accomplishing its design goal well. It is a cheap way to turn the pistol you already have into a training weapon rather than having to buy a more expensive and totally separate dummy training pistol. As you may have guessed this product is not one size fits all, but luckily it is currently available in many pistol models used by MIL / LE.
<www.511tactical.com>
Lula M16 / AR 15 loader and unloader
Since I was so happy with the MagLula, I had to try out the Lula. Rifle magazines are generally easier than pistol magazines to deal with, but the Lula makes then even easier. The way it works is you place the Lula on top of the mag with big opening towards the business end of the bullets. The lula will snap onto the mag catch for a solid connection. Now when moving the lever back and forth this will cycle between pushing bullets down on the right and left side of the mag. When pushed down this allows space for a round to be inserted. So when reloading: one angles the mag back for gravity assistance, puts in a round, cycles the lever, and repeats till full. This isn't super fast, but is noticably faster than by hand and will keep the wear off your hands while protecting your feed lips on your mag. For unloading the Lula really shines. It may take a little fidgiting to figure out which way the lever needs to be to get started, but once going the bullets fall out as fast and one can move the lever. Just point the mag top down and go at it. The lever can be pushed down into the body for smaller stowage size and a keyring is standard on the back for an attachment point. The M16 / AR 15 version works on many NATO variants such as you can see on my pics, it fits great on Magpul PMags. Do note this model does not work on HK high reliability mags or SA-80 magazines, but a version is in development. For other weapons many Lula versions are availble as well such as for AKs, MP5s, Uzis, M14s, and more. Well worth the price, check out the site links for more intel.
<LULA DEMO>
<www.maglula.com>
Maglula UpLULA pistol loader
I picked one of these up at shotshow and I'm hooked on it. Call me a wuss, but if you ask me when you go to the range you are there to shoot and not load! The UpLULA has been working great for my SIG-P226 9mm, but the crazy thing is it can work on .45, .40, 10mm, .357, and 9mm caliber rounds and magazines; both single and double stack mags. The wedge design guides whichever mag you are using into the right place and then the inward metal bar holds down the bullets to allow easy insertion of your next round. At first it can be a little awkward to get the right motions down, but after about 5 magazines of practice you should be solid and will only get faster from there. Some notes that you probably won't notice on the video is that you do need a surface to push down on to operate the UpLULA with one hand and insert bullets with the other. A little push tab on the upper side allows the UpLULA to be locked in the collapsed position to take up minimal space during storage. A keyring is also included at the bottom for mounting and attachment options. I highly recommend the UpLULA saving me time and sore thumbs. Check out the shotshow vid to see it in action:
<MAGLULA DEMO>
<www.maglula.com>
Magpul M93 Modular Stock
