Category: Field Gear

Scot’s Product Review: Bench Space

Like a lot of shooters and preppers, I reload most of the ammunition I shoot. While I agree with those who say they can reload better ammunition than the factory makes, my main motivation is saving money so I can shoot more. I suspect that is true of most reloaders. A problem I have is space. Reloading presses and equipment need to be solidly mounted to a workbench. They also need space around them to work in. I don’t have room for a bench dedicated to reloading. Mine has to share duties with Pinewood Derby cars for my son, broken …


Letter: Revision Eyewear

Hugh, I’ve been issued many pairs of Revision Sawfly eyewear in the Army. At first, I had no choice but to use them (and didn’t know there were other options out there either). My biggest problem with them is that the lenses didn’t protect me that well on the sides. I’ve had plenty of sand blow into my eyes. However, I’ve served with quite a few who’ve had no issues with the Revision Sawfly’s, and they appeared to fit well on the face. I do like Revision’s Desert Locust goggles. They work pretty well, keeping dirt and sand out of …


Building Your Own No-FFL AR From An 80% Complete Receiver, by JAG

I read the “Building Your Own No-FFL AR From an 80% Complete Receiver” article by NOMAD several months ago and decided to try building my own AR-15. I have re-written his article to update it with my research and experiences. Why build instead of buy complete: Save a little money. The AR-15 platform is an inexpensive weapon overall, and owning one is on-par with buying a much less versatile bolt-action rifle. So for a similar price you get additional versatility. Bolt action rifles are great for reaching out beyond 200 yards, but if the pack of wolves or wild dogs …


Two Letters Re: Tornado Survival and Recovery

Jim, I have a comment to add to the Tornado Survival and Recovery article by J.M. The information was great, but one vital item was not mentioned as part of J.M.’s tornado kit. That item would be a sturdy pair of boots. A good pair of boots is important to have when you emerge from your area of safety and have to walk through debris (nails, glass, splintered wood, metal). – R. o o o Hugh, I can make a quick suggestion for those who have to drive after a tornado or hurricane. When roofs get ripped off of buildings, …


Test Your Gear (And Have Fun!), by A.T.

Let me begin by saying that I am still relatively new to “prepping”. So you will have to forgive me if some of this is second nature to a lot of you folks. I have come across a few random articles that speak, in general, about ensuring that you know how to use your gear and periodically trying things on to make sure they still fit and so on. What I could not seem to find was something a little more specific on gear testing and, particularly, some ideas for those with time constraints. In the spirit of potentially helping …


Scot’s product Review: Quick Hits

Holster Ops Magazine Pouch I think anyone who carries a defensive handgun needs to carry spare ammunition. In today’s world, bad things are happening and it may be necessary to have a reload magazine handy. Additionally, many semi-auto pistol problems are caused by a magazine issue and being able to dump and replace the one in the gun might be the indicated response. I have long carried two magazines for my Colt Commander but recently decided to add a third spare. We 1911 sorts are somewhat ammunition limited, and it occurred to me, as I read of flash mobs and …


Bug Out Bag Strategy, by S.G. – Part 2

Vehicle Bug Out Bag You’ve just headed out the door after being told to evacuate and driven a short ways. All of a sudden, whamo!, you’ve blown a water hose, and you lose all your engine coolant. It’s late in the day on Highway 88 near Silver Lake, California, or some other similarly remote area, and you realize that the normally light traffic is nonexistent today. You’re probably stuck overnight. To make matters worse, it’s very cold, with rain that’s starting to look more and more like snow. Are you and your vehicle prepared? If you’re like a lot of …


Bug Out Bag Strategy, by S.G. – Part 1

It’s the middle of the night, and you get a call from the local authorities that a mandatory evacuation has just been ordered because of a major fire. You’ve been given 10 minutes to evacuate because no one expected the fire to turn your way so soon, and you have no time to do anything but grab what you can and jump in your vehicle to head out for parts unknown. What’s a BOB? Let’s start with a simple definition of what a bug out bag is. It’s some form of bag or backpack you’ve prepared that you can grab …


Letter: I See the Light

Hugh, FYI. Sam’s Club has a 3-pack of TASCO XR5 “Tactical” Cree LED flashlights for $19.98. They are 250 lumen on high power with a low power setting and a strobe setting. Three AAA batteries are included per flashlight (nine total). It is brighter than my Fenix TK 10 (~$70.00 for one) and about the same size. They’re also shock proof and water resistant. The Fenix uses a CR 123 battery, which is much more expensive but will also last much longer than the one hour @ 250 lumens from the three AAA batteries. Still, it is 1/10th the cost …


Letter Re: A Different Look at the Tactical Flashlight

Hugh, I enjoyed D. Hacker’s article on flashlight use, and I look forward to trying the technique. Here are a couple of additions for the readers from a night shift cop: Hacker hit on it a little bit talking about not cheating from reflective light. One of my favorite light techniques is simply pointing the beam at the ceiling when entering a dark room. The reflective light from most modern flashlights is enough to fully light up the room. If your light technique does not illuminate your sights, this may not be a totally bad thing. You can get a …


A Different Look At The Tactical Flashlight, by D. Hacker

There are many aspects of survival and many different scenarios you may need to survive. It does little good having three years of food saved up, if you don’t survive a gun battle during the first week of TEOTWAWKI. With this article, I hope to give you an additional skill you may use to help you survive one type of survival situation. This is a situation where you have to use a handgun to defend yourself in a no light or low light environment. Before we get too involved here, let’s review the four important firearm safety rules: All guns …


Two Letters Re: Waterproofing Matches

Hugh, I’ve been doing this for years but not all nail polish works, it all keeps the matches waterproof but some polish puts the flame out. If you can try to get the polish that says HIGHLY FLAMMABLE on the back – this is getting a lot harder to find. Cover half way down 3 matches and when dry test them (away from the polish and the matches) you soon know if your OK. If you are do the rest top half and then the base up. I did not find this out the hard way and you don’t want …


Pat’s Product Review – Cold Steel Recon Scout

Over the years, I’ve tested quite a few knives from Cold Steel, and I’ve yet to be disappointed in any of them. We’re going to take a closer look at the Cold Steel Recon Scout. This is one brute of a fixed blade knife, which is made In Taiwan, for those who ask. I’ve known Lynn Thompson, who owns Cold Steel, for at least 20 years or more, and he is one of these people who is dead serious about his knife designs and the final product. Lynn has, on more than one occasion, sent back an entire run of …


Four Letters Re: A Primer on Handgun Holsters

HJL. I am a long time reader of survival blog and find the info very helpful. I noticed the comment on Thunderwear holsters and thought I would pass on my take on it. I am a large guy. Concealment of even a large frame handgun is relatively easy for me, but that limits me to only certain modes of dress. So, I tried thunderwear over 10 years ago and never looked back. I every day carry a ruger sp101 in .357 mag and did carry a 41mag for a few years, both stainless. I also carried a .45 1911 briefly. …


Letter Re: A Primer on Handgun Holsters

Hugh, Although B.D. doesn’t like Thunderwear, from my personal experience, it is a must have for those of us that live in warm climates where clothing can be a big issue. When you’re wearing a bathing suit and tee-shirt (like many of us do here in Florida), it is a super way to carry a weapon concealed. Otherwise, the weight of a typical carry weapon will have your trunks around your ankles, and there are typically no belts with a pair of swim trunks. Thunderwear is great for the tropics. – S.V. HJL Replies: I would be interested in hearing …