Fallkniven S1 Pro Knife Review for 2020: Survival Knife
The 5 Best Scout Scopes for the Money — Rifle Optic Reviews 2020 Photo by Davidwhitewolf / CC BY Jeff Cooper, gun expert extraordinaire, had the concept for the “scout rifle” back in the 1980’s. Cooper envisioned a lightweight, handy rifle that would be suitable for hunting and combat roles. Among the many particular features he ascribed to this concept, one was a forward mounted low power scope. He considered the low power scope ideal when mounted forward of the action over the barrel as it made for fast sight acquisition and better stability in mounting, plus left the action free for rapid reloading. To that end, the low power long eye relief scope, long a handgun only proposition, soon evolved into the concept we now know as the “scout scope.” Following Colonel Cooper’s principals, the best scout scope is a low power, long eye relief scope which we can mount in a forward position on a suitable rifle. Given the daunting number of suitable scopes on the market, we scoured the internet for you and found some of the best ones here: Leupold VX Scout Scope Leupold VX-R 1.5-5x33mm Riflescope, FireDot Duplex Reticle, Black Price: Price as of 08/14/2020 13:58 PDT (more info) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. This is probably the closest thing to what Jeff Cooper had in mind when he devised the scout rifle concept, making this the best scout scope period. Oh, and it is made by Leupold, which doubly makes it the best. With its 1.5 to 5 power magnification, it is more like an optical sight than a true scope, and is ideal for scout rifle applications. If you are building a custom rifle, you owe it to yourself to stick the best quality scope you can find on it, and you’ll be hard pressed to outdo a Leupold. Ruger Scout rifle-308--Leupold scout scope,with good iron muzzle brake. Watch this video on YouTube
.30 Carbine A Complete Guide (Ammo, History and Guns)
Advertisment The .30 Carbine cartridge is an interesting one, with an interesting history. It’s not a round most people are familiar with, despite its impact on the world. I mean, this is essentially the first “intermediate cartridge” and the overall design goal for this would eventually lead to the 5.56 NATO/.223 that we all know and love today. This round, and the rifle it was designed to be fired from, the M1 Carbine , had a substantial impact on the way the US fought its wars, and both are still relevant today. Want to know more about the .30 Carbine? Let’s dig into the history of this somewhat unknown caliber, and talk about where it is today. History Shortly before the outbreak of WWII, the US Army had a problem. Namely, the M1 Garand , that legendary battle rifle that beat the Nazis, was too heavy. At least for support personnel. Imagine: It’s 1938, Germany is making ugly noises throughout Europe, Japan is rattling its sabers (katanas?) and the latest war to end all wars is imminent. You’re a radio operator or maybe an artilleryman, and in addition to your regular field kit and radio/mortar equipment, you also have to carry a full-sized rifle that weighs about 10lbs and is constantly getting in the way, whether carried or slung across your back. Now, you can’t just leave that rifle behind. Going into any combat situation with just a pistol vs rifles and machine guns is just asking for trouble. But you’re also going to be dramatically encumbered by bringing it along. The US Army attempted to address this problem with its carbine program which sought to develop a weapon that was “more than a pistol but less than a rifle.” Remember that phrase as it’s basically the defining parameter of the .30 Carbine. The goal was to develop something that would give officers, artillerymen, radio operators, medics, and other support staff more defensive power than the M1911 sidearm, but without the extra encumbrance of the M1 Garand. What they would eventually settle on was the M1 Carbine chambered in .30 Carbine. The .30 Carbine did a great job of bridging the gap between the .45 ACP round fired by the M1911 and the Thompson Submachine Gun , and the .30-06 round fired by the Garand and the BAR. The M1 Carbine quickly earned a reputation as an effective infantry weapon for support troops. Again, more than a pistol, less than a rifle. The Army also quickly realized that paratroopers jumping with full-length rifles was an untenable prospect at best, and a disaster waiting to happen at worst, so the original M1 carbine design was quickly modified to accommodate folding stocks for paratrooper operations. In the years during and immediately following WWII, millions of M1 carbines were produced, and they stayed in use all the way up to the end of Vietnam and even today they can be found in the hands of some rural police forces, as well as civilian gun collections. During this time, the .30 Carbine earned its place as an excellent “intermediate” cartridge and though it would eventually be replaced by the 5.56×45 in most applications (as would the .30-06 of the Garand), it is still produced in huge numbers today. Today and Ballistics Modern .30 Carbine ammo has come an awfully long way, and owners of original or reproduction M1 carbines have a host of excellent ammo options available beyond the rather anemic (by today’s standards) 110gr FMJ that was originally developed for use with the M1. Ballistically, the .30 carbine is never going to win any awards for a long-range round, but for a defensive weapon designed to be fired at ranges that are “more than (what you want to shoot with) a pistol, but less than (what you can do with) a rifle”? It still fills that niche perfectly. Modern .30 Carbine ammo like Hornday’s 110gr FTX leaves a carbine-length barrel at almost 1900fps…nearly double what the original 110gr FMJs of WWII were capable of. And that extra power is pushing a modern hollow point that is absolutely devastating at self-defense ranges , even through several layers of clothing. You can also get an incredibly stout load like Buffalo Bore’s Full Power+ FMJ which leaves the muzzle at over 2100fps in a carbine-length gun. That gives you a muzzle energy of 1,077ft-lbs. That’s greater than a 220gr .44 Magnum defensive load from a handgun. That’s certainly nothing to sneeze at when it comes to distances inside 100 yards, which is more than enough for defensive-distance use. Out of a pistol , that recoil is going to be rather stout, but fired from a 5lb rifle like an M1 Carbine or a reproduction? Even the most recoil-sensitive shooters will be able to wield it effectively. The M1 Carbine So, .30 Carbine ammo is alive and well…what about the gun it was designed for, the old M1? Like I said before, there are still millions of wartime models out there, but the reproduction market is strong as well. Let’s talk about some of these guns in depth because chances are if you’re interested in .30 Carbine, you’re interested in the M1 as well. The Original M1 Carbine If you’re looking for an original M1 Carbine, condition is going to be the big deciding factor in how much you pay. A service grade paratrooper model is going to run you over $3000 easily, and collector grade offerings often go for $5,000 or more depending on if any of the original equipment is present also. A lower grade model might cost you $1000-$1500 if you catch a pawn shop or gun show one being sold by someone in a good mood. These wartime models are still solid and dependable, but if you’re just looking for something for defensive use or for plinking -a “shooter” instead of a wall-hanger, in other words- give one of the reproductions a try. If you want to own a piece of history however, you could certainly do worse than the M1 Carbine. This is a tangible piece of firearms history that you can proudly display, and even hunt or defend your life and loved ones with. Inland Manufacturing M1 Carbine If you don’t quite have “WWII antique” money to spend, or you’re looking for something that can sit in a toolbox without worry, Inland Manufacturing (not the original Inland Manufacturing, but a company that has taken over the name) makes an excellent reproduction of that fateful carbine in the spirit of the original. This gun is commonly seen at M1 Carbine Matches and is a great home-defense choice for someone looking for a carbine solution. They also look very, very good and take advantage of modern machining and manufacturing advances to give you a gun that quite honestly performs even better than the original does accuracy-wise. They’re typically available for around $1000, and as with all things M1 the paratrooper version is a little more expensive. Auto Ordnance M1 Carbine Auto-Ordnance (now owned by Kahr) was one of the very first companies to start making new M1 carbines. A-O makes all the parts for these carbines new in their Worcester, MA facility on a computerized production line…a far cry from the way the first M1’s were hastily thrown together by anyone the government could find with a machine shop, including a jukebox manufacturer . The new A-O Carbines have a Parkerized finish and walnut furniture. All models, including the paratrooper version, are faithfully accurate recreations of the original carbines, making them great for those who want to own a piece of Americana, maybe a piece similar to what Grandpa carried, but don’t want to pay used car prices for an original model. What Other Firearms are Chambered in .30 Carbine? Of course, .30 Carbine isn’t just for M1 Carbines, even if those are far and away the most popular guns chambered in the caliber. Here are some other great guns chambered in .30 Carbine. Ruger Blackhawk Ruger’s Blackhawk is one of the best selling modern single-action revolvers on the planet, and certainly one of the most reliable and widely-available. It is available in a variety of calibers, including of course the .30 Carbine. These revolvers are absolutely bombproof, 100% reliable, and available just about anywhere guns are sold, though you may have to hunt around online to find a .30 Carbine version. Recoil is stiff, but not unmanageable. Remember, you have a big, heavy, steel frame to soak up a lot of that energy, and the Blackhawk is agreeable all the way up to the .454 Casull range. If you’re looking for a compliment to a larger .30 Carbine gun, this is also a great choice. These guns are accurate, and make for a great companion in bear country, although I’d opt for the .44 Magnum or .454 Casull versions over the .30 Carbine version if I were looking for bear defense. Inland M1 Advisor Okay, this is technically an M1 Carbine variant, but I’m including it because A) its a new-manufactured product that’s very different from your standard M1, and B) there just aren’t that many modern firearms that are still made that aren’t an M1, sorry guys. The Inland Advisor is basically just a cut-down M1 Carbine with a pistol-length barrel and a pistol grip. It’s basically an M1 Pistol. Why does this exist? Well in the latter part of the M1’s duty cycle, it was used heavily in Vietnam. The “Advisor” part comes from the fact that this gun was used extensively by special forces advisors and “tunnel rats” who found the gun to be extremely effective for operations in tight environments and dense jungles. These folks either didn’t have, or just weren’t impressed with the M16, which was kind of a mess at the time, and so they went to a modified version of the old standby, the M1. Today, Inland makes a factory version of this design that gives you a true M1 Carbine pistol that’s even more accurate and reliable than the original. These are a fun novelty but also a great “truck gun” or just general defensive choice for those looking for something different. I wouldn’t exactly call it a concealed carry option though unless you’re big into trench coats. What’s the Best .30 Carbine Ammo? Of course, all these guns aren’t much use without something to feed them with. Here are some great ammo options. Buffalo Bore Full-Power+ If you’re looking to get the absolute most out of your .30 Carbine firearm, "Buffalo Bore’s Full" -Power+ load is a good place to start. This load gives you .44 Magnum energy out of a M1 Carbine barrel…not too shabby for a round that’s almost 100 years old. Hornady FTX Critical Defense Hornady’s Critical Defense line is one of the industry standards when it comes to controlled-expansion hollow points specifically designed for self-defense. I carry this stuff in 9mm on a daily basis, and I’ve seen what most of their offerings do to ballistics gel. I have no problems recommending it to someone looking to use their .30 Carbine firearm for defensive purposes. Prvi Partizan FMJ There are a number of quality FMJ offerings out there for .30 Carbine that don’t have much to distinguish them from each other. Tula, Wolf, and Prvi Partizan are all fairly cheap, or for just a few cents more you can upgrade to something like Remington UMC. All are about the same, quality-wise. Parting Shots .30 Carbine may have been around for a long time, but that doesn’t mean it’s past its use-by date just yet. This venerable round still has some fight in it and is used all over the world. It’s especially important to those who own M1 Carbines, either new models or original. These old (or just old school) guns can still hold their own for everything from hunting to self-defense and are great fun to own and shoot.
6 Handy Tools for Shooters
/* custom css */.td_uid_2_5f379cb69e8a0_rand.td-a-rec-img { text-align: left; } .td_uid_2_5f379cb69e8a0_rand.td-a-rec-img img { margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Stuff needs adjustments and has a way of breaking at the worse times—even guns. From the bench to the range, these are the tools for shooters that deserve a place in your range bag. Leatherman Rail and Pump Leatherman is rolled out two shooting-specific tools for shooters awhile back. The Rail (pictured above), designed for AR fans, includes a replaceable firearm disassembly punch, a carabiner tool, an oxygen tank wrench, a ¼-inch Hex bit driver, 3⁄8-inch open-end wrench and a front sight adjustment tool. A two-piece bit kit includes Phillips, Hex and Torx ends. For shotgun shooters, the Pump boasts a firearm disassembly punch, Hex bit driver, gut hook, choke tube wrench, ¼-inch box wrench, 8mm box wrench, 3⁄8-inch box wrench, scope adjustment tool and similar two-piece bit kit. ($45 for each; leatherman.com) Multitasker Series3 Multitasker was the first to design a tool specifically for AR shooters and the Series3 takes their AR-centric approach to the next level. A CNC-machined plier head and fiber impregnated G10 scales on the handles combine with a castle nut spanner wrench, STD screwdriver for an ACOG mount, 3-inch drop point knife blade, a 3⁄8-inch box wrench, 1.2-inch Hex, a pin punch, a removable four-prong A2-style front sight adjustment tool, 8-32 male thread and 10 Hex bits to round out this rugged tool. ($190; multitaskertools.com) CRKT Picatinny Tool The tactically skeletonized and compact design of the AR-focused Picatinny Tool by CRKT is great for attaching or adjusting CTC sights and aid in the breakdown of ARs and semi-auto pistols for cleaning. It boasts a Hex wrench driver, an 8mm wrench, fold-out pin, bits in Phillips, Torx and Hex, a 2.8-inch fold-out serrated blade with a scraper edge and two CTC Allen tools. ($50; crkt.com) Grace USA Gun Care Tool Set A bench-worthy set of tools, made mobile-friendly in the zippered protective case they come in, the Grace USA "Gun Care Tool" Set comes with the company’s most popular sets of tools. The 17-piece set includes eight screwdrivers, eight brass punches from size 1⁄16 inch to 5⁄16 inch and Grace USA’s specially fabricated 8-ounce brass hammer. ($125; graceusaguntools.com) Gerber eFECT Weapons Tool The eFECT Weapons Tool is made specifically for working with and cleaning an AR-style rifle. It’s also compatible and interchangeable with Otis cleaning components such as brushes, scrapers, picks and rods. It includes an Otis nylon end brush, a patented Saf-T-Lock, a front sight pin tool (interchangeable from four to five pin), a flat driver scraper, a full-bladed scraper, an Otis curved pick and a punch. ($111; gerbergear.com) Real Avid FINI Compact and super useful by shotgunners and riflemen alike, the FINI fits choke tubes for six different gauges ranging from .410 to 10 gauge. The wrench uses a patent-pending step design to quickly and easily slide into the grooves of nearly any choke tube for quick removal and installation. It’s designed to withstand 50 pounds of torque. The slotted tip is also ideal for adjusting windage and elevation turrets on riflescopes. Totes easy by simply clipping on a keychain. ($13; realavid.com) This article appeared in the June 6, 2013 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine . NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Storm Tactical Printable Target Pack 62 Printable MOA Targets with DOT Drills - Rifle Range in YARDS This impressive target pack from our friends at Storm Tactical contains 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range use. Target grids and bullseye sizes are in MOA. Ideal for long-range shooting! Get Free Targets
Survival Gear Review: Yeti Coolers
Owning a Yeti cooler is a rite of passage in the South. Am I kidding or what? Nope. Kids down here ask for Yeti coolers for Christmas for heaven’s sake. The Robinson power family of Duck Commander fame is the poster children of this campaign. Countless celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon, too, so how can we resist not owning one? Of course, for us practical minded, cost conscious tightwads, we have to ask the performance questions and if there is really a value in such an expensive piece of gear as prepping equipment. Let’s look into this whole issue and examine the pros and cons of owning the No.1 name in ice coolers. Is it really practical and useful for survival situations Quick Navigation Food Containment During a SHTF Event Becoming Yetified Think Possibilities The Hype The Proof Stays Frozen Honest Downsides? Conclusion "Food Containment During" a SHTF Event One of the more perplexing issues to solve during a SHTF Bug Out scenario is the reality of having, using, and relying upon perishable food(s), even just one cooler full on the way out the door in route to our remote rural escape hideout. Think with me that this small amount could be just a stop-gap ration until we get settled in and established at the Bug Out camp. Don’t backlash me on this one, because I know the easiest way out of this issue is to go dry foods, freeze-dried packs, and maybe canned goods. But there may be other scenarios when a quick grab cooler or two could be a very feasible option. Heaven knows we have no idea what the SHTF might be. Let’s think positive that we planned ahead and the Bug Out cabin, tent or trailer is already pre-stocked with a good food and water supply to last for months. Maybe the power grid is still up, or it is off or on. Could be we have a small petrol generator to power a deep freeze for a few hours a day. It could happen this way. If not, then our prepping needs to be planned for a much wider and deeper set of situations. YETI Tundra 45 Cooler, Desert Tan The YETI Tundra 45 combines versatility with durability with a capacity of up to 26 cans with a... Ice stays ice thanks to up to 3 inches of PermaFrost Insulation and an extra thick FatWall design is... See Price on Amazon Last update on 2020-08-14 at 03:28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Becoming Yetified Sure, I know no ice box cooler of any known construction is going to keep something frozen or fresh forever. Forever is a really long time. My orientation here is more along the line of thinking about a week at the far end. Something in a cooler to sustain us until we get onto our dry stock or harvest some local game or fish is not a fruitless idea in my opinion. I’m not selling this as a long term solution, but just a short one. However, a really good ice cooler would be useful later for keeping fresh game/fish cooler, especially if the box is placed in a cold stream, or a hole dug into an earthen bank under shade. You should certainly ponder and plan for multiple options. Think Possibilities So, what are we talking about here? You’re at work when the call comes across national news. Maybe it’s a weekend and you’re in the middle of painting the house. Who knows the conditions or how long we have to execute our escape plan or button down for a Bug In. The essential bags are in the garage packed and ready to go…for the most part. We’re busy grabbing last minute items, maybe filling a couple more boxes with canned stuff, rice and beans from the pantry. Throw in some extra clothes and make sure the meds are in a bag to go. Get the AR and mags out of the safe, and put the 1911s in holsters. Throw in another case of bottled water. We break out the Yeti and rummage the freezer. What do we take? I guess that is a matter of personal tastes, but ground burger comes to mind. It can be stacked and takes up less space/volume in a cooler. A big roast does not fit well, etc. Maybe take some smoked sausage in one-inch tubes? Fill the top with ice, and if smart have a second cooler(s) of some kind to fill to the top with just ice, if practical. You have to play with these contingencies to see what works. Is your bug out vehicle big enough for a last minute haul? Remember this is a short term affair, but how long? The Hype If you’re fully involved in prepping now, then you are in the process of acquiring all kinds of stuff, survival gear, packs, med kits, camping gear, specialty clothing, boots, guns, ammo, optics, blades, shelters, tote bags, boxes, whatever, etc. Undoubtedly you have bought items that turned out to be junk. Maybe you were side slapped silly by an advertisement in a related magazine or off the shelf at a reliable outdoors store. You might as well get used to this as it is the reality of gear being made today. Be sure to rely on our Survival Cache site for gear reviews. Shop our store to find items that have been tried and tested. So, here you are in the big box store looking at a stack of Yeti coolers. You came in because Jim Shockey said on his hunting show this was the best cooler ever. If you believed him saying the Yeti company line of “Wildly stronger, keep ice longer” then just maybe you were sucked in. Despite him being paid big bucks to say so, is this “plastic” box of medium size #45 really worth $350 ? Just for SC fellowship information here the standard pricing for Yeti coolers is #35 for $300 , #45 for $350 , #65 for No products found. and #75 for $450 . Other models, sizes and shapes are available along with all kinds of accessories and colors. I will offer a piece of practical advice I was given about big coolers. If you fill a #65 Yeti with just ice for example, it will take two people to pick it up to put it in the back of a car, pickup, or boat. Trust me on this one. The "Proof Stays Frozen" So, studying further on the Yeti cooler in particular, the web site mentions that their cooler “keeps ice for days.” Hmmm. There is really no statement about how many days they had in mind. Like any cooler, long term ice retention is based on a number of factors as you can well imagine. Still, the Yeti is supposed to be the (one of) best. Well, is it? Well, yes. It certainly exceeded my expectations. I’m still testing it during the full summer heat, but in the fall and southern “winters” it will keep anything cold for five or more days. Keep it in the shade and open it minimal times to stretch it out. The sealing gasket is the real secret to this product. Keep the lid locked down and tight. JC from here in Mississippi is as avid a prepper/survivalist as I know of locally. His comments about his two Yeti’s were, “My Yeti coolers will keep ice for 7-10 days when the outside temperature runs around 80 degrees. When it gets hotter, as it does during the summer months up to 98 degrees, the Yeti will keep ice for 5-7 days in my experience with their use.” This seems a reliable time frame for keeping ice and food for a short term period. Also on the Yeti web site at www.yeticoolers.com is a whole list of tips for maximizing ice retention for the Yeti cooler’s full performance. Most of it is common sense, but if you buy one, heed this advice. They mention using dry ice, too, but that is likely out of the picture when it comes to a hasty SHTF exit, but maybe not in some cases. Honest Downsides? It is heavy when loaded. It is strong, but can be damaged if abused. Frankly, as you will see when you inspect one say the #45, there is really not that much space inside the 2-inch walls of polyurethane construction. If you buy one, get the Yeti lock up accessory . Around here a Yeti cooler disappears out of hunter’s trucks as fast as a bag of beef jerky left on the kitchen table at camp. Like tanning salons or video rental shops, once Yeti exploded on the business scene, many copied products have come out. Investigate those brands, too. Cost wise they are all about the same price. I have yet to ever see Yeti coolers on sale. Conclusion So, are you Yetified yet? Carrying along some perishable food on a SHTF Bug Out may not seem practical and I fully realize there are issues to deal with. Still, I think it is a viable option to consider. In the short haul it gives some welcome fresh food alternatives until you fully dig in. Then the box can be used for other things. Good place to store ammunition for example or medical supplies. Never give up on the options. YETI Tundra 45 Cooler, Desert Tan The YETI Tundra 45 combines versatility with durability with a capacity of up to 26 cans with a... Ice stays ice thanks to up to 3 inches of PermaFrost Insulation and an extra thick FatWall design is... See Price on Amazon Last update on 2020-08-14 at 03:28 / Affiliate links / Images from "Amazon Product Advertising" API Photos By: Dr. John Woods Vince Cook SeaDek Other interesting articles: Survival Gear Review: Trucker’s Friend "Survival Gear Review" : Kel-Tec RFB Survival Gear Review: Ruger Charger Takedown Survival Gear Review: Benjamin Trail NP2 Air Rifle
Gallery: 4 Hot New 2014 Rimfire Rifles
/* custom css */.td_uid_2_5f379ccc383f7_rand.td-a-rec-img { text-align: left; } .td_uid_2_5f379ccc383f7_rand.td-a-rec-img img { margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Winchester 1885 Hunter Image 1 of 4 The rimfire is alive and well. Just ask anybody who is still hunting down ammo. Once you find it, here are four new rifles worth firing some rounds through.Adding to their line of historical rifles, Winchester introduced a Model 1885 Hunter Rimfire single shot. This low-wall rimfire edition is available in .22 LR, .22 Win. Mag. and .17 HMR, as well as the new high-speed 17 Win. Super Mag. The "1885 Hunter Rimfire" boasts a checkered walnut pistol grip stock and Schnabel-style forend with an oil finish. The 24-inch barrel is button rifled, while the receiver and barrel are both blued for a traditional look. ($1,470; winchesterguns.com) The rimfire is alive and well. Just ask anybody who is still hunting down ammo. Once you find it, here are four new rifles worth firing some rounds through. This photo gallery is an excerpt from the Gun Digest Shooter's Guide 2014.