Flashlight Review - Olight Baton series

I’ve been daily carrying an Olight Baton flashlight in my pockets for almost two full years now (check out Olight's website).  I think I can consider that a sufficient amount of time to gain a pretty good understanding of the lights.  Most of that time was with the S15R (single AA rechargeable battery), about the last two months with a limited edition copper S1A (single AA), and now the new S1R Turbo S (single rechargeable RCR123). 

The main features that keep me daily carrying these lights are the size, functionality, and pocket clip. 

Size:

When I say I carry a light daily, I truly mean this.  Even in bed, I have a light clipped in my pocket.  The single cell Baton’s are just the right length and width to not be too uncomfortable when I’m seated.  Longer, two-cell lights (e.g. FourSevens Preon 2 & Streamlight Stylus Pro) often dig into my leg, or rest at awkward angles while I’m at my desk or in the car.

The Batons are just big enough to be comfortable in your hand.  They are not too tiny like some single-cell “key chain” flashlights (e.g. Preon 1 and Olight I3E EOS).

Functionality:

On this aspect, I’m mainly talking about the brightness levels and ease of use.  They go from really low (.5 lumens), to really high (280 lumens S15R – 600 lumens S1A – 900 lumens S1R) with a few stops in between.  One of my most used settings is the .5 lumens.  This works great at night when I’m checking on my young children or when I don’t want too much light so as to wake up my wife.  I love that this setting can always be immediately reached simply by holding down the power button when the light is off.  It is also nice that the Batons go back to the last used setting when powered back on.

I like the side clicky button.  I’m not a fan of lights that require the twisting of the head, like some of my Foursevens lights.  The Batons are easily operated with one hand. 

Pocket Clip:

I didn’t think that I liked the clip at first, but it has become one of my favorite features.  The clip is long and fairly tight and seemed, at first, to be difficult to clip into my pants pockets.  The trick I’ve found is to hold onto the clip itself and pull it out slightly while pulling it down into the pocket.  The lights ride deep in the pocket and the tight clips are not easily dislodged.  

Overall the steel that is used has really held up well, with the exception of the silver clip on the S1A Copper.  The clip did not sit on the light well to begin with (it had some wiggle) and the steel seemed weaker.  The silver clip broke after only a little over a month's use.  The spring steel on my S15R has held up to every day use for the past 1.5 years.

As a side note, the clips also allow the Batons to be clipped onto hat brims as impromptu headlamps.  Not as good as a dedicated headlamp, but great in a pinch.

OVERALL PROS:

• Size
• Several brightness levels
• Easy operation
• Solid, deep-carry pocket clip
• Rechargeable options 
• Magnetic tail cap
• Very water resistant (IPX-8; 2 meters)
• Nice looking
• Durable
• Light weight (S1R is 1.9 oz on my scale)

OVERALL CONS:

Probably my biggest hesitation with these lights has been the warranty/customer service.  My first S15R cracked across the glass.  I have no idea how this happened, as I am sure that I did not drop it.  

Olight was quick to send me a replacement glass but I was unable to install it properly, since the light ceased to function properly after my attempt.  I don’t think it is something easily done outside of their factory.  When this fix did not work, I went through the customer service to get the light repaired.  It took three months to get the light back, and it still was not fixed properly.  To Olight’s credit, they had me send the light back and they sent me a new one.  I guess I was wishing they would have sent me a new one to begin with so I would not have had to wait three months.  After being without it for about a month I missed it so much that I bought another one to replace it.  The following Christmas I bought another one for my daughter.  I think you can see that I really like these lights.  (Another side note: the S15 is now no longer in production, and has been replaced with the S1A.  Unfortunately, they do not have a rechargeable version yet.)

My only other con is the poorer quality clip on the S1A Copper edition.  Unfortunately, Olight was not willing to replace this.

On the positive side, Olight has been quick to respond when I’ve emailed them about the issues.

BOTTOM LINE:
I am a huge fan of these lights.  As I sit here typing this, my new S1R is clipped in my jeans pocket.  There have been a few hiccups, but hopefully these were the exception and not the rule.

~Rhyno

Gear Check

I just watched a nutnfancy gear check video on Youtube and thought I'd do an edc gear check on myself.  Personally I think I would get an "A" from old Nutn.  This load out is what I carry pretty much every day (i.e. I did not set this up so I could make this post).  The only thing I am missing is my lip balm, which I let my daughter use the other day and did not get back.

Flashlight - This is by far my most used item.  I doubt a day goes by that I don't use a light (particularly this one) multiple times.  The one pictured is my current favorite.  It's the Olight S15R Baton.  I prefer lights that have batteries that are easily purchased and so shy away from CR123's and the like.  The battery has a great run time and is rechargeable, but can easily be replaced with a standard AA.  The things I dig on this light are it's pocket clip (which is very strong and can be clipped to a hat bill), it's modes (several options from 1/2 a lumen up to 280 lumens), it's size (small enough for daily comfort yet big enough to be useful), and that you can lock out the on/off button so it will not be accidentally switched on in my pocket.

I honestly don't understand why anyone would not carry a flashlight when they are so light and useful.

Knife - The two things I have with me all day, every day, even when I'm sleeping, are my flashlight and knife.  The Spyderco Delica 4 is one of my favorites.  It weighs next to nothing and has an incredibly useful blade shape and size.  This gets used for everything from cutting strings off my clothing to cutting up cheese for my salad.

Multi-tool - For it's size, weight, and capabilities the Leatherman Squirt PS4 cannot be beat.  I've tried carrying bigger, more capable multi-tools but find I get tired of them weighing down my pants.  This little tool has pliers, a knife blade, scissors, screw drivers, and a file.  I mainly use it for the pliers and scissors.

Watch - I have worn a watch daily for probably thirty plus years.  I've tried other options but keep coming back to the Timex Ironman series.  Many folks use their phones to keep time but I find the simplicity of looking at my wrist easier.  I mainly use it to tell time, especially the indiglo feature at night.  I am very near sighted and this watch is what allows me to know what time it is in the middle of the night.

Handkerchief - There are two main reasons I carry a hanky daily.  One is because I have allergies and if no kleenex is available then my hanky is right there.  The other is for the possibility of wound care.  I have used my handkerchief (clean one) to help myself and others when there is blood flowing.  This is extremely helpful.

Firearm - I don't always carry a second magazine (although I should) but happened to have one today.  The gun pictured is my Glock 42 with a Crimson Trace laser, and a Pearce +1 grip extension.  This is Glock's .380 ACP.  I generally either have this or my 43 (Glock's single stack 9mm).  Many will scoff at the small firearms for their lower capacity of ammunition (6 plus one standard) but I honestly can't bring myself to carry one of my larger guns.  It is very hard to beat the 42 and 43 for concealability and comfort.  Since picking up these firearms, I went from carrying 25-50% of the time to virtually never not carrying.  I hope that I will never have to use a firearm to defend myself or anyone else.

Phone - Although not pictured (but taking the picture), I also almost always have my iPhone.  This is another important daily safety item.

There you have it.  What do you carry every day?  Are you prepared for the things that will or may happen?

~Rhyno

What To Look For In A Quality Holster

So, you want/need a new holster - in particular a concealed carry holster.  Maybe you are new to firearms or to CCW (concealed carry weapon) and need something in which to carry your gun.  Or maybe you are like me and you have a drawer/bag full of holsters and are always on the lookout for new/better/more comfy option.  Hopefully this blogpost can help you narrow down your options.

I will not here be advocating, necessarily, for any specific manufacturer or even type of concealed carry holster but rather give you some information so that you can know what to look for in a quality holster.  What works for me and my body type and lifestyle, may not work for you.  But these principles can help you make an informed decision when you purchase your equipment.

I gleaned this information from Paul Carlson at Safety Solutions Academy on the Gun Nation Podcast.  Paul is a competent firearms instructor and has come up with the acronym RAGTOP to help shooters wade through the holster market.

RAGTOP – finding a holster that can safely, comfortably, and securely carry your firearm on a daily basis...

R – Retention – the holster need to retain the gun, until you want/need to draw the firearm, and then it should come out relatively easily.  It needs to be retained while twisting, crawling, cartwheeling, wrestling, etc…

Retention is generally achieved through friction – rather than a mechanical device.  Mechanical retention should be reserved for duty/open carry holsters.

A – Application – What is the application?  (concealed carry, open carry, competition, duty, range, etc.) 

G – Gun Fit – What gun is the holster designed for?  A “one-sized-fits-many” holster will not fit/hold ANY gun very well.  Get a holster that is designed for your specific make and model of firearm.

T – Trigger Guard Cover – the trigger guard needs to be covered front to back, top to bottom, side to side.  This mean the trigger cannot be accessed while the gun is in the holster.

O – Open Top – a holster mouth that stays open when the gun is drawn.  This allows for one-handed re-holstering, and allows the firearm to be easily holstered without having to angle the gun toward or away from your body in order to get into the mouth of the holster.

P – Position – a holster that is designed to be carried in the position that you intend to carry it.  Examples: inside the waistband (iwb); outside the waistband (owb); ankle carry; shoulder; appendix iwb; 3/4/5/6 o’clock iwb; bra; pocket; etc.

Also when it comes to position, the holster and gun should stay in position.  Belt-loops/clips should match your belt size.  Some iwb holsters use friction to keep the system between pants waist and your body.  These types are notorious for moving position and/or falling out of the pants completely.


One more thing to note also, when you make the decision on a holster, I would encourage you to truly give carrying it a solid try.  I've heard it said that carrying a gun is not comfortable but rather comforting.  There is some truth to that but I have also found that it can take some time to get used to most any holster.  Give it a week or two of carrying your gun for at least eight hours a day before you decide to give up on the holster and look for another option.  You may find that you begin to get comfortable with the set up you have.

Hammock Camping Info

After a lousy night's sleep in a tent a few years ago I decided to check out hammocks for backpacking and camping.  I bought an inexpensive nylon hammock from Walmart and have never looked back.  Since that time I've "upgraded" to other manufacturers - including Grand Trunk, Trek Light, ENO, and Hennessy - but for ease of use, sleeping comfort, compact size, and light weight the hammock is hard to beat in my estimation.  A quick list of what to pick up for hammock camping is not really a simple task.  There are several considerations: will there be biting insects?  If so then a bug net is helpful.  What will the temperature be like?  If it's very cold at all I will need some sort of under insulation to keep from having "cold butt syndrome."  Is rain a possibility?  If so then I'll want a rain fly.



Few hammocks in the background.

One quick option that I've purchased is the Hennessy Hammock (click here). 

The Hennessy includes everything (excluding the insulation) that you need for basic backpacking or camping as far as your hammock goes - hammock, bug net, rain fly, tree straps, and suspension system.  There are other manufacturers that offer similar setups.  I've modified my Hennessy by changing out the suspension system and tree straps for the Marlin Spike Whoopie Kit from Arrowhead Equipment.  I can't say enough good about the whoopie sling setup.  They are so easy to attach and adjust.  it is a definite inconvenience to try to adjust your hammock left or right with many other systems (including the one that comes with the Hennessy). 

I also modified my Hennessy's entry system.  I bought the Expedition Asym Classic which has a bottom velcro entrance/exit.  It's pretty cool but ultimately not very comfortable to use and is very limiting when you want to easily grab something outside of your hammock.  I had 2QZQ Hammock Specialties install a side zipper for me and it's incredible.  I should have spent the original $20 difference and ordered my Hennessy with a zipper.

Hennessy zipper modification.

Hennessy suspension ropes attached to their tree straps.

If you don't go the all-inclusive route then you can customize your setup in a number of different ways but here's a quick list of items to get and things to consider:

Hammock: lots of options out there - Grand Trunk, Trek Light, ENO to just name a few.

Hammock, whoopie slings, and tree straps all in the attached bag.

Tarp: you can DIY like a buddy of mine or buy one premade - mine are all premade.  You'll want to include some way to run a ridge line to hang the tarp or buy one that is ready to hang already like the ProFly Rain Tarp from ENO.  You can sort of see mine in this cropped pic from a backpacking trip in 2013.

Insulation: you'll need some way to keep from getting cold because of convection.  The cheap route is a simple camping pad, like what you would use in a tent - this is what I currently use.  Other options are underquilts (like those at Arrowhead Equipment) or the "Super Shelter" from Hennessy.  I would love an underquilt but haven't yet spent the $$$ on one.

Bug net: depending on where you go and the time of year you will probably want some way to keep mosquitos from biting you while you sleep.  You can make a bug net, buy one that encloses your entire hammock, or buy one that is integrated like the Hennessy.

Tree straps: you need something to attach to trees while camping.  Most systems are some sort of strap rather than rope.  Ropes will much more easily cut into the tree causing damage.  There are several options out there but I still prefer the system I mentioned earlier from Arrowhead.

Tree straps from Arrowhead Equipment.

Suspension: you need a way to attach the hammock to the tree straps.  Many hammocks only come with the hammock, you'll have to buy suspension lines separately.  I am a strong advocate for whoopie slings.  They are super lightweight, and incredibly easy to attach and adjust - well worth the money.

Here's the Marlin Spike setup from Arrowhead.

Whoopie slings suspension.

Stakes: don't forget enough stakes to stake out your rainfly.

Second hammock: one last thing that I've found extremely helpful is having a second hammock to hang under my main hammock to use for gear storage.  This is especially helpful when its raining but is great any other time as well.

There is so much more that could be written but hopefully this is helpful.  For more hammock information check out the book The Ultimate Hang as well as the Ultimate Hang website.  Tons of helpful tips.

Get out there!

~Rhyno

Light Trigger Pull Issues - The Legalities

Some helpful, knowledgeable thoughts from someone who actually knows what they're talking about.  Originally posted on the Smith & Wesson Forums (click here).

THE LIGHT TRIGGER PULL ISSUE

By Massad Ayoob

A common thread topic on shooting forums is whether a defensive handgun with a lighter-than-factory-spec trigger pull can cause problems in court. Because this is something that most people don’t have experience with, the topic is particularly vulnerable to misinformation.

On a recent thread, the original poster opened with the following link, in which instructors and lawyers mentioned several cases of too-light pulls resulting in injuries and severe legal problems: Gun Modifications, Light Triggers and Reloaded Ammunition .

It wasn’t long before someone posted to claim there had never been such a case. Others wrote in, citing cases where it had indeed been problematic; they were followed by a litany of posters parroting, “there has never been such a case.”

At that point, there was no way a discussion could meaningfully continue without posters of the latter stripe being made to feel insulted. A basic rule of internet posting, indeed of debate, is: read/listen to the other person’s argument. Partly because you can never defeat an argument you don’t understand, and partly because saying something you’ve just been presented evidence of, doesn’t exist, indicates willful ignorance at best and lying at worst.

The Scope of the Problem.

Extremely light trigger pulls are seen as “easier to shoot.” That’s the good news AND the bad news. Extremely light trigger pulls have long been associated with unintended or premature discharges, and we live in a time when both the gun culture and the firearms training industry – rightly or wrongly – have promoted the concept than any unintended discharge not caused by a mechanical defect is a “negligent discharge.”

In a self-defense shooting, both prosecutors in criminal cases and plaintiffs’ counsel in civil cases know that justified protection of self and other innocent victims is a very strong defense…but there’s no such thing as a “justifiable accident.” Whatever opposing counsel deems “their theory of the case” is customarily treated in court as if it could be every bit as plausible as the truth in a true self-defense case. However, if the issue of negligence can be raised, the hill they have to climb to convict you or win a large monetary judgment from you is much less steep. The element of negligence can sustain a Manslaughter charge in criminal court, and a Wrongful Death verdict in civil court.

Taking a criminal suspect at gunpoint with a “hair trigger gun” that “no police department would allow an officer to carry” feeds directly into their theory of negligence, now applied to YOUR case.

Institutional History

Before the last quarter of the 20th Century, and long before I did my first case as an expert witness, the nation’s third largest municipal police force – LAPD – had ordered all service revolvers modified to double action only (DAO). OIF2, a gun-savvy LAPD vet on the Smith & Wesson Forum, pegs the date of the change at 1971.

Before the sea change from the service revolver to the semiautomatic police service pistol was complete (more than 20 years ago) many other agencies had gone DAO. NYPD and Miami Police Department, among others. It was not a phenomenon limited to the USA; in Canada, the Montreal Police Department did the same. One reason for the Glock pistol’s rapid ascendance to dominance during the changeover was that early on, BATF declared the Glock to be a double action only semiautomatic pistol. (Miami went to the Glock with an 8-pound connector; NYPD famously went with DAO SIG P226 and S&W 5946, and the Glock 19 with the NY-2 trigger system created especially for that department with an 11 to 12 pound trigger pull.) When Chicago PD, our second largest department, first authorized semiautomatics, they didn’t allow even Glocks: only double action ONLY S&W, SIG, Beretta, and Ruger pistols were initially authorized. The US Border Patrol, our largest Federal law enforcement agency, adopted the Beretta 96D DAO as their first issue auto pistol in the mid-1990s, and went to the DAO HK P2000 (LEM trigger system) circa 2006.

Why the change? Because of the so-called “hair trigger” effect that was created when the hammer was cocked. Sometimes, under the tense conditions in which guns are drawn for defensive purposes, cocked guns DID go off unintentionally with tragic results. And, also, because if the gun COULD be cocked, an opening was created for opposing counsel to falsely claim that it WAS cocked and then negligently discharged.

Large police departments have a significant number of shootings, all of which are thoroughly investigated and most of which result in some sort of lawsuit. These incidents become parts of those agencies’ institutional history, and are considered when those agencies determine what guns will be approved or issued in the future.

Common Misconceptions

When this topic is discussed in gun forums, certain themes predictably arise. Let’s discuss them now.

“They won’t know I had a light trigger.” MISCONCEPTION. Of course they ‘ll know. It is routine procedure for every firearm recovered after a shooting to be sent to the crime lab, where it will be intensively examined by a professional Firearms and Toolmark Examiner who is likely to be currently certified as an armorer with most common handguns. Trigger pulls are routinely weighed and cross-checked with manufacturer specifications to determine if they are within spec. All safety devices are checked. (The reason, among others, is to preclude a criminal from claiming that a murder weapon was defective and went off by itself.)

“I’ll just say I shot him intentionally, and that will be that.” MISCONCEPTION. News flash: if everyone was accepting what you say, even if you speak the truth, you wouldn’t be in court. I would expect the opposing counsel’s opening statement to include something like, “The defendant is so reckless and arrogant he can’t admit he made a deadly mistake. He’ll probably tell you something like ‘I, like Inspector Clouseau, meant to do that.’”

“That’s only a concern if you shot someone by accident.” MISCONCEPTION. All they have to do is ALLEGE that you fired by accident due to the hair trigger effect. A classic example is Florida v. Luis Alvarez, where the cornerstone of the state’s case against the officer was that he had (A) cocked the hammer of his Smith & Wesson, which (B) had two coils removed from the trigger return spring. Yes, he was ultimately acquitted…after a fourteen-month ordeal that included an eight-to-nine-week trial. A detailed account of this case can be found in the autobiography of one of his attorneys, Roy Black, titled “Black’s Law.”

“I always keep my booger hooker off the bang switch, so this will never be an issue for me.” MISCONCEPTION. First, even if you HAVE kept your finger off the trigger until you intentionally fired, remember the point made earlier: you can’t count on what you SAY in court automatically being BELIEVED in court. Second, a seasoned cross-examiner would simply reply, “We all know you’re supposed to keep your finger off the trigger until you’re in the act of intentionally firing…AND WE’RE SAYING THAT YOU DIDN’T! WE CONTEND THAT YOU MADE A MISTAKE! Are you telling this jury that you’re an absolutely perfect human being who is INCAPABLE of making a mistake?”

Tell us how you’re going to answer that, without sounding like the personification of reckless arrogance the cross-examiner is portraying you to be?

Second, you can expect opposing counsel to discover the European study found HERE Force Science News #3: Can You Really Prevent Unintentional Discharges? in which it was discovered that even well-trained cops did not realize their fingers were touching their triggers in high-stress simulated danger situations. It’s called “trigger affirmation” by training expert Tom Aveni, and also “trigger confirmation” or “trigger verification.” And it can happen even with the most highly trained personnel.

“There has never been a conviction resulting from the hair trigger allegation!” MISCONCEPTION. Here are two, just from my personal experience. NY v. Magliato, where Frank Magliato unintentionally discharged the cocked revolver he had pointed at his assailant, killing him. Sent to prison originally for Depraved Murder, the appellate court reduced the conviction only to Manslaughter, with the majority opinion holding that it was reckless and negligent to aim a gun with such a light trigger pull at a man one obviously did not intend to shoot at that moment. (The minority opinion held that doing so did indeed constitute Depraved Murder under NY law.) And in Canada there was Crown v. Gossett, a criminal trial involving a cop whose service revolver probably was cocked when it unintentionally discharged, killing an unarmed suspect. Gossett was convicted of Manslaughter in his first trial, but thankfully, acquitted in his second trial.

“I’ll just tell the Court that I had the light trigger so I wouldn’t miss and hit an innocent bystander.” MISCONCEPTION. Whether you say that in a gun forum discussion or in court, you can expect the opposing side to say, “So, you ADMIT your competence with a gun was so poor that you realized EVEN BEFOREHAND that you were likely to hit an innocent bystander instead of your intended target if you didn’t have your special ‘orthopedic trigger’? Why weren’t you honest enough to admit that you weren’t ready to be carrying or even keeping a loaded gun for self defense in public yet?” That argument HELPS anyone trying to paint you as incompetent and negligent.

What Exactly Constitutes a ‘Hair Trigger’?

That will generally be determined by manufacturer spec for “duty trigger” pull weight, and “common custom and practice” WITH THAT PARTICULAR FIREARM. With the popular Glock, the manufacturer’s position is that the nominal 5.5-lb. pull weight of the standard model is minimum for duty. Pistols like their Tactical/Practical G34 and G35 come standard with 4.5 pound triggers, but are also listed in the Glock website and catalog under “sport” (i.e., “target”) pistols rather than law enforcement or self-defense guns. When ordered by police departments, it is Glock policy to install the 5.5-lb. trigger in those models. (The 3.5/4.5-lb. connector is factory approved for serious use only in conjunction with the NY-1 trigger module, which brings pull weight up into the 6-lb. range.) On the other hand, with the 1911, a pistol equipped with thumb safety and grip safety, the 4.5-lb. trigger is much more defensible. NRA’s minimum pull weight on a 1911 in the Distinguished match is 4.0-lb. This seems to be the minimum pull weight for a duty 1911 recommended by most of its many manufacturers, including Colt.

A cocked double action revolver is generally seen as having a “hair trigger,” and was presented as such in trial or at grand jury in Florida v. Alvarez S&W Model 64, NY v. Magliato (Colt Detective Special), Michigan v. Chase (S&W Model 15), Georgia v. Crumbley (S&W Model 686), and Crown v. Gossett (S&W Model 10) among others.

In Conclusion

This writer is speaking as a police firearms instructor since 1972, a trainer of law-abiding armed citizens since 1981, and more than four decades of researching why police make the firearms training decisions they do, and how they investigate shootings. Those decades include 19 years as chair of the firearms/deadly force training committee of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, 11 years on the advisory board of the International Association of Law Enforcement Trainers Association, and 35 years as an expert witness in weapons/use of force cases. Having been involved personally in several cases involving lighter-than-factory-spec triggers presented as “hair trigger cases,” including the Alvarez, Gossett, and Magliato cases mentioned above, I think that the collective law enforcement experience in countless such cases speaks to the wisdom of keeping “factory ‘duty spec’ trigger pulls” on any firearm one is likely to use for self-defense purposes.

Respectfully submitted,

Massad Ayoob