PMCI - February 2017

pmcimagazine.com
LTT - FIRST TACTICAL
LONG TERM TEST - FIRST TACTICAL
SPECIALIST 1 DAY PACK & RIFLE SLEEVE
Each and every time I step onto a range I always remember two words that have been ingrained
into me since I first shot with my father many, many moons ago, and those two words are simply
“Eyes and Ears”.
When the new millennium arrived, it
was on the heels of the U.S. firearms
industry struggling to survive the very
anti-gun presidency of Bill Clinton
which would end on the last day of the
year 2000. Sadly, as the gun industry
began to rebound slowly, America
suffered the 9-11 attacks in New
York, Pennsylvania and Washington
DC. Suddenly, the War on Terrorism embarked on the world’s
largest hide and seek mission to find those responsible.
A new buzz word, “tactical”, began to pop up all across
the industry in not only guns but gun related gear as well.
Traditional military and law enforcement made up of
heavy and cumbersome materials gave way to new and
cutting edge designs which trickled down from the battle
fields to the private citizens who trained hard and held true
to the fundamental patriotism the United States and the Free
World was founded on.
Through the 2000’s, great gear such as the 5.11 RUSH
series of backpacks hit the market from the innovative mind
of Corey Nycoluk. This designer and his team helped shape
the face of the “tactical” world of gear to say the least. Now
with a new company and new team of folks at First Tactical
who fully understand that designs are meant to evolve and
change with the feedback of the end users at the tip of the
spear defending our country overseas to those standing the
line in our streets at home against evil.
I had the pleasure of meeting Corey Nycoluk and First
Tactical team during last year’s Industry Range Day at SHOT
SHOW, where I got my first hands on look at their products.
From a lengthy conversation with Corey, I discovered
most of the First Tactical designs had been reached for years
by taking the time to personally read thousands of emails
and letters from the returns department of his old job. Corey
stated he learned a lot about what worked and what certainly
didn’t in the real world by civilians, contractors and military
personnel alike. As I was listening to the origins of the design
while handling the products, I could see these new designs
were not just revamped versions of successful products but
an all new approach to the industry completely. Eager to give
First Tactical a whirl through the Florida Swamp lifestyle, I
arranged to have a 1 Day pack and rifle case sent for review.
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