Some people are hard to shop for on Christmas, right? Ask them what they want, and they say “nothing” or “I don’t know.” But if there is a gun guy or gal in the home, it may not be as hard as you would think.
Here is the thing with those gun nuts, they like just about everything when it comes to guns. There are a few simple things to determine what type of gun guru you are dealing with. Do they hunt, go to the range, or prepare for the zombie apocalypse? Do they have a handgun or two and a shotgun in the house for self-defense? Well, guess what, you are in luck. There is something for them all.
Here is a list of some of my favorite gun and tactical accessories/equipment to help fire up that idea machine in your head. Gun-related gifts do not always have to be expensive. And during the holidays there are a lot of discounts and sales going on. So, let’s look at some things you can buy that special someone right here from your phone or computer.
1. Lancer AR-15 Mags
If someone you know has an AR-15, these mags are a perfect gift idea. They are good quality and come in a variety of colors. With metal reinforced feed-lips to make sure they don’t crack when dropped, they are ideal for keeping ammo stored in them for the long term. What makes them a little different than standard AR mags is their transparent color. This serves two purposes; The 1st is that you can see your ammo through the mag. This allows the type of ammo to be seen inside the mag before it’s loaded into the rile. I like to buy a couple of different colors so I can keep range ammo in one color, hunting ammo in another, and self-defense ammo in a third.
The 2nd purpose is they are fun. Yes, I’m being a girl about it, but why not change up the color or have the mags match your hat? Either way, there are not too many AR-15 owners that wouldn’t like a few Lancer mags for Christmas.
2. Red Dot Sight
Optics can get expensive, but there are still some good ones out there for the price. Because of the cost difference in optics, I will list three red dots that are good quality for the price. A red (or green) is great for shotguns, lever action rifles with a rail, and just about any AR-style rifles. Smaller versions are available for handguns but for this gift idea, I’m going to stick with Picatinny mounted optics for rifles.
Holosun AEMS Core Red Dot
This red dot is an awesome sight for the price. During the holidays, it can be found even cheaper. It has a 50,000-hour battery life and comes with “shake awake” technology. This means it has a setting where the site will turn itself off after a few minutes and stay that way until it senses movement. It will then turn back on, so you never have to mess with getting your optic turned on fast enough.
Sig Romeo MSR
This little sight sells in the $120 range and is extremely rugged. Simple to use, it has a dial on top for on/off and brightness settings. I also really like the see-through covers on this one. This allows you to shoot in a hurry without lifting them out of the way.
Truglo 5 MOA Red Dot
What about when you are on a tight budget? You can still buy that someone special a red dot with the Truglo 5 MOA. It is a great optic for under $50. I have tested this one on a shotgun and rifle. I’ve dropped it, left it under running water, and frozen it. The low-budget optic is still running fine to this day, and I use it regularly.
3. Streamlight ProTac HL-X Long Gun Light
If someone you are buying a gift for has a rifle, this light is an awesome addition. It’s on the larger side, but it is crazy bright and has a huge battery. This means it can run a long time (22 hours to be exact). It is a 1,000-lumen light that is rechargeable. It comes with a charger and a pressure switch that can be mounted on the top rail of an AR rifle. This allows the light to be activated by just pressing the button. This light runs about $160 but is well worth the money. I would consider this a top-of-the-line tactical light for a rifle.
4. Stream Light Wedge
I know, I know, I already did a light. But you can’t have too many lights and this one is awesome. It is not for a gun, it’s for your pocket, backpack or just keeping on the nightstand. This cool little light is rechargeable and is somewhat flattened on the sides, so it fits in your pocket better. I carry a knife in one pocket and this light in the other everywhere I go. It has a toggle switch for your thumb so it’s easy to turn on and off. It will run forever between charges and has a micro-USB for easy charging. It is as thick as a cigarette lighter and about twice as long. For under $100 no one will be disappointed with this light.
5. Tactical backpacks
I can’t give you just one perfect tactical bag (because I have and use several) but some of the best brands are GPS Outdoors, Bulldog, 5.11, and Vertx. You want to make sure the tactical bag you pick out has pockets on the outside and inside because you can’t have too many pockets. Molly on the outside is a great addition (that’s the strap-looking things across the outside of the bag).
Larger bags are nice for hunting and camping trips, but I like the medium size bags for general use. Backpacks are great for keeping gear in, going to the range, or maybe putting together that first go-bag or doomsday prep pack.
Those are my Christmas picks for 2022 but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot more to pick from. Ammo, mags, knives, and more. The good thing about gun accessories is that most people will never think they have enough. If you buy someone a toaster that already had one, they will be standing in the Wal-Mart line the day after Christmas. If you buy someone a tac-light or extra mag for their gun and they already had one, they will be smiling as they add it to their inventory. It’s just hard to get it wrong when it comes to gun gear.
