[SigsRule]

Here's a question for those of you still on active duty or otherwise at the sharp end of the stick. I was just browsing around in the Buckley AFB Clothing Sales Store and came across some interesting looking gloves. They were labeled as Combat Gloves and appear to be a combination of flame retardant material, leather on the palms and fingers, and Kevlar. The package said something about lasting 3-6 times longer than tratditional flight gloves. They were slightly elastic with a velcro wrist closure.

Anybody have any experience with these things in the field actually handling and shooting something like the XCR or AR? I was interested in them as both shooting gloves and they appeared to be a perfect choice to do double duty as motorcycle dirt bike gloves.

 

[Bravo]

I don't know those personally, but I've been using the Hatch Operators for a couple years now. I like 'em.

 

[SigsRule]

Is the description I gave similar to the Hatch Operators?

 

[aziator]

Here are the Hatch line of gloves, I know lots of guys that use them. I know their flight gloves last longer than the issue gloves.

http://www.hatch-corp.com/law/tactical.aspx

I have actually been using a pair of Oakley gloves for a while now. I mostly use them when I am riding my motorcycle but have shot with them a few times and really like them. I wouldn't use them for I get them for a great price.

https://usstandardissue.com/gloves.aspx

 

[Bravo]

Yes, they're similar.

I have the desert tan version (duh, I live in the desert) which use the nomex fabric. They're only available in the guantlet version, but the gauntlet version is just the shorty version with a guantlet portion sewn on.

With a short amount of time, effort, and a fine tipped knife, I de-threaded the guantlet seam that attached it to the shorty version (the wrist elastic is in the shorty part). Then I gave some seam tape to a rigger that used to live around here, he sewed them up in like 5 minutes.

Viola! Shorty gloves, nomex fabric, and in desert tan.

These offer tremendous tactile qualities not found in other gloves IMO. For shooting, they're tops. Of course, there may always be something out on the market I don't know about / haven't tried. The Oaklies would fall into that category. For what I know about though, these are tops.

 

[1redgmc]

I have to admit that I have a glove fetish. Not as bad as the magazine addiction I have, but I have a LOT of gloves.

I will start by saying that the Blackhawk SOLAG gloves I have are the WORST I've ever owned. I would not recommend them to anyone for anything - not even yard work. I have two pair. I thought the first pair had to be factory rejects (seconds) - since I bought them on eBay - so I bought a pair direct from Blackhawk. They suck too. The seams on the inside are hard, will rub your fingers raw, the velcro straps are stiff and uncomfortable, and they are anything but tactile.

I have a pair of Oakley's (SI Assault for $70) and they are well made and very durable - BUT - they do not allow me the manual dexterity that the lighter lighter (Fox) gloves allow. Try picking up yor spent brass with the Oakleys and you'll see what I mean.

The Hatch gloves are top notch (KPG200 / Patrolman / $40) and are one of my favorites. They are light, comfortable and dexterity is excellent. I found the fingers to be slightly long (for me) and opted for Fox.

For what it is worth, I bought several pair of Fox Racing's MTB (Mountain Bike) gloves. I bought a pair of the "Incline" for $20 and they are great. Light, extremely tactile and durable. So what if they wear out after six months of HARD use? I'm not fast roping with them, nor am I a member of a SWAT team. They are - again in my opinion - some of the best "shooting" gloves out there. You can buy three pair for less than you spend on one pair of Oakleys.

Hell for $20, give 'em a try... and don't overlook the fingerless "Tahoe" for $10

 

[SigsRule]

I wish I remembered the name/manufacturere of the ones I saw, but they sound similar to the Hatch Operators. There were both gauntlet and shorty versions - maybe it's a made for military version of the Hatch.

Price was $75.00. How's that compare to the Hatch Operators?

I have a pair of Fox lightweight gloves that sound like 1redgmc's. The model I have is okay for summer riding but too light and open for colder weather. The thought never occured to me to use them shooting. At $30-50 around here I might look for a more robust pair. Of course the CSS ones (and the Hatch ones) are Nomex and Kevlar.

The research goes on.

 

[Bravo]

$75 is a touch higher than I paid 2 years ago, but I bought mine at a police supply where I get a discount.

Could be that we're talking about something same-same.

 

[SigsRule]

Well, I'll be taking a road trip to a gunsmith to get help getting the FH off my FAL and since he's near Buckley I'll recheck the name of the gloves I saw.

 

[gunner69]

Hey Sig, Reminder..... your FAL has LEFT HAND threads. What flash hider are you going to replace it with? Good Luck

 

[SigsRule]

It's a Primary Weapon Systems combination muzzle brake and FH specifically for FALs with left hand threads. But now that you mention it, I was probably trying to unscrew it right hand. :duh:

No wonder it seems to be frozen on the barrel. Tomorrow I'll give it another try - left hand this time! ;D

Of course I still need to run out to Buckley to look at the gloves and other cool things from the CSS again. I don't remember so much cool stuff when I was active duty or reserves prior to '95.

 

[Bravo]

My FAL wears a Vortex. I like 'em for most things - they cut the flash BIG.

If I were in a jungle - instead of the desert - maybe I'd have a different take on things.

 

[gunner69]

AH, the Left Hand thread....... I remember (thanks for the reminder) my 1st AK. I think I bent the barrel trying to remove the flash hider. :duh: I was up at Fort Benning a couple of weeks ago, the clothing sales store amazes me. If I had had all that shit in the War........ Another lession in life....... :2cents:

 

[SigsRule]

Yeah, damn those old wars - need to be in a modern one. Oh wait, that's for the young guys who still have knees. Thanks YGWKs for taking over.

:tomcat: