Photographs by the writer
Trailblazer Firearms has a few distinctive merchandise, one in all which is their 9mm Pivot folding PCC… search for a overview of that gun quickly.
Their different innovation is a folding .22LR, wallet-sized, single-shot pistol referred to as the LifeCard.
Effectively, OK, except you may have a humongous pockets, it wouldn’t match, however the LifeCard isn’t a complete lot bigger than some wallets. The primary-generation LifeCard did slot in an Altoid field… they’re fairly tiny.
So… was ist das LifeCard? One thing really distinctive, for certain. (Discover this one has a threaded barrel… we shot a suppressed LifeCard throughout my go to to the Trailblazer Firearms facility in Fletcher, NC. It was quiet – a enjoyable gun.)
Pocket Pistol Re-Imagined
Many people like to hold a handgun of some kind in a pocket, hopefully in a holster (I’ve a private, monogrammed soapbox I stand on to evangelise concerning the necessity of pocket holsters, however that’s a unique rant.)
I do know I like my S&W Bodyguard 2.0 .380 in a Falco Kydex pocket holster, or a leather-based one… I’ve a overview popping out about these. It retains the pistol’s set off guard coated and retains moisture away from the gun. Pocket holsters for each pistols and revolvers should not uncommon. So, how did Trailblazer Firearms (TF) break the mould for pocket pistols and holsters?
They made a last-ditch, deep-concealment single-shot gun that folds (or unfolds, relying in your timing) from a small aluminum rectangle right into a full-size-gripped, threaded-barrel, trigger-fired handgun. It is available in .22 LR, and now additionally in .22 Magnum. It even has ammo storage within the grip.
(I do know, these are empty circumstances, however you get the purpose)
OK… I might guess that, in case you haven’t seen one in all these earlier than, you’re scratching your head by now. Let’s take a look at some images, then we’ll discuss concerning the particulars.
Specs
Calibers: .22WMR / .22LR
Motion: Single Motion
Size (Closed): 3.375″
Peak (Closed): 2.125″
Thickness: 0.5″
Weight: 7 oz.
Supplies: Aluminum / Metal / Polymer
End: Corrosion Resistant
Security: Won’t hearth when closed
MSRP: $239 – $299
Choices, We Acquired Choices…
You could have choices, as nicely (at the very least within the LR model).
Your first selection is caliber. I discussed that they make each LR and magnum variations.
Subsequent, in case you select an LR variant, you will get a polymer grip or a threaded barrel. These should not supplied within the magnum fashions. I visited the TF facility in North Carolina, and Manufacturing Supervisor Chad and I took turns capturing a suppressed LifeCard. Speak about enjoyable with a gun! Search for my article that includes my go to to TF on this website quickly.
How about colours/finishes? I counted 13 variations. Want fancy grip tape? Simply order it with the gun. (You may order from their website and so they’ll ship it to your native FFL.)
Why You May Take into account One Of These
Let’s face it. The LifeCard isn’t precisely fast into motion, and you wouldn’t wish to carry it in its unfolded state… the set off is uncovered. So why precisely would you contemplate one in all these?
As I see it, that query may be answered with, “to at all times have a gun with you”. This little man matches simply into its high quality leather-based pockets and slips effortlessly into your again pocket, purse, backpack, and so on. It’s tiny. You wouldn’t carry it as your major CCW, but it surely’s reassuring to know that it’s shut by, able to go. Granted, the threaded-barrel mannequin, as we’ve got right here, provides a bump on one finish that can stick out, but it surely’s nothing that may’t be dealt with. It will probably’t hearth when folded, so it’s protected to maintain a spherical loaded.
Right here’s one other use for the LifeCard that I got here up with, dwelling within the boonies as we do. Chickens… I’m in an ongoing battle with varmints over our chickens. We lately misplaced a number of chickens to a rampaging coon… I caught him in a dwell lure and dispatched him with my suppressed HM Protection Stealth 5.56mm AR. I do know – most likely overkill, however I search for each excuse to shoot that nice, quiet rifle. It labored.
I might see the LifeCard filling the function of coop protector. Since coons, possums, and so on., should not in a rush to go away the chicken-rich space, I might have time to unfold it and put it in motion. Even when I missed the primary time, I’ve ammo out there within the grip. An LR model would work nicely, and the magnum, even higher.
How Does It Shoot?
Common readers of my gun opinions know that I submit goal images, talk about primary ballistics, and, basically, report how weapons shoot. I received’t try this right here… this isn’t your on a regular basis bullseye or competitors handgun.
Right here’s the drill… fairly easy. You could have two sliding levers, as you possibly can see from the images. One releases the barrel, and the opposite unlocks the grip folding mechanism. Launch the grip folder and open the gun up, then launch the barrel upwards. Load a cartridge, and click on the barrel again down. Pull the cocking mechanism again to cock it, and hearth. Pop the barrel as much as take away the empty, and do it once more.
For what it’s, it did very nicely. We shot it at “get-off-me” ranges, at a paper goal. I didn’t try to measure group measurement, as there may be solely a rudimentary rear notch and no entrance sight. Anyway, with the threaded barrel sticking up, the rear notch turns into a suggestion. Right here’s the necessary half… the gun hit the place it was pointed. If, Heaven forbid, you’d ever be put right into a scenario the place you wanted to make use of this gun for cover, it ought to hit near the place you level it.
I’ve a Clear Ballistics gel block or two that simply sit on a desk by my bench… their artificial building permits them to take a seat out in all varieties of climate. We put a bullet into it, out of curiosity… the load we had been capturing was just a few unusual Winchester .22LR ammo, nothing particular.
It penetrated over 10 inches… we had been impressed! That’s the bullet below the white “squiggle” beneath. We shot from the fitting, and the bullet spun round.
I do know that .22LR isn’t a most well-liked defensive caliber… I get it. However, in a close-up, “bad-breath-distance” situation, it certain beats a sharp stick or rock.
LifeCard “Bling”
I simply obtained some gadgets that can “costume up” your LifeCard and are helpful additions. Right here is the general hyperlink to the Trailblazer Firearms retailer, the place you should buy all of this stuff.
First, there’s a charging deal with that you could add to the cocking mechanism. It makes it tremendous straightforward to cock the hammer.
Right here it’s. It’s a easy screw-on deal with. You get the Allen wrench, too.
Subsequent, how about grip tape? You see it within the images above. The tape is translucent and has a number of items to evolve to completely different areas on the gun. It’s been nicely thought-out.
Discover there’s even a chunk for the sliding ammo field cowl. Talking of that ammo field, you will get what they name a “Rattle Cease”. I observed that, after I had the three cartridges in that field, they rattled. It was noticeable. This small, fitted sticky rubber pad goes into the nicely and stops that rattle. This isn’t earth-shaking, but it surely works as marketed. You may form of see it on this picture, behind the cartridges.
Lastly, you will get some primo leather-based wallets to place your LifeCard in. They arrive in black – a easy pouch – and brown. The brown one folds and has a small pocket book inside. Once more, somebody thought this via very nicely. These are handsome items of leather-based.
There’s additionally a rebuild equipment out there that features screws, springs, and so on., in case a component breaks and it is advisable to change it. You order the equipment, and it’s acquired all the pieces you want.
Right here is my LifeCard, folded up and able to go. The threaded barrel won’t be bare for much longer… my suppressors have been authorized, and I’ll decide them up quickly. After all, that takes this little man out of the small-pocket enviornment, however it’s what it’s.
Summing Up
The LifeCard isn’t meant to be your major CCW. This distinctive little blaster comes into its personal as a last-ditch weapon. It isn’t the quickest to behave… unfolding takes a number of seconds… however it’s protected to hold loaded in its pockets, as it might’t hearth when folded. I might see some shooters working drills, pulling the LC out of its pockets, unfolding it, cocking it towards a timer, however that’s not its objective. It exists to supply a closing layer of safety for its proprietor, and it does that nicely.
As I stated above, it’s enjoyable to shoot. I’ve a .22 suppressor sitting, wading via bureaucratic crimson tape, and after I decide it up, it would go on the LifeCard for a bit. It’s simply the “unique-ness” of the factor… there’s nothing else prefer it that I’ve ever seen.
