gear review

The Bering Optics Hogster Stimulus is no question fantastic for the dollar, if you are on a very limited budget. At $1599, you would be hard pressed to find something that will hang with it as far as capabilities go. But what if you have a little more in the tank? To answer that question, we took a look at the Stimulus side by side with Hogster R-35.

As I have returned to the Malaria swamp we call the Southeastern United States, I have also resurrected a classic boot to fuel adventures. It may be old, it may be far from stylish, but it should be on your radar if you live anywhere water is a way of life. I am talking about the classic green jungle boot. Tried and true, it still can’t be beaten for certain environments.

With the delivery of the G45 magnifiers starting in early 2021, EOTECH has been ramping up production to meet demand. People have been very interested in the benefits the G45 provides over the tried and true G33. First and foremost, the G45 comes in with 5X magnification whereas the G33 was only 3X, and I am a big fan.

If you are piecing together an AR15 upper you have most likely wondered what bolt carrier group or BCG you should go with. These days many manufactures are spitting out BCG’s each with its own set of pros and cons. Listing all of your required features will help narrow down the search to a handful of different BCGs. When I pieced out and built my 11.5” AR15, my requirements were that the BCG had to be affordable, full-auto rated, and TiN-coated was preferred. Enter the Brownells M16 Bolt Carrier Group with the Titanium Nitride coating.

The Vortex Spitfire Gen 2 HD is my new example for the reasons why prism optics rock. The Spitfire’s small size but capable magnification make it a perfect carbine optic. It’s no designated marksman’s optic, but for the typical carbine ranges, the Spitfire works and works well. The price point is affordable, and the optic is well suited for a variety of firearms.

I don’t shoot hogs from a blind here in Texas so I often find myself shooting from strange angles or on uneven terrain. Last year I did a review of the BogPod DeathGrip carbon fiber tripod and while it provided excellent stability…. its 7.5 pound weight made it cumbersome to pack up and carry across different pastures thru the night. I wanted to explore how much of a tradeoff I’m willing to make between stability and maneuverability.

That was one of the furthest shots I’ve even made with a thermal optic, at night, on a hog. My guide and fellow hunters were cheering my shot, and I certainly felt good about it. But I also knew the REAP-IR made the shot possible.

I love a good ground blind set for springtime toms. A semi-brushed-in hub-style blind paired with some realistic turkey fakes will create some solid in-your-face action. However, being cloaked in ninja gear huddled in a blind’s back corner while you work a bird with seductive hen talk isn’t the only way to skewer a spring longbeard.

I was more excited about the 22-C1 trigger for the 10/22 (and compatibles) than any other. Why? Because ammo is freaking expensive. Slinging lead is fun, but those 30-round .223 Rem. magazines add up quick. With the 22-C1, you can have the fun of super-fast semi-automatic fire without setting fire to your wallet. You may not win any wars with a 10/22, but it’s one of the best range toys I’ve ever had.