It’s that time of year again. Time to hunt up gun gifts for dad! If you’re wondering what to get your tactically special (or especially tactical) someone this year, you’ve come to the! right place. Our gifts for gun lovers buyer’s guide will help you get a gift that is neither trite nor cringe-worthy!
Some of these suggestions are Safariland Group products – sorry, not sorry. But for the record, we bounced this list off several of the Dispatch writers and got the overall okie-doke that they’d receive one or more of these things as a gift.
The original version of this article was written by Fifty Shades of FDE. Since then we’ve updated with suggestions from David Reeder, Jason Mosher, and other members of the Cadre Dispatch editorial team.
Gifts for Gun Lovers: “Occasion Agnostic”!
We’ve included a wide range of prices so you can pick what fits your budget. These products will also be things that any Mom (Mother’s Day), Dad (Father’s Day), Significant Other (St. Valentine’s Day), etc., would use often and appreciate. They won’t be in any particular order, although…with June coming up fast we’re taking this opportunity to highlight a few things that’ll make great gun gifts for dad.
Gun Gifts for Dad
1. Safariland Incog X IWB Holster
We’ll start with this one because it’s been hands-down one of our most popular holsters ever. This collaboration between Safariland and Travis Haley from Haley Strategic Partners was a great one. This low-profile IWB Holster is weapon-light and red dot compatible. This covers more of the pistol than the schema and has the option to have a magazine caddy attachment to hold a spare magazine.
Incog X IWB Holster fits are available for multiple handguns, including models from Glock, Sig, Staccato, and more. Consider this holster first if you’re looking to gift a holster to someone, but make sure ahead of time that they carry “appendix style” or “AIWB”. That stands for Appendix Inside (the) Waist Band.
2. holster-mounted tourniquet holder
It would be very, very hard to go wrong adding a reliable tourniquet holder to someone’s holster, even if they’re already carrying one elsewhere. That’s why we think you should consider the Safariland TQ System – and if not ours, then something that works for you.
Perhaps the greatest thing recommending the Safariland TQ System is its universal compatibility. It features a rugged mounting bracket made from high-grade 5052-H32 aluminum. This allows it to fit all Safariland duty holsters, including popular models like the SafariVault, 7TS, and 6 Series. Additionally, it works with any 3-hole pattern holster or tactical accessory, ensuring a cohesive setup for any user.
Avoiding exsanguination is always a Good Thing.
3. The QLS System
Why the QLS system? Because it is absolutely versatile. If you have any doubts about that, consider this: virtually every single member of Safariland’s CADRE editorial staff use the QLS system. In fact, most of us have more than one.
Here’s why: the system makes your holster more adaptable to other platforms by way of attachment points.
For example, you could purchase one holster for a duty belt and another for a leg shroud (drop leg holster). Using the QLS system allows you to place a receiving plate on the belt loop attachment point and another plate on the drop leg holster. Now, you can move one holster from the belt to the drop-leg holster.
That saves a whole lot of work for anyone who shifts carry styles and even carry guns. Trust us. This is a good one, and it’s very reasonably priced.
Still not convinced? Learn more about the QLS system in this overview.
You’ll see.
4. Safariland Species IWB Holster
The Safariland Species is another low-profile IWB solution for a multitude of micro-compact pistols. It will accommodate a host of popular red dot sights but not weapon lights. If you’re buying one of these for someone else, make sure they don’t habitually keep a weapon-mounted light (WML) – a flashlight that mounts under the gun barrel – on their pistol.
This is an affordable and simple gift option for pretty much anyone’s everyday carry gun. It’s available in several colors and finishes and offers dual functionality and tension adjustment for a personalized fit, feel, and draw. Note that it is currently only available for right-handed shooters.
If you’re wondering which is the better holster choice for you or the intended recipient, check out our Best IWB Holster showdown.
5. THYRM MODULAR BATTERY CASE
Lots of things used by your intended gift recipient require batteries for use. Comms and digital ear protection are just one example. Happily, Thyrm (pronounced theorem) has a number of good options for keeping batteries on hand, secure, and segregated by type.
The CellVault-5M Modular Battery Storage is customizable protection for all the lithium-ion batteries you need in the field. It can accommodate CR123, 18650, 18350, AAA, 1632, CR2032, and AA batteries in 8 modular inserts, plus wells for CR2032s.
This isn’t the only version of battery case Thyrm offers. It’d be worth your time to check out the others.
6. Streamlight TLR-7 Sub
I prefer to have a weapon-mounted light on every firearm that I use for self-defense. I didn’t have one for my defensive handgun for the longest time because the size of WML was too bulky for my liking. That was until the Streamlight TLR-7 Sub series of WMLs became available.
I’ve been carrying this one on my P365X for over a year, and it is plenty bright with 500 lumens and decent run time as well. This would be an excellent accessory for a P365 or G43/48 carry pistol.
7. Safariland Schema IWB Holster
The Safariland Schema is an inexpensive, extremely simple, and effective holster for that gun owner who carries a micro-compact pistol for their EDC. I have one for the Sig P365 XL, which also fits my P365X.
It’s a minimalist, lightweight, skeletonized IWB Holster, and it is one of my favorite options. It doesn’t accommodate a weapon-mounted light, but then, its purpose is to be a minimalist.
8. Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 Headset
“Eyes and ears!” remember? Protect your hearing with the Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 Hearing Protection. These are some of my favorite headsets, and I have them in my work bag, ready to go for the range or at a moment’s notice to simultaneously protect my hearing and enhance my situational awareness.
9. Safariland Hatch Task Medium Police Duty Glove
These TSK324 – Task Medium Police Duty Gloves are a good mix of protection and dexterity. I have had many pairs of Hatch gloves over the years, and they have served me well and have been very durable through hard use.
10. Mean Gene Leather Renegade Belt 1.25″
This is no mere mortal belt. This is like an up-armored, up-gunned super belt that belongs on a superhero (though maybe not one that wears spandex). This will provide a sturdy and stable platform for anyone’s EDC setup. The Mean Gene Leather Renegade Belt is an excellent belt made with high-quality leather, with multiple leather options. I have had mine for several months, and it is one of the easiest belts to use. They are also customizable with the buckle. They also look great, which, let’s face it, is important.
11. Holosun EPS Carry Micro Red Dot Sight
Buying for someone who runs a G43/G48 or P365 that is cut with RMSc footprint? Well then, this is an excellent micro red dot sight for him. It is a closed-emitter design, which makes it perfect for EDC, especially IWB.
I’ve had both an open emitter as well as the EPS Carry. Let’s just say the EPS Carry won over the previous red dot sight for me, and that’s what I still carry to this day. There are a few models available, including red and green dots and a cross-hair reticle. I prefer the 2 MOA dot.
12. EDC Nexbelt
Here is another great EDC belt system if your intended gift recipient isn’t into leather belts (or heavy-duty rigs like that MGL above). The Nylon EDC Nexbelt ratcheting design is easy to use and adjust. It is a great option for EDC, or if you’re gifting to a Peace Officer, for plain clothes duty, or detectives who don’t wear a full duty Belt.
The EDC Nexbelt from Safariland is an everyday belt made specifically for people who carry a handgun. It works great for a multitude of other tasks as well.
13. Safariland 575 IWB GLS Pro-Fit Holster
Here is another IWB option, this time with an active retention system. The 575 IWB GLS Pro-Fit has the Grip Locking System or GLS. You use your middle finger to press the button underneath the trigger guard to quickly release the pistol.
The low-cut, compact design of the 575 makes concealment easy while allowing for a quick draw. Should the giftee prefer an OWB or outside waistband, it includes over- or under-the-belt loop attachments. Nice, eh?
14. Safariland 7378 7TS ALS Concealment Paddle Holster
Picking up something for someone who runs a slick pistol with just the iron sights and likes paddle holsters? Then the 7378 7TS Concealment Paddle holster may just be the one for them. It has the ALS retention system, which is secure and fast to deploy when needed. It is adjustable for cant, and the paddle fits belt widths up to 1.75 inches.
15. Real Avid AR15 Armorer’s Master Kit
This entry in our list of gifts for gun lovers is more long-gun related. If your intended gift recipient has one or a few AR-15 rifles at home (and gosh, we hope they do!), we’re certain this is something they’ll love: Real Avid AR15 Armorer’s Master Kit.
This kit has everything you need — and then some — to build or work on any AR15, and many other platforms as well. It comes in a durable hard case that keeps it all together, so he won’t have to look all over the garage for the tool he needs.
Gifts for gun lovers: give your favorite gun owner something they’ll celebrate receiving
They’re already going to be celebrating whatever they’re getting the gift for, but let’s make that gift something they’ll celebrate.
We hope we help you accomplish this with our buyer’s guide to gifts for gun lovers.
