M.D. CREEKMORE

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Jesse Mathewson

Arizona since 86', lifetime prepper, camper - criminal justice advanced degrees, numerous certifications, 1+ million rounds (shooting for decades), prior contractor, instructor, current volunteer, disabled, honest, father of two husband of one - all budget and prepared. Jesse Mathewson reviews because regular people need someone in their corner as well!

What’s The Best Multi-Tool to Buy For EDC

 

When it comes to multi-tools there are dozens, hundreds of available choices. The best part is, they can all be very useful for a variety of reasons and in a variety of situations. However, for survival, prepping and or simply having, is there one that can work as the go-to, all-around best approach?

Rome had pocket multi-tools, however, modern times the trend really started with the Victorinox and Wenger tools as far back as 1884 and 1893. However the folding pliers included version was introduced by Tim Leatherman in 1983, the Leatherman Company called it a PST, Pocket Survival Tool.

Since this time, they have come up with dozens of iterations, amazing tools all of them. However, they are not generally inexpensive. In fact, most of the better Leatherman’s run $70 plus dollars, at least for the good ones.

The Leatherman Wingman is an amazing tool, small enough and light enough to keep in a go-bag without being too much. After all, ounces are lbs. An alternative to the Wingman is the Gerber Suspension. Head to head there is not much difference. Here are the specifics.

Leatherman Wingman – Handle: stainless steel

Blade: 420 stainless steel
Blade Edge
Blade Finish
Blade Length: 2.6-inch
Open Length:
Closed Length 3.8-inch
Screwdrivers: small screwdriver, medium screwdriver, Philips screwdriver
Pliers: yes, needle nose
File: yes
Scissors: no
Wire Cutter: yes
Wood Saw
Bottle Opener: yes
Can Opener: yes
Other Tools: wire stripper, ruler
Weight: 7 oz
Recommended Use: being prepared for anything
[Click here to check current price and availability at Amazon.com]

Gerber Suspension – Handle and tools are stainless steel

Bottle opener
Can opener
Scissors
Small flathead screwdriver
Large flathead screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Serrated knife blade
Fine edge knife blade
Saw blade
Wire cutter
Needle nose and standard pliers
Closed length 4 inches
Weight: 9 oz
[Click here to check availability and current price at Amazon.com]

Recommended use, preparedness

The Leatherman version is $40 and worth every penny, the Gerber version is $27 and also worth every penny. Dollar for dollar, I have and will continue to put the Suspension to the test and come out even or ahead. The grind that the screwdrivers have allows for easier work on firearms and larger items as well. Both are amazing tools, however, which one do you prefer?

In all fairness I have bags that have the Leatherman and bags with the Gerber version, this being said, I am really not a friend of Gerber, after all, most of their knives are made out of country these days. However, here is the thing, recent years have shown that China has learned that by outproducing us with QUALITY and quantity they can, in fact, bankrupt us as a nation.

So they do, if I was a fan of our government (which I am not) I may be apart of the crowd that refuses to buy anything not made in the United States, however, since I want the best equipment I can get for the least expense (I am not rich, taxed to death by the very government so many still support), I buy Chinese at times.

I love my country, I love the land I live on, but let’s face it, folks, our government, is way, way out of control. Anyhow, so what’s the best one?

I will leave that up too you, I have tested and used both and love them both. They work well when needed and I have never once regretted purchasing either. Here is my recommendation for the fiscally strapped as I am. Haunt your local pawn shops, you will find them, Leatherman / Gerber multitools, and Victorinox folders as well, and you can talk them down to a much less expensive approach.

I go in with $100 bucks and will line up a selection I know is worth more, but will lay that $100 bill on the counter or five $20 bills, this is more effective…and than start dealing. KNOW what you are going after, and what the prices generally are.

Then remember they offer less than a quarter of what these tools are worth, almost always they are well used, handle them, make sure they function, dirty is fine, after all, you can clean them up. I almost always walk out with around $300 retail for $100 cash. It’s called horse-trading and it works!

Free the mind and the body will follow…

Holosun Optic Sight [An Honest Review]

holosun-red-dot-site“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.” Sun Tzu

Budget prepping is a difficult thing to do. After all, there is a difference between budget and cheap, inexpensive and cheap. Cheap by definition does not mean something is necessarily bad or of poor quality, however, with some things cheap is bad. Red dot technology has progressed light years beyond the first bulky Aimpoint, EOTech, and Trijicon.

Obviously, Aimpoint as a company has maintained a seriously good reputation and continued to progress with the times, as has Eotech and Trijicon, however, their pricing reflects no shifts for markets unable to afford to spend $600 – $2500 on a simple 1-4 power red dot styled optic.

My search for a less expensive optic commenced several years ago. I worked my way through Bushnell T series which functioned fine but were hit and miss at best. Eventually, I settled on the Bushnell AR scope series and decided to simply move on from the red dot phase.

After all, a solid scope with excellent glass and comparable abilities to other more expensive brands will work in most cases.

This didn’t mean I had no need for a red dot, after all, a solid red dot with a solid pair of backup irons is an amazing thing to have. Quick on target and easy to use, good red dots mean the difference between hits and misses in many arenas, especially combat-related training and combat itself.

Over the past year, I decided to do some research and look around again for a solid red dot under $500. I found several brand names, Vortex, AIM sports, and even Bushnell had new offerings on the market. However, I was drawn to a relatively new company, Holosun©, this optic had serious potential.

After dropping $170 on the HS403B found on Amazon, I received the well-wrapped package and mounting hardware. Two sets, a low riser, and high riser were included. The high riser fit my carbine exactly as needed. Co-witnessed with my irons I took it out to the range and started testing.

holosun-red-dot-siteAfter around 100 rounds I set the rifle to the side as there were other reviews that needed fulfilling and it held zero very well, so what more needed testing. As I leaned it against the carbine rack it smacked the crossbar on the way by and snap, the red dot came off. I leaned over and realized that the screw holding it too the gun had snapped off at the head.

I finished my testing for the rest of the products and called Holosun on the way home.

They assured me that they both knew about the problem and apologized for the inconvenience this had caused, I asked if this was going to be an ongoing issue or if it was a simple flaw in this particular part of the design.

The person I spoke with grabbed another individual who explained that the model I had received was the last in a first gen run and the new gen had the much stronger hardware.

Upon arrival 3 days after the call, I installed the part and decided to test it too its breaking point. After all, nothing to lose at this point as the people I had spoken with assured me they would replace the entire unit free of charge if it happened again.

I dropped tested it on dirt, grass, and concrete from approximately 5 feet. I also decided to “accidentally” smack the red dot housing into a few items during my next test run. Needless to say, it held firm and I have not had a breakage or issue since.

Though I doubt it will take a bullet to the casing as say an Aimpoint will, at 50,000 hours of battery life and with a VERY clear dot picture and glass as well as solid easy on when you pick the gun up, well I think this is my new best friend in the red dot world.

They have different variations, shotgun patterning dots, circle over a dot, plain jane red dot and all of the varieties can be had with a nifty solar-powered recharger put on the top if you want.

The company offers a limited lifetime warranty to the original owner, and their customer service is very expedient and quick to respond, a truly rare commodity in today’s age of somewhat lackadaisical service. They are located in the USA, Walnut California, to be exact.

They offer a 50,000-hour battery life, a variety of aiming products from lasers too red dots. In this case, my interest lying completely in their cost-effective, efficient and extremely solid red dots. The HS507A is compatible with the standard RMR mount and the other red dots have a variety of mountings available with some specifically designed for Aks and others for Ars.

Some options have a quick release mount and others a kill flash and other essential needs for red dots. The best part is their red dots run between $165 and $350 dollars and you can order from Amazon.

Now obviously I have not been able to test the veracity of the 50,000-hour battery life, however, the unit I have has been on and working clearly for well over 6 months without a hiccup. I have no doubt that the longevity is easily better than Bushnell’s offerings and Vortex. The price point allows budget preppers and shooters to have (as the company motto says) “A military-grade optic at under military prices” now personally, I have not tested it in combat yet. However, it has performed well through many tests it is NOT designed for. I do not recommend you treat your optics badly on purpose, that is my pleasure to do for you! Having family and friends still in the military this is the question I ask myself, “would I recommend this to them?”

YES!

It works very well, it will be ready for them when they need it, and will function with general abuse and function well. This being said, I am not the desk personnel from the Pentagon and it isn’t my job to accept money to pass along new products to our soldiers.

This being said, what are the pros and cons listed out?

Pros

  1. 50,000-hour battery life with an optional solar panel for charging and auto adjustment in all light conditions.
  2. Multiple reticle styles and mount styles available.
  3. Crisp clear dot, brightness easily adjustable or set for auto adjust.
  4. Movement activated the red dot when you pick up your firearm, the red dot comes on!
  5. Built for shotguns, rifles of many calibers and even handguns.
  6. Limited lifetime warranty.

Cons

  1. They are a relatively newer company, so not as much time to evaluate and test as other more established companies.
  2. They have had some issues with mounts, however, this is being addressed and is easily fixed, upgraded with a call to their customer service.

Overall, this is a product I definitely recommend and run on my carbines now. MD Creekmore also has one and here is what he says, “I bought this sight a couple of weeks ago and mounted it on my Colt M4 and so far I’ve been very impressed and agree with everything Jesse has said here in his review.

I have an Aimpoint and an EOTech on two other AR’s and the Holosun HS503GU (the model that I have) is just as good as either one of those for half the cost. ”

Free the mind and the body will follow…

Ferro Rod Review and Usage Guide

ferro rod reviewFire is an essential element of survival, living, and warfare. It has been used for many millennia for heating, cooking, controlling growth, reducing wildfire damage, to promote grazing and conduct defensive and offensive campaigns against enemies.

Ferro Rod usage is popular with many people within the prepper community, and yet, from what I have seen personally, there are many who have never actually used the ferro rods they carry! It is my goal with this article to hopefully show you the benefits and necessity of owning and using one correctly.

Did you know that contrary to modern American conservationist thought the use of fire as a tool to prevent larger out of control fires was embraced by many American Indian tribes?

Native Americans of the Southwest often used fire as a means of clearing grazing land, driving game, reducing the build-up of excess detritus or fallen leaves and pine needles as well as dead and or diseased trees further preventing the wild exceedingly large conflagrations seen over the past 80 years of modern “conservationism”.

They realized that not only did smaller fires contribute to the faster growth of young, strong plants it also allowed animals to populate faster and in greater numbers as they did not have to fear the massive millions of acres of burned out land that actually causes a far greater toll in the end to both plant and animal life.

Such is the wisdom of those who lived with the land versus seeking to control it.

For modern preppers, all of us have seen or lived through instances where are daily prepping came into play and filled holes needed at the moment. Even if it is as simple as having extra aspirin or band-aids. With current nasty natural and some not so natural events occurring and our ability to see them being as fast as our current cell phone or internet service allows, things seem to be spiraling out of control.

The reality is, they are not. So do not panic! Mortgaging the house and selling off the kids will only serve to enrich others, stick to your current approach of getting a little here and there as you can. Make sure you have holes filled in areas that may have shown weaknesses upon the use of preps (vehicle kits and house alike)

This week I assisted an older lady who had her cell phone and nothing else when her car broke down on the highway thankfully close to a fueling station. In Arizona, we have stretches of road where people are rare and most humans traveling have no idea as to what is readily available.

From food through water, and yes in Arizona even on the Playa outside of Wilcox or around Yuma there is available food, water and more if you just know what to look for and when and where to look. The Playa is a massive dried lake bed that stretches easily 40 miles long and upwards of 15 or 20 miles in width.

Currently used by fun seekers for their sand rails and even local military testing, it is a desolate area. While I could have preached the benefits of being prepared to this lady, her concerns were more immediate and after getting her vehicle to the parking lot she became a bit more at ease. The moral of the story is, there is no such thing as too prepared!

So let’s get back to fire and why it is so very important, dangerous and necessary all in one. Having a fire starting implement is a good idea, I know many people who carry mini bic lighters, waterproof matches, flint, and steel kits and my favorite the ferrocerium rods eg., ferro rods!

What I have also found to be true is that many times these implements are purchased a book or article is read and then they are stashed away never to be practiced with. The assumption being made that like many firearms owners, we have it if we need it, it is there.

Sadly, without practice a person can easily go through 20 plus matches, a bic lighter, and never get their flint to strike a spark…I know from personal experience that this is very true and occurs quite frequently.

ferro rod reviewCamping about five years back approximately 30 miles from nearest other humans, we were hit with an unexpected deluge and spent 3 miserable days without a fire. This was my fault, and my fault alone, why did we go ahead and stay, because, the roads had become flooded and we couldn’t have crossed back if we wanted.

Now thankfully I layer my preps, meaning I had wool blankets and candles for cooking, but it still wasn’t the same as having a nice campfire going, after all, a good flame tends to cheer the soul when things are dreary outside. It is the camping/ survival equivalent of a television.

Add a bit of shine or mead to one’s tea or coffee and things can get downright cheerful! What have I done to fix this glaring hole in my preps, well, I learned how to use my tools all over again and what to do with wet wood and more.

How do we best use a ferro rod?

  1. First, it is essential to understand that a ferro rod is useless without steel, so make sure you have a striker or that your knives have at least an inch of 90-degree angle on their spine (do not use the sharpened side).
  2. Using the sharpened side leads to cuts and cuts lead to infections which easily lead to death in a grid down situation!
  3. I file the backs of all of my knives, 440c stainless will spark a ferro rod though not as well as a high carbon blade will. I only file about an inch to a 90-degree angle and I always file it at the base where the blade meets the handle.
  4. Tinder, most of us probably carry some type of fatwood or tinder mixture from Vaseline soaked cotton balls too charred cotton cloth, (easily made in a small enclosed metal container with a small pinhole sized air hole, stuff it tight with small pieces (an inch square) of cotton cloth or cotton balls cut in quarters for best overall use.) Fatwood is the sappy heartwood of trees, [preferably semi-aged or well-aged trees, pine really works best but I have mesquite and more that also works well!)
  5. Now here is where things get fun, just having some tinder materials DOES NOT MAKE A FIRE or ensure you can make a fire. You still need a semi-dry additional fuel to allow for damp or even wet wood to be capable of drying while burning. (bear in mind THIS CREATES A SMOKEY FIRE!) So how do you go about collecting more from around you?
  6. Grass, older grass eating animal dung, small dead twigs and bark tend to make the best next step for building a solid fire. This is where patience becomes essential, if things are wet, you will have to keep a pile in an area that stays dry and allow it to dry, make sure you get good air flow and you may be able to get a fire going within a few hours, in worse case a days time. My suggestion is to find large dead logs when possible, bring them into the sheltered area and split them down, the insides past about an inch tend to be relatively dry in many cases unless the area is flooded or a regular rainforest. In which case splitting them down simply allows for their drying easier.
  7. Once you have a 4 to the 6-inch square loose bundle of kindling (pick a type from above) you can try to get your fire started, I highly recommend working out kinks of your system when dry wood and kindling is available. However, am offering worse case scenario as a way to make the best case look much easier.
  8. Using a ferro rod specifically, as this article is about that, place the striking device in your strong hand, place your hand fist down beside with the striking device above the tinder. Make sure your kindling is close and that you have built a good teepee style fire setup, eg., tinder into kindling and this underneath smaller branches/ pieces with larger angled over top leaving a hole in the side of the fire to be about the size of two fists so you don’t have to battle with yourself to get the tinder into the kindling and the kindling into the fire structure. Others prefer different shapes, I have found the triangle shaped approach to work best for myself.
  9. Place the ferro rod UNDER the striking surface, with the end you are not holding facing the tinder.
  10. Draw vigorously but NOT quickly towards yourself (making sure you have already scraped the water-resistant coating off of the rod so you get even solid sparks) This will shower sparks into the tinder igniting embers allowing for you to transfer these embers into the kindling and getting a flame going, Breath gently with long regular exhales towards the kindling and tinder from about 4” to 6” away or the length of the blade you are using. Do so until you get a young bright flame going in the kindling than smoothly move this into the pre-built fire. Continue blowing into this until the flames take on a life of their own and become teenagers, raging to get out!
  11. Easy?
  12. No, this takes practice, I would suggest working with dry woods until you are confident and then use a water hose to wet some wood and work with that, do this until you have used up a ferro rod! By this point as with everything we humans learn, the repetitions of the movements and practice will make it relatively easy based on circumstances to get a fire going when needed.

Now you may ask what product am I reviewing, I can answer that, firstly there is the FireSpark by helicon-tex – it s a robust ferro rod that gives a great shower of hot sparks when needed, the handle allows for insertion of anything from necessary pills too a very small amount of tinder material! And I should note the handle has an O ring making it waterproof. The second product I am reviewing is my home brewed ferro rods, I learned long ago that in my world making my own tends to allow me to better adjust needed aspects such as a good gripping surface and having a case of ferro rods available. I prefer .30 caliber diameter by 3 inches long for my ferro rods. And I use old .308 casings as handles. (makes for a fun conversation piece) The helicon-tex FireSpark runs 21.99 on their website. The blanks I get run about $13 for a case of 10 or 12.

I can and do make ferro rods for my friends and neighbors and tend to give them away, (I really should launch a product line – arrgg – but my marketing skills have declined over the years.) if any of you want to get some let me know, I may start marketing if not, I would suggest the linked amazon approach from HOODDEAL – they are a solid manufacture/ retailer and I have never been done wrong, besides it will allow the proceeds to go to MD Creekmore for further site maintenance! Regardless, I hope you found this article educational and helpful and as always.

M.D. Creekmore adds: The Mora Bushcraft Survival Knife with built-in fire starter is something else that you might be interested in. It’s the official survival knife of The Wolf Pack.

Free the mind and the body will follow!

Can I Use an Emergency Space Blanket for Camping?

emergency blanket for campingInvented in 1964 for the space program, and used to keep Skylab from overheating these are an amazing invention. Consisting of thin sheets of plastic coated with vaporized aluminum, this was done to ensure extremely low weight with a high net benefit/ reflective nature.

They are basically the same width as a human hair. Average weight between 0.5 and 5 ounces, they are truly indispensable.

So why review a space blanket? There are hundreds of manufactures of space blankets, why review any of them? It is an essential item of note that space blankets CANNOT create heat they merely reflect it, as well as light and even air depending on use.

Even with something so seemingly inconsequential as a space blanket understanding what they are, how they can be used and how they should be used is essential to understanding that you can indeed get space blankets that are really not a good quality. So what can space blankets be used for? This is the fun part, the easy part, and the essential knowledge part!

  1. Blanket to protect against the elements – carry a minimum of one per EACH member of the house and at least 2 extras in every vehicle and a minimum of two for each bag.
  2. Shelter/Shade – this is where the extra blankets come in handy, at a cost ranging between 0.23 and $6 apiece they like tourniquets are not something to scrimp on as far as amounts go, I suggest a minimum of two per bag and two spares in every vehicle kit (on top of one per family member) personally I purchase them by the case and have 3-4 per person in every kit!
  3. Fire Reflector – certainly some of us “can build a fire using two sticks and dead wood – shoot we don’t even need a knife!” however, the reality is much more difficult than the fantasy life we wish we lived. Using one of these to reflect a fire’s light and heat into the shelter (built out of another one) so that the blankets (also space blankets) will keep us from freezing or dying of exposure is both simple, inexpensive and DOES NOT use up valuable energy stores putting together!
  4. Water Purification by way of a solar still, exceedingly easy and fun to build this approach to water purification can work very well and provide much-needed water with overall weight being far less than bringing even a Sawyer Mini Filter with us. (And I always have one of those!)
  5. Solar Energy – expand your solar panels ability by reflecting more light into it!
  6. Solar Cooking – using a framework similar to the fire reflector you can harness the suns energy and warm or heat water allowing for some cooking, and believe me, a warm meal when things are down makes a HUGE difference!

There are many different uses that you can figure out as you go. I firmly suggest purchasing and using Shemaghs for head wraps, neck wraps and more. Instead of using a reflective space blanket use a shemagh for things like carrying additional items, hammocks, and wraps on the body.

emergency blanket for camping

However, this is up too you and I am certain you can find others uses for these amazing tools, though I would be quite careful with carrying or wrapping and tying things with space blankets simply because they are NOT designed for this type of thing and will break rather easily when used in this manner.

Over the years I have used multiple brand name space blankets and can honestly say that silver, gold expensive or not there is really not a huge difference in them. In fact these days most of them are manufactured in China and or manufactured using the same base components that are being made in China.

Unlike two decades ago, made in China does not hold the same stigma it once did. I am certain some of you may remember Nissan, Datsun, Honda, and Toyota in their initiation into the United States car market. T

hey went through the initial “not made in America” and quality issue problems, however, this has since been rectified and these days Toyota, Honda and even Nissan are made in the United States and far superior in most ways to “made in Mexico/ GM products”.

The reality is simple, production costs far less thanks to a lack of unions and entitled millennials in China and other manufacturing centers. Technologically China, Korea, and Japan have either surpassed or are equal to us in many areas. With the advent of global business linked through the internet, it is simply more cost-efficient to produce outside of the United States these days.

Someday we may see a return to American made and proud of it, however, even with firearms people are quickly learning made in America really isn’t the same anymore. To be competitive American companies cut corners instead of lower wages, this leads to bad products in many sectors from Automotive through Camping supplies.

Space Blankets are themselves a product that can be and is made outside of the United States and is made quite well. I suggest this 10 pack of Mylar Space Blankets cost averages out too $7 shipped, and I have never had any issues with them.

In fact, the pictures show these blankets being used and I have even reused them on several occasions for up too 4 days each, though you should understand this is not always possible, it does not take much to puncture a space blanket!

If you want to use the gold colored ones you will spend a bit more, and honestly will not get a larger return in value, this again comes from direct experience. However, the choice is yours, for myself saving a few bucks on things that have a definite use limit and or shelf life is smart prepping. You can do that with these and NOT sacrifice quality in any way.

emergency blanket for camping

Swiss Safe is a name brand blanket that costs several dollars more per blanket, however, they are green with a gold one included. $18 for 4 blankets, if you so desire these instead. The advertised thickness is 12-mils with the Swiss Safe blankets and the others are maybe 10 mils at most, honestly, this is not a huge deal as thickness is ONLY a pricing thing when you get into mils with space blankets, there is no significant difference in strength or overall usefulness.

Additionally, they crinkle quite loudly when you are taking them out regardless brand, sound carries much further than a reflection on a snowy, cold day!

So what uses do you have for a space blanket? Have you used one, or two? Do you use one as a ground cover and another as a blanket? How do you use them?

Thanks for reading and as always please let me know if you have anything you would like to review or see a review on!

Free the mind and the body will follow…

Hiluckey Solar Charger Review

solar charger review

Legally I have to tell you if I have received the product or any compensation for writing this review. As with the large majority of products I review, I have not received this product or any compensation. There may be affiliate links in the material that utilize Amazon as a platform. However, unlike other blogs, we follow the laws here, even if the laws are intrusive.

Additionally due to recent comments and emails received, I want to remind everyone that the vast majority of products on the market today are not made in one country alone.

When it comes to GPS, communications, national weather service radio, electronic reading devices and more having extra power and or the ability to charge using the sun is an essential prep. Over the years I have tested and used several different battery backup systems.

All of them have worked, but some have worked far better than others. The Hiluckey 10000mAh Solar Charger has worked very well. Sadly, Elon Musk does not have an easily affordable version yet!

This charger/ battery pack comes with extra features that are fun but ultimately not why I purchased the unit. For your benefit, the extra features are as follows, 2 LED flashlight diodes with 3 modes (Bright/ SOS/ strobe), small compass (it works though I wouldn’t rely on it), and a solid well made silicone rubber case that protects it from shocks and dust and splash damage.

The best features are the addition of a new generation solar panel for charging and a well made 10000mAh battery with an IC chip for easy battery evaluation and limiting to prevent overcharging and promote the best charging depending on the drain.

With indirect (cloudy days/winter) sunlight in Arizona, the unit charged from 25% all the way through 100% within 6 hrs. On a nice clear day with direct sunlight in early spring, it easily charged through 100% within 4 hrs. Again this was in Arizona, the important thing to recognize is that Arizona is at a nearly perfect latitude for the use of solar energy.

We have in fact one of the best overall climates for the use of solar year round with an average of 270 days a year of sun and easily over 175 days annually with full sun. This unit would work well in most areas across the United States and while it may take an extra day to recharge on just the sun alone in less sunny areas, its ability to hold a charge for over a month makes it an easy addition to my pack.

Its storage capacity maintains 100% for over 3 weeks and for myself did not drop below 4 lights for well over 4 weeks.

For the various natural disaster seasons across the United States I would suggest having one or more of these on standby, with a quick check and top off every month or so you should have the power you need when you need it.

solar charger review

For instance, if you live along the East Coast or on Islands across the Atlantic and or Pacific rim having additional chargers for your electronic needs can mean the difference in a Hurricane, Typhoon, or severe tropical storm.

For those of us in flood, fire or tornado areas having additional power for our small electronics could make it easier for help to get here. At an average of $22 apiece, these are worth every penny invested and will quickly repay the money spent after the first camping expedition you take with your children or grandchildren.

When it comes to batteries for GPS, modern cell phones, electronic books and many other small items the standard is between 1000 and 3000mAh in size. This means that the backup battery which weighs just slightly more than an Amazon Kindle Fire or the same as a modern cell phone or GPS unit will charge most of those units several times over before needing to be recharged itself.

It is my suggestion that you setup check-in times as standards for immediate and extended family members and friends; in the times between check-in and use simply power the units down to conserve energy. You will find that most modern batteries will easily hold their charge for up too 2 weeks when this approach is used.

So in review, what are the pros of the Hiluckey 10000mAh Solar Charger?

  1. 10000mAh battery size allows for multiple charging events for most modern small electronics.
  2. It is a small size in comparison to many other units for the ability it has, this makes it easy to store and efficient.
  3. The solar panel is a newer generation and works very well allowing for multiple options from plugging it in through using the sun when available.
  4. Solid construction with shock-resistant silicone armor and dust cover help keep it dust free and resistant to splash damage. (I put it in an industrial grade zip-lock bag for full water protection)
  5. Lights are very bright and work very well, strobe is a great setting and is the last click allowing an easy one-touch on approach.
  6. Compass works, while I do not rely on small compasses like this, having them and knowing how to use them really do benefit your kit.
  7. Pricing is reasonable for the quality of the product you are getting, $20-25 will get this shipped right to you. Two of them are less or the same as most other units being currently advertised with similar attributes.

At this time I have not found any real cons to owning this unit. I understand that many of you probably have similar setups, I would suggest that the added benefit of a working solar panel and modern IC chip for better control makes it an invaluable addition. As with all my reviews, it is important to remember that my goal is not to sell it but rather just show you if it works or does not.

Free the mind and the body will follow

Best Camping and Survival Knives for Under $100

the best survival knife in the world

Best, this word always brings to mind the 80’s ninjitsu and various karate/TKD/dance kick-boxing martial arts superstars. Best is at subjective and a useless measurement of anything. This said, I and many others, have done enough recorded testing to be able to give you a short list of good survival knives.

In fact, I believe quite strongly that as long as you do not want a knife that can be an axe, pry bar, fighting knife, butcher knife and a camp knife all in one the following short list will include knives that do exactly what you need!

There is a simple reality within our modern society, nothing is made in the United States or any single nation without raw materials or parts being made in other countries. This is a reality of a highly industrialized global commercial marketplace.

I am a huge fan of Palmetto State Armory products, and while they are almost entirely alone in their approach to making everything themselves and in the United States the raw materials used are sourced from outside the United States.

Likewise, I enjoy and promote Benchmade knives as well as Spyderco, both of these are quality well known American brand names. Both use steel formulated in other countries and other raw materials can be put in that bucket as well.

This is why when it comes to my families well being and safety, I shop for the best overall product and not what has “made in the USA” stamped on it alone. Facts matter, I enjoy shopping locally, except when the only local store is Walmart or another big box retailer.

I met Sam Walton (he gave me a few bucks and said I should get some ice cream – I was 10?) and worked for Walmart back in the 90s, these days Walmart is nothing like what it was meant to be.

Here is the knife/knife line I firmly believe is best currently for pure survival needs. While I am certain many will talk about their combat blades, those are not necessarily good for bushcraft work. Survival is more than the extremely romanticized fight for your life against hordes of humans who are all far less prepared than you.

Survival is not bugging out or bugging in. Survival is not endless ammunition and guns that never break to shoot that endless ammunition. Survival is quite simply the ability to adapt to any situation and live through it.

My choices of “best survival knife” is based entirely on the reality that is true survival. It should be noted I use my real name, my real picture and have not intentionally sold anyone a lie. Rather, I write these articles because I believe in the need to remain prepared and aware of everything.

The knife I have chosen is the Morakniv Bushcraft Black. It is a very well made, high carbon steel blade that has been designed using the Mora pattern blade with modern steel. This combination allows it to be both lightweight and extremely durable.

The blade is 3.2mm (1/8th inch approximately) and 232mm or 9.25 inches long overall. The blade is 109mm or 4.25 inches long, my conversions may be off a bit, for the record an inch is equal to 25.4mm. It has a true 90-degree spine already for easy fire steel or flint use and a very grippy rubber/plastic composite handle.

Combine the well-designed sheath and you have a very serious package for well under $100 US. During my testing with this blade, I used it to chop, carve, feather stick and even batoned with it. Now, batoning is really a silly use for a knife.

You can carve wooden pegs and use those to split larger pieces of wood. Why risk your blade or sacrifice all else to get a heavy chopping blade when a knife was never really meant to chop wood? Do what I do, get a hatchet, axe or tomahawk and even a Khukri will suffice in many cases.

the best survival knife in the world

Next, we have the Morakniv Craftline Robust or the Companion HD in stainless or high carbon steel. If you prefer a guard on your fixed blade knives, get the Craftline Robust. This approach incorporates a small guard into the injection molded grip.

Like every Morakniv blade, I have owned or currently own these grips are honestly one of the best features and I really like their steel as well! I have used these blades for skinning large game/animals and many camp tasks in heavy rain and have never had my grip slip on one.

Edge retention of the carbon steel version of Morakniv knives is quite good, with a small stropping you can skin large game rather easily. The stainless version will require a bit more edge work as you go, however, it does have more corrosion resistance.

My personal approach is to force a patina using 120-140 degree apple cider vinegar, cold water, and isopropyl alcohol to clean the blade and a good bath of Ballistol after I am done forcing the patina. There are a few ways to do this, the easiest is to simply soak the well-cleaned blade until it reaches a level of patina you prefer.

This may take a few times and you need to rinse and clean the blade each time!

Now for some people who enjoy the over-engineered more robust modern “full-tang” approach, the modified rat tail tang can seem disappointing. It should be noted that with very few exceptions full-length swords, machetes, kukhris, and many other incredibly strong blades have utilized rat tail tangs.

I am one of the old breed of knife enthusiast who understands that it is not as simple as full versus rat tail, it really is all about the strength of the steel and what you plan on doing with your blades.

Morakniv Bushcraft Black can be found for $40 on Amazon, it is easily worth twice to three times that price in my opinion.

I have only had one rat tail knife break on me, I have had several “full tang” knives break on me. What it comes down too is steel type and temper (regardless approach taken with tempering a blade if it is not done properly it will fail!) Morakniv has proven to be a very well made brand, I do suggest getting the HD versions when possible, however, the standard work very well also!

You can easily buy 2 or more of these amazing blades for under $100 and have twice the support should you need it. I personally own several dozen Mora blades. I have custom mora type blades and I have original Frost Mora blades, I also have and use Kephart style and more.

I can honestly say that between the Kephart style and Mora style you are well taken care of regardless which you choose to purchase. Morakniv blades are made exceedingly well, I have personally only broken one of them in the many years I have owned and used them.

Skinning animals, filleting fish, prep work in a kitchen, camp work and building fires these blades have always performed above and beyond what I needed. Certainly, I can say that there are many blades designed for specific chores that work better alone.

However, if you are looking for a lightweight, strong, durable and exceedingly sharp blade look npo further than the Morakniv line of knives. All things break, this is a simple fact of life. Some things are made better than others, and these blades, fit that bill well!

Local laws and rules for blades always apply and this is another area where these blades shine well. I am unaware of any specific location outside of some major cities where you cannot legally carry a Morakniv knife.

They are working blades, they are not designed for fighting though with practice you could easily use them in this way. Because they are designed for working with, most places that may be strict on knives will allow these blades. If you live where you cannot have a working knife on you, move.

Seriously, if you are okay with not having any way to defend yourself or even just work on projects, you are at best indentured at worse a slave to a system that doesn’t care about you. And no, I will never agree that laws against natural rights should exist, using facts alone we see that any time this is allowed or promoted, lots of people die.

If you enjoyed this article let me know in the comments, I try to get back to most people and will do my best to respond to all queries and comments. Thank you for reading and feel free to drop me a line via email or in the comment box.

Please understand that I can not ever test every single item ever made by any company. I can and have tested dozens of Morakniv blades and am very much a fan of their products!

Free the mind and the body will follow…

CRKT Folding Knives – Kommer Free Range Folding Knife Review

free-range knife review

From the many manuals I have collected over the years, a truly solid hunting knife/ skinning knife is many things. Here are a few quotes from some of my favorites.

“Use a knife with a blade at least four inches long, a guard, and a large handle. A small knife can turn sideways in your hand when it hits bone. A butcher’s skinning knife is ideal.”

“A sharp knife will actually reduce bad cuts and will make the entire procedure easier. Take your time when dressing a buck, mistakes due to haste will often require you to make a trip to the hospital to get stitches.”

“A gut hook is a great way of opening the body cavity without cutting the intestines. If you do not have a gut hook, you can use one finger next to the knife to lift up skin giving you space between the knife blade and the intestines.”

Anyone who has dressed out a game mammal has learned valuable lessons in what works, and in my strict opinion, the following three rules apply.

Own a knife that will hold an edge, learn to sharpen your knives, carry a small set of stones or diamond hones and a strop, always. Learn what angles work best for which situations, shallow angles for flesh and light tasks, more intense angles for chopping and the like.

Know your knife, understand exactly how it will cut flesh before ever taking it into the woods, buy a steak or really BIG pork chop. And cut it, trim the fat, work it and use learn it.

Know your knife, understand exactly how it will cut flesh before ever taking it into the woods, buy a steak or really BIG pork chop. And cut it, trim the fat, work it and use learn it.

Stop thinking the only knife that will work is the one Bear Grylls or some other big-time boob tube star owns will work. There are literally hundreds of knives, I own over a thousand different brands, types, and sizes. Knives are purpose-built, if I could get away with it, I would carry 4 or 5 knives all the time. A fighter, a hunter, a woodsman and two solid folders (and that’s in addition to a primary handgun, backup and carbine at a minimum.)…but, that would make me the crazy guy on the block…not that I don’t already have that title. For the time being, get a solid knife that will do the job needed. Grow from there.

This review is on the Kommer Folding series from CRKT, a series of knives designed specifically for hunters. Russ Kommer has been a hunting guide in Alaska and the great North. His designs are based entirely on his observations and needs inherent. An amazing lineup designed by an American hunter from an American company.

CRKT KNIFE REVIEW

My versions of these are the Kommer Free Range Gut Hook folder and the Kommer Free Range Hunter, both blades are 3.75” in length, though the suggested length is 4” these have been used on big game by Kommer himself and several varieties of medium game by myself. The handles are a mixture of grippy double injection molded materials, one hard and the other where the palm of the hand and the fingers rest are softer and very grippy. These are designed for hunting, NOT every day carry or use, they do not have belt clips, and come in nicely molded nylon over hard plastic cases.

A quick list of pro’s for these knives follows.

  • A quick list of pro’s for these knives follows.
  • The steel is 8Cr13Mov, with an average hardness between 58-60.
  • They hold an edge very well, I have not seen one chip yet, however, given that bone is often apart of the cleaning process, I expect someday to see it happen.
  • They are moderately priced for such an amazing package, at $40-$50 apiece on Amazon.
  • After abusing one using the cold steel wack the back of the blade while it is locked in place method, I was unable to dislodge the locking mechanism, they are solid, three years of active use I have had the knives pictured, and there is NO blade play and I have not had to tighten anything.
  • They are relatively lightweight, at 3.5 to 4 ounces per knife.

Now for the con’s, and there are always con’s in honest reviews. If you can find them.

  • They are made of 8Cr13Mov steel, while a superb steel and one I own in many knife formations, I would have chosen VG10 or something similar because overall edge retention is paramount in hunting knives.
  • The sheaths close and open with an audible SNAP, if you are good with leather or Kydex I am sure you can find a way around this small issue.
    And last but not least, they are too expensive for me to own a dozen of each, like I do with my Opinels, Moraknivs, and a few other fun blades. So, for now, I only have the three, well two, my daughter has one!
  • As always, comments welcomed and responded to as possible. I have enjoyed writing reviews and being able to share with you all and hope to continue doing so for the discernible future. Be safe, prep wisely and remember, always, be willing to change your mental approach to what you know now.

 

Morakniv Companion Review – It’s A Great Knife For A Great Price!

Morakniv-Companion-knife-reviewChoosing a knife for purposes of survival, bushcrafting or simple camping is a bit of a chore. The Morakniv Companion is an amazing choice regardless of your location on this ball of dirt and water which we live. It comes in stainless steel and carbon steel versions, this review and article are using the carbon steel version!

(Disclaimer, I do use the HD (heavy-duty) models as well, and the Craft-line models, this is simply one of a line of knives I find personally to be indispensable to my personal kits regardless your choice.)

Now one can easily say that the Morakniv Companion is too thin of a blade, or it is only a ¾ tang or how can you say it is a good survival knife? Honestly, I can say that if I had only one choice of a blade to carry with me for an extended length of time, it would be the Morakniv Companion. I can say this based on a wide variety of testing, and from several years of using it.

Others may have their $100 – $5000 survival blades specially designed by some Ex-Army Ranger who was UDT and a Navy Seal and also an Air Force Rescue while cross training with the CIA and NSA for operations deep in the Mossad and GSG9.

I prefer a blade design that has been around for over a thousand years, and folded steel that is rivaled only by Japanese folded steel in overall quality and strength. After all, this is not an article about specific uses, and blades designed for each of those uses. I have already written one or more articles dealing with this. Generally, blades, in my opinion, are very much designed with a specific reason in mind.

Morakniv-Companion-Fixed-Blade-Outdoor-KnifeSo for specific purposes, you will find better blades, after all, a 4” blade isn’t going to be a great weapon against a bear, but I can carve a dozen spears and fire harden them or use it to make punji pits to prevent the need for a close encounter with a bear.

Sure the ¾ tang isn’t a full tang, though in all honesty, most people, even modern blade designers (not blade smiths) but those guys with powdered super steel and solid programming skills and a lathe who churn out thousands of bulky, over-designed or in most cases poorly designed bu ever popular blades have no real idea what or even why certain tangs exist.

Do you? (If you would like to know comment and ask, I’ll gladly explain what the differences are and why the idea of a “full tang” being stronger is not exactly correct. Lastly, if slitting throats you wish to engage in, this will work, but not as nicely as that Ka-Bar or Khukri you may have. (I prefer the Khukri for many reasons)

Morakniv-Companion-Fixed-Blade-Outdoor-Knife-with-Carbon-Steel-Blade

This is a review of the Morakniv Companion in stainless or carbon steel with a lowly ¾ tang and an inexpensive yet very functional polymer sheath, a 4” blade with a scandi grind (shallow and long allowing for much easier cutting, food prepping and even bush work) lastly it has a handle that is made of TPE rubber, which allows gripping even when wet, sandy or cold! This is the single most inexpensive yet important addition you can make to your prepping regardless the reasons for doing so.

There are several benefits outside of the knife itself that give it that step up over other knives. For instance, it is marketed as a TOOL, not a weapon, it can be used quite easily for kitchen meal preps. I have a few different models that I enjoy using for this alone.

It is legal to carry in most places, though some may require you keep it in your pack, rarely will you find a country that does not allow the use of a small (4.1” blade) for making kindling, cleaning fish, game, and all around camping chores.

Across the United States, there are a plethora of ridiculous carry laws with regards to sizes and types of blades. However, this is a blade I have dropped in my checked baggage (usually two) and never seen it walk away, nor has it ever stopped my baggage from boarding the plane.

After flying through or into most major airports in the USA and a few outside, I have never had an issue with this blade itself. I use a bright orange or blue handled one for foreign nations and states, (like California and New York City) as these for some reason bear no threat while the far more realistic green model seems to evoke the idea that it is somehow dangerous and may leap up on its own.

So how does one go about creating a survival kit using JUST this knife and its sheath as the base? Its simple really, the Morakniv Companion MG alone is a great tool, however, if you add 20 feet of 550 cord or 50-100 feet of different strengths of bank-line* wrapped around it using any number of wrap types (I prefer a simple loop, and pull method as it allows easier use of the rope) This addition would be wonderful by itself, however, we are going to add two more items.

Duct Tape (my favorite brand is Gorilla brand, some things are worth the money spent) and a 5/16th by 3” fire-steel or ferrocium rod for starting fires are two more additions that are essential in my opinion.

So all I do is wrap the duct tape (around a yard of 2” wide tape) around the middle of the sheath, capturing the ferrocium rod inside of the tape, and then wrap over that with bank line (my preferred go to for survival line for numerous reasons) or with 550 cord, whichever you choose using the knot and or wrapping type you prefer.

Again in my opinion simple is best, as this is meant to be used, not set on a shelf to show the world how amazing you are. Now, these four items alone offer many valuable uses and are by themselves necessary in any bug out bag or the like, however, when put together with this knife, it becomes the ultimate basic prepper kit.

I am including a video showing some test results with this blade, please understand I own several dozen of these blades, they make great gifts and honestly I see them as an investment. I have tested in the extreme this particular model from standing on it while stuck in a tree to splitting cordwood with it, and yes it is mesquite that is in the video. I have yet to break a single one of these knives. I have bent them, but only after attempting to break it in half using a vice.

I had pulled it well past 90 degrees and when it returned it was only about 15-20 degrees off its center line. I have put nicks in the edge of it, it’s a blade, I have yet to see single blade get hammered through a solid piece of wood or rocks and concrete (as I did with this one) and NOT sustain some minor damage to the edge, however, within 5 minutes with my DMT diamond plates I had it back up to shaving sharp.

The Morakniv Companion certainly proved itself, now folks, the video was filmed by my wonderful 8-year-old daughter so apologies for some disruptions but you get the idea, this knife specifically the Morakniv Companion is insane in its abilities! And this was just the torture testing!

It is lightweight, as in honestly it feels toy-like, so chopping a tree down isn’t going to work well, unless you use a baton while doing so, and then it’s just a matter of time.

The lightweight nature is a plus for myself, being old and broken down weight is everything, I would rather carry two or three of these blades than one Becker (popular prepper blade for some) of any size, after all, you generally won’t find a Becker blade that weighs anywhere close to this one and honestly, I would be willing to put one of these up against a Becker.

Again, I feel it is necessary to have you understand that I tend to carry more than one blade at all times regardless. As I feel blades are purpose-built. However, this is an article that allows for the individual who may not have that overall benefit or ability. Not to mention, one of the blades I always carry when in the woods is a Morakniv Companion in green or any number of other colors.

Others will state their love of any number of knives, however, what can be agreed upon by many if not all bush crafters, hikers, campers and survivalist types is that this specific blade style the mora styled blade is among the most popular and best all-around blade type available regardless the manufacturer.

Personally, I have several variant blades all made of the amazing Scandinavian or Swedish folded steel, Karasuando Kniven only available from the linked site and extremely expensive it is my absolute favorite blade of all times. However, the kniven (knife) I have from Karasuando is identical in almost every way (shape, form and edge type) to the Morakniv Companion.

Now, if you are someone who prefers or wants a thicker blade, get the Morakniv Companion HD (Heavy Duty) or get the Craftline Heavy Duty by Morakniv or the Morakniv Light My Fire all of these blades are thicker, and feel much better if you need that reassurance. Cost is still at or under $20 regardless.

So what are the pros for carrying the Morakniv Companion?

  1. It is lightweight at just 4.5 ounces or 125 grams for what it provides, its hard to find lighter and if weight is an issue, eg., age or physical ability than this is a benefit.
  2. It is strong, as in under normal circumstances, you will never see it break or fail, and as you can see in the video, under abnormal and quite abusive circumstances you will rarely if ever have an issue.
  3. It is sharp and holds an edge well, the carbon steel holds a much better edge longer than the stainless steel. However, the carbon steel requires more cleaning and lubrication than the stainless steel blade version does. However, the stainless version does not work as a fire striker like the carbon version does.
  4. It is easy to clean and easier to sharpen properly, there is no exact science approach if you have a decent sharpening set the bevel of a Mora styled knife allows for a VERY easy experience in sharpening and maintaining that sharpness.
  5. These knives cost less than a fast-food burger in many places, currently, on Amazon, you can have a brand new one shipped to your door for less than $13 – find any other single knife that will do what this one can and do it for this price.

What are the cons?

  1. It’s small and lightweight – it is NOT a fighting knife or a pig sticker or even really meant for clearing brush though you can do so if needed.
  2. It’s not a specialty name and your friends who own the newest blade from Benchmade (I love Benchmade knives) or a custom Skelton knife (again I really like these blades) will look at you differently for carrying it. (this is actually not true, especially if they understand and know knives, but I thought it would be fun to throw in there.)
  3. The controversial Pathfinder school supports this brand and regularly does commercials and more for Morakniv Companion, so there is that as well. (If it matters to you, that and they are made in Sweden, NOT in the United States, and we all know if it isn’t made here it can’t be any good.)

Please comment below and share the article with others. Let’s remember information is knowledge is power and one can never have too much good knowledge. Also please feel free to comment and let me know how I am doing, what you would like to see more reviews of and remember, I generally buy these products myself and write based on my experiences so that you can benefit from them.

“In bush crafting and camping, then, let your great object be victory and living well, not lengthy and sometimes fruitless attempts.” Sun Tzu for the Bushcrafter

Free the mind and the body will follow…

Palmetto State Armory (PSA) AR-15 Review

Photo of rifles and ar-15's

Palmetto State Armory firearms are a “MADE entirely IN America” firearms manufacturer that has created a stand out product within an industry full of products. There have been dozens even hundreds of AR15 manufacturers within the United States, among these, there are few that hold up to the full expectations of what an AR15 can be.

Modern AR15s can be extremely reliable, accurate, and versatile firearms. Palmetto State Armory is one of the few manufacturers that has consistently turned out a product I am proud to own and use.

It should be noted that I have at NO point received compensation or product from Palmetto State Armory for writing this article, in fact, I have purchased out-of-pocket the large percentage of reviews I do.

Please remember this when commenting, I am disabled, 40 years old and write reviews because you all deserve to have honest reviews in your corner. Even when a product is received gratis (as is not the case with this article) I provide completely honest reviews. Lying only hurts the liar in the end!

Personally, I discovered Palmetto State Armory AR15s a few years ago when I purchased one from a friend. After using this one for quite a bit I quickly discovered that it was an amazing piece of hardware. I then decided to purchase from Palmetto State Armory myself, and did so, purchasing the following items over the course of two years.

  1. PSA 16″ 5.56 NATO 1/7 Mid Melonite 11″ Keymod Freedom Upper – w/BCG & CH
  2. PSA AR-15 Complete Blem Lower – Classic Edition
  3. PSA Freedom Complete 6 Position Mil-Spec Diameter Buffer Tube Assembly
  4. PSA 5.56 Premium HPT/MPI Full Auto BCG, No Logo & PSA Charging Handle with Tactical Release Latch
  5. PSA 5.56 HPT/MPI Bolt Carrier Group
  6. PSA 5.56 Premium HPT/MPI Full Auto Bolt Carrier Group
  7. PSA 10.5″ 5.56 NATO 1:7 M4 profile carbine length gas tube

Interestingly I have not yet had a negative experience and this is, to be honest rare. After all, everything man-made can and does eventually fail especially firearms. I own several Glock 19s, and have had maybe 4 failures to fire and or feed or eject, in almost all cases it was ammunition related, in two cases it was gun related, I had failed to perform the necessary replacement of springs/ parts that wear out first. Like changing the oil in your car, maintenance is essential in firearms.

photo of two ar-15 rifles a bolt action and glock handgun

For instance on my Glock’s I change barrels every 30,000 rounds, firing pins every 50-60,000 and pins and springs every 5-10,000 rounds, on the gun and in magazines. This ensures continued relatively flawless reliability. Additionally, I do not use sub-par ammunition.

Especially when practicing, I use Aguila, Speer Lawman or MEN German milsurp for practice purposes. And Speer gold dot for self-defense. With my rifles, the same is approximately true, with variations in some rifles depending on the amount of use.

This means that in a given year I could change barrels as many as 4 times if I run a gun hard enough, obviously for 22lr firearms this is not such a large issue, and I have easily gone well over 50,000 rounds before needing to change out springs etc., barrels, if maintained well, will outlast me.

photo of an AR-15 rifle and rifle parts

In my high-pressure carbines and rifles such as the AK and AR variants specifically from Palmetto State Armory, I have found I need to do less maintenance while still seeing exceptional performance overall. The only other brand firearm that even came close in longevity and quality was my Delton Sport model which had a little over 65,000 rounds through the barrel before I replaced gas rings, barrel (it had begun keyholing) and buffer assembly.

It is still running like a mule today, accurate, wonderfully reliable and an amazing firearm. Now, to date I have only been able to put around 28,000 rounds through my oldest Palmetto State Firearm, (prior to melonite/ barrel is chromium steel mix) however, it is still running hard, it is not my defensive tool, as to be honest I am running it specifically to see what fails first. The only issue I have seen is the gas stake on bolt loosening (I tightened and used loc-tite) but no failures overall.

ar-15 scope

I called Adam Ruonala the Chief Marketing Officer for Palmetto State Armory to ask some serious questions about their processes. (On a side note, he is like all of the individuals working with Palmetto State Armory approachable, and honest!)

  1. Do you make your barrels in-house?

Yes, we make our barrels in-house. Exception for the hammer forged barrels, all other barrels stainless, and nitride barrels –

  1. Are all major components (eg., stripped lowers/ barrels and bolts) machined in-house?

Bolt carrier groups currently are outsourced, however, we are in the process of bringing it in-house to keep all – they are made in the United States!

  1. Does the same apply to AR10s and your Ak47 line?

Yes, absolutely the same applies to all firearms made and or stamped Palmetto State Armory!

shooting 100-yard milk jugThe reality is that AR and AK platforms are adult lego’s they are not difficult to put together, in fact, there are dozens of videos showing people building AK47s using shovels and AR’s using a plethora of parts from a dozen different manufacturers.

What is a not well-kept industry secret is that your name branded AR carbines like Spikes Tactical, BCM, and even COLT have many if not all of their parts outsourced and simply stamp their name on it and then raise the price 200-500% and make crazy claims of infinite reliability?

The reality is quite different, comparatively, I have run my Delton and Palmetto State Armory guns against all of the above and in almost every case have continued to run long after they began having failures, feeding, firing, and more.

A popular YouTube channel that destruction tests both AR and AK rifles called The AK Operators Union recently proved that Palmetto State Armory is, in fact, the ONLY all American made AK rifle to date, to pass their stringent 5000 round destruction testing.

*

They also destruction tested the AR15 Freedom model, currently going for under $450 through Palmetto State Armory – and guess what, it passed again!

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And the AR’s I have tested, well, lets just say that as it stands today I have yet to be disappointed. In fact on August the 6th I will be doing the 1000 yard milk jug challenge with a Palmetto State Armory AR, specifically the PSA 16″ 5.56 NATO 1/7 Mid Melonite 11″ Keymod Freedom Upper – w/BCG & CH the only specialized adjustments I have made are adding a Bushnell 4.5-18x40mm BDC AR scope, P.O.F. trigger (made in Arizona) single stage 4.5lbs and a CVLife 9”-13” Bipod, everything else is exactly as it came from the factory – To make this an even better event, I am using 69 grain IMI MatchKing ammunition, each round being used will be weighed and measured to ensure continuity in load but they will be as loaded by the factory.

The 6th of August is my 40thbirthday and I plan on making a bit of a splash by completing this challenge from the Long Range Shooters of Utah Association with what amounts to a stock AR15 with a 16” barrel – something I think will be a first. And yes it may take a week, as my editing skills are atrocious, but after letting the officials review the video, and editing it, I will post for all to see!

Here is the thing folks, regardless what name brand you are currently in love with, from Ruger through Colt, the odds are the barrels are made by Palmetto State Armory or one of the other 2 or 3 actual builders of barrels in the country and re-branded. In some cases the parts are outsourced too Taiwan or Korea, while Palmetto State Armory keeps its parts entirely in house, or are in the process of bringing everything under one roof! AND THEY DO IT FOR LESS than anyone else on the market today!

What are the pros to owning a PSA (Palmetto State Armory) AR or AK over any other brand name –

  1. Pricing, they offer regular daily deals that are far lower than most manufacturers and do so while ensuring a product that functions well easily 97% of the time (all man-made-products can and do fail at times)
  2. They offer an in-house 1911, AK47, AR10 and AR15 – and do so with components made IN HOUSE!
  3. They have absolutely great customer service, I have never had a single member of their staff be rude, and in fact when I am down South again plan on stopping in and meeting them, I am that impressed with their services.
  4. Quality, overall their quality as has been proved by myself and many independent individuals is second to NONE, in fact, I would suggest to any new owner or older owner looking for a backup piece, go to their website, sign up for daily alerts and take advantage of their daily deals!

Cons –

  1. For the first time, I have none, absolutely NO cons to owning a Palmetto State Armory part of the entire firearm!

So do you have anything to add, what are your experiences, and by all means feel free to share FIRST hand experiences with me. Comment below and if you enjoyed this article and want to see others, share and thanks again!

Free the mind and the body will follow…

How Many Rounds Of Ammo Does A Prepper Need?

Photo showing a prepper shooting an AK-47 how many rounds of ammo does he need?
My suggestion for long-term storage is a bare minimum of 250 rounds of defensive ammunition per defensive firearm in the house with 500 to 1,000 rounds being ideal.

There is an economic concept, the law of diminishing returns, that can be applied to your life. The law of diminishing returns refers to a point at which the benefits are less than the amount of effort invested. This applies directly to ammunition stored for personal use and firearms as well as general prepping supplies.

I should add that I detest the term prepper, as it is defined using modern vernacular and is seen as a negative to many. Rather I am someone who considers that even though I may never need insurance, it is a wise idea to have it.

Ammunition Storage

When it comes to prepping it is possible to have too many things and by default cause issues with both storage and distribution of the items needed. Ammunition if it is not stored properly does age rather poorly even if it is sealed in spam cans. Food regardless posted shelf life must also be stored in a relatively climate controlled environments.

In fact, there is very little that has an extended shelf life if it is not stored in a climate controlled environment. Look at the packaging for any dry frozen or dehydrated food supplies, store between temperatures are listed on the package.

Temperatures are somewhat important for ammunition, however, the real killer for stored ammunition is moisture. I do not suggest leaving ammunition in your car during an Arizona summer, the temperatures reached can negatively affect performance.

However, in personal testing with ammunition stored openly in magazines and original packaging as well as loaded in magazines I have found that overall the temperature variations rarely affect the ammunition by itself, though with un-crimped hand loads I have found it causes greater issues than crimped loads both factory and not.

What has always been the hands down ammunition killer is moisture and the subsequent corrosion that occurs.

Except for personal defensive ammunition I have on me at the moment and in my house for use at a moments notice, my ammunition is stored in watertight cases that are also somewhat airtight. I use desiccants inside the ammunition storage containers as a way to reduce the free oxygen and moisture amount even more.

With my testing and others, I have found that ammunition stored this way can be good for many decades, especially when temperature extremes are prevented. When it comes to defensive ammunition you should be rotating this every 6 months or so. You are not rotating it because it compresses in the magazine and becomes oval or for any reason other than your carry ammunition by default is carried on your person.

This means that it is subjected to temperature extremes and humidity, sweat and general degradation that occurs with carry ammunition.

My Bare Minimum Recommendations

For this purpose, my suggestion for long-term storage is a minimum of 250 rounds of defensive ammunition per defensive firearm in the house. This takes a rotation of 30-45 rounds every 6 months for handgun and between 60 and 240 rounds for the rifle and lastly 12-24 rounds for the shotgun if you have or use one.

Personally, I prefer buying a half a case for handgun and a full case at a time once a year of premium defensive ammunition. This covers needs for the firearms in use as a defensive tool at my house and keeps a decent supply for practice and storage as well.

With very few exceptions I keep all of my magazines loaded, modern Magpul magazines can be kept loaded fully and older NATO/STANAG magazines loaded at 28 for rifle and one round short for magazines not in current defensive rotation for the handguns.

This is not to reduce spring tension, instead, it is specifically because many older magazines do not seat easily or fully in a firearm that has a closed bolt or closed slide.

I am not going to argue the merits of learning how to count your rounds or other similar approaches as these are foolish and outdated approaches that at least will add steps that will only confuse you under stress and at worst get you killed. My suggestion is, use proven modern magazines and firearms.

How many rounds of non-defensive ammunition should you keep on hand? This is where the law of diminishing returns really comes into play. Ammunition weighs allot in quantity, for instance, a 30 round magazine of 5.56 or .223 weighs approximately 1 pound.

ammo in storage how much is enough?

 

Whereas a loaded 8 round magazine for a 1911 weighs around 9 ounces and a 15 round Smith and Wesson M&P magazine or a loaded 15 round Glock magazine will weigh around 8-9 ounces. Two defensive magazines for your handgun will end up weighing around 16 ounces and a single 2 ¾ inch 00 buckshot shell will weigh a little over one ounce by itself.

Unless you train regularly with your bug-out bag and a full load out of ammunition, I highly doubt you will be humping more than 3 or 4 magazines for any great distance.

Does this mean you shouldn’t keep more than 120 rounds on hand? Absolutely not!

In fact, I recommend at a bare minimum having 500 rounds of quality range ammunition for practice and long-term use. My suggestion is to avoid big box store ammunition, I do not mean specific ammunition retailers and resellers, I mean Walmart, Big Five, and other similar large box stores ammunition.

What is made for them will ALWAYS be a reduced quality than even military and law enforcement training overruns! Big box ammunition is loaded with far less QC being applied than is done with the more expensive yet better overall ammunition that is available.

If you reload, and this is something that takes great patience and dedicated time and effort to do well, store supplies for as much as you may need at current training use for 2-3 years. This can be applied to factory new loads as well. I like having several months at a bare minimum stored away, with my maximums being around 5 years at my current level of use.

If you go to the range and shoot 150 rounds a week, then calculate based on this number. If you carry defensively and do not train with at least 50 rounds a month, please remember a very simple reality, shooting is absolutely a perishable skill.

Certainly, many people get lucky and have used firearms successfully with little or no regular training or any real training. However, you will find a much greater level of success if you at least keep your basic skills sharp with 50-100 solid rounds downrange once a month.

I have taught and worked with law enforcement officers and soldiers who refused to practice regularly, leading them to have to shoot their generous qualifiers multiple times just to maintain employment!

how many rounds of shotgun ammo does a prepper need

Next, it is important to understand that you and your wife will not be taking on an armed group of marauders even with your multiple trips to FrontSight timeshare and firearms training facilities. I know that the Dr. who owns that training facility has told you that because you are a diamond member you are now better than Rambo, the reality is…you will still be best served with not clearing your house and avoiding issues whenever possible!

This is why individual focused training on your own and or with experienced real-world instructors is best. This means that you need to have additional amounts of ammunition available and stored safely and properly. What you will need much of your ammunition for is hunting, getting rid of predator or scavenger animals and potentially defense against two-legged marauders.

All of my ammunition except what is currently in use is stored in a dry, temperature controlled environment. What is currently in use is also kept dry and cleaned and maintained to promote longevity and 99.9% function when it is needed!

So before you have 50,000 rounds delivered, make sure you know why, how and what you are storing it for. Some places have passed laws recently regarding how much you can legally have. Be sure you follow the local laws whenever possible or whenever morally necessary. A few simple guidelines I use as a disabled middle-aged man with a family and some added individuals in potential problem times.

  • What can I carry by myself
  • What can I keep safely secured
  • How much do we use monthly multiplied by each person using monthly and 2-3 years minimum for EACH firearm
  • Use only what works best in each firearm for each required use, (hunting firearms/defensive/ etc.,)
  • What can my group carry
  • What can my family/group keep safely secured

As always use your head, ask yourself why you are doing or considering doing anything and by all means, avoid falling into the age-old trap that is doomsday prepping. Yes, this approach has been around since before the bronze age and is largely due to a time when humans did not have working networks for trade and exchange.

Certainly, being prepared for this is not a terrible idea though it will take more than stockpiling ammunition and can be extremely cost prohibitive to all but the most wealthy of us.

Free the mind and the body will follow…

Best Folding Knives For Self-Defense

What's the best folding knife for self-defense

Using a knife for self-defense is difficult at best and deadly to the wielder in the worse case.

Training is essential, and not your friendly TKO/Americanized karate instructor either. I firmly recommend if you decide to carry a knife for self-defense get training from someone who has experience using one.

Personally, the recommendation for bladed defense will always be the same until something truly better is invented.

Escrima, Arnis or Kali are hands down the best knife fighting practices available at this time. Each of these approaches has variations that exist. The basic approaches embraced within these arts are taught to most major armed forces and embraced by tens of thousands of advanced martial artists around the world.

When discussing self-defense it is essential to understand that there is only offense and counter offense, I am not sure where I heard that once but it is true! For legal purposes, there is self-defense against initiated aggression by others. This is, however, a legal term the reality is we are offensively countering an offense against us.

Over the years I have sustained many cuts and even punctures in practice and in actual incidents. Obviously, I suggest avoidance is the primary goal, however, because there will be a time when avoidance is not possible there is a need to train and understand your blades.

A dull or poorly manufactured blade is far more dangerous to the holder than it is to the attacker. A properly sharpened blade regardless of length makes a great slashing implement, however, the real damage is done by puncturing a target in places that bleed allot.

Remember, just like with firearms it is rapid and substantial blood loss or exsanguination that stops a threat fastest. Your other option is breaking support structures of the body, and knives simply are not designed to break bones.

Next, you need to understand the 21-foot rule, this is a simple concept taught to every single modern police officer in the United States and most first world nations around the world. Without solid training using a firearm, knife, taser or pepper spray could put you in more danger than simply fleeing if you have the ability to do so.

As a fully disabled individual who cannot run and can barely walk on the best days, I train regularly to be able to quickly counter any threats presented.

One of the things I train with and understand completely is the 21-foot rule. This means that the average assailant regardless of physical condition can cross 21 feet within 1.5 seconds. I have tested this personally with dozens of people in classes. 1.5 seconds is not enough time for most individuals to understand an attack is occurring and prevent it by drawing and engaging with handgun, knife, taser or pepper spray.

Situational awareness is absolutely essential in every location regardless of your belief that you may or may not be safe. Know your surroundings, at the very least be ready to get off the X by moving one step minimum to the side or even forward if in a wheelchair.

Folding knives regardless design will never be as strong as a well-made sheath or belt knife. This said there are a few folding knives I can recommend highly for defensive purposes. What follows are my recommendations based on use, testing, and overall effectiveness. Cost is not taken into account, neither is the brand name.

Whether you disagree or agree, what is recommended has been tested to the breaking point by myself and those I surround myself with. I will be listing them based on the overall effectiveness in no particular order, it is important to understand that each is mass-produced which means it is possible to get one that is not up to par.

Used properly all of the recommended knives work well by themselves or with others depending on training. As I cannot give you the best folding knife for defensive purposes I am going to list a few of my favorites and daily carry blades.

First, we have my personal favorite folding knives for personal carry. Spyderco ParaMilitary 2 (click here to check the current prices at Amazon.com) is in my estimation one of the finest folding blades on the market today. This blade offers an easy to use locking system that has stood up to some of the toughest tests I have thrown at it. The blade is made of CPM S30V steel, a relatively newer crucible steel.

There are other steels that can be better or worse, this is for defensive purposes a solid steel and holds its edge well while being relatively corrosion resistant. The Spyderco PM 2 has a 3.4-inch blade with a nice sharp point that is very resilient and has worked great over the years. I have owned 3 to date and never lost a tip, of course, I do not pry with my defensive tools.

Next is the Spyderco Endura 4 (click here to check current prices at Amazon.com) is hands down my wife’s favorite folding blade to carry. It is lightweight and extremely durable with a solid lockup. The blade is made of the fantastic VG10 steel which holds a brilliant edge and resists corrosion well.

Unlike the CPM S30V steel, it is easier to put a mirror edge on this blade, both can be made very sharp, the Endura is able to cut paper by dropping the paper across the edge versus slicing. With both of these Spyderco blades are amazing, however, they both cost quite a bit so if you are on a budget and still want Spyderco goodness, go with the Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara.

This blade is made from 8Cr13MoV steel, similar to 440c steel in its tolerances and ability to hold an edge decently this blade is extremely strong the knife as a whole is very strong and would work very well as a defensive tool. The Endura 4 has a 3.75-inch blade with a very solid point that again with normal use has never failed.

My wife owns one and I own one as well. The Cara Cara has an almost identical blade pattern and shape. Additionally, the Cara Cara runs around $23 shipped from numerous locations which is a significant savings though the steel is not as good as the others.

Karambits are favorites of mine for fighting, defensive purposes. Fox 478 and Fox 479 are amazing blades with the Emerson wave featured for quick drawing and application. I firmly recommend training with a solid instructor in the use of a karambit.

The blades are curved to promote greater slashing effectiveness, made with N690 Stainless Steel they are 3” in length and more difficult to sharpen than a straight blade. You can easily stab and slash with these blades which is why I carry one as much as possible in my support hand side.

I will say that the tips are NOT extremely strong, the steel lends itself to being very corrosion resistant, but not as strong as the Spyderco blades above. I own two and one of them is missing the last millimeter or two of the tip due to a training incident. These blades cost around $130 shipped.

Benchmade is my next favorite blade maker for defensive tools. The Black Class by Benchmade houses some of my all time favorites. I own and carry the Benchmade CqC7 and the Benchmade Griptilian and the Mini Grip all of these are extremely well made, strong and come in a couple different steels.

The best steel from Benchmade is the 154CM version, this is a very tough, edge retaining steel that works well regardless of situation and conditions. I have had some rusting over time, however, to be fair my oldest blade is from 1993 and still rides in a pocket much of the time so some degradation is fully expected.

The blades are between 3 and 4 inches in length and come with sheepsfoot, tanto and drop point profiles. I prefer a tanto or drop point profile on these blades. Benchmade knives commonly run between $120 and $250 for their better ones in 154Cm steel.

Lastly, a personal favorite of mine is the Kershaw Grid (click here to check current price and availability at Amazon.com) which is a lower cost very solidly built blade. I recently had this on me for a trip and some whitewater fun. It weathered the rapids run well and even stayed in my pocket during an interesting capsizing event. The blade is 3.7” long and has an assisted opening system which lends itself to faster deployment as needed.

It is built using 8Cr13MoV steel and aluminum handle for durability. While the steel is not as good as the super steels mentioned above, it is very sharp and when used for dinner through cutting twine it functioned well.

I will say that this steel is more prone to chipping and rolling, that said, all lower end steels are a trade-off for what you get versus what you want. I can and do trust my life to this blade and firmly recommend it. The cost is around $25 shipped from numerous locations.

There are my top picks for defensively orientated folding blades. If you have any questions or additions please comment below! Remember, a sharp knife is a safe knife. Learn to sharpen your blade or cheat and get a mechanical sharpener, but be careful these are not always better than hands-on sharpening with a good set of water stones.

Free the mind and the body will follow…