North American Arms Minis

21 03 2013

This post originally published on Ladies in Camo:  http://ladiesincamo.com/licpr/2013/03/20/north-american-arms-minis-diane/

Everyone is looking for the perfect concealed carry weapon these days.  Me included!  I had been carrying a semi-automatic pistol with laser sight, it should have been a good firearm for me, but it wasn’t.  I hated shooting it, and I would have been hard pressed to hit anything with it, let alone a person.  But last Fall I found the perfect carry weapon for me.  A friend of ours was visiting, and as always, talk turned to guns.  It turned out he had the same semi-auto as me, and he thought as little of it as I did.  He showed me what he had found; a North American Arms 22 Magnum Mini Revolver with a Holster Grip.  He let me try it out, and it was LOVE at first shot!  I went through an entire box of 22 mag shells, and was hitting the target right from the start.  By the time I was done, I knew I had to have this revolver.

shooting reviews 268I started to look around to buy one, and found out that they were flying off the shelves.  I was disappointed, but undeterred.  I would own one!  It took a while, but I finally was able to purchase mine.  I took it home, and just started shooting it.  It is a fun gun to shoot, but it will also get the job done if needed for protection.  Anyone who came over to visit would get my unadulterated gushing of how much I love this revolver, and of course we would go out to shoot it often.  It did not take long, before 9 of our family and friends are now carrying a mini revolver from North American Arms.

I was recently at a Sportsman’s Expo, and talking to one of the vendors.  We got talking about CCW, and of course I shared my opinion.  He surprised me by pulling the exact revolver I was talking about, out of his pocket.  It is his carry choice also!  Just for the record, he does not sell guns, he is just is as impressed by them as I am.

shooting reviews 202There are many different models to choose from, but the favorite models for me are my original 22 Mag 1 5/8″ Barrel with Holster Grip, and my newest 22 Magnum 1 1/8″ Barrel with Conversion Cylinder.   This one comes with a 22 long rifle conversion cylinder, which makes it very economical to shoot for fun.  I tricked this one out with Simulated Pearl Grip in Burgundy, which looks purple to me, and makes this a very attractive gun to own.  My husband says it is now a women’s gun, and he is right!  There is no reason it can’t look good while it protects.  Both of these have a 5 shot cylinders.

Mother's Day is just around the corner! Hint, Hint!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner! Hint, Hint!

All of the North American Arms Mini-Revolvers have a half way notch cylinder that lets the hammer rest securely without fear of being accidentally discharged.

They have an ankle holster that Velcro’s into place, and is surprisingly comfortable.  I have tried other ankle holsters, and they usually bite into your ankle, or chaff your skin.  Worn under blue jeans, this would be completely concealed.

The Holster Grip model has a clip molded right onto the grip, makes it easy to wear clipped to your waistband, belt or even into your western boots.  When closed the Holster Grip covers the trigger completely, so it cannot be shot at all until quickly opened.

shooting reviews 247I also have the .380 ACP with ILS (Integral Locking System) Guardian, although my daughter ends up with this one more often than I do.  It fits her well, and she is extremely accurate with it.  The Guardian 380 ACP model is a very popular concealed carry weapon. It boasts stopping power packed into a small package that fits easily in your purse or pocket.  NAA also carries an Inside the Pant, English Bridle leather holster made just for it.

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Leann killing the target with the .380

If you are looking for a CCW, look at North American Arms.  Better yet, shoot one!

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The Inside the Pant Holster

 

Contact your nearest gun shop to buy your mini revolver, or to order one.

380 ACP with ILS Guardian, model NAA-380GUARDS; MSRP $$479.00

22 MAG 1 1/8″ Barrel  with Conversion Cylinder, model NAA-22MSC; MSRP $254.00

22 MAG 1 5/8″ Barrel with Holster Grip, model NAA-22M-HG; MSRP $249.00

Inside the Pant, English Bridle Holster, model HIP-380D; MSRP $41.00

Ankle Holster Rough, model HAR; MSRP $20.00

Simulated Pearl Grip-Burgundy, model GPL-M-PR; MSRP $40.00

http://northamericanarms.com/

Stock Photo Credit:  North American Arms

Photo Credit:  Diane Hassinger


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South African Preparation with Safari Press

21 03 2013

This post originally was published on Ladies in Camo;  http://ladiesincamo.com/licpr/2013/03/20/south-african-preparation-with-safari-press/

I have a South African hunting trip coming up soon, so I have been doing my best to get prepared.  Safari Press publishes some great reference items for this trip, including; The Perfect Shot, The Perfect Shot Mini Edition, The Perfect Shot Plains Game Targets, The Perfect Shot Big Five Targets and Ask the Namibian Guides Book.

the perfect shot

I started studying The Perfect Shot books, by Kevin Robertson, as soon as we decided we were going to make the trip. The kill zone of the South African animal is somewhat different than what we are used to in our North American animals.  I wanted to make sure that every shot I take will be placed properly for the cleanest most ethical kill that I am capable of.  There is a lot of good information in these books also, regarding the habitat, anatomy, sexing the animal, calibers of gun and care for the cape following the shot.  This book also comes in a Mini Edition, which while it does not have the volume of information as it’s big brother, it has the animals pictures, along with their ghost view, which allows you to see all the vital organs positioning, so your shot will count!  Plus the mini edition can be packed much easier, and will be going with us for reference at the lodge!

I practice shooting year round, so I have confidence in my shot placement, my guns and my ability.  Safari Press and Kevin Robertson have made it possible for you to take that one step further.  There are sets of targets that allow you to shoot the plains game or big five animals of your choice.  These targets, like the books, show the picture of the animal on one side, and after you shoot you turn the sheet over to see what organs your shots would have come into contact with.

I practiced with the Springbok target, I set up 39 yards away, which should have simulated a real shot of about 100 yards.  That is the distance our professional hunter said would be the most common.  They give you different ranges to simulate different distances.  I shot the picture side 5 times, and when I turned it over, I have 5 heart shots!  Right where I wanted to be!  We will be practicing on all of the targets in the weeks to come, so we will be hunting prepared.

shooting reviews 176shooting reviews 177

ask the namibian guidesThe Ask the Namibian Guide book by Diana Rupp, features a lot of pertinent questions asked directly to a host of professional hunters.  Topics are diverse, and include packing, gun caliber, size of hunting grounds, local attractions, what to expect during the hunt and even whether you can wear camouflage during your trip; a lot of outfitters request you do not.  It was nice to see the cross reference of opinions.  Now I feel I can use the information they gave, and make an educated opinion of my own.  I will be leaving the camo at home, since I want my clothing to do double duty, both as street clothes and as hunting clothes.  All of the camps offer laundry services, so I will not need to over pack.  I do still need to check with my outfitter pertaining to the electrical converter, does he supply one, or do I need to bring my own.  This book, brought up points I may have not considered before.

I am so glad I started early to educate myself on hunting in South Africa.  These products from Safari Press helped tremendously, and the targets provide some fun and confidence that I can now take down my trophies cleanly.

If you are planning a first time trip to South Africa, or are a seasoned traveler there, you are going to want to add these books to your library and the targets into your shooting schedule.  They are all a small price to pay to make sure you have a hunting trip of a lifetime!

The Perfect Shot by Kevin Robertson  $65.00

The Perfect Shot Mini Edition by Kevin Robertson  $17.95

The Perfect Shot Plains Game Targets by Kevin Robertson $12.95 (kudu, impala, springbok, warthog, and wildebeest)

The Perfect Shot Big Five Targets by Kevin Robertson $12.95 (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant)

Ask The Namibian Guides by Diana Rupp $34.95

All of these, and more, can be purchased at http://www.safaripress.com/

Stock Photo Credit:  Safari Press

Photo Credit:  Diane Hassinger


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Categories : Ladies in Camo, Product Review, Travel

Stay in Touch with Motorola 2-Way Radios

8 03 2013

This product review was originally published in Ladies in Camo at http://ladiesincamo.com/licpr/2013/03/07/stay-in-touch-with-motorola-2-way-radios-diane/

There probably isn’t anyone who spends time in the outdoors that hasn’t used a set of Motorola 2-Way Radios at some point.  In our family they have been the radio of choice for many, many years.  And I am sure if you looked hard enough, you could still find our original radios, they don’t seem to wear out, but I am like most people and want the newest, with all the bells and whistles!

The Talkabout 2-Way Radios model MS355R have many features that appeals to the outdoors-woman in me!  Let start off with WATERPROOF!  So many times I have wished all products made to be used outdoors would be waterproof.  Well these are, and they float!  No more losing our radios over the side of the kayaks, or crossing a creek. Plus even more important for our area, they function perfectly in extreme cold temperatures.  Another great feature is that there is no more having to search for your flashlight at the end of your day, it is now built right into the base of the radio, I love products that do double, or more, duty.  You also have easy access to the NOAA Weather Radio so that you can receive any weather alerts for the area you are in.  And they come in Realtree AP!!  All of this, and they are rated for up to a 35 mile range.

MS355R_single

I was impressed and surprised that you can now use your favorite set of head phones with these radios, that will keep the sounds muted, so you do not alert any game you are after.  Plus they come with a set of external ear piece/microphone that allows you to leave the radio attached to your belt or straps.  They also come with rechargeable batteries and recharging base.

My husband and I hunt in a lot of areas that cell phone reception is non-existent, and you do not want to take a set of cheap radios in with you.  I for one would not want to risk my life with a bargain brand.  I need reliability and function, thus we use Motorola 2-Way Radios!  We hunted Anticosti Island not long ago, and our Motorola 2-Way radios were a god send.  Each of us had our own area to hunt in.  It just so happened that I was all by myself, several miles from my guide and husband, when I shot my buck.  If it had not been for these radios, I would have been on my own, trying to drag my deer up out of the river bottom.  It would have been well after dark before any help showed up, and even then it would have been hard for them to find me that far into the woods.  The MS335R is the best multi-function, foul weather loving radios I have ever tried!  With a MSRP of $109.99, they are the most affordable also!

Motorola Radios 027

You don’t have to be out of the loop anymore!

 

I will not go into the wilderness without a radio, and I wouldn’t ask my grandchildren to either.  Motorola has made a set of Talkabout 2-Way radios perfect for the smaller hands of children.  Their model FV300 is about a third of the size of the “adult” version.  These radios feature only four buttons, so they are simple for the children to learn and use.  Don’t get me wrong, I know plenty of adults that would be perfectly happy using this set of radios.  These have a range of 10 miles under perfect conditions, and will interact with the adult Talkabouts.  I like the belt clip for on the kids version, simply because they tend to set things down, often to pick up treasures from the wild, radios could be left behind.  The FV300 is a great all around radio for children, they can use it both for play and for real life situations, and with the retail price of $29.99, that is a small price to pay for peace of mind.  I would buy a set of rechargeable AAA batteries (6) to use in these radios, simply because kids will still leave them turned on.

FV300_single

I found a very welcome bonus with these kid sized radios.  My grandchildren have taken responsibility with them.  Since they are designed for them, and are not toys, they use them often, and immediately put them away.  That way they are easily accessed and ready to go for the next time.

Motorola Radios 001

A great way to let your Dad know you just shot a buck!

 

Both of these 2-Way radios, and more, can be purchased at http://www.motorola.com/Business/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services, or you can purchase them at many retailers near you.

http://www.motorola.com/Business/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Two-Way+Radios+-+Consumers/Talkabout+FV300+Two-Way+Radio_B2B_US_EN

http://www.motorola.com/Business/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Two-Way+Radios+-+Consumers/MS355R_Talkabout_Two-Way-Radio_US-EN00#

Stock Photo Credit:  Motorola/Giant International

Photo Credit:  Diane Hassinger


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Categories : Hunting, Ladies in Camo, Product Review

Cass Creek Nomad Wild Boar Electronic Game Call

7 03 2013

This product review originally published on http://ladiesincamo.com/licpr/2013/03/06/cass-creek-nomad-wild-boar-electronic-game-calldiane/

Cass Creek Outdoors makes one of the few wild boar calls I have been able to find.  Their Nomad Wild Boar Call with Moving Sound Remote gives you a wide selection of hog calls designed to help you bring home the bacon!!

cass creek hog callI

was hunting hogs in Alabama, and had a lot of opportunity to try out this unique call.  We set the receiver up near our position.  There are no wires, and the receiver is very light to carry into the fields. I attached a lanyard to the remote so I would not have to search for it, while the speaker/receiver can be clipped onto your pack or belt.  For this hunt, I attached the receiver to a young sapling about 20 yards from our shooting house.  There is a swamp immediately behind, and woods on all sides, a green field is also nearby, an ideal set up to start with!

turkey hunt 004

We started calling just after lunch, and it didn’t take long before we were seeing results.  The various series of calls sound very realistic, and the volume control adjusted in a clear concise sound. I played with the volume control to make it sound like the pigs were moving away from the area, and then in reverse of that to make it appear they were coming closer.  Many other times I had wild hogs grunting or squealing in response just following my playing one of the calls.  I was also able to utilize this call when I was stalking hogs.  I clipped it right onto my binocular strap, and played the calls periodically while I was walking, using it as you would a hand held call. There is also the ability to set up 3 receivers with one Transmitter Remote Control.  This makes it possible to not only direct the hogs into a better position or make it sound like it is true moving sound.

There are 5 distinct series of calls programmed into the receiver;

  1.  Feeding Frenzy – Excited grunts and squeals as hogs greedily compete to feed.
  2. Contented Feeding – Sounds of feeding hogs at newly located food source which draws others to join.
  3. Social Grunts – individual hogs communicate greetings within the herd.
  4. Fighting Boar – Aggressive rival males battling for herd dominance.
  5. Feeding Piglets – Confident sow grunts and feeding piglets signal safety, luring in hogs from dense cover.

My favorite combination was the Social Grunts with the Contented Feeding.  I have been in situations where the wild hogs that I was near, used grunts and squeals that sounded very similar to this.  I also used the Feeding Piglets as a stand alone call, since I have witnessed the larger hogs eating in relative quiet, while the young piglets are making lots of, well, pig noises!

I will be using my Nomad Wild Boar Call on many hunts coming up, and I will keep you updated on my results!

The Nomad Wild Boar Call is available for purchase at Amazon.com, Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, various other sporting goods shops or at www.casscreek.com. The MSRP is $79.99. They also offer these calls in Predator, and Moose.

Stock Photo Credit:  Cass Creek

Photo Credit:  Diane Hassinger


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Categories : Hog, Hunting, Ladies in Camo, Product Review

Radians for Women and Youth

7 03 2013

This product review was originally published on http://ladiesincamo.com/licpr/2013/03/06/radians-for-youth-and-womendiane/

I have been using Radians products for more years than I am going to admit to in writing.  Many years ago I was suffering from an inner ear problem, and I couldn’t be around shooting without being in pain. My husband bought me my first set of electronic earmuffs at that time, they were my first Radians.  I was so impressed, I was like a little kid running around telling everyone who would listen how thrilled I was with my hearing protection.  Many of the shooters I was bragging to, had never had a pair of electronic earmuffs, and couldn’t understand how you could hear better, but not blow out your eardrums when shooting, while wearing them.  But, they all went out and bought the same earmuffs I had, after using mine for just a little while!  They became believers!

Ryan is all set to go shooting, now he had eye and ear protection that fits!

Now we return to the present, and I am still running around telling everyone how great they are!  I still have my original pair, and they still work great, but I have added to that one over the years.

The Hunter‘s Ears model has to be the best all around model I have used.  They feature the dual independently controlled microphones which enhance and amplify sound, while they automatically compress the harmful sudden noise from a muzzle blast. Like all of the Radians earmuffs, they can be folded very compactly for protection of the unit and ease of storage.  They are comfortable to wear, with lots of adjustment for different sized heads.  I tend to forget I even have them on!

HE4P00CS

The Prowl Ears model is a behind the ear version that still has the amplification and compression features.  These are extremely small and easy to transport and pack.  The package includes 2 units and will work both in the woods or on the job.  Wearing this model, you can easily wear a hat or head band for warmth.

Prowl Ear_PR2601CS

My new favorite pair is the Enhance Ear!  The are a very small design that fits comfortably and securely into your ear.  Like the other electronic hearing protection that Radians offers, these can do the double duty of sound application and harmful sound compression. These do the job of their bigger brothers, while leaving you the freedom of hats, headband and eye glasses without any conflicting. I wore these the entire time I was hog hunting in Alabama recently.  They made hearing the faint hog noises much easier, while of course not doing any damage to my hearing from my shots!  Plus no extra weight to carry around with you!  These will be going to South Africa with me in a couple of months.  I need to watch what I pack because of weight, and these don’t weigh enough to make any difference in my luggage, but they will definitely make a difference when we are sighting in our rifles and hunting!

Enhance Ear_TA2701CS

For my grandchildren, I am loving the new Women and Youth models!  They now offer a Pink Pro-Amp model, which of course is pink.  They feature the dual independent microphones which amplifies your normal conversations while keeping the harmful impulse noises to a safe level. The headband is padded with a moisture wicking material.  These are designed for the smaller heads that we women tend to have.  My granddaughters have been fighting over this pair, so I will probably be adding another into our collection!
Pink Pro-Amp_PAP700CS

There are several combination packs that are offered for Women and Youth.  There is a T-71P/MP22C that pairs the performance shooting glasses with the slim design passive earmuffs.  This combo comes in pink, with the shooting glasses having tasteful accents in pink.  These earmuffs have a Noise Reduction Rating (NNR) of 22.

Sarah loves Ladies in Camo and Radian
Sarah loves Ladies in Camo and Radians

There is also the True Jr. Combo kit, which has the silver colored True Jr. Earmuuffs designed specifically for the younger shooter.  These are passive, and have a NNR of 21.  This kit also includes the youth model shooting glasses, with 3 interchangeable lens colors.

My grandchildren shoot often with us, so it is important to have eye and hearing protection that not only fits correctly, but also protects their delicate ears and eyes.  These models fit the bill, and also require no batteries!  We used to let them use our electronic versions, and we would have to purchase new batteries absolutely every time we used them.  The kids would inevitably leave the microphones turned on, even after they were done wearing them.  These passive models are perfect for the kids that would forget.

Radians manufactures for several different companies, including Remington.  They have also came out with a complete line of Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector shooting glasses and hearing protection.  Fashionable and functional performance!

I use my hearing protection for every situation.  They go from shooting and hunting to cutting firewood and running other equipment.  The next time you are in the market for a new set of hearing protection, look for the Radians name, you will not be disappointed!  They have a hearing protection for every application and budget!

These products can be purchased at Cabelas, Bass Pro, Gander Mountain, Sears, Amazon and many other retailers.  They range in price from $15.99 for the Low Set Ear Muffs to around $100 for the Hunter’s Ear model.  And the best part…They are Made in the USA!!

Our Jr. Staff Alexa has big plans for this set of T-71P/MP22C. She will be sporting them during our Youth Turkey Hunt.

http://www.radians.com

Radians Logo

Stock Photos and Logo Credit:  Radians

Photo Credit:  Diane Hassinger

 


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Ithaca Deerslayer 3, Not Just for Whitetail

6 03 2013

 

This product review also was published on http://ithacagun.com/ and on http://ladiesincamo.com/fromthefield/productreviews.html

diane caribou

My husband and I went Caribou hunting with Safari Nordik, based out of Montreal.   We were field trial testing Ithaca’s Deer Slayer 3 slug guns, hoping to put them through the wringer weather wise (and we did!). They performed wonderfully.   With the Nikon Slughunter scope we were shooting caribou out to almost 200 yards.

Dale started the week off with a caribou on the first morning; he shot it at 186 yards, and broke the shoulder completely.  We had to pack it out about 1 mile to the boat, I was wishing he had shot a smaller caribou or at least closer to the boat!   After that, we had a nasty weather front move in that dropped almost 7 inches of rain in 24 hours. We hunted the entire day, but the caribou were smarter than we were. Ptarmigan, however, were not so smart. Shooting them made the rainy day a success. As soon as the front passed through we started seeing movement again. The next morning I dropped a nice caribou with the Ithaca DS3 at 157 yards. I had to run ½ mile to cut him off as he crossed the river. By the time I shot him, I wasn’t sure if I was going to survive the hunt either!

The morning of the last day, we each had 1 tag left to fill.  Dale used the DS3 to pick off a good sized caribou at less than 100 yards.  This one had actually crossed between us, without sensing either of us.  Dale had the better angle to drop it neatly in its tracks.  I was beginning to think I would have a tag left over, when a nice 2 year old caribou came into sight.  I had a decent set of antlers from my first animal, so I figured to fill the freezer with this one.  He would pass in and out of the very small pine trees that littered the land.  Finally after adjusting my position numerous times, I was able to place a shot to the lungs, that dropped him in just a couple of steps.  The best part of this one was that we could get a quad right up next to him!  No packing it out!!

dale caribouThe Ithaca Deerslayer 3 allowed us to harvest 4 fantastic caribou, in less than ideal conditions; Four shots, four caribou, no tracking.  The Nikon Slughunter scope helped us place the perfect shots  on these animals.  As long as you take your time to range the shots, the reticles are right on.  Just like myself and Dale, the DS3 and the Slughunter Scope held up to an unbelievable amount of rain and temperature extremes, they make an unbeatable pair.

DS3BannerThe Ithaca Deerslayer 3 can be purchased at http://www.ithacagun.com/deerslayer3.html, 419-294-4113  or at various retail gun shops.  The price will vary depending on your options.

This review is also published at http://ithacagun.com/

Photo Credit:  Diane Hassinger

Stock Photo Credit:  Ithaca Gun Company


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Categories : Caribou, Hunting, Ithaca, Ladies in Camo, Product Review