I’ve gone through a few helmets in the last couple years. Some of the changes were necessary due to impacts, others because of fit issues. I have a very “Oval” shaped head. It’s more Lycan than Human. So most helmets just don’t fit right.
HJC:These lids are starters, nothing I’d go back to. It fit fine at first, then after it started breaking in it got loose. It was loud, poorly vented, and heavy. But it was cheap.
Scorpion: Very Good fit and finish. I like it. Mine was the EXO-400, one of Scorps lower cost lids, but it was great helmet all the way around and I’d not hesitate to get another one. But the 400 was shaped more oval and the higher end Scorps are more round, so they wouldn’t quite fit me. Which is too bad, because I really like them.
Bell: Great venting. Light. Killer looks. I really liked this helmet save for two things. Loud as hell and it was crushing my awesome roman nose. Mine was the Vortex Siege helmet. If you are in a hot location, and have a normal shaped head, this is an awesome lid. Just wear your Ear Buds, Ear Plugs, or if you are completely deaf you’ll be fine. See, the lid as some exhaust vents right behind your ears. So what happens is as you get moving, drag behind the helmet creates a vacuum and it pulls air through the intakes and out the exhaust ports, creating the sound of a hurricane inside your head. But it moved a lot of air and kept me cool through the hottest part of a High Utah Summer. The constant nose smashing however drove me nuts and I had to get something different.
AGV: Valentino Rossi can’t be wrong. The Gear Geeks at Revzilla turned me on to AGV for the head shape, so I checked out the K4 selection. This is an upgrade over the classic K3 lid, so it’s more aerodynamic in shape, quieter, lighter, better fit… This bucket has everything I wanted. The graphics I picked are the “Explorer” pattern with an old school compass… which spoke to me. It reminds me of why I ride. It’s not for the sheer speed (That I do enjoy) but for the freedom to get out and Experience The Ride. Adventure Riders have a slogan, “Ride The World”. And that’s what I want to do. Get out there and see it… be there… take it in. It’s a beautiful thing.
My next helmet? Well, my next lid is going to be a Dual Sport type helmet, sporting that long sun visor, which I have found would be a good thing. Smoked shield. Longer shape. I’m thinking the Icon Variant helmet. Icon is known for crazy graphics, but the one I like is called “Battlescar” which is basically no finish, just the fiber from construction, some sealant, and a clear rubberized coating over that. It looks badass. It’s not just about the looks though, it’s one of the few Dual Sport helmets that has a visor that doesn’t create lift when you are at speed (80 MPH for example) so I can ride it on my Sport Tourer or my Enduro.
Hit Red Cloud Loop, just North of Vernal. I was looking for an alleged Ghost Town that is up there someplace. I didn’t find it, but I think I know where it is now, and will hit it next weekend. I didn’t get to do a lot of pictures because I was White Knuckling the whole way, going quickly, and just taking it in and enjoying the experience. On the way out, exiting above Maeser, this is the route down. The views were spectacular. I had to stop and take a pic a couple places on the way down.
”…the MP71A is unavailable to civilians and for good measure. We all know that’s technology no civvies should ever get to lay their hands on. This is a purpose-built weapon with no sporting applications to speak of.”
Hey guys, this is Jerry Tsai, Editor of RECOIL. I think I need to jump in here and clarify what I wrote in the MP7A1 article. It looks like I may not have stated my point clearly enough in that line that is quoted up above. Let’s be clear, neither RECOIL nor I are taking the stance on what should or should not be made available on the commercial market although I can see how what was written can be confused as such.
Because we don’t want anything to be taken out of context, let’s complete that quote and read the entire paragraph:
“Like we mentioned before, the MP7A1 is unavailable to civilians and for good reason. We all know that’s technology no civvies should ever get to lay their hands on. This is a purpose-built weapon with no sporting applications to speak of. It is made to put down scumbags, and that’s it. Mike Cabrera of Heckler & Koch Law Enforcement Sales and veteran law enforcement officer with SWAT unit experience points out that this is a gun that you do not want in the wrong, slimy hands. It comes with semi-automatic and full-auto firing modes only. Its overall size places it between a handgun and submachine gun. Its assault rifle capabilities and small size make this a serious weapon that should not be taken lightly.”
Let’ also review why this gun should not be taken lightly. In the article it was stated that the MP7A1 is a slightly larger than handgun sized machine-gun that can be accurately fired and penetrate Soviet style body armor at more than 300 yards. In the wrong hands, that’s a bad day for the good guys.
As readers of RECOIL, we all agree that we love bad-ass hardware, there’s no question about that. I believe that in a perfect world, all of us should have access to every kind of gadget that we desire. Believe me, being a civvie myself, I’d love to be able to get my hands on an MP7A1 of my own regardless of its stated purpose, but unfortunately the reality is that it isn’t available to us. As a fellow enthusiast, I know how frustrating it is to want something only to be denied it.
Its manufacturer has not made the gun available to the general public and when we asked if it would ever come to the commercial market, they replied that it is strictly a military and law enforcement weapon, adding that there are no sporting applications for it. Is it wrong that HK decided against selling a full-auto pocket sized machine gun that can penetrate armor from hundreds of yards away? It’s their decision to make and their decision they have to live with not mine nor anybody else’s.
I accepted their answer for what it was out of respect for those serving in uniform. I believe that we as gun enthusiasts should respect our brothers in law enforcement, agency work and the military and also keep them out of harms way. Like HK, I wouldn’t want to see one of these slip into the wrong hands either. Whether or not you agree with this is fine. I am compelled to explain a point that I was trying to make that may have not been clear.
Thanks for reading,
– JT, Editor, RECOIL
Yeah, his clarification didn’t help anything. It’s okay for the Government to have this gun, but not us Civvies, because We All Know that MP7 has Technology that is not for our hands. SCREW THIS GUY, and SCREW RECOIL. That illustrates a flawed train of thought when it comes to guns and gun control. This is the basis for everything the Liberal Idiots build their cases on… and it’s now propagated in a supposedly pro-gun magazine?
Let me Clarify. The Second Amendment is not about SPORTING PURPOSES. It’s not about HUNTING. It’s not about SELF DEFENSE.
I had a subscription my my Nexus 7 to Recoil Magazine. I have now cancelled it. An Anti-Gun Gun Magazine is about as usefull as a Football Bat. Especially when the magazine is called on on the Jim Zumbo Style SNAFU and doubles down in it. I suggest everyone cancels their subscriptions and make sure to let Recoil know why.
When you publish a Gun Magazine, you are acting like some sort of knowledgeable authority on firearms. Then when the Editor of the Magazine publishes something like this in the magazine, it not only discredits the author, but the magazine as a whole. This proves beyond a doubt, that this magazine really doesn’t know anything about firearms.
The little round the MP7 fires is a step behind the 5.7mm that the FN PS90 fires from it’s 50 round magazine and that gun has been available for some time now. For years. And a handgun to go with it. The MP7 isn’t as potent as an AR-15 either… of course not. We’re talking a full power rifle round. Sure, a rather weak rifle round, but still… a rifle round. AR’s run off 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, and 100 round magazines. Not to mention the conversions to belts allowing just about endless lengths.
I want to know what this supposedly sinister “Technology” the MP7 has in it that sets it apart as too deadly for the average Cake Eater. (No longer in the Service, I am also a proud member of the Cake Eater Battalion) There is no “Technology” here different from anything else out there that is already perfectly legal for the American Gun Owner. Boxer Primed Metallic Cartridges, small caliber, detachable box magazine fed, air cooled… There is no new Technology here. It’s just Spiffy Packaging. And any Knowledgeable Gun Guy instantly recognizes this.
Recoil Magazine has just shown their asses and is in dire need of serious Damage Control now. I don’t see this magazine as surviving much longer. Especially since it was very shallow to begin with. Lots of big glossy pictures, with very little actual content. No meat, just sauce. It’s not worthy of your time to flip through it. At best, it’s a bathroom Rag… to flip through while you are evacuating yesterday’s burrito.
I really hate Walmart. No, seriously… it’s not a passive strong dislike… I hate Walmart and everything about it offends me. I especially hate that it’s the only place within 3 hours that carries my Chain Lube, so about once a month, I have to run in to get a can… That pisses me off too. But the fact that they sell guns is especially offensive. Their Gun Department help is usually staphed by the most shockingly ignorant and arrogant people I’ve ever seen. The person in this article… add sexist to Walmart’s list of characteristics.
The downside to this is that an Gun Clerk has the right to refuse to sell a gun to anyone they feel like. There is nothing this woman can do about it. I’ve sold plenty of 12 gauge shotguns to women of all sizes. Even a Petite Elf Woman can Rock and Roll with a 12 gauge. If this WalMart Gun Clerk had any shooting experience, he’d know that. But he’s an Ignorant Douche which is on Par with every WalMart Gun Department person I’ve ever met.
I’ve got a lot of friends in Law Enforcement, including a brother. It’s very hazardous for them to make a traffic stop because of other traffic. Lots of cops have been hit because of this, and the resulting interview of the drivers that hit the cops always comes down to “They didn’t see them.”
Also, there has been a lot of cases where Fake Cops pull people over and kill or rob them or just get their jollies off acting like cops.
For the concern of Officer and Public Safety, I think all Law Enforcement Vehicles where the Officer may make a traffic stop… I propose a simple idea. All vehicles driven by Officers who are authorized to make a traffic stop, County, City and State… Nation Wide… All vehicles should be painted High Vis Green.
Don’t like this idea? Tough. This is for Safety, so get used to it!
This has been proven to work in the UK!
This way, Motorists can see the Police Officer from farther away, and be mindful of Officer Safety.
You are not against Officer Safety are you? Public safety is better as well.
Let’s extend this to all Emergency Vehicles as well. Firetrucks have been rolling in High Vis Green for some time now, with reduced accidents because of it. So only Law Enforcement and Emergency Vehicles should allowed to sport High Vis Green. So if someone tries to pull you over, and he’s not rolling HVG… Call a real Cop. If a Cop sees a guy trying to pull someone over and he’s not rolling HVG, he knows something is wrong.
Hey, this is for SAFETY. So get with the program, or you are NOT SAFE!
We should implement this nationwide starting next month, with full implementation by Jan 1 2013.
On my Facebook page, I have a picture of me hold my AR-15 rifle. Here it is:
The most common question that I’ve been getting isn’t about the gun, the sights, the sling or stock… or the “Man, looks like you lost some weight!” No, the question has been hitting me up the most is about the pistol grip. Yes, it’s a simple hardened rubber grip from Ergo Grip. Nothing fancy. No storage in the hollow cavity. Just a simple grip.
“But why?”
Because I like it. I don’t need my pistol grip to be a Modular System. I don’t need it to do anything. I just want a good feeling pistol grip to hold on to when I’m shooting my rifle. Because that’s what it’s for. No, it’s not MagPul and I know MP now has a new Rubber Coated MOE grip… and its fine. I just like the Ergo better. And it’s 10 bucks less.
This also comes as a change of ideology with me. I used to be a big fan of “On Gun Storage” for things like spare batteries and maybe a small bottle of gun oil. (Not that I need it since I use Slipstream) or maybe even a spare firing pin or whatever. I’m not anymore. Most guys like me, Gear Whores, will wear more than enough pouches and bags and even pouches for bags… that we can carry more than enough stuff so we don’t have to put it in our gun so we don’t lose it. I’m at the point now where I don’t want anything on my gun that I don’t absolutely have to have. If the batteries are not connected to anything vital, I don’t want them in my gun. That goes for other spare parts. I can keep that stuff in a pouch and leave my gun lighter and easier to use. Especially if I’m rocking a Single Point Sling. I don’t need the extra weight cutting into my neck.
Back to the grip. The main reason I’m not using a standard A1 style pistol grip is that they are too small for my hands. When I grab the grip, my finger goes all the way around the trigger and I can touch the receiver. I need more space at the backstrap to put my finger tip on the trigger where I want it. The Ergo grip does just that and feels good in the hand. I can shoot more comfortably with it in different positions, because it feels like I have better control of the weapon. This is what it’s all about.
