By David Crane
david (at) defensereview (dot) com
October 10, 2017
While DefenseReview (DR) was at the Handl Defense booth at SOFIC (Special Operations Forces Industryi Conference) 2017, we got to check out the Haley Strategic Partners HSP Skimmer Trigger and HSP Th1rte3n Sights for for Glock 9mm combat/tactical pistols, and they looked pretty good. We’ll cover the Skimmer first, since that’s what most interested us.
Here at DR, we’re unabashed and vocal fans of the Nous Defions Arsenal Democracy SWiTCH (Simplified Weapon Integrated Trigger-Combat/Hard use) Trigger for Glock pistols, which is an instant on/off-switch-type trigger thats still incredibly strong, durable, and safe, due to its design. The HSP Skimmer Trigger has a very similar action feel to the SWiTCH, but DR doesn’t yet know how close it actually is design-wise, since we weren’t allowed to see the actual internal mechanism. The Skimmer is nice looking though, and a bit more streamlined aesthetically/visually, while the SWiTCH looks a little more robust.
To determine which trigger is actually better, we’d want DR writer/contributer and chief new-product tester Jeff Gurwitch to run the Skimmer and SWiTCH either side-by-side or back-to-back at the range. Gurwitch is both an experienced 3-Gun shooter and retired SOF (Special Operations Forces) assaulter/operator, so he’s well positioned to render a judgement on it, and we trust his judgement implicitly. For the record, the SWiTCH is currently our favorite Glock pistol trigger of all time for combat/tactical applications. It’s pretty badass. But, we’ll keep an open mind. Competition is a good thing.
Editor’s Note: DR assumes Haley Strategic is developing a Skimmer Trigger for the new Gen5 Glock 17 and Glock 19 M-series 9mm pistols, but we’re not sure. We know that Nous Defions Arsenal Democracy has already done so.
Ideally, while he’s at it, we’d also like him to run the Haley Strategic HSP Th1rte3n Sights (Tritium Rear, Tritium Front) for Glock 9mm Parabellum/9×19 NATO pistols in both daylight and low-light/nighttime conditions, to seek how he likes them. If he does, then they’re good to go. According to Aaron Rodriguez of Handl Defense, the Th1rte3n Sights take into account human saccadic eye movement, defined as “a quick, simultaneous movement of both eyes between two or more phases of fixation in the same direction,” according to Wikipedia. Wikipedia goes on to clarify, stating “For clarification, saccade movements are very fast jumps from one eye position to another whereas in smooth pursuit movements, eyes move smoothly instead of in jumps.”
Bottom line, the HSP Th1rte3n Sights are designed to “simplify some of that movement, [and] give you faster sight and target acquisition in a number of different environments,” says Rodriguez. The sights also sport a pyramidic design with a curved base, to blend with the lines of the pistol.
The following information on the HSP Skimmer Trigger comes directly from the Haley Strategic website:
“HALEY STRATEGIC SKIMMER TRIGGER
Product Code: GT-13
SKU: GT-13
AVAILABILITY: In Stock
$159.95 (USD)
5.5 lb connector option only available through glocktriggers.com.
Made from 100% Glock Factory parts, the Haley Strategic Skimmer enhanced carry trigger system is a non-adjustable drop in trigger for Glock handguns. The Skimmer trigger features a pre-travel reduction modification to the first stage of the trigger press. After pressing through the predictable wall, the trigger delivers a crisp and consistent break. This will allow a reduction in pre-shot muzzle movement by the shooter and allow for increased accuracy on target.”
The following information on the HSP Th1rte3n Sights (Tritium Rear, Tritium Front) comes directly from the Haley Strategic website:
HALEY STRATEGIC TH1RTE3N SIGHTS (TRITIUM REAR TRITIUM FRONT)
>Product Code: 13SIGHTS-FTRT
SKU: 13SIGHTS-FTRT
AVAILABILITY: In Stock
$139.00 (USD)
FOR GLOCK HANDGUNS, EXCEPT SMALL FRAME GLOCKS
Precision CNC machined from heat treated1 416 stainless and finished in Black Oxide.
Built for the every day carry responsible armed citizen, Law enforcement and Military.
The HSP TH1RTE3N Glock Handgun sights were designed based around the science of how the human eye acquires sight alignment and sight picture under precision or stress sight picture situations. Handgun sights are installed on a handgun to add more precision; this is what the HSP13 were designed around. Under “critical stress” shooting, we know that the Body Alarm Response (BAR) instantly takes control and increases the blood flow to the center field of vision. This in return increases your visual efficiency on the threat. During this immediate process, it is very difficult to focus on anything other than the threat. Your eyes observe, your brain orients, and you then decide on an action to take. During this immediate BAR response process, you will look through your sights with your focal plane fixed on the target due to it being a positive and natural human defense mechanism.
With this theory in mind, the widths of the front sight or rear sight notch are irrelevant. The idea that your front sight and or rear notch need to be large for faster target acquisition is misguided, according to current research by visual experts. However, precision sight picture does matter when the information continues to the higher cognitive portion of the brain during situations where a decision has consciously been made to use a higher level of precision for hostage taker or long-range shots for example. In this case, the HSP 13 sights are designed with a .125 front width sight and a .125 rear sight notch. This will refine the sight picture during the trigger press, decreasing human error and increasing hit probability on a precision target.
-TH1RTE3N sights are precision CNC machined from heat treated1 416 stainless and finished in Black Oxide.
-TH1RTE3N sights are hard duty / carry sights with a distinctive rear sight charging cuts for single hand applications.
-TH1RTE3N front sight diameters are .215 height by .125 wide and come with a .070 tritium front sight insert.
-TH1RTE3N rear sight diameters are .250 height with .125 bottom tapered notch, optional in black out or dual .070 Tritium inserts.
-Please use a .050 Allen Head Tool for Rear Sight installation
100% made and manufactured in the USA”
Company Contact Info:
Haley Strategic
16655 N. 90th St
Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Email Customer Service: [email protected]
Email Training: [email protected]
Website: https://www.haleystrategic.com
Handl Defense
8134 304th Ave SE
Preston, WA 98050
Phone: 425-891-1197
Fax: 360-886-5069
Email contact Page: https://www.handldefense.com/contact/
Website: https://www.handldefense.com
Nous Defions, LLC
48 Commerce Lane, Ste. 7
Freeport, FL 32439
Phone: 850-296-2122
Email Contact Page: http://www.arsenaldemocracy.us/connect/
Website: http://www.arsenaldemocracy.us
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/arsenaldemocracy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arsenal_democracy/
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