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“You are hard to buy for” is what I hear at Christmas. My family struggles with gift ideas because when I find something that meets my needs I buy it. Seven years ago, these Christmas Gift Guides were created to assist our readers with gift ideas for their friends or to give to their loved one as gift suggestions. The following items are things I either already own and use or have tested personally. I would readily welcome any of these in my stocking this Christmas.
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Get That Gas Out of My Face
With firearms suppressor wait times at an all-time low, many people are buying their first suppressor. First-time suppressor owners are learning that with few exceptions, suppressors cause significant back pressure in a gas gun, resulting in gas in the face. This unpleasant and likely unhealthy phenomenon is a reality, but it can be tamed with an adjustable gas block (AGB). Having shot suppressed for 15 years, I’ve used about every type of AGB out there. I now have a new favorite. While there have been many innovations in AGBs, few can boast the design advances of the RIFLESPEED Gas Control System.
RIFLESPEED Gas Control System
To give credit where it is deserved, I stumbled on the RIFLESPEED AGB while watching the Silencer Syndicate YouTube channel as I researched the PTR Vent suppressor. Rob Orgel at Silencer Syndicate uses a RIFLESPEED AGB during suppressor evaluations to measure the relative back pressure between different suppressors. This is a clever way to do so, and it led me to RIFLESPEED in any case.
The RIFLESPEED Gas Control System has two US patents awarded and others pending. The reason I like the design so much is it is easy to adjust gas with no tools. The settings are numbered, and you can’t accidentally disassemble the AGB by turning it too far one way. With 12 settings there are plenty of gassing options for any suppressor out there, and you can buy a different length plunger if the standard length doesn’t meet your needs.
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Several models are available, with varying adjustment knob lengths and barrel diameters. At $199 for most models, the RIFLESPEED AGB is expensive, but it’s not that much more than other high-quality AGBs. It is a better design. There are no small springs or screws to get carboned up or lost. The toolless adjustment is reliable and durable. I bought one and put it on a suppressed 6mm ARC build, and it tamed that gassy beast very nicely.
5.11 Tactical
Once again, several items from 5.11 Tactical have made my suggested gift list. This is because I use 5.11 stuff nearly every day. 5.11 Tactical backpacks, pouches, and boots are a core part of my gear. This year 5.11 has released some highly engineered tactical pants and shirts, insulated boots and casual sneakers, and some hot weather shirts that are all worthy of gift consideration.
5.11 XTU Multicam Pants
Need a padded pant for 3 gun matches, paintballing, or just plain LARPing? The 5.11 Tactical XTU Pant will not let you down. 5.11 sought input from top-tier teams from all over the world to develop the XTU line of tactical wear. These are serious pants. The most notable feature is the knee padding. In total, there are three layers of padding: a thin pad sewn into the pants, a removable soft internal articulating pad, and a harder removable external pad.
This makes taking a knee or skidding into a barricade a painless affair, and you can remove what you don’t want to use for a given situation. The pants have internal vertical adjustments for a more exact fit, and hook and loop straps behind the knee for keeping things tight. Some Ortholite foam is also sewn into the back waistband for more comfort. Zippered rear and thigh pockets offer plenty of capacity, and the mag pocket inside the thigh pocket gives additional storage options.
The thigh pockets also have a zippered vent with mesh fabric for cooling when doing work. The front slash pockets are reinforced where you would normally clip a folding knife. The No Melt No Drip stretch fabric comes in authentic MultiCam print, and the legs have blousing straps. Waist sizes range from 28-44 and lengths run 30-36. The $225 price tag might bring tears to your eyes, but at least you won’t Cry-e.
5.11 XTU Multicam Rapid Shirt
The XTU Multicam Rapid Shirt matches the XTU pants. The shoulders and sleeves are made of 58 percent cotton and 39 percent nylon Cordura® with an elastane ripstop, and the body features a 60/40 cotton/Nylon 66 Cordura® jersey. This shirt is made like something you would wear under body armor, but it’s highly functional without wearing plates. The knit fabric is soft to the touch and has a sweat-wicking, odor-destroying finish. The underarm gussets, flat-lock seams, and adjustable cuffs make this shirt very comfortable. There are sleeve pockets and loop patches on both arms. Both the XTU shirt and the XTU pants are high-quality gear. Small – 3XL. $165
5.11 Footwear
5.11 Tactical is releasing several kinds of footwear this year. I’ll mention two of the more interesting models here. I use many types of 5.11 boots at the range, in the field, and kicking around town. I find them comfortable when I put them on for the first time and well into the 11th hour of a hunt. The A.T.A.C. 2.0 8 inch insulated boot is right on the money. As soon as I put these on, I knew they made the team. The boot has an “Ortholite Dual Density O-Therm Insole and Strobel”, which is engineering/marketing speak for “these feel really good right away”.
They have a waterproof membrane and 400 g of insulation. 5.11 uninsulated boots are great, so 5.11 offering these in a colder weather version is good to see. The slip and oil-resistant rubber sole has an aggressive tread for sure footedness in uneven terrain. A side zipper gives you a head start to loosen them up if you have to get them off in a hurry. A full-grain leather toe and 840D nylon upper protect your feet from rocks and poky things. $190 in black.
The 5.11 Foley Low is a great option for low-key sneakers that don’t scream “My favorite basketball team is …” They are comfortable and simple. The Foley Low fits in at the range, the office, or the bar. $80 in Navy/Gum or triple black.
5.11 Sigurd Shirts
5.11 Sigurd shirts are great options for hot weather 3 gun competitions, running a training course, or just drilling at the range. Made from 78% nylon/ 22% elastane warp knit mesh with Cryo-Tac™ properties, the Sigurd shirts are lightweight with a moisture-wicking and anti-odor finish. The flat seams and side panels add to the comfort. While the rugby-style collar may look like something right out of Star Trek (the OG version with William Shatner), it gives some functional extra sun protection and can be flipped down when not needed. Loop patches on the shoulders provide options for morale or organization patches. 5.11 Sigurd Long sleeve is available in XS-4XL in black, grey, navy, and Ranger green for $65. Short sleeve is $60 and adds a red option.
Seekins Precision HIT Riflescope Mount
When the Seekins Precision HIT scope mount debuted a couple years ago at SHOT Show, it caused quite a stir with the sub-MOA return-to-zero claim. Matty Nelson of Seekins said they had removed the scope and remounted the scope for a 700 round accuracy test and never shot over a half an inch at 100 yards. To begin with, precision riflescope mounts are the foundation of Seekins Precision. Though today they make precision rifles, precision gas guns, great handguards, and more, riflescope rings are what the company is founded on.
The patented S-lock is the key to the HIT one-piece scope mount’s repeatability. It is a wedge halfway between the two clamping surfaces of the mount that engages the gap in a picatinny rail. This makes for a very robust and consistent mount. At $299 it is not inexpensive, but the advantage is you can have one expensive scope that you can swap between rifles.
Rangers Lead The Way
For anyone over the age of 18, mentioning September 11 brings a very specific set of shared memories. Of course, on that day in 2001, the United States was attacked on our soil, the Twin Towers fell, and we began 20 years of war in the desert. For United States Army Rangers, there is another memory, related to 11 September. On that day in 1984, retired Lieutenant General David E. Grange, Jr. left this world. His legacy, his story, and the grueling Best Ranger Competition founded in his honor live on to this day.
Legendary Ranger
Rangers are no ordinary soldiers, and Grange was no ordinary Ranger. He served in three wars (World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War), had combat parachute jumps in two wars, was a Ranger instructor, and was an inaugural member of the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. After serving in World War II, he chose military service as his career. In a speech in 2016 he reflected on that choice, “When the war was over, I wanted to stay in the Army. I wanted to stay with those kinds of people because they were such wonderful folks to be around.” The list of his awards and decorations is as lengthy as it is impressive: Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and on and on. It must have been something to be around him.
Beyond the Grave
“We die three times. First, when we breathe our last breath. Second, when our loved ones bury us. Third, when our name is said for the last time.” This quote, or a version of it, is most often attributed to David Eagleman. In this way, David E. Grange, Jr. lives on to this day. In 1982, Grange’s close friend Dick Leandri founded the U.S. Army Best Ranger Competition in Grange’s honor. This grueling test of stamina, strength, skill, and grit has been conducted annually ever since (except in 1991 due to Desert Storm, 2003 due to the Global War on Terror, and 2020 due to the Chinese virus).
The Best Ranger Competition
Originally the competition was an individual event. Today, two-man teams compete over three days to see who is the best Ranger team. Obstacle courses, long rucks, night orienteering, and other challenges are included. There is some great video of the event here. Below are some fun facts from the 2023 competition:
- 56 teams from 29 units from across the Army
- 32 events in which competitors move over 60 miles, 30 with 50 or more pounds added
- 3 days (58 hours) of physical, technical, and cognitive activity with only about four hours of rest
- 30,000 to 35,000 calories expended on average
- 18 tactical tasks
- 4 helicopter missions – three troop movements and one medical hoist
Though I have never served in the military, I have met many active and retired military men and women through my writing. Rangers are some of the most impressive men I have ever met, period. When you research what it means to become part of the Ranger Regiment, or even become Ranger qualified, it is stunning. Respect builds further when you read about the things Rangers have accomplished in battle (just the things we know about). Think then about competing to be the best Ranger. Take a look at the photos of the past winners here. This is the top of the top of the top. Those who compete in this trial by fire are elite. Those who win are exceptional. What a great way to honor legendary Ranger Lieutenant General David E. Grange, Jr.!
Best Ranger Celtic Shield
At the end of the Best Ranger competition, in addition to an extremely elite title, the winners receive special prizes that include custom pistols and engraved wallets. Since about 2017 the wallets have been donated by Celtic Shield, a company owned and operated by a service-disabled veteran. Celtic Shield makes these RFID-shielded metal wallets and engraves them with a Best Ranger David E. Grange, Jr. logo. The company also makes RFID proof passport holders that I wrote about here.
READ MORE: Father’s Day Gift Guide
You too can own a wallet like those carried by elite Rangers. I have two of these wallets, one I have used for well over five years and one I recently purchased. I bought one for each of my immediate family members as well. They are great for a front pocket carry and easily hold credit cards, driver’s license, etc. (mine has five cards in it now). You can put a few bills in with your cards, or you can opt for a version with a money clip on the outside. Challenge coin slots are available as well if you so desire. Celtic Shield can custom engrave your wallets for special occasions, awards, etc. The craftsmanship on these wallets is well worth the $98 price. They are available at Celtic Shield.
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