Tag Archives: shooting

Brand Spotlight: CarryMeGear Holsters – made in Utah!

December 8, 2016 - posted by EmmaLee Sessions

Look out, Utah! There is a new brand of gun holsters in the state and they are exclusively at Smith and Edwards. We know you are going to love them.

CarryMeGear is owned and operated by Smith and Edwards’ own Mike Vause, right here in Ogden, UT. Mike is the Sporting Goods manager here and we are super excited to be carrying his handmade gun holsters!

Mike has spent most of his professional career in the shooting sports industry. For years, he has been looking for something new to bring to this growing market.

“I have owned and tried many holster styles and brands,” he explained, “and decided to take some elements that I like and incorporate them into my thoughts and needs. I woke up one morning and said, ‘Let’s do this!'”

After a lot of work, trial and error, collaboration and help from his good friends, the first CarryMeGear Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) holster came to be.

Why Carry with Kydex?

Carry Me Gear holsters are made out of Kydex, which is a thermal plastic designed for heating and shaping for custom fit. Kydex is lightweight and durable, lasting longer than other materials.

Why is Kydex superior? It is thinner and easier to conceal, and it is sweat and weather resistant. You no longer have to wait for your holster to dry out, making these the perfect holsters for backpacking and hiking.

This Springfield XDS doesn’t print with the CarryMeGear holster in kidney position.

What sets CarryMeGear Apart?

When asked what sets CarryMeGear apart from brands we carry, Mike said, “The difference is adjustability of attachment and fit to the body. It spreads the load over a larger area than single attachment designs, and is sleeker than other 2-point, soft-back styles.”

Still, the greatest things that set these holsters apart are: 1) they are handmade right in Ogden, so you’ll be supporting a local business, and 2) they are about $10 less expensive than other great brands!

Additionally, each CarryMeGear holster is hand-fitted to a mold of the exact model of gun, and hand-sanded for snag-free carry.

We asked one of our buyers, Chris Jacobson, why he was so excited about the new CarryMeGear gun holsters. “These holsters are handmade locally in Ogden, UT and are fitted to your exact gun,” he said. “The Inside-the-Waistband holster is surprisingly comfy. I personally own one and really enjoy using it.”

IWB holsters are especially popular because you can adjust to use your choice of strong side, kidney, or appendix carry. CarryMeGear holsters are even more comfortable because they are easily adjustable to fit every body shape and size.

The holster’s forward and backward cant, or angle, can be adjusted. In addition, tension on the firearm itself can be increased or decreased. Screws and bushings also allow the holster to move closer to or away from the body.

A Sig P238 is secure in an Inside-the-Waistband, left, or Outside-the-Waistband, right, CarryMeGear holster.

Outside the Box: OWB & Small-of-Back Carry

CarryMeGear also makes Outside-the-Waistband (OWB) holsters for strong side carry. Smith & Edwards carries these OWB holsters for several models of semiautomatic handguns, as well as a Smith and Wesson J-frame Revolver model.

This Sig P238 disappears completely in the CarryMeGear OWB holster.

Mike is also very aware of the needs of his customers, and is open to additional feedback and insights. Mike began working on Small-Of-Back holsters due to requests from women shooters.

The small of the back design allows ladies to carry while maintaining a natural hip silhouette. “We are designing, thinking, and testing more designs and products,” he told me. “A Small-Of-Back (SOB) holster has been tested and approved by some of our Smith and Edwards concealed carry permit holders.”

This Small of Back CarryMeGear Holster conceals her Glock perfectly!

Look for the small-of-back holsters, magazine pouches, and even more styles of holsters from CarryMeGear at Smith & Edwards soon!

Get Yours at Smith & Edwards and on our Website

We know that you will love the CarryMeGear holsters, whether you are a CCP holder or looking for a good range holster. We love the CarryMeGear holsters and recommend them to everyone. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without one!

Talk to one of our experts and try them today at Smith and Edwards. You can also find our selection of handgun holsters here on SmithandEdwards.com.

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Q&A: Why use a Gun Vise?

April 25, 2016 - posted by Rose Marion

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Send us your question to help@smithandedwards.com. We’ve got good advice, bad advice, & years of experience with all kinds of crazy outdoors activities. Send us your question, you just might get something fun or helpful back!

Question:

I saw your post on how to clean a rifle. I’ve never used a Gun Vise to clean my rifle… does it make any real difference? -Major Paul

Answer:

You don’t have to use a gun vise to clean your rifle. But it’s a good idea to have one, or a bipod, so your rifle is secured and the stroke of the cleaning rod is consistent with the plane of your bore.

A lot of people also use a bore guide so that when you clean from breech to muzzle, you don’t scrape your crown on the muzzle end. You don’t really want the cleaning rod to contact the crown. A vise will help you clean consistently without scraping the sides. Also, that keeps the mess in one area.

Thanks for asking!
– Mike Vause

Smith & Edwards Gun Counter

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Springfield Dueling Tree Competition – GoPro Video

May 28, 2015 - posted by Rose Marion

Mike Vause challenged me to a duel the other day….

He’d already bought the ammo, so I said OK!

We went to the Perry Three Mile Creek Range and squared off at the dueling tree.

(You’ll get to try your marksmanship skills at the Dueling Tree on Range Day!)

Watch the Competition from a First-Person Perspective

I didn’t know Mike would show up wearing a GoPro… you’ve got to take a look at it from his perspective!

About the Dueling Tree

The dueling tree’s designed for two shooters to swing the targets to the other side. If you’ve hit all of yours, your opponent can swing them back to you!

(We would have started out with equal gongs on a side… but we didn’t bring our waders)

Best of all, the Dueling Tree’s made out of good steel so it’s not just restricted to rimfire. Wahooo!

What we Shot

Both of us shot Springfield guns. I gotta tell you, I love these guns – I’m 5’2 with not a lot of grip strength, and I can rack the slide very easily. I also like the grip safety, it makes sure I’ve got a good proper grip on the gun and makes me feel more secure on it.

I shot the Springfield XDM 9mm in 5.25. Mike shot the Springfield XDM 45 in 4.5 with TFX TrueGlo Night Sights.

Your Turn!

Come try your hand at the dueling tree on Range Day, June 12th 2015, at the Perry Range. See you then!

Want more videos? Make sure and subscribe to our Youtube Channel, as well as join our email list for videos, tips, & savings :)

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Range Day was a Blast!

July 11, 2014 - posted by Rose Marion

Wow… if you came to the Perry City Range on Friday, June 13th, you had an amazing start to Father’s Day weekend!

The Three Mile Creek Gun Range hosted about 250 people on Range Day, from people who came with their families to shoot, to Smith & Edwards staff, and even Karen Cronin, Perry City mayor.

Mayor Karen Cronin at Range Day 2014 in Perry, Utah

Perry Mayor Karen Cronin with Head Rangemaster Eric Halter (L) and Sporting Goods manager Mike Vause (R) from Smith & Edwards at the Three Mile Creek Range in Perry, Utah

Perry’s Three Mile Creek Range was Amazing!

Karen Cronin, Mayor of Perry City, said that Range Day was “extremely successful!” “We owe a big thank you to Smith & Edwards and to all the employees that made it happen.”

Range Day was “the first big event that we’ve partnered with private industry on so it was pretty exciting from the get go,” Karen said. “What was really neat was the opportunities it gave the public to try out different guns, try out the gun range, and I hope it was helpful for Smith and Edwards to get the public exposed to the guns they carry.”

“Now that Smith and Edwards has taken the first step, maybe different businesses will try it out and give shooters the experience of trying out their equipment at our Range.”

Mayor Karen was happy to see the different families that came to see the Range and try out the guns and equipment at the range. “It was way cool,” she said, to see kids with their parents in a “safe, controlled environment with the rangemasters there.”

Head Rangemaster Eric Halter said the Range Day was a “smashing success.” He said the goals of the Perry City Range are to introduce youth to shooting sports, and to host competitions and matches – and Range Day demonstrated that the Three Mile Creek Range is the perfect spot for that. Also a Smith & Edwards employee, Eric said he was thrilled to see shooters of all ages at the event, from families and novices to experienced shooters.

Mike Vause, Sporting Goods buyer at Smith & Edwards, organized Range Day with the help of Perry City and Three Mile Creek Gun Range representatives, as well as manufacturers. “People had no idea that the event was going to have such support from manufacturers.” Representatives from Springfield Armory, Browning, Crimson Trace, Desert Tech, NEMO, Spirit Ammunition, and Taylor Targets were there to support the event all day that Friday at the range.

About half the people Mike talked to had never realized that there was such a great gun range this close – a great gun range in Utah, right here in our back yard.

All 20 lanes at the Three Mile Creek Range had a gun to try out, and each lane had a Rangemaster, manufacturer’s representative, or a Smith & Edwards employee to load the ammunition, help spot the targets, and if needed, guide the shooter on the gun they were trying.

We were happy to help guide novice shooters and families who were teaching their kids how to shoot!

Each lane has a concrete bench in great condition, and the Three Mile Creek Range features targets out to 500 yards. The plan is to have 1000 yard targets in the future!

The Range has 2 big sets of bleachers for families to watch the shoot. The parking lot is nice and had enough spots for us at Range Day. Plus, there’s a speaker system so it was clear when shooting stopped for us to repaint targets.

The Perry shooting range is a great place to teach your kids to shoot, and target practice. It’s a perfect spot for shooters of all ages.

Smith & Edwards’ Range Day was the first major event held at the Perry shooting range. We’re excited to see what more comes to Perry’s Three Mile Creek Gun Range in the future!

What Happened at the Gun Range on Range Day

There were challenges:

Justin nailed a 500 yard target on his first shot!

Justin won this awesome hat from Desert Tech! He was the first to shoot a target at 500 yards on his first shot using the 308. Way to go Justin!!

There were giveaways:

We gave away 5 buckets of Remington 22s at the Range, and we had lots of other giveaways: 9mm and 45 ACP ammo from Spirit Ammunition, a TruGlo SCP TAC 30mm Scope, and a TruGlo 5 MOA Reticle.

Springfield Armory even gave us an XD-S pistol to give away in support of Range Day! Here’s the lucky fella –

We had a lot of help….

There were representatives from Springfield Armory, Browning, Spirit Ammunition, Desert Tech, Taylor Targets, Crimson Trace, and Nemo.

Trying out the Crimson Trace on the first lane – see the green dot?

Checking out what NEMO brought to Range Day

Blaine from Springfield Armory assisting

Bob with Spirit Ammunition, a Utah ammunition manufacturer, came out to show what ammo of his we stock at Smith & Edwards!

Our Browning rep helped man a lane for Range Day

Browning rifles on display

And of course, there was food!

Mike and Eric ready to pass out pizza at Range Day

Lunch is ready!

What shooters thought of Range Day

We asked Connor Squires what he liked about Range Day:

The shooting. I love to shoot.

We asked Connor what handguns were his favorite. He said “All of the 9’s.” Rifles? “The 22s and the 223s. I loved them all.”
Brett Farrin said:

Where else can you take your 15 year old son and introduce him to some of the best guns on the market in a safe and healthy environment. We had a blast. Thank you Smith and Edwards for putting this together. We will definitely be supporting the 2nd annual Range Day!

I am not sure how it would work but a shotgun trap shoot would have been fun. There are a couple of shot guns I would have liked to pulled the trigger on.

I really like the Springfield XD 40. It is on my wish list. It was so fun to be able to put some bullets through these guns.

The HMR .17 was a lot of fun. It is not something I would have purchased but having shot it, it was one of our favorites. We also shot the 5.62 from Springfield. Now that I could own.

About the Three Mile Creek Range

Construction of the Three Mile Creek Range began in 2012 and it now features 20 lanes and targets at 50, 100, 150, and 200 yards… and more expansion is planned, including an archery range, law enforcement training center, and 1000 yard targets.

If you’re looking for a Utah shooting range to call home, we highly recommend the Three Mile Creek Range!

The Perry Three Mile Creek Range offers day passes and year passes. The Range is open to all shooters Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00-5:00pm except the first Saturday of the month, closed for maintenance.

The Perry gun range is located just north of the weigh station/point of entry west of I-15. Simply take 2950 S and head west under the I-15 overpass, then follow the road south. Take the first right and you’re there – here’s a link to the range on Google Maps.

Mayor Karen Cronin tells us that through the summer, Perry is working to get the training facility at the Three Mile Creek Range operational. The Range is going to take the inside of the training facility and refurbish it to make it more conducive to do training like hunter’s safety for 30-50 people at a time. This includes an indoor classroom where groups could even do Powerpoint presentations for the class to bring the education portion of the sport to the Range, as well as a kitchenette for groups to host parties at the Range.

There may even be clay pigeon shooting at the Perry range in the future!

Here’s what Mayor Karen Cronin said about the Perry Three Mile Creek Range:

Some people put in swimming pools, some people put in skate parks, we have to make a decision if there’s something we want to sponsor. The gun range is a little out of the box, but we hope it’ll reach a lot of family and individuals, and help the sport of shooting.

Check out the Range on Perry City’s website here!

What do you think… Should we do it again?

Should Smith & Edwards collaborate with sponsors & Perry City again to bring back Range Day next year? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks!

Thank YOU for coming and participating!
Thanks to Mayor Karen Cronin and the many people at Perry City and Three Mile Creek Range to help us put on the 2014 Smith & Edwards Range Day Event!
Thanks to our sponsors Springfield Armory, Crimson Trace, Tru Glo Optics, Nemo Firearms, Desert Tech, Taylor Targets, Browning, and Spirit Ammunition, for the prizes and time you donated to this event!
All of you helped us give our customers a fun event – THANK YOU!

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Gun Review: Glock 42 .380

May 23, 2014 - posted by Mike Vause

Some say, “hideable handguns aren’t fun to shoot.”

There certainly has been a trend to buying small concealable pistols and revolvers. Many new shooters are inclined to buy the smallest size, but may not take into account ease of operation and recoil control.

Small guns can sometimes have the opposite of bold, high visibility sights; they can also produce more recoil than we expect. I personally like mid to larger handguns for that reason.

The American Public has, for the last few years, been buying a huge number of 380 ACP pistols. Some have loved their purchases, but I have personally seen a good number gravitate back to a larger pistol or even give up on the perfect pocket gun quest.

I vowed that I did not need another caliber to support; nor did I want a pistol that was not easy to shoot and find the target. I have struggled to find something small enough for everyday carry that would give me the accuracy standard I need.

I’ll tell you what I think is a little bit of a funny story.

Glock 45 or 42?

At the 2014 S.H.O.T. Show – the big kickoff for the gun industry’s new products – Glock introduced two new pistols. The model 41, a big long barrel target 45ACP with a new thinner slide, and the model 42 a very small pistol in 380 ACP were introduced.

My friend Scott was very impressed by the 380 subcompact gun and vowed to buy the first one that came into Smith & Edwards. I gravitated to the bigger 45 and made the same vow. Well, not too long after that, we received one of each at the store. Scott kept his promise and bought it that day.

Range Day with the Glock 42

I decided to go to the range that day with a couple of pistols that I had been shooting for some time. Scott offered to let me “break-in” his new acquisition; how could I say no? He even bought a box of ammo and said, “Shoot 10 of these and tell me how you like it!”

It was like Christmas all over again. I hurried off and was soon ready for the test.

Right off, I shot two 5 shot groups at about 10 yards. The little Glock 42 was smooth and the groups were tighter than I thought possible from a gun this small. The sights were easy to pick up and the recoil was minimal with no abrasion or discomfort.

I went on to shooting my bigger guns. They were ok, but I thought, Man, I think the little Glock is way easier to shoot acceptable groups. I know that I was only supposed to put 10 rounds down range with the free ammo, but I couldn’t stop. I shot 10 more rounds and was amazed by how the little gun handled.

This happened a couple more times and when I looked down, the box was very near empty. I was convinced that I had to have a Glock 42.

I returned the gun to my friend, and bought one for myself (I did buy him another box of ammo to remain friends).

The Results

I have included some average 5 shot 10 yard groups. These were shot off hand with no support. The target dot is 1.5″ in diameter. I also have included an amazing 5 shot group that I would be proud of with any pistol.

I am sure many could out-shoot this pistol if we went to the 25 yard line. I am not saying that this is a target gun. I am saying that I have not been able to shoot a gun this small anywhere close to as well as this little Glock. The controls and trigger pull are just like their bigger guns; so if you shoot a Glock well, you will really appreciate the model 42. Come on, give the 380 a chance.

Glock 42 Specs:

Caliber: .380 auto
Capacity: 6 rounds
Barrel length: 3.25″
Overall length: 5.94″
Width: 0.94″
Height: 4.13″
Length between sights: 4.92″
Weight, unloaded: 13.76oz
Trigger pull: ~5.5lb
Trigger travel: ~0.49″
Barrel rifling: Right hand, hexagonal
Length of Twist: 9.84″
Click here to see the Glock 42 or come visit it in-store at Smith & Edwards Gun Counter.

Note from Rose: Mike was generous enough to let me shoot his Glock 42 at the Perry range. This is a really nice gun and a great option for concealed carry. I liked the trigger pull, the size and grip were perfect, and I liked the fact that it stays open after you fire the last round. The sights make this handgun a lot better to aim than your typical .380 concealed carry, and it doesn’t kick like a Ruger LCP or others. Thanks, Mike!

Like the review? Should we do more of these? Leave a comment (or come into the store) & let us know!

About our people

Mike Vause is the Sporting Goods manager at Smith & Edwards. He’s been here over 20 years. When he’s not in the store, he’s probably hiking, camping, or testing the latest handgun or rifle.

Have questions about guns, hunting gear, or reloading equipment? Call the store at 801-731-1120 and ask Sporting Goods, we’ll be happy to help you get the gear you need.

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