I recently transitioned into a new daypack/SAR pack: the Mystery Ranch Scree 32. The Scree 32 is a mid-sized, Goldilocks-size pack. It’s on the large size for a day pack and the small size for all but the skimpiest of overnight trips, but it’s just right for my uses. Let’s take a look!
My Pet Monster: Shotgun Skills with Tim & Ashton
Yesterday I attended Shotgun Skills with FPF Training. Taught by Tim Chandler and Ashton Ray, this is my first formal shotgun class. Bottom line up front: if you’re looking to improve your existing shotgun skills or gain new ones, if you want to tame the monster and turn it into a pet, you should consider this class.
Recce Patrolling V: Basic Patrolling Skills
In our last post we covered recce team insertion. Today we are going to cover some basic patrolling skills. Patrolling is nothing more than moving through the woods, but there is some technique to it. This post will mainly focus on team techniques and SOPs.
WML Review: Streamlight TLR-7 Sub (Sig)
One slight “con” to many modern, subcompact pistols has been a dearth of available weapon-mounted lights (WML). The new(ish) Streamlight TLR-7 Sub is game-changer. It provides a lightweight, durable, and extremely capable capable light for subcompacts like the Sig P365/365 XL and Glock 43X/48, and is the subject of this review.
Recce Patrolling IV: Recce Team Insertion
A recce patrol begins at insert, and insert is a really vulnerable time for a patrol. This post intends to talk through some considerations for recce team insertion. It also discusses how other, seemingly unrelated skills are vital to successful recce operations.
WML Review: InForce WML Gen2
The Inforce family of lights is nothing new – these lights have been around for quite some time. I actually own two InForce WML Gen2 lights, but on cleaning out the safe the other day I realized I’ve never reviewed them. Let’s take a look.
Basics of Wilderness Survival Shelter Building
The ability to build a wilderness survival shelter is one of the most critical survival skills you can possess. Being stranded outdoors can be lethal without the ability to protect yourself from the elements. Shelter provides you protection from the elements: rain/snow, wind, cold, and beating sun. An effective shelter also provides a huge psychological boost and a sense of security.
Recce Patrolling III: The Recce Rifle & Weapons
This installment of my recce series was unintended. I had planned to talk about weapons in the gear article. However. I just kept writing and writing, and writing, and realizing I hadn’t said what I wanted to say. So I broke out into two articles. It buys me an extra week of content, and it lets me more fully explore the concept of the recce rifle and discuss other recce patrol guns, which I’m sure you won’t mind.
Know a Knot: The Swiss Seat
Welcome back to Know a Knot! It’s been a while, but you asked for it! This time we’re talking about the Swiss seat. The Swiss seat is a knot that is tied around your body to form an expedient rappelling harness. It’s not exactly a knot, but knowing how to tie one is pretty important if you’re a serious outdoorsman. Let’s get into it.
Basic Skills: How To Change Your Own Oil
Knowing how to change your own oil is a very basic step in becoming more mechanically proficient. I’m not a mechanic by any means, but I have changed my own oil for a long time now. If your car’s hood is a sealed mystery box and you want to get a little more familiar, learning how to change your own oil is a really approachable first step.