Category: Field Gear

Scot’s Product Review: Laser Ammo Shooting Practice System

I have mixed feelings about electronics and prepping. There is always that sense of dread that someday I might not be able to get electricity to run electronics, plus there is the chance of an event that will disrupt them. On the other hand, electronics are extremely useful. I wouldn’t be able to get this article to you without them, for example. My compromise has been to try to avoid buying electronics that don’t fulfill some real purpose on the road to building a self-sufficient life for my family. One of the electronics items I’ve been wanting to try has …


Letter Re: The Pachamanca: A Survivalist’s Feast

One alternative to the pachamancha pit is the “haybox cooker”. My experience involves only foods cooked with lots of liquid, but the idea is to get the food to a rolling boil, then pack it away in a well-insulated environment for six hours or so. Traditionally, people used a box filled with straw, but modern alternatives exist, typically in the form of a simple metal pot and an insulated larger pot with a tight-fitting lid. Amazon should turn up several examples under the search term “thermal cooker”. – EQR


Scot’s Product Review: G-Code Holsters

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A friend told me about G-Code Holsters, when I was looking for a holster to use in “the bump in the night” kit I was putting together. I had settled on a belt, after trying several other setups, and I needed a holster for it. This is not for normal, concealed, everyday carry but rather something that I could quickly don in an emergency that would work with either my soft or hard body armor. One key element was to be able to get it on quickly, regardless of how I’m dressed. My normal carry is an inside the waist …


Three Letters Re: Ching and Rhodesian Slings

Scot, I wanted to thank you for your review of the Ching Sling on Survival Blog. Eric and I attended some classes together at Gunsite, and became friends. I was much saddened at his unexpected passing at WAY too young an age. Your comments brought back some fine memories and for that I thank you! I have a Ching sling on my hunting rifle and really like it. o o o Hello, The book mentioned, M/SGT James R. Owens’ book Leather Sling and Shooting Positions is also available in an updated PDF version on CD-rom from Mister Owens’ website : …


Letter Re: Taking WFA Courses

HJL, I’d like to add another positive comment about taking a WFA course. I attended a WFA class taught by SOLO (Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities) at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, NC. I had previously attended a Red Cross first aid class and came away, as I put it, underwhelmed. So long as you could call someone else, their instruction and procedure was okay, but remove the “civilization” element and you basically have a box of band-aids and kind words. As a previous poster indicated, the WFA covers a lot of “what if”situations and how to deal with …


Minimizing The BOB And Permaculture, by N.E.

I have come to a point within my preparedness goals that my life style has changed, as I spend the majority of my time seeking self sufficiency, with less dependence upon the globalized system. With this life style, I focus on preparedness with two schools of thought– short-term emergencies and long-term emergencies. This post is two parts, with the first being short-term emergencies, the BOB, and ways to minimize your ruck. The second part is focusing on the long emergency with Permaculture (sustainable gardening). Part 1- Knowledge and Items for Short-term Emergencies I highly recommend everyone interested in preparedness take …


Scot’s product Review: Ching and Rhodesian Slings

I’m going to have to explain a few things before I can properly review today’s product, so please bear with me; I will get there! I’ve heard slings called the rifle’s equivalent of the pistol’s holster. It’s not a bad analogy, but that only speaks to carrying the rifle. The right type of sling can also improve one’s ability to get hits with the rifle. What most shooters use to carry the rifle is a simple strap that allows them to carry it over their shoulder. There are also the so-called tactical slings that also allow you to carry the …


Letter Re: Officer Survival Initiative First Aid Materials

Scot, I enjoyed your article entitled Product Review: Officer Survival Initiative First Aid Materials. I am a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School and a three-time graduate of the Wilderness Medicine Institute’s Wilderness First Aid Course (a re-certification is required every two years). I have three points: First, Wilderness First Aid has a different orientation than regular Red Cross First Aid courses. The latter are quite practical for most of us who live in cities and towns and focus on assessing and stabilizing a victim, while an ambulance is on its way. In the back country when help is …


Scot’s Product Review: Officer Survival Initiative First Aid Materials

Officer Survival Initiative (OSI) says they are “a bunch of current and reformed medics, law enforcement, military, and general trigger puller types who want to help you come home at the end of the day.” That’s a great goal and one they are clearly advancing to. They have put a lot of energy into the law enforcement field, as the name implies, but they also make first aid stuff for outdoors folks and the prepping market. They were kind enough to let me look at some of their kits and modules. The Advantage II Personal Vehicle Aid Kit The first …


The Little Things, by Claymor – Part II

Accepting the probability that eventually Patriots are going to be reduced to the bare necessities of survival, I am reviewing seven “little things” to be considered by all preppers in a bug out situation. Part one looked at the first four items. Part two will finish off the seven with the last three items. Fire Starter. Sooner than later in any survival situation you’re going to need fire. Beyond the obvious, like keeping you warm and cooking food, a fire is comforting in a hostile bug out situation. A little comfort will likely go a long way. The warm glow …


Letter Re: Milt Sparks Holsters

HJL, I have to concur with Scot’s article regarding Milt Sparks Holsters. They are in my opinion the finest handmade holsters available on the market today. I would add the following regarding the Summer Special 2 and the Versa Max 2, both of which I own and use. The Summer Special 2 is a low riding IWB holster that works best when made with cowhide rough side out. The belt loops are closer together than on the Versa Max 2, which can cause the holster to shift when moving. The rough side out helps the holster to stay more stable …


The Little Things, by Claymor – Part I

We’ve all seen the YouTube videos, watched the TV shows, and read the latest articles on prepping and survival that show stocked food pantries, high tech gear, arsenals of guns, and stockpiles of ammo, which are all necessary for an ultimate survival situation where you’re held up in the comfort of your home. However, considering the fact that ultimate survival in a real-life scenario will likely be short lived, these means will be abandoned, reducing one to the mere little things they can carry on their person and in a backpack. It doesn’t take much consideration to conclude that bugging …


Scot’s Product Review: Milt Sparks Holsters

In a way, I am reluctant to write about Milt Sparks as it will probably just make it harder the next time I need a holster, but my readers deserve to know, so here goes. Milt Sparks Holsters is named for its founder, Milt Sparks. Sparks began making holsters in the early days of competitive combat shooting in the 1960’s and 70’s. Magazine writer and founder of the International Practical Shooting Confederation, Lt. Colonel Jeff Cooper, among others, helped popularize Sparks’ work. What really made Sparks’ products so popular, though, is the quality of design and production. The only problem …


Three Letters Re: Bench Space, by Scot Frank Eire

Dear Scott Frank Erie, Thanks for your excellent article on bench space. I thought I would share a low cost but very versatile system with you that I have used for years to save bench space. I have installed “T” nuts throughout my work benches to easily bolt and remove 1” thick plywood panels of assorted sizes which, in turn, serve as bases for loading tools, a mini lathe and mill, drill sharpener, assorted vises, et cetera. In case a reader might not be familiar with them, a “T” nut is inserted from the backside of a piece of wood …


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 …