Concealed carry is the fastest growing mode of taking a firearm on everyday activities, to work, travel, or wherever it is legal in your state. Along with this, state law enforcement agencies charged with issuing concealed carry permits are experiencing a growing number of requests for the legal right to carry a concealed handgun, pistol, or revolver on the person out in public.

With this manner of carrying a firearm on a regular basis, carry permit holders are looking at different ways to tote a handgun that are comfortable. The issue is also making the firearm easily and quickly accessible when needed. You don’t want to be fumbling around with a gun hanging up in a holster when you need to draw it out against a threat.

Clinger Holsters is producing a slick little slide in your pants waist or in a pocket holster that will cling right in place with no movement. Their Clinger Comfort Cling Holster is designed to be worn either inside the pants waistband or slipped down inside a pants pocket, either front or rear, whichever works best for the user.

For inside the waistband wear, it is best if the pants belt is cinched up a bit tighter so the holster will not slip down as you walk, get up and down out of a seat, or make other movements. The tighter the waist the better the holster will be held in place and ready for gun extraction.

In a pants pocket, the Clinger Comfort Cling Holster is simply slipped into the pocket once the handgun is inserted inside the holster. The handgun grip will be readily accessible because the gun will not slip all the way down into the holster, assuming the correct size holster was chosen for the exact gun model.

The external material of the Comfort Cling Holster is a soft fabric with a rubberized feel. When I laid the holster down on top of my wooden desk at the office, it refused to slide around. It performs the same way inside a pants pocket. The material inside is texturized that adds grip to the surface of the gun, but does not overly adhere to it so it can be withdrawn easily.

For the use test my Glock 43 was a secure fit in the holster, but could be drawn quickly. It carries well in the pocket of my jeans, and is not noticeable. It does not print at all with a shirt worn outside. Check out the Clinger holsters at www.clingerholsters.com.

The post EDC Comfort Carry Made Easy appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

If you are one of those people who has eternally loathed the horrible trigger pull in your Remington 870 (not attacking Remington; most shotgun triggers are pretty atrocious), then Timney Triggers has a solution for you! Just in time for turkey hunting this spring, they have created a fully-adjustable Trigger Fix for 870s that will make your shotgun’s trigger pull not only significantly smoother, but it is also an easy install.

This trigger will not only work in your Remington 870 for turkey hunting, but also a host of other Remington model firearms. The full list of shotguns and rifles that the NEW Timney Triggers Remington 870 Trigger Fix will work in can be read below:

• Model 1100 series shotguns
• Model 11/87 series shotguns
• Model 74 series pump action rifles
• Model 742 Semi Auto Rifle
• Model 7600 series pump action rifles
• All Model 870 Actions
• Model 4
• Model 750 Woodmaster
• Model 760 rifle
• Model 762 rifle
• Model 878
• Model 552 Speedmaster
• Model Sportsman 12

A lot of us if we have been hunting for most of our life may have one of the firearms on that list aside from the bread ‘n butter Remington 870. So the usefulness of this new trigger is pretty awesome. Timney Triggers goes on to further explain what is all behind their new trigger for the Remington 870 in this product announcement that can be read below:

Designed to work with all Model 870 shotguns, the Trigger Fix allows the user to have a clean, smooth, fully adjustable trigger pull. Every Timney 870 Trigger Fix is packaged with a sear, 3 pull weight springs and a hex head wrench.  Simply choose a spring (light, medium, or heavy) and then fine tune the pull weight with the hex head wrench for a precise setting.

Whether you are a slug gun hunter, turkey fanatic or trap shooter the Timney 870 Trigger Fix will simply allow you to become more accurate with your pump shotgun.

So what do you think? A pretty simple solution for a pretty simple problem, right? Let us know what you think of this new Timney Trigger in the Comments below and if you would potentially use one to remedy your shotgun! We always appreciate feedback.

The post Timney Triggers has a Fix for the Remington 870 appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

The wild turkey has made an amazing comeback in the USA, and with higher numbers of these wary fowl comes more interest in hunting them. After all, turkey hunting is one of the most challenging kinds of hunting around. To help with that, here are some of the best states in the USA for turkey hunting.

Missouri

Missouri has long been popular with turkey hunters, and for good reason. They’ve got a passel of birds and often rank among the highest in terms of harvest numbers. Chances are good you won’t be alone, though. There’s a reason MO is one of the top states and competition can be stiff.

Alabama

Alabama boasts a huge number of turkeys — as in about a half a million! With a ton of public hunting land available and some of the highest harvest numbers around, Alabama can be a great place to bag your bird. If you’ve ever wanted to match wits with a wary Eastern while still enjoying decent odds, it might be time to saddle the mule and head for the Heart of Dixie.

Florida

While Florida is known as the sunshine state, it’s not all beaches and condos. We have lots and lots of woods… and the only wild population of Osceola turkeys, which is important for folks who are looking for that ever-elusive “grand slam” (taking all four U.S. Subspecies: Eastern, Osceola, Rio Grande, and Merriam’s). You’ll have to hunt the Florida peninsula if you want to knock down an Osceola gobbler.

There are many private hunting facilities available for folks pursuing Osceolas, as well as hundreds of thousands of acres of WMAs. You’ll need to do your homework if you’re gunning for public land, because many Florida WMAs require a quota permit for turkey hunters.

Kansas

If you want a variety of turkey species, Kansas has the scratch for that itch. They’ve got Rio Grande, Eastern, and Hybrid turkeys in big numbers, with the Rio Grande dominating the western part of the state. Easterns will be found NE and Hybrids more or less in the north-central portion.

The nice thing about Rio Grande turkeys, I hear, is that they’re a lot easier to call in than Eastern turkeys. To date, all of my turkey hunting has been Osceolas and Easterns. I might just have to try a Rio one of these days. An easy turkey hunt might make for a nice change of pace!

Texas

What’s bigger than Texas? Not much, my friends, and that means they have lots of dang near everything. In terms of birds, they have Rio Grande, Eastern, and Merriam’s, with the Rio Grande dominating the wild turkey population. That said, one of the biggest gripes hunters have about Texas is the relative lack of public hunting land (Alabama, for example, has three times more public hunting land than Texas). Most hunters will need to hit up a guide service or secure access to hunting land some other way.

Merriam’s wild turkey.

It can be worth the hassle, though, because everything’s bigger in Texas. Toss in a hog hunt on the side and you could be eating bacon-wrapped turkey breast in no time.

The post The 5 Best States For Turkey Hunting appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Yesterday we walked through the 10th through 6th place spots in our “Top 10 Guns for Turkey Hunting.” That brought us through some 10 Gauge and 12 Gauge shotguns, an Over/Under, and a few semi-autos as well. Today we are going to finish off our Top 10 list with the final 5 shotguns! This final run through the list will bring even more new calibers, action types, and brands. Diversity is the spice of life, right? So your gun safe should have a little variety, too, and there is an abundance of that in the arena of shotguns for turkey hunting. Let’s get started!

5th place: remington 870 sps super mag turkey predator 12 gauge mossy oak obsession

The Remington 870 in all of its various forms is one of the true workhorses of pump-action shotguns. For eternity they have been moderately priced, have a reputation of never-failing for reliability, and are offered in every possibly iteration a hunter could request. This one specifically will help you conquer your turkey season with its Mossy Oak Obsession coloring which is the official camouflage of the NWTF. It also has a factory TruGlo red dot, hefty rubber buttpad, extended choke tubes, and a pistol grip stock for a more sturdy grip while shooting. The Remington 870 SPS Super Mag Turkey Predator 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession retails for $710.

Remington 870 SPS Super Mag Turkey Predator 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession – MSRP $710

4th place: stevens 301 turkey .410 gauge mossy oak obsession

If you already know what the Stevens 301 shotgun is you might be questioning why we would suggest a single-shot, break-open shotgun? Well, similar to when we entertained the idea of an Over/Under yesterday, most all successful and humane turkey hunts end within one shot or at a maximum two. While much of today’s gun culture loves to have a million rounds available to them in their firearms it just isn’t necessary in the specific field of turkey hunting.

The Stevens 301 Turkey .410 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession can really reach out and touch a tom with its 26″ barrel and Extra Full extended choke (Win. choke pattern ½-32UN). The best gobbler medicine you can launch from this shotgun would be Federal Premium’s Heavyweight TSS turkey loads. Its because of their advancements in making turkey shells that we can now reasonably even entertain the idea of using a .410 Gauge for turkey hunting.

The Stevens 301 Turkey .410 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession also features a one-piece rail for optics, has a single brass bead front sight that is compatible with TruGlo sight systems if you desire to upgrade, it has the NWTF’s Mossy Oak Obsession camo, and it only weighs 5 pounds to carry it into the woods. The Stevens 301 Turkey .410 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession has an MSRP of a whopping $199 making it incredibly affordable for new and old shooters alike.

Stevens 301 Turkey .410 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession – MSRP $199

3rd place: mossberg 500 turkey 12 gauge mossy oak obsession

The Mossberg 500 Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession, like so many shotguns that have made this list, utilizes the NWTF’s recognized Mossy Oak Obsession camouflage pattern for remaining concealed from our avian prey. Another simple and time-tested feature that catapults the Mossberg 500 into 3rd place is its top tang, ambidextrous safety that is so intuitive. If you already have your sights set on a tom and he is staring directly at you, you likely can still quietly click the safety off and make your shot without him making a run for it. You couple those tremendously valuable yet mundane elements with a tougher than nails action, adjustable fiber optic sights, and an extended choke tube and you have a recipe for success. The Mossberg 500 Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession has an MSRP of $500.

Mossberg 500 Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession – MSRP $500

2nd place: winchester sx4 nwtf cantilever turkey 12 gauge mossy oak obsession

The Winchester SX4 NWTF Cantilever Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession quite possibly boasts the most features and enhancements of any shotgun that made our list. It truly has a laundry list of upgrades to ensure you bag a longbeard this spring season. It has textured gripping surfaces with a non-glare finish in the Mossy Oak Obsession camo pattern. You get a hard chrome-plated chamber and bore for easier cleaning of your action and more reliability. You have a weaver-style cantilever rail for the most accuracy possible with your optics. It also employs Winchester’s “Inflex Technology” recoil pad to give the shooter softer shooting. The Winchester also has a drop-out trigger group and “Quadra Vent” gas ports for easier cleaning. All of these technologies and more make it an incredibly reliable, soft shooting, and accurate gun for laying the smackdown on big toms! The Winchester SX4 NWTF Cantilever Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession has an MSRP of $1,069.

Winchester SX4 NWTF Cantilever Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession – MSRP $1,069

1st place: savage arms 220 turkey 20 gauge mossy oak obsession

We have finally hit the number one spot! And the winner in our Top 10 Guns list is the Savage Arms 220 Turkey 20 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession! If you had told us 5 years ago that a bolt-action shotgun would be the best choice you could make for hunting gobblers, we would have resoundingly told you to set down your Kool-Aid because you are crazy! The fact of that matter is though that the secret sauce that Savage Arms is pouring into these shotguns is working. Their counterpart, the traditional Savage Arms Model 212 and 220 used for deer hunting, are lights out accurate and have taken the niche market of deer hunting by storm. Savage Arms looks to do the same with this model as it deploys all of the same reliability and accuracy yet for our longbearded, delicious friends.

The Savage Arms 220 Turkey 20 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession boasts their AccuFit stock system that gives you a perfect comb height and buttstock fit to your body. It also has their legendary AccuTrigger which is user adjustable. It would not be complete without their AccuStock which three-dimensionally secures the action into place. Then, they add in a one-piece rail for your preferred optics and a coating of that wonderful Mossy Oak Obsession camouflage pattern and you have a formula for success. This shotgun retails for $695.

Savage Arms 220 Turkey 20 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession – MSRP $695

So after making this journey with us through the Top 10 Guns you can take to clobber a gobbler, what do you think? Did we nail this list? Was it a complete flop? What shotguns would you have liked to see on the list? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below, and be sure to check out our previous article as well! We always appreciate your feedback.

The post Top 10 Guns for Turkey Hunting (5th – 1st Place) appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

When you think of flashlight in the key chain, you might think of small and fragile products with poor performance, which are virtually not enough for daily activities. If you need something reliable with more power, the only option is usually a much larger and more intense light such as the SureFire Sidekick.

With SureFire Sidekick, you get high performance with a lightweight flashlight on the key chain. Its 2.5-inch ultra-portable size weighs just 2 ounces thanks to the construction of its polymer body, which makes Sidekick light enough to live on a key chain or rifle, but strong enough to withstand everyday wear and tear.

A high-end button interface provides easy access to all three levels: a low light duration of 5 lumens lasting 45 hours, an average usage average of 60 lumens and a maximum of 300 lumens unprecedented for a lantern. Considering these Specifications, Sidekick exceeds the lights that use much larger batteries and higher voltages. It uses a built-in micro-USB port to charge the built-in lithium-ion battery, making recharging easier, saving weight and preventing other cells from recharging. And while it may look like another key chain, Sidekick takes the key chain lamps to a new height. Get this portable Surefire pocket rocket at the next link.

Sidekick allows you to set the brightness sequence according to your favorite use cases. By default, the output sequence is reduced (5 lumens) – average (60 lumens) – high by 300 (lumens) by pressing the enable button. You can choose to set your sequence at a high level because, as a semi-defensive EDC element, you might immediately want maximum lumens to launch a threat. This sequence change can be made by following a few simple instructions provided with the SureFire product. Whatever your preferences are, the process only takes a few seconds.

Mode and User Interface:

Sidekick has three output levels: Low, Medium and High. From OFF, press the powerbutton to select Low, press again within 2 seconds to switch to Medium state, press again within 2 seconds after the last press to reach High, then close. If you use the Low or Medium function, if you wait more than 2 seconds before pressing again, Sidekick will stop (instead of going to the next mode and then OFF). There are no indicators on Sidekick lamps so whether it charging or not; it doesn’t show rather Sidekick uses its main LED. For the discharged battery, the output drops considerably and begins to disappear. There is no sudden stop, so even if there is no real “warning,” it is clear that it has very little energy.



For charging, the main led is used as an indicator. In USB mode, the LED blinks to indicate that the Sidekick is being loaded. During the charging process, the LED sometimes lightsup continuously for several seconds, then blinks in series. Finally, when fully charged, the main LED will always light up and stay lit as long as it is lit.

Surefire noted that the charge rate is set at around 450 mA, but it still seems to be faster than suggested in the instruction manual or indicates this information. In my experience (with a good charger), even exhausted, charging takes less than an hour.

There is parasitic drainage, but as the light is sealed, it cannot be measured. During normal use for more than six months, Sidekick has never been visibly drained.

For lightweight, Sidekick has fantastic performance. It is not completely regulated. However, the flow rate remains above 250 lm for 45 minutes, which is very impressive for the light of a key ring.

SureFire Sidekick Pros:

• Excellent MaxVision range.
• An output of 300lm for 45 minutes stable at the high.
• Low-weight
• Rechargeable via USB.
• Comfort and stability.
• Small and robust metal clip.

SureFire Sidekick Cons:

• Easily mistaken for a car key
• A built-in battery that cannot be replaced.
• The main LED flashes and then continues to flash while charging.
• Poorly visible in PWM

Bottom Line

Overall, given its small size, Sidekick is very convenient, comfortable and durable. The packages provided by each configuration are clean, bright and comprehensive enough to work as much as torches. Thanks to a convenient USB charging, combined with excellent operating life, Sidekick is a device that needs little thought from time to time to make sure it’s ready when you need it.

The post Light Review: SureFire Sidekick Ultra-Compact Variable-Output LED Flightlight appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

R.A.T.S.: Rapid Application Tourniquet System. This is one of the most awesome tourniquets on the market and tested in combat. It is invented and patented by a member of special forces, a doctor with multiple traumatic experiences under his belt. The R.A.T.S. Tourniquet uses a vulcanized solid rubber core with a nylon sheath, combined with a locking mechanism for swift application.

The R.A.T.S is:

• Easy to learn and use
• Simple design and allows use with one hand
• Small and has a minimum space that will enable you to store them almost anywhere
• The US Army Surgical Research Institute has proven its effectiveness in blocking blood flow to the upper and lower limbs.

Tourniquets were used in ancient Greece to prevent blood loss caused by traumatic injury. They always consisted of the tightened band to avoid the blood flow. A tourniquet can be composed of several common elements. However, when someone bleeds from a traumatic injury, building a rudimentary turnstile can be precarious and ineffective. If you are in a high-risk scenario, you should have the equipment tested with a professional turnstile and checked for effectiveness and safety.

Weighing just 2.8 ounces, the compact and lightweight R.A.T.S tourniquets can be packed up with a range of easily accessible methods, including elastic sleeves, bags, and even a R.A.T.S. sling. It can also be attached to the exterior of an EDC package and bounded with a simple rifle sling.

Tourniquets are an essential part of the first aid kit and first responder kits. Although they are rarely used, they can be a real remedy – all with minor consequences if they are appropriately used and where appropriate.  The most important thing when choosing a tourniquet is to pick the one that meets your needs and pass the proper security test.

R.A.T.S tourniquets are made from quality materials without complicated loops or belts. They offer a definite advantage in terms of flexibility, circulation of housing and swelling. Its unique and simplistic design makes application quick and comfortable when the number of seconds is taken into account, even in animals and young children. Its compact shape makes it ideal as a EDC option, first aid kit, and survival kit.

There are many tourniquets on the market, each with different characteristics and benefits. At just under $20, R.A.T.S tournaments are so accessible that you can choose to bring two.

The post All Things R.A.T.S. Tourniquet appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

GET LUBE FROGGY WITH FROG LUBE

The quest for a comprehensive line of gun lubricate and cleaning solvent can be over. Welcome to the brand name Frog Lube, made in the U.S.A. Their primary product is a propriety firearms lube that offers superior protection and smooth operation. Their other products include a solvent and a degreaser that gets rid of all previously used lubricants as well as the usual gun gunk.

Frog Lube is really a firearms maintenance system. The basis of using Frog Lube is to first remove all the existing oils and lubricants on the firearm before applying Frog Lube according to directions. At gun shows I have witnessed firearms with years of goo and gunk caked up on the action, trigger, bolts, and such that have never been cleaned. There is no reason to introduce a new lubricant without working hard to remove the foundation of old stuff.

Removing old gunk is easy with Frog Lube Degreaser, but some elbow grease is required. Frog Lube recommends to (1) apply generous amounts of degreaser to all fouled metal surfaces to let it soak in, (2) then scrub using a nylon brush to loosen fouling residue, (3) add mild heat to enhance the cleaning effect (via hair dryer), (4) wipe clean to dry and remove all burned powder and fouling, (5) apply Frog Lube to cleaned surfaces.

Frog Lube Solvent is used to dissolve and flush contaminants out of parts, firearms components, and other combinations of parts like trigger systems. Barrel fouling can be loosened and removed after a good soak. An overnight soak is recommended for really tough, long term and stubborn fouling. This procedure will get rid of bullet metal, copper, and lead fouling from the barrel surfaces. After a thorough brushing and wiping repeatedly with clean patches, apply a light coat of the Frog Lube CLP lubricant. Remove any excess lube.

A new Frog Lube kit comes with everything needed to clean and lube your firearm in one container. This self-contained kit includes Frog Lube CLP paste, a spray bottle of solvent, a tube of Frog Lube Extreme, a cleaning brush and swab package, and a cleaning cloth. All this comes in a unique screw apart container that keeps all the cleaning supplies together.

Keeping a critical firearm clean and running is essential. That means degreasing, removing all fouling, and then applying a quality lubricant. Frog Lube products gets all these tasks done easily with long term protection benefits.

The post Get Lube Froggy with Frog Lube appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

THE NEW RUGGED

A new lifestyle concept has been conjured up recently that should make most preppers happy, at least the millennials. It seems that with all the worldly conveniences we all luckily enjoy these days, our work loads are decidedly much less than generations before us.

Ironically, I just happened to mention this same concept by sheer accident the other day when discussing the dismal deer hunting season most experienced this year. I remarked it was a good thing we were not living in a little house on the prairie or out in the cold lying next to Grizzly Adams or Jeremiah Johnson wondering where our next meal would come from and what it might likely be. I would hate to dine on those nasty corn cakes Jeremiah’s squaw was pounding out over an open campfire.

Think about it. We’ve got it pretty lucky these days so long as some SHTF or natural disaster does not come along to spoil the party. Let’s see order out pizza tonight, or drop by the local big box grocery store to pick up a stack of microwave dinners, or heaven forbid a piece of raw meat that we might actually have to cook ourselves.

And water? Heck, no more long totes with a deer skin bag or a tin pan bucket from the “crick” way down the trail through the willows and aspens. Just go to the kitchen sink and flip the faucet for clean, drinkable water. Oh, and yes, even already heated scalding hot ready to go at the mere thought of it. Boy, we have got it tough.

And that roof over your head sure beats a pine lean-to out in the elements, especially cold, rain, and snow. Cold? Just kick up the thermostat on that central unit. Order a fresh cord of firewood if you run out. Not a problem, they will even stack it for you. Better yet, install a gas fireplace and just push the button.

So, what is the “New Rugged?” It’s working a day job trying to make enough to pay the rent, house note, insurance, car payments, utilities, and all else we consume to live the lifestyle we enjoy these days. Sounds tough doesn’t it.

What will you miss first when a real catastrophic event takes it all away, even for a short term like a week? Think about those things when you are working on your prepping plan and grumping about having to repair the air conditioning or having to work next Saturday. We won’t know real rugged until the SHTF hits.

The post The New Rugged appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Its about that time of year in the spring where you need to take an inventory of your firearms and decide if you are ready for turkey hunting or are in need of an upgrade. If you do not have a gun for turkey hunting or could use a new one, we offer you the Top 10 Guns you can take into the field to put the smackdown on a longbeard! In this article we will cover our 10th placing through the 6th. Give this a once-over and check back tomorrow for the remaining Top 5 spots.

10th place: browning nwtf gold light 10 gauge mossy oak break-up country

Browning‘s semi-automatic 10 Gauge very fittingly starts off of our list at the number 10 spot. When it comes to firearms like many things, it takes different strokes for different folks to sometimes trip your trigger. The 10 Gauge is just like that. For some people it is their dream round, but for others the price, recoil, and difficulty to find ammunition can be a big deterrent. The Browning NWTF Gold Light 10 Gauge Mossy Oak Break-Up Country has an MSRP of $1,899. While that type of price-point and the 10 Gauge round not being for everybody, Browning does make the most reliable 10 Gauge on the market so it is worth mentioning for those who love the big boom sticks for turkey hunting.

Browning NWTF Gold Light 10 Gauge Mossy Oak Break-Up Country – MSRP $1,899

9th place: beretta a350 xtrema turkey 12 gauge mossy oak obsession

Beretta jumps in on our list because of the premium components they utilize for their shotgun that people can sometimes overlook. Many turkey shotguns on the market look the same with their similar camo patterns and fiber optic sights. While those two signature characteristics are almost mandatory for a turkey gun the Beretta A350 Extrema Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession hides a lot more. Beretta’s Steelium barrels have some of the best performance on the market, their LOP (Length-of-Pull) spacers coupled with their shims for Drop-Cast adjustment create a near perfect fit, and their self-cleaning pistons ensure it can truly cycle 2 ¾” loads to 3 ½” magnums. At an MSRP of $1,365 it is expensive, but appropriately priced.

Beretta A350 Xtrema Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession – MSRP $1,365

8th place: remington v3 turkey pro 12 gauge realtree timber

The Remington V3 Turkey Pro 12 Gauge Realtree Timber is a highlight reel of desirably features for turkey hunting. You get a complete camo wrap in Realtree Timber with their reliable VersaPort® Gas System hidden inside. It comes with a factory bore sighted Truglo Optic, and fiber optic front sight with steel mid bead if you need to take a shot with iron sights. It also boasts a Truglo Headbanger Choke Tube, Supercell Recoil Pad, and has Drop-Cast adjustment shims included as well. All of this comes in an attractive semi-automatic package for an MSRP of $1,195.

Remington V3 Turkey Pro 12 Gauge Realtree Timber – MSRP $1,195

7th place: browning cynergy ultimate turkey 12 gauge mossy oak break-up country

While the novelty of a semi-auto or pump is attractive because of all of the rounds you can send down range, when it comes to turkey hunting you realistically will have 1 or possibly 2 shot opportunities to bag your bird. So while no one would recommend you hike into the woods with only 2 shells on you, you do not necessarily need your gun to be able to hold half a dozen or more. That is where the simplicity of something like the Browning Cynergy Ultimate Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Break-Up Country comes in.

With the lightweight nature of Browning’s Over/Under shotguns, the great fit, natural point, and the tight patterns of their Invector-Plus choke tubes it is a marvel more people do not lean towards a double-barrel option for turkey hunting. The Browning Cynergy Ultimate Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Break-Up Country has an MSRP of $2,389.99 making it a very expensive option, but a valuable one for those who can afford it.

Browning Cynergy Ultimate Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Break-Up Country – MSRP $2,389

6th place: mossberg 930 turkey 12 gauge mossy oak obsession

The Mossberg 930 Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession is one of those ol’ trusty firearms you can always rely on. They have been around for a long time and whether you are using it against big toms or other birds you just know they are always going to go Bang! for you. With the complete camouflage wrap, fiber optic sights, and the universal platform that is the Mossberg 930 allowing for endless accessories this is definitely a winning turkey hunting shotgun. The Mossberg 930 Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession has an MSRP of only $630 making it the most affordable shotgun for turkey hunting on our list thus far.

Mossberg 930 Turkey 12 Gauge Mossy Oak Obsession – MSRP $630

That brings us half-way through our list of the Top 10 Guns for Turkey Hunting! The final Top 5 Guns will be announced tomorrow so be sure to check back and see that list as well. Even though there are 5 more shotguns coming tomorrow, what do you think? Are these the kind of shotguns you were thinking you would see? Which one surprised you the most? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below and tell us what shotgun you currently use for hunting! We always appreciate feedback and would love to hear what you are using to put the smackdown on turkeys!

The post Top 10 Guns for Turkey Hunting (10th – 6th Place) appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

For the sake of discussion let’s say someone was going to stockpile only four or five types of seeds, what would they be?

First question someone may ask is about nutrition; what crops would provide the most nutrition per acre?  Another question may be about spring or fall crops?  Maybe one of the first questions we may want to ask ourselves is about preservation.  What are some of the easiest crops to preserve, and are time tested?

To answer that question we turn to the past.  Some of my long time readers know we going to reach for a history book for this article.  The book in question is “The Middle Ages Everyday Life in Medieval Europe by Jeffery Singman, page 57.

To paraphrase parts of page 57, “Grains and legumes were available year round.”  Why were grains, peas and beans available year round?  Because they were easy to dry and store.  The biggest dangers to both were moisture and rodents.

Grains were kept whole for storage, then used as soon as they were ground.

What does all of this mean?  According to Medieval history, some of the best crops to stockpile seeds for are:

• Corn
• Wheat
• Beans
• Peas
• Oats

In the grand scheme of things, oats are a fairly new crop to humanity.  Other crops such as wheat, corn, peas and beans have been cultivated for thousands of years.  It is estimated Native Americans were cultivating corn 10,000 years ago, but the crop was only recently brought to Europe.  I say “recently” as in the past few hundred years.

Why should we focus on grains and legumes? The main reason is because they are somewhat easy to store after the crop has been harvested. Chances are a lot of us had a granny who would dry beans, then boil then when ready to cook?

Corn is an all around usage crop, as in it can be used for human and livestock feed. A good number of southern recipes call for corn, such as cornbread.

Wheat has been cultivated for thousands of years. One reason why Rome was so interested in Egypt is because of the fertile Nile valley and how much wheat Egyptians were able to produce.  Availability of Egyptian wheat helped the Roman empire to thrive and expand.

In short, people were growing and preserving grains and legumes centuries before the canning process was invented.  There is a lot for preppers to learn from those time honored practices.

The post Two Types of Seeds to Stockpile for SHTF appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

As we are approaching the spring turkey season you might assess your personal stash of shotgun shells and realize you are getting low. So it is time for a trip to your local gun store, but then what? There are lots of different shot sizes that can be found in shotgun shells all with different intended purposes. Some can be so small its difficult to pick them up with your fingers while others can be nearly the size of a marble. As the old adage goes there’s always a right tool for the job, so which shotgun shells do you buy? Regardless of the length or caliber of the shotgun shell, whether its a small 2.5″ .410 Gauge shell or a big 3.5″ 10 Gauge shell, knowing your shot size and its applications are key. This is valuable not only for turkey hunting, but all of your hunting seasons.

The literal size of the shot inside shotgun shells can vary considerably when we begin to speak exact numbers. Some shot sizes are huge and you will never see them in turkey shells while others are so small you may have never heard of them at all. Here is a simple breakdown of shot size from heavy self-defense loads to small target loads.

Its sometimes nice to see the numbers behind… ahem, the numbers, to bring more clarity to a sometimes murky topic. If this still doesn’t give much of a frame of mind for you, think of this. If a shotgun shell for any caliber is a fixed size (fixed capacity or volume) by changing the size of the shot inside; thus, the number of pellets, you can accomplish different things.

The large “000 Buck” size shot is great for large fur-bearing animals like fox, coyote, or even personal home defense. This is because you need a larger projectile to take down larger game like fox or coyote. The small #9 size shot is great for smaller animals like quail, snipe, and even turkey considering you are aiming for their small head. With this smaller shot size you can throw more pellets at your target (can fit more in the shell because of the smaller size shot). To better understand how many pellets are leaving your shotgun based on the shot size, here is another helpful table.

By knowing that the further you shoot the larger your pattern is going to become, you can begin to appreciate the #9 shot size having 579 pellets on your target! That’s a whole lot of pellets to nail a small turkey’s head with if he is strutting his stuff 60 yards away! Oppositely, the large, but small in volume “000 Buck” shot size definitely packs one hell of a punch, but most people do not shoot it over great distances. With only 6 pellets you could make a perfectly placed shot on a coyote and miss because the pattern is all around him.

The final consideration for most hunters is what caliber to shoot for turkey hunting: 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, or .410 Gauge. The most common calibers people are tagging turkeys with are 12, 20, and .410 Gauge, but which is the perfect one? The one you can shoot most comfortably and accurately. There is no perfect choice, but you should never have a flinch response and you should be confident you will make a clean, ethical shot every time you pull the trigger.

So what do you guys and gals think? Were some of these graphics pretty helpful to put things into perspective or were you up to speed on most of this? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate feedback.

The post Don’t be a Turkey! Know your Shot Size & What’s in your Shotgun Shells appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

FOR THE LOSS OF HEARING

We are blessed to have been born with five senses. These visual, auditory, touch, taste, and smell “ceptions” (receptions) all work together to give humans a decidedly keen edge over other animal species without the total package. In order to maximize human sensitivities and awareness we need all these senses to function at peak performance.

Even so, different people argue the ranking of these senses in terms of critical importance to the whole experience of life. Certainly visual is a most desired sense, but I would say that the auditory sense is next. I know because I have lost most of it and it puts me at a decided disadvantage in everyday enjoyment of life and performance.

In 1970 I was drafted into the Vietnam War out of college. When I arrived at the pre-induction center in St. Louis, Mo, I had no idea what was about to happen. I flunked the physical. I had no high frequency hearing in either ear. Why? For years I worked in the family agricultural flying business working around radial aircraft engines without any hearing protection. We didn’t know any better.

Fast forward more than 40 years later and I cannot hear much at all in a crowded room full of background noise and dense conversation. In hunting, I miss a lot of deer steps until they are right on top of me. Same with gobbling turkeys. I learned the lessons of hearing protection the hard way, too late.

At the gun range now, I double up on hearing protection. First I plug in good quality ear foam inserts, then I put on top rated ear muffs. At times I don electronic ear muffs to further control muzzle blast sound, but these also allow me to hear range commands and shooters talking next to me. Wish I had had these devices when I was hearing those Pratt and Whitney 1340 cylinders hum.

As shooter-hunter friend Gary Starkey remarked recently, “Maybe it is normal for guys our age to be losing our hearing, but we both know it started decades ago.” The message to young shooters and hunters today is to use hearing protection every time they go shooting. Some even wear at least foam inserts when they go hunting. That is not a bad idea either.

Like all human senses, you have to preserve them for a lifetime. Be smart and get some hearing protection earmuffs now, before it’s too late. Hearing loss is accumulative, so every little bit of noise works against you.

The post For the Loss of Hearing appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

DO YOU REALLY NEED A FLAME THROWER?

My first inclination here is a “well, no.” But, then I ran into a colleague recently just home from the SHOT Show in Vegas. Of all the things he saw while there at the largest gun show in the world was a flame thrower. I just shook my head.

The XM42 Modular flame thrower is a handheld piece of equipment fabricated out of billet aluminum and offers a fully customized layout according to the product source. In this case that is the TacticalSh_t.com web site. A retail price was not listed.

So, in real terms what could you do with a compact handheld flame thrower, despite thoughts of creating general mayhem? Actually, there are some legitimate reasons for using a flame thrower for a variety of activities, so having this tool on hand may not be as farfetched as one might initially think.

First, if you live up north this winter, you probably wish you had a way to quickly and efficiently melt ice off the porch steps, and the sidewalk. Once the snow is off, usually there is a layer of hardcore ice that is nearly impossible to get rid up so long as temps stay below freezing. A flame thrower blast would clear that.

In the spring and summer, a quick waning of the flame thrower torch will literally burn away noxious and stubborn weeds in sidewalk cracks, along decorative brick walls, along fence lines and other applications. In a similar mode, this flame source would work for controlled burns for wildlife food plot maintenance, burning off weed fields, and maintenance around hunting camps and even prepper Bug Out sites.

Regional firefighting groups could use this flame thrower to create back fires to head off spreading and ever expanding wildfires. Sometimes you have to set fires ahead of a wildfire to deprive a huge fire of additional fuel resources to dampen the spread.

Just for fun, a portable flame thrower could be used to start bonfires for a camp especially when starter materials are wet or just damp. It could come in handy when a campfire is needed quickly.

So, maybe for some having a tool like a flame thrower makes sense. If it does for you, then check out the XM42. You may be the only person on the block to have one.

Other potential uses of a torch flame would be infected insect nests, ground hives, and other insect threats like fire ants, and

The post Do You Really Need a Flame Thrower? appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Turkey hunting can be one of the most exciting ways to spend time in the great outdoors — and one of the most humbling as well. To gain the edge, you need to put in a lot of time and have the right gear. Do you need to spend a lot of money and fill a huge vest full of calls and gear? No… but using the best you can get and learning how to use more than one type of call can definitely give you an edge. To that end, here are the 5 best turkey calls you can put your hands on.

Lynch’s World Champion Turkey Caller

This call will always top my list of turkey calls, for a few reasons. For one, it was my father’s only turkey call, and that makes it special. On top of that, it’s about as versatile as a box call can get. The striker can be used on both sides of the box, which allows you to sound like a sweet and loving hen or an old raspy tom. With a little practice, you can use the old faithful two-sided Lynch Box to purr, putt, yelp, and cutt… and even gobble when the time is right.

Lynch’s World Champion Turkey Box Call
(Photo © Russ Chastain)

The Lynch World Champion box call can be had for $47.99. Buy Here

Quaker Boy Easy Yelper

The Easy Yelper from Quaker Boy is a great call for beginners which also works well for experienced hunters. I never head to the turkey woods without mine, which is a Double version they don’t seem to make anymore.

You can push or pull on the dowel that moves the paddle-type striker. Vary your speed and pressure to make clucks, putts, yelps, and purrs — and you get a different tone when you push vs. when you pull. You can even use it to make an aggressive “fighting purr,” which I’ve employed to bring in a stubborn gobbler who just wouldn’t respond to other calls.

Quaker Boy Easy Yelper push-pull turkey call

The Quaker Boy Easy Yelper costs $22.66. Buy Here

H.S. Strut Thunder Twister Gobble Call

The Thunder Twister is a gobble call I’ve been carrying for a year or two, and I really like it. It’s one of the easiest calls you’ll ever use, and it can be completely silenced so it doesn’t start “talking” while you’re walking through the woods.

The Twister consists of a plastic tube which contains the reed and a twistable portion which acts as a valve to block air movement across the reed, attached to a camo-colored rubber bellows. To use the call, just twist open the valve, hold the plastic tube, and shake it.

H.S. Strut Thunder Twister Gobble Turkey Call
(Photo © Russ Chastain)

Gobbles make great locator calls and can also be used to spur territorial toms into action by making them think another gobbler is moving in on their hens.

As always, use care when gobbling while turkey hunting — you don’t want another hunter to close in on you, thinking you’re the bird he’s after.

The Hunters Specialties Thunder Twister runs $19.99. Buy Here

H.S. Strut Smokin’ Gun Waterproof Box Call

The Smokin’ Gun box call is one of the most durable box calls I’ve ever laid hands on — and best of all, it’s waterproof and never needs chalk.

If you’ve hunted turkeys much, you know that turkey woods are often wet. Whether it’s fog and dew in the early-morning woods or a spring downpour that dang near drowns you, things often get damp or downright wet and that often plays havoc with turkey calls. Water changes the way the striker and box react to one another.

The Smokin’ Gun has a light gray substance applied to the striker and the top edges of the box sides, where the striker moves across them to generate sound. Whether wet or dry, these work just the same and make the same sounds… and the sound never gets weird because the chalk has worn off, since it doesn’t need any chalk.

One of my favorite features is the elastic strap tacked to the box for securing the striker so it doesn’t move while you’re walking through the woods. All turkey calls should have some simple way to silence them, and this works pretty well. You could probably put a semi-loose-fitting rubber band around box and striker so you could make gobbles with this call as well.

The H.S. Strut Smokin’ Gun is $29.19. Buy Here

H.S. Strut Legends 4 Turkey Diaphragm Combo Pack

When you want a mouth call, you want a good one, and the H.S. Strut diaphragm calls I’ve used have lasted longer than any others — all while sounding good when I do my part.

That last part is one reason I don’t use mouth calls often. I’m just not really good at it and it tickles the ceiling of my mouth… but if you can master a mouth call you’ll have a great way to coax a wary old tom without having to move your hands, and that can be invaluable. Having a variety of tones available is also a great thing, because if you just keep on making the same calls you’ll never pull that bird in close enough to shoot.

The H.S. Strut Legends 4 Turkey Diaphragm Combo provides four different mouth calls and a DVD for less than $20. Buy Here

The post Top 5 Best Turkey Calls appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

When it comes to hunting turkeys we all want it to be a slam dunk hunt and sometimes the turkey products you use can help more than you think. While many of us rely on our ol’ trusty turkey call, blind, shotgun, etc, it can be beneficial to try new turkey products, new tactics, and being more adaptive with the times. To ensure you are as best prepared for the 2019 spring season as possible, we will present to you (in no specific order or rank) five of the best new products you might want to entertain adding to your hunting bag of tricks.

TOP 5 NEW TURKEY PRODUCTS – PRIMOS DOUBLE Bull surroundview 360 blind

The Primos Double Bull Surroundview 360 Blind is a mouthful for a name, but it is everything a hunter could be looking for in a ground blind. It is the first blind of its kind to actually give the hunter 360° of views in their hunting spot. The one-way see-through walls give the hunter a complete perspective of their hunting situation while still maintaining concealment from turkeys and other game from the outside.

The Blind Without A Blind Spot ensures that you do not miss any opportunities on your peripheral and do not have to go back to your buddies with another I got busted! story of how you scared an ol’ longbeard away. This ground blind edges on the expensive side at a retail price of $499, but anecdotally it has already claimed the hunting industry’s number one spot as the best blind on the market. If your time-tested blind is looking more raggedy than reliable then the Primos Double Bull Surroundview 360 Blind is worth your consideration.

TOP 5 NEW TURKEY PRODUCTS – Savage arms 220/212 turkey

One of the most popular firearms for deer hunting that has flipped a stagnant niche market on its head is the Savage Arms 220 (20 Gauge) and 212 (12 Gauge) bolt-action shotguns. When most firearm manufacturers would not touch the idea of a bolt-action shotgun with a 10 foot pole Savage Arms grabbed it by its haunches and made it a #1 seller! The nearly unrivaled accuracy of the bolt-action shotgun was adoringly received by hunters who could never use a rifle (based on where they may have lived and local laws). Now turkey hunters can similarly rejoice because Savage Arms is making the 220/212 Turkey for the 1st time with the same spooky accuracy.

Savage Arms 220 Turkey 20 Gauge bolt-action shotgun – MSRP $695

This new offering for 2019 is also the first smooth-bore version Savage Arms has made in the Model 212/220 bolt-action shotgun. Other features worth appreciating are the extended choke tubes, full rail for optics, detachable box magazine, and adjustable/removable cheek weld and buttpad pieces for a more custom fit. The 220 Turkey 20 Gauge hits home at $695 while the 212 Turkey 12 Gauge punches in a hair higher at $779.

TOP 5 NEW TURKEY PRODUCTS – federal premium heavyweight tss

The way that the ammunition industry is continually outpacing itself is like a double-edged sword for hunters. The quality and range of shotgun shells for turkey hunting keeps eclipsing itself year after year gifting us with more effective and lethal ammo. Simultaneously, we feel the need to always try the latest and greatest even if our current hoard of shells are perfectly fine; that grass is greener mentality continually nipping us in the bud.

Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS #9 Shot – MSRP $31.95

Federal Premium is a front-runner for upping the ante on ammunition on a yearly basis and they continue that trend with their Heavyweight TSS (Tungsten Super Shot) shells in .410 Gauge, 20 Gauge, and 12 Gauge loads for turkey hunting. The TSS payload is a proprietary tungsten-alloy that is 22% more dense than standard tungsten and 56% more dense than traditional lead. When that devastating frag-grenade of a payload is expertly guided by Federal’s FLITECONTROL FLEX wad turkeys have something to seriously being concerned about. The pricing varies from $31.95 – $63.95 for a box of 5 shells in varying shot sizes of #7 through #10.

TOP 5 NEW TURKEY PRODUCTS – montana decoy company wiley tom decoy

Aside from tying up a live turkey to a tree to draw in some gobblers (PLEASE do not do that – highly illegal), the Montana Decoy Company may have the next best thing. Their new Wiley Tom decoy brings realism to new levels with HD imagery of actual wild turkeys. It also has special inserts to allow for you to add real turkey feathers to the fan. This added personal touch of authenticity to your avian trickery plus the view-thru window for reaping makes it a knockout punch decoy. At an MSRP price of $89.99 it is affordable and versatile to how you want to hunt.

Montana Decoy Company Wiley Tom decoy – MSRP $89.99

TOP 5 NEW TURKEY PRODUCTS – zink wicked series pot call

When it comes to hunting calls for any type of game, including turkeys, it is difficult to find a more tenured and quality product than Zink Calls. More specifically, their Wicked Series Pot Calls are some of the most feature-integrated and quality sounding you can buy. They are weather-proof so they will not warp on you in wet weather, they have a striker conditioner built in, and boast a secondary sweet spot on the back of the pot call for close-range, softer calling. When you need to phone in a turkey to fill your tag it is hard to beat this hand-tuned pot call for $79.

Zink Wicked Series Pot Calls – MSRP $79.99

With so many turkey products that are new hitting the market every year it is a daunting task to read up on all of them and decide what is worth your hard-earned cash and what is definitely not. When I head out into the woods in pursuit of a butterball turkey I always bring with a blind, shotgun, ammo, decoy, and a call as a bare minimum (often a pocket full of Snickers bars, too). So with our “Top 5 New Turkey Products for Tagging a Tremendous Tom” we suggested one in each category.

After checking out our list, what do you think? Do you disagree with any of the products we suggested? Have you already had some first-hand experience with any of them that you would be willing to share? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

The post Top 5 New Turkey Products for Tagging a Tremendous Tom appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

JUST ANOTHER STUPID CHASSIS RIFLE

What is it exactly with firearms pundits? In all of my 50+ years of studying, shooting, collecting, writing about, and photographing firearms among other professional pursuits, I am convinced that we gun nuts are probably the most arrogant bunch of snobs around. I guess we just have to chalk it up to opinions, and of course you know the physiological reference to having one of those. But, sometimes it just gets to be too darned much blather for the nickel.

I guess, too, that social media has ruined this as well. When working in my own gun business and countless gun shows over the years it was never a shock to have some benchrest guru cast shadows on every gun we were selling. These are the guys with $5 in their pockets, they handle everything, but never buy a thing. I bet their Shooter’s Bible is worn to a frazzle, but they don’t shoot a box of ammo a year.

And Facebook as a social media platform is the worst. These guys prowl the sidelines of this electronic Wi-Fi network just waiting to pounce on any new firearms announcement from the factory or a writer’s comments just to pop the buttons off their shirt. These self-proclaimed “experts” know everything about everything, but really not much at all. They try to rally their 2 cents worth into a dime’s profit, but most often end up bankrupt.

The cause of this particular tirade on my part was a comment on FB about the new Remington Model 700 PCR, or Precision Chassis Rifle. Heck the actual hands-on consumer rifle is not even available yet as far as I am informed. It was shown at the recent SHOT Show last month. It should be out shortly and the rush will be on. If you want one, get on your dealer’s list.

The disparaging comment about this new rifle on FB was the title to this response. From all indications I have including live reports from the show floor at the SHOT Show is that this new Remington is going to be the cat’s meow in terms of long range, chassis platform rifles. I feel confident that shooting and hunting reports to come will all be positive, too.

Shooters, hunters, preppers, survivalists, and indeed all gun buyers should use caution about putting trust in any comments made on Facebook by unknown and unreliable sources. Just keep reading and searching for more in depth reviews and you will get a more honest appraisal of any new gun than from some uninformed closet wannabe commentator.

The post Just Another Stupid Chassis Rifle appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

WEATHER INDICATORS

Preppers, survivalists, hunters, fishermen, and others venturing into the outdoors should always remain vigilant about weather conditions. Weather drives many of the tasks for the day or other opportunities to work, play, or complete other outside jobs. What tools can you have on hand to help you monitor the weather?

Of course, firsthand knowledge is best in terms of what is happening right now or what might appear on the horizon. Few things can beat personal observation of cloud covers, movements, approaching storms, winds, precipitation and other changing conditions. Preppers should always keep an eye out for what is happening in the sky.

Particularly note wind changes, temperature fluctuations, and darkening fronts off in the distance. Even small advance notices of weather changes can be helpful in preparing for oncoming climatic events.

There are four simple devices at my own bug in to help me assess weather to some extent, but of course with no help to forecast it very far in advance. Out in the back yard visible from the kitchen window is a simple flower shaped windmill. These cost a dollar at the local cheapo household variety store. One lasts about six months if a huge wind storm does not sail it into the next county. Simple as it is, looking at this wind driven flower tells me the wind is up with an idea of the velocity.

Also in the back yard is a traditional weather vane with wind directional arrow on it and a spinner which has small wind catching cups welded on the four ends of the spinner. This, too, spins when the wind is blowing, but when it is moving I know the wind is steadier and more brisk. This along with the windmill flower helps me keep track of wind movements.

Also outside is a simple rain gauge. I know the results are after the fact, but knowing how much it rained is just gathering another piece of the weather information. It helps me to track water on the garden and house plants.

Inside I have a battery operated weather station. This device gives me the inside and outside temperature via an electronic monitor as well as an indicator of weather changes impacted by barometric pressure. It also provides the time and date.

It is still a good idea to have on hand two or three battery FM radios and a NOAA weather radio tuned to federal stations. Weather can be critical, so have ways to monitor it at all times.

The post Weather Indicator appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

It’s no secret that most wild turkey males have “beards.” These are made up of long hairlike feathers which grow from its chest. But some hens have beards, too. Let me back up a little…

Pursuing wild turkeys can be oddly addictive. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and for many years, I was one of those exceptions.

I’d tried turkey hunting off and on, and found many ways to mess up while doing so. I’d had close calls and hard times and hadn’t gotten a bird, nor even had a real shot at one. My enthusiasm waned.

One day, that changed. It was the day when we managed to actually get some young, stupid gobblers to come to our calls, and I shot one of them. I was hooked.

Beards Abound

During deer season, turkeys are brave and bold. They casually stroll along, scratching and pecking and making deer hunters wish they’d either go away or transform into big bucks. Generally, the turkeys do neither.

On one such occasion, I was bored and I had a camera. I took a bunch of turkey photos that day. Back at camp, I copied the pics to my laptop and took a look at them. Lo and behold, one hen had a beard! I hadn’t noticed it when watching the birds.

Hmmm.

I asked an old timer in camp about it; this guy loved to hunt just about anything, and had done a lot of it over the years. He said he had only seen one bearded hen in his life, which told me there must not be many of them roaming around.

A wild turkey hen with a beard.
(Photo © Russ Castain)

Either way, bearded hens are not legal game in the state of Georgia. In some areas they are; Florida, for example, defines legal game during spring turkey season as “bearded turkey or gobbler.” Not so in GA, which specifies “gobblers.”

Come turkey season, I hunted long and hard for a mature gobbler, beginning on opening morning. I could have shot any of the three jakes which came easily to my calls, but I was unable to catch up with a longbeard.

A few weeks later, I returned to camp to give it another try. On the first morning, I called in a turkey. As it approached, I could see its head before anything else, and its skinny, drab noggin and overall size made me reckon it was a hen. Then it approached closer, and I thought I glimpsed something. Something on its chest… a beard.

Interesting.

The bird got behind a tree where I couldn’t see its breast, and it got nervous. Just before it fled, I thought I confirmed the beard — but it was only a flash, so I can’t be certain.

Would You Take a Bearded Hen?

Some sources say that 10%-20% of wild hen turkeys do have beards, but in my experience they are less common than that… although most of the time we don’t really look for a beard once we determine a turkey is a hen. Many of the hens I’ve seen in the wild could have had small beards and I might not have noticed.

Even if it was legal to take a bearded hen, I don’t know that I would do so… although a hen might eat better than a big ol’ tom. Would you?

A wild turkey hen with a beard.
(Photo © Russ Castain)

Do yourself a favor and check local regulations where you hunt, to determine whether a bearded hen is legal game or not. Dropping the hammer on a bird based solely on its beard might make you a poacher, and that’s no good.

Happy hunting!

The post Turkey Hunters: Watch Out for the Bearded Lady appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Tippmann M4-22 clone of the centerfire M4 carbine is one of the most realistic rimfire trainers I’ve ever encountered. The balance, the controls and the overall feel mimic the M4 almost perfectly. The only differences are the reduced noise (a benefit) and reduced recoil (great for marksmanship practice, less helpful for learning to control recoil). The carbine comes with an impressively accurate barrel (best groups are in the 1.5MOA range) and a magazine that’s dimensionally similar to the 5.56mm magazines, fitting the same pouches.

On the outside, Tippmann rimfire magazine looks like a typical AR feeding device. From the top, smaller feed lips reinforced with steel insets show the reduced caliber. Although the magazine is the same size as the centerfire mags, M4-22 upper does not fit standard M4 lowers. A dedicated lower is required.

Existing rimfire magazines are either sealed against dust or skeletonized for direct access to the follower in order to facilitate loading. Both approaches have merit, but only Tippmann magazine combines both advantages. Pressing a detent button at the bottom frees the outer sleeve, which slides down. Once the 25 rounds are loaded with ease, pressing the button again permits the sleeve to slide back to closed, sealed position.

While the carbine works with standard and high velocity ammunition, for high volume shooting plated or polymer coated high velocity loads are recommended.

Optics are recommended for realizing the high mechanical accuracy. Since this carbine is primarily intended for short-range defensive practice, a 2OA red dot makes for a good compromise between speed and precision. Grace is using an impressively robust and clear Hi-Lux MM2 to match the same sight on her centerfire carbine.

Having mastered accuracy out to 400 yards, Grace now needs to figure out how to shoot quickly and accurately at more typical defensive ranges, 25 yards and closer. Rimfire ammunition is by far the cheaper and quieter way to do it, and much easier on the steel targets.

CCI Minimags, in both copper-washed and polymer-coated versions, ran reliably and accurately. High-velocity Aguila 40gr load worked every bit as well/

High reliability, something that rimfire trainers do not always offer, is vital to giving shooters confidence in the weapon platform.

For the same reason, we use an Iver Johnson 1911-22 rimfire conversion to coach pistol skills.

Less noise, less cost, and the recoil management can be addressed later in the training process. All other aspects of pistol deployments and marksmanship remain very similar.

The post Tippmann M4-22 rimfire trainer rifle appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

top 5 turkey blinds for gobbler clobbering

When it comes to hunting turkeys across the United States, most of us utilize a blind of some sort to stay concealed from our feathery prey. Whether you are chasing Eastern, Merriam, Osceola, or Rio Grande turkeys one of the best ways to hide is with a good ol’ fashion turkey blind. The days of hard to see out of, bulky, and cumbersome blinds are nearly a thing of the past thankfully. Nowadays there are lots of options for lightweight, spacious, and even more creative blinds for hunters to pick from. We will walk you through a list of some of the hottest and most sought-after turkey blinds on the market and you can decide for yourself which one is best for you!

#5 – GhostBlind Predator Ground Hunting Mirror Blind

To kick off this list, we will start with the most unique and non-traditional blind you might not have heard of: a Ghostblind Mirror Blind. Kind of like the name implies, you essentially get a wall of durable mirrors that perfectly reflect back whatever type of surroundings you happen to be hunting in. It seems almost too simple to work and too rudimentary to be effective, but contrary to first impressions, it works great! The only downside to this type of blind is you are exposed to the elements (wind and rain). The luxury of enclosed blinds is you are likely willing to hunt longer if you are staying dry and hiding from the wind. An upshot though is the Ghostblind Predator Ground Hunting Mirror Blind only weighs 12 pounds. For the out-of-the-box thinking, lightweight nature, and an MSRP of $249, the Ghostblind claims our opening number five spot.

#4 – ameristep deadwood stump blind

This unique blind boasts a lot of the features everyone would hope for like a top-notch camo pattern, nearly silent opening doors, and quite a bit of space. The most intriguing characteristic though is its shape. In a world of square hub-style blinds the Ameristep Deadwood Stump blind has jutting edges, odd corners, and a generally weird overall shape – like a stump. For that reason, it might blend into nature better than anything else from the perspective of a turkey, but without knowing what is really going on inside a gobbler’s noggin, we will truly never know.

At Ameristep, we like to build what should be impossible. Creating an authentic, lifelike tree stump blind was that kind of a mission. But after years of development, we got what we were after with the Deadwood kick-out blind. This is the most realistic portable tree stump blind you’ll find on the market; its ability to mimic nature is undeniable.

Ameristep Deadwood Stump Ground Blind – MSRP $459

The addition of kick-out technology not only adds room and maneuverability inside the blind, it also contributes to the Deadwood’s realistic shape outside the blind. Further improving cover, all shooting windows display a natural, organic shape that blends with the environment. The windows have more than just the right shape – they have the right materials and functionality, too. Shoot directly through the replaceable shoot-through mesh, or adjust the silent window cover to customize your shot without making a sound. Finally, access the blind via the new hinged silent door for quick entry that retains your cover. All this combines to let you hunt your way without compromise.

This blind with its truly one-of-a-kind shape, spacious room, and unique camo pattern punches in at an MSRP of $459 for those who are interested. So what do you think? Is a deadwood stump blind clever enough to trick a turkey? Keep reading to see if this number four spot blind is your favorite or if others interest you!

#3 – BARRONETT BEAST BACKWOODS Blind

The Barronett BEAST Backwoods blind truly lives up to its name because it is without a doubt a beast! It is the clever marriage of two blinds in one giving you some of the most spacious room imaginable as far as blinds go. You can very comfortably seat up to 4 people in collapsible stadium chairs as well as extra gear. The trade off to this gargantuan size is weight. This blind weighs in at 33 pounds so it is definitely not light. So while it has an 80″ ceiling and over 68 square feet of room it is a bit much to haul around. At a full MSRP of $289 it claims our number three spot for blinds to get for turkey hunting this spring season!

Barronett BEAST Backwoods Ground Blind (BE650BW) – MSRP $289

#2 – HME (Hunting Made easy) Executioner Blind

The HME (Hunting Made Easy) Executioner Blind might not be the biggest name brand in hunting blinds, but they make one of the lightest ones on the market. When you are toting some decoys, a shotgun or bow, the blind, and potentially a backpack with more gear into the field pounds and ounces can begin to add up. The HME Executioner weighs only 16 pounds making it less of a chore to move around and merely an afterthought. With options of a 2-person or 3-person blind retailing between $129 – $169 it is not only light, but also affordable. Being lightweight and at a good price, this blind takes our number two spot.

HME (Hunting Made Easy) EXECUTIONER 3-Person Ground Blind (Cervidae Camo) – MSRP $169

#1 – Primos Double Bull Surroundview 360° Blind

What has turned out to be one of the most heavily talked about and anticipated blinds in recent memory, the Primos Double Bull Surroundview 360° Blind is the talk of the hunting industry for 2019. It is being touted as the Blind Without A Blind Spot and it is holding up to that moniker perfectly. Whether you are new to blinds or a wiley veteran, there is one thing that typically is the achilles heel to every blind – a blind spot.

It’s constructed with exclusive one-way see-through walls that let you see all of your surroundings without being seen. Now you can spot all the movement you miss with traditional blinds, yet remain just as concealed. The SurroundView 360° comes with four one-way see through walls with one movable black out wall to place on any wall you choose.

At an MSRP price of $499, it is on the spendy side for hunting blinds, but this one has already received the nod from hunters as likely the best blind ever. For that reason and all those previously mentioned, it holds down our number one spot.

The post Top 5 Turkey Blinds for Gobbler Clobbering in 2019 appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Surprisingly, on Saturday March 9th, the first day on the weekend of the IWA show in Nuremberg, Germany there were a few anti-gun protesters present.

Now, you don’t have to be fluent in German to know what they are protesting about. Majority of the show participants were ignoring them, but I could not help but to snap a few photos.

I applauded their effort to add a spice of dramatic effect of red paint on the replica rifles as well as the white sheet over a body-shape object. The protesters were peaceful and nobody was harmed.

They were not present the next day of the show. Perhaps they realized they were wasting their time with the wrong audience.

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Gerber has a new solid-state multi-tool that is approved for airports with the rocking cool name of the Mullet. While many of us relate the name Gerber to big blades and large elaborate multi-tools they also can make some really awesome diminutive pieces as well. Some of the unique tools and features that embody this small multi-tool can be read below as presented by Gerber:

• Pry Bar & Wire Stripper
• Nail Puller & Scraper
• Small & Large Flathead Driver
• ¼” Hex & Cross Driver
• Bottle Opener, Belt Loop Hanger & Key Lanyard
• Length 3.0” | Width 0.75” | Weight 0.7 Oz.

The one thing that most of us can never have enough of is multi-tools. With a grass is greener mentality thinking the next one you buy will be the last one we are always in pursuit of cool tools to throw in our packs, pockets, or key chains. Gerber goes on to further explain their newest little wonder tool in this Press Release statement from their website:

“Problems aren’t scheduled in advance, but solutions can be planned for. The Mullet is a compact keychain tool that houses 9 tools to handle those unexpected daily tasks. When accessibility is key, the Mullet answers with the ability to be carried on a keychain, from a belt loop, or through an airport.”

You can get the Mullet mutli-tool and be one of your first friends to be rocking it at the affordable MSRP of $10. You have your choice of a Stonewash or Black finish depending on how you roll. The Mullet also carries the Gerber Guarantee and Limited Lifetime Warranty.

We are all probably experiencing a little bit of cabin fever and wanting to get outside sooner than later so what do you think of this product? Is this something you would be willing to put on your key chain for everyday carry? If not, is there another product you have your eyes on? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

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Aimpoint have launched their new ACRO C-1 Micro Red Dot Sight at IWA show in Nuremberg, Germany this month.

It’s the commercial variant to the ACRO P-1, the main difference is the water resistance rating is at 5m (15ft) instead of P-1’s 25m (82ft). The C-1 and P-1 look externally identical other than the model designation laser engraved the side.

Featuring a 3.5 MOA dot and 1.5 year battery life at position 6 out of 10, it is the first fully enclosed micro red dot optic. It has been tested to withstand 20,000 rounds mounted on a .40S&W pistol.

There are adapter plates available for various optic ready pistols such as the Glock MOS, CZ P10C OR, Sig P320/M17, Sig X-Five, CZ Shadow 2 OR, etc. Adapter plates of various heights are also available for mounting on picatinny rail on rifles.

There’s no word on delivery time or pricing. We expect this to cost a bit less than the P-1 similar to how the Aimpoint Micro H2 costs less than the T2.

The ACRO P-1, first announced in 2018, is expected to deliver to US dealers in the next few weeks.

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John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

REMINGTON’S NEW 700 CP PISTOL

Sometimes it is difficult to stay ahead of the curve of new firearms introductions. The lifeblood of gun makers is to constantly bring new products to the market. This is what keeps shooter interest high and generates new excitement in the firearms marketplace.

This new one from Remington may cause some raised eyebrows, curious looks, and lots of questions. If you take a hard look though, you’re going to break out into a broad smile. Their new Rem 700 CP or Chassis Pistol is a bolt-action based pistol designed to be ready for field action for a wide spectrum of shooting, hunting, and recreational pursuits.

The 700 CP action is the famous 700 chassis rifle platform, so shooters will be highly familiar with this set up. Out of the chute the 700 CP will be chambered for three popular rounds including the .223, the .300 Blackout, and the .308 Winchester. The action is magazine fed and comes with a polymer 10-round magazine.

Specs on the CP include barrel length of 10.5 inches for the .223 and .300 BK and 12.5 inches for the .308. Overall length will be 20.81 inches for the .223 and .300 Blackout and 21.75 for the .308. The muzzle will be threaded for a suppressor complete with a thread protector cap. There was no total weight listed for the 700 CP, but it should be heavy enough to dampen recoil substantially.
Features include a hard coat anodized black Cerekote finish, an MLOK handguard for adding accessories, a top Picatinny rail section for optics mounting, a Magpul MIAD pistol grip, the X Mark Pro adjustable trigger, a rear single point QD sling adaptor, and a large magazine release. The bolt has an enlarged knob for quickly handling and cycling the action. The safety is the usual Remington 700 type at the rear of the bolt on the right side. Retail is set at $1020.

The chassis frame is formed forward of the magazine box to allow for positioning on a target shooting bag, fence post, tree limb, or shooting sticks. This helps to balance the 700 CP for precision shooting at the bench or in the field.

With the overall firearm length of only 20-21+ inches, the 700 CP is going to be a quick handling gun with the single point sling attachment feature. It will be easy to deploy in the field off a Primos Trigger Stick or other shooting support. Farmers, ranchers, and hunters are going to enjoy this new model for dispatching varmints or even a deer. Check it out further at www.remington.com.

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John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

BEANS, BULLETS, AND BANDAIDS

If you wanted to know the most basic, yet essential ingredients to survival prepping, this title is it. This is from the back of a t-shirt from the American Ops survival and camping store in Pearl, Mississippi. When you boil it all down, these three items are it. Of course, you can expand a bit on each one, but as for categories of survival supplies and gear, this pretty well sums it up.

Beans, literally in some cases, sacks of all kinds of beans make for an easy and nutritional meal for SHTF survival camps. When I was a kid, my mom made entire meals out of a bag of pinto or Navy beans and a chunk of ham. We usually got 2-3 meals out of one pot, but you had to stay upwind for several days. Beans can be fashioned into a lot of good eats including soups, stews, side dishes or just a big bowl of steaming beans for dinner.

Under the category of beans the intention was to stock up on food. If you bug in or prepare a bug out location in advance, then amass a supply of canned goods of all kinds including vegetables, meats, and fruit. Balancing not only the nutrition but also the tastes and textures of foods will go a long way toward making survival easier to tolerate. Add other canned foods or ready-made items like soups, chili, tomato pasta combinations and such.

Of course, along with food, you have to have water and not just for drinking. If you are lucky during a SHTF, the water utility will remain in operation. If you are remote camping, then find a water source that can be boiled for drinking and cooking. A stream, river, lake, or pond would be a God send for water, and bathing. This water can be useful for personal hygiene, too. If you bug in, and there is no running water, then store up alternative sources for all your water needs.

Bullets implies the whole realm of self-defense, security and protection. Harbor enough arms and ammunition to secure your location from outside threats. You can get whole books on this subject.

Band-Aids means medical supplies of every description from medicines, OTC remedies, bandages, and everything in between. Have supplies for common ailments plus accidents like cuts, bruises, and breaks. Stock up on critical medicines you have to have.

Beans, bullets, and bandaids just about covers the water front. Naturally there are many other things, supplies and gear to consider. But these three get you started down the right pathway.

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Beretta is certainly investing more into their 12ga 1301 semi-auto shotgun by introducing the 1301 Comp Pro designed for competition. This is followed by the new 1301 Tactical introduced at SHOT Show 2018.

It features their signature cold hammer forged barrel with a stepped rib and fiber optic front and a mid-bead. The gun comes with 3 extended chokes out of the box.

It has all the standard features of a competition shotgun – extended bolt release, extended charging handle, extended feed lip, extended magazine tube holding 10+1 rounds.

The only thing missing is a TiN bolt carrier, but that will clash with the nice anodized blue receiver.

The gun feels great in the hand, I wished they could be more aggressive in further opening up the loading port like the Benelli M2 3-Gun Edition.

This shotgun is configured similar to the Benelli M2 3-Gun Edition, but with the advantage of the 3.5″ receiver which allows easier loading.

Official Press Release is attached below:

1301 COMP PRO

EVOLVED TO WIN

After achieving several podium finishes at the last World Shotgun Championships with its unrivalled cycling speed, the 1301 Comp has evolved into the Pro version following the implementation of suggestions made by Beretta’s multiple medal-winning shooters.

With the comfort, stability and easy swing offered by the new stock, the ultra-fast, safe loading system, the new oversized cocking handle and bolt release lever, and its 10+1 round capacity magazine, the 1301 Comp Pro is now, even in its standard configuration, the most competitive dynamic shooting platform, but has plenty of capacity for further personalisation and is therefore very sought after by the most demanding of shooters.

Stock
The 1301 Comp Pro includes a new polymeric stock with the Kick-Off Plus system consisting of two elastomer dampeners complete with return springs, positioned near the rubber insert, which effectively mitigate the first recoil peak reducing the perceived recoil by up to 40%.

A third elastomer dampener, located in the pistol grip, absorbs the impact of the slide against the stock, thus reducing the second recoil peak, muzzle jump and any vibrations caused by the movement of the slide.

The B-Steady system divides the stock into two sections: butt and pistol grip. The recoil absorption point is in an advanced position, moving in unison with the pistol grip, which is free to move back leaving the butt stable and avoiding any annoying rubbing of the comb against the cheek. The cheek remains still and rests perfectly without ever losing the line of fire.

For more comfort, the comb comes with Soft Comb, a soft insert which is gentle against the cheek.

The rubber Comfort Grip improves sensitivity and pistol grip.

The spacers provided allow the drop and cast to be adjusted.

The MicroCore recoil pad ensures perfect shouldering and maximum stability when shooting and allows for the possibility to adjust the stock’s length to suit your requirements using the two spacers provided.

The ergonomic Comfort Grip forend, also made of polymer with a rubber insert, offers maximum grip even in poor weather conditions.

Magazine
Extending out from the forend is the aluminium Tony System magazine tube which holds up to 10 cartridges. This is connected to the barrel via an aluminium clamp for increased stability. Inside the magazine tube there is a dedicated spring with an elongated red Ergal cap which makes it easy to check if the magazine is empty. The system is specifically developed for the 1301 Comp Pro to ensure maximum feeding reliability.

Receiver
The blue anodized Ergal receiver combines lightness with extreme robustness and reliability, and inside houses the re-loading system, the ultra-tested gas system with rotating head B-Link closure system, which has a 36% faster cycling speed than any other semi-automatic, it is reliable and accurate round after round, even with light loads.

The 1301 Comp Pro has a 3” chamber but uses an oversized 3.5” receiver which facilitates cartridge loading. To make quick loading and the quad-load even easier, the loading port has been enlarged and the lifter has a system which keeps it raised during loading operations, thus creating a sort of “chute” for the ammunition, which simultaneously eliminates the risk of the user pinching their thumb between the lever and the port.

The cocking handle and bolt release lever are also oversized, all details which contribute to making re-loading even easier, including during competition peaks when the gun is pushed to the max.

Four threaded holes on the upper part of the receiver enable a Picatinny rail to be attached.

Barrel
The ballistic performance of the 1301 Comp Pro takes full advantage of the Beretta Steelium barrel’s exceptional features. Created using Beretta’s exclusive tri-alloy steel (Ni, Cr, Mo), deep drilling, cold hammer forging, vacuum distension and characterised by the elongated 80 mm double forcing cone. The internal profile of the OptimaBore HP barrels was designed and tested to guarantee excellent ballistic performance with all types of ammunition: lead, steel and High Performance steel. The result is pattern distributions which are always dense and perfect, partly thanks to the three interchangeable OptimaChoke HP Black Edition choke tubes it is supplied with, making it possible to adjust the choke depending on the competition.

10×8 stepped rib with fibre optic sight and mid-bead sight for optimum target acquisition.

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As many of us around the United States are thawing out and are having fond day dreams of warmer weather, you might have trap or clay pigeon shooting on the mind. If so, you are not the only ones because so does one of your favorite ammunition companies. Federal Premium has recently unveiled NEW Top Gun Sporting loads for clay shooters in 4 shotgun calibers with different shot sizes just in time for spring shooting.

Like the stalwart shells we have come to know over the years from Federal Premium, these NEW Top Gun Sporting loads will have many of the same accurate characteristics. Some of the specifications for these new shotgun shells can be read below as presented by Federal Premium:

• Loads designed specifically for sporting clays shooters
• High velocities and less felt recoil
• Hard pellets
• Consistent, reliable Federal primer
• Unique wad column produces consistent patterns

To initially start out, Federal Premium will be offering Top Gun Sporting in 4 different shotgun calibers from 12 Gauge down to .410 Gauge with shot sizes from the expected #7.5 shot to #9 shot. All of the Top Gun Sporting loads that will be available can be read below with their associated price points:

• 12 Gauge 2 ¾” 1 Ounce #7.5 Shot | 1,330 FPS | TGSF128 7.5 | MSRP $8.95
• 12 Gauge 2 ¾” 1 Ounce #8 Shot | 1,330 FPS | TGSF128 8 | MSRP $8.95
• 12 Gauge 2 ¾” 1 Ounce #7.5 Shot | 1,250 FPS | TGS128 7.5 | MSRP $8.95
• 12 Gauge 2 ¾” 1 Ounce #8 Shot | 1,250 FPS | TGS128 8 | MSRP $8.95
• 20 Gauge 2 ¾” 7/8 Ounce #7.5 Shot | 1,250 FPS | TGS224 7.5 | MSRP $8.95
• 20 Gauge 2 ¾” 7/8 Ounce #8 Shot | 1,250 FPS | TGS224 8 | MSRP $8.95

• 28 Gauge 2 ¾” 3/4 Ounce #7.5 Shot | 1,330 FPS | TGS2821 7.5 | MSRP $13.95
• 28 Gauge 2 ¾” 3/4 Ounce #8 Shot | 1,330 FPS | TGS2821 8 | MSRP $13.95
• 28 Gauge 2 ¾” 3/4 Ounce #9 Shot | 1,330 FPS | TGS2821 9 | MSRP $13.95
• .410 Gauge 2 ½” 1/2 Ounce #7.5 Shot | 1,330 FPS | TGS41214 7.5 | MSRP $13.95
• .410 Gauge 2 ½” 1/2 Ounce #8 Shot | 1,330 FPS | TGS41214 8 | MSRP $13.95
• .410 Gauge 2 ½” 1/2 Ounce #9 Shot | 1,330 FPS | TGS41214 9 | MSRP $13.95

After a fairly long winter with a lot of heavy snow fall, who is itching to get back outside and dust some clay pigeons? Are Federal Premium shells your go-to? If not, what is your favorite brand or load that you rely on for trap and clay shooting? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

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When it comes to camping gadgetry and things that blur the lines between want and need most of us are always willing to open up our wallets for something cool. For myself, the coolest thing I have come across in recent memory is a widget to help you cook and eat your food while out in the woods. The NEW Gerber Compleat camping tool is as handy as a Swiss Army knife, can help you prepare your meals, and it is compact enough to stick into your pocket.

At a full MSRP of only $28, this is a tool I believe a lot of us could dive into with full bellies and no regrets. The list of specifications and the tools it hides inside itself can be read below as presented by Gerber:

• Length 7.75″
• Width 1.50″
• Weight 2.3 Ounces
• Spatula [Serrated & Silicone Edge]: High-Temp Nylon w/ Silicone Over-Mold

• Long Tine Fork
• Deep Basin Spoon
• Tongs [Fork or Spoon + Spatula]
• Multi-Tool: 1) Bottle Opener, 2) Veggie Peeler, 3) Serrated Package Opener, 4) Can Opener

For people who even want to add a little flair to their gear, you can order the Gerber Compleat in 3 different color options: Burnt Bronze, Flat Sage, and/or Silver. The price does not change depending on which color suits your fancy. Gerber shares their own thoughts on what could be one of their hottest camping tools to debut this year:

On the trail, the most important meal of the day is the one you’re about to eat. Gerber’s ComplEAT tool has the bases covered with a fork, spoon, spatula, and 4 function multi-tool that nest for transport as well as snap together to convert into functional tongs. Cook, eat, clean and get back out there… Mealtime in the backcountry often equates to lugging multiple utensils in prime real estate: the backpack. Gerber took a look at the process as a whole, from prep to clean up, and delivered an innovative tool that solves for all of it.

For those of us who cannot wait for spring, summer, and fall to arrive to get outside and start hunting and camping, is this something that you could see yourself using? Are there other “must-have” tools already in your arsenal? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

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QPro Defense (Quiet Professional Defense) along with MDT (Modular Driven Technologies) has announced a precision rifle training partnership. If you have ever entertained getting into precision rifle shooting or long range shooting of any kind, but did not know where to start, this would be a terrific opportunity to learn from some of the best!

The 1st class being offered between this stellar partnership of QPro Defense and MDT is March 30th and 31st. To register for this 1st class, to obtain information about future classes, or just to ask some more questions, feel free to reach out to QPro Defense on their website HERE. The complete Press Release for this newly forged venture can be read below:

Everson, Washington – March 13th, 2019 – Modular Driven Technologies is proud to announce a partnership with QPro Defense. QPro Defense is a Veteran Owned Small Business based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. QPro Defense specializes in providing small arms instruction and is staffed by an instructor cadre of current and former Special Operation personnel from the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force.

Modular Driven Technologies is providing QPro Defense with six rifles to be used for QPro’s precision rifle classes. The rifles feature our ACC, LSS -XL Gen 2, ESS, and Oryx chassis systems. Three of the rifles are chambered in 6mm Creedmoor and three in 6.5 Creedmoor. The barreled actions are Howa 1500’s and the rifles are equipped with the Lucid MLX 30mm First Focal Plane Rifle Scopes. The rifles will be available for student use at no extra cost. Students simply provide their own ammunition.

An MDT representative will be available during class to offer a presentation about our chassis systems, answer questions, and assist with class. Customers will now have the opportunity to try out one of our chassis systems while receiving world-class precision rifle instruction.

I know many of us here are hunters, preppers, and outdoorsman of all kinds of passions, but how many of you participate in precision rifle shooting? Long range shooting? Have you thought of trying it? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

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Sellier & Bellot, an ammunition factory located in Vlašim, Czech Republic, is to supply the Canadian special forces with a large order of ammunition.

Due to the sensitive nature of the order, there is no detail of the types and quantities of what was being ordered. It’s safe to guess there are NATO calibers such as 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm.

Sellier & Bellot is the oldest ammunition manufacturer in the world. In 2025 they will celebrate their 200th anniversary. They produce 3 million rounds per day.

S&B is owned by CBC, an ammunition manufacturer located in Brazil. CBC also own the firearms manufacturer Taurus.

They recently went through renovations in 2016 which added a state-of-the-art automated warehouse and brand new production facility. You can see more in the video below.

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John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

EERIE NIGHTS

It has long been implied and assumed that nasty things happen at night. Darkness cloaks a lot of misdeeds and plundering about. Whether in civil discourse or on the battlefield, night time brings the opportunity to conduct illegal activities while natural light is gone or dim, and municipality lighting is often insufficient, neglected, abandoned or non-existent.

Darkness is an element that often accompanies a SHTF. This is a condition that bug in preppers and survivalists must prepare for in advance. The same is true should you happen to be in a bug out mode in travel or already hiding out somewhere from the mainstream.

If at home and threats are about, the first issue is a total lockdown of all entry points to the house. Depending on the dire circumstances, this may also require the addition of extra blocks by doorways to further deter entry. Black out windows as best you can so no inside lighting of any kind can be seen from outside, thus revealing your presence at home.

Again, depending on the situation, gather everyone into one “safe room” where you can control noise and lighting. Both of these should be kept to a bare minimum especially if you detect movement or prowling outside the house. This is one theory based on trying to present the picture as though you are not home. However, be prepared that this can backfire.

If utility power is still on, then maintain your home security system in ready condition. If a door or window is breached, then an alarm can help to scare threats away as well as send notice that a break in has been attempted. If there is no power, then perhaps a battery backup can be used until daylight comes. Running an external generator is an option but it attracts attention.

The other theory then is to light your residence up as much as possible with all outside lighting on. Sure they can knock these out, but threats may want to avoid homes where there is reasonable evidence that it is occupied. Some of my prepper friends go so far as to post some popular metal signs outside indicating an armed residence. These are decisions you have to make for your situation.

By all means, have your self-defense weapons loaded and at the ready to deploy. Carry them with you in the house and/or post some at other entries for easy access. Train everyone on this. The nighttime may be eerie, but it is no reason not to prepare to survive the night.

The post Eerie Nights appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

HANDGUNS OF AMERICAN HOODLUMS

The era of gangsters in America is a unique study of the firearms and weaponry of organized crime. During the roaring 20’s into the 30’s nearly until the Second World War battles were waged on the streets of American cities most notably Chicago and New York City. Control was fought over illegal booze, prostitution, gambling, running numbers, and betting on anything there was to bet on. It was big money into the millions a year, untaxed.

From this time came some of the finest firearms to ever be manufactured in America. WWI was over, GI’s were home looking for jobs in a depression economy, so many turned to elements of crime to survive. These were the men who knew guns and how to use them. They used a lot of them.

This whole era was depicted well in the classic movie Hoodlum. Taking place in the streets of New York City and Harlem in the 1930s, the screenplay featured the classic gangsters Dutch Schultz, Lucky Luciano, and Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson with his girlfriend Francine. These characters were played in order by Tim Roth, Andy Garcia, Laurence Fishburne, and Vanessa Williams. The “Queen” of Harlem crime was play by Cicely Tyson.

When Bumpy was reunited with his crime buddies in Harlem, he received a gift from his cousin a Colt Police Positive in nickel finish. A classic 4-inch barreled revolver in .38 Special, tens of thousands of Police Positives were produced and used in those days. Black hard rubber grips and open sights, the six-shot Colt was a favored with crimesters, as well as police.

The Smith and Wesson Model 10 was used in various models throughout the movie and the era. The 2-inch snub-nose was a favored pocket pistol in the day. Easy concealment with 6 shots available, the M-10 in .38 Special was ideal for close quarters work. A Model 10 with a silencer was notably used by one of two assassins hired by Schultz to whack Bumpy in addition to them both carrying pickaxes.

Other noted Colts used by hoodlums included the Detective Special, the model equivalent of the Smith 10. A Colt 1903 in .32 ACP was used by an Irish “Mick” police captain. Dutch Schultz used a Model 1911 MKIV Series 70 which he always kept in his waistband most certainly in .45ACP. Other 1911A1s were wielded by countless shooters and was a favored big bore “automatic” by gangsters of this era. Colt New Service revolvers were also popular.

Beside numerous sawed off shotguns and Thompson Sub-machine guns, handguns were the most prolific firearms used by hoodlums. Easy to tote, conceal and shoot, handguns were “the” gun to carry and remain so.

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While perusing YouTube recently, I spotted a teaser screen which said, “Do not focus on the front sight!” Naturally, I decided to check it out.

The video is from NOIR Training, a service founded by Navy SEALs which “provides world class firearms and tactical training to Military, Law Enforcement, and Civilians.”

Like the video itself, the description is direct and to the point:

All about standard pistol sights. This is required viewing before any NOIR Training pistol course.

If you have any interest in shooting handguns with iron sights, view the entire video. It contains some of the best and most-understandable explanations and descriptions you’ll find, given by a narrator as we see a series of images to coincide with his words. For example, he does a good job explaining why it can be perfectly acceptable to fire at a target without a perfect sight picture, depending on the size and proximity of the target.

Around the 3:40 mark, things get even more interesting.

This is one area we differ from conventional shooting doctrine: We advocate shooting with your eyes focused on the threat, rather than the front sight.

The reason for this is, in a real life-threatening situation, your eyes will naturally focus on the threat. Since you can shoot perfectly accurately while focusing on the threat, we believe front sight focus is an unnatural and unnecessary complication.

He then goes on to explain the difference between front sight and target focus. While front sight focus can and will allow you to shoot accurately, he says, it’s “unnatural and unnecessary.” By contrast when you focus on the target, which is the natural thing to do when faced with a threat, you can still see both front and rear sights well enough to line them up to aim.

Interesting.

He then goes on to explain why we should all learn to shoot our handguns with both eyes open — because in a real life-threatening situation, we need to keep both peepers peeled.

I hope you find this as interesting as I did. Yes, it’s basic… but even the most experienced shooters can benefit from a fresh look at the basics.

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At Enforce Tac show in Nuremberg, Germany, FN Herstal unveiled the latest SCAR-L rifle in 5.56mm NATO that was the winner of the latest rifle contract by Bavarian police.

It has been updated with Keymod handguard at 3 & 9 o’clock, shedding a bit of weight in the process.

It’s surprising that the Belgian manufacturer has been awarded a German police contract usually reserved for Heckler & Koch. The HK416 was most recently seen in Utrecht shooting incident used by the Dutch police in the Netherlands.

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The Sentinel reports that “Missouri may have just made the most monumental step towards freedom and individual liberty since the signing of the Bill of Rights.” It further adds, “In an upcoming vote by Missouri’s state senate, the state is expected to pass a bill that would nullify ALL Federal gun laws and regulations, and make enforcement of those laws by federal officers within the State of Missouri a criminal offense.”

Missouri Senate Bill 367 reads in part:

1.430. All federal acts, laws, executive orders, administrative orders, court orders, rules, and regulations, whether past, present, or future, which infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States I and Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution shall be invalid in this state, shall not be recognized by this state, shall be specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state.

The bill doesn’t leave it that vague… instead, details are provided for those measures it will nullify:

(a) Any tax, levy, fee, or stamp imposed on firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition not common to all other goods and services which might reasonably be expected to create a chilling effect on the purchase or ownership of those items by law-abiding citizens;

(b) Any registering or tracking of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition which might reasonably be expected to create a chilling effect on the purchase or ownership of those items by law-abiding citizens;

(c) Any registering or tracking of the owners of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition which might reasonably be expected to create a chilling effect on the purchase or ownership of those items by law-abiding citizens;

(d) Any act forbidding the possession, ownership, or use or transfer of a firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition by law-abiding citizens; and

(e) Any act ordering the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition from law-abiding citizens

Finally, a state that’s actually standing up for the rights of its citizens. I like it.

The “Teeth”

And get this:

Any person while acting as an official, agent, employee, or deputy of the government of the United States, or while otherwise acting under the color of federal law while within the borders of this state, who knowingly, as defined under section 562.016:

(1) Enforces or attempts to enforce any of the infringements identified in section 1.410; or

(2) Gives material aid and support to the efforts of others who enforce or attempt to enforce any of the infringements identified in section 1.410;

shall be permanently ineligible to serve as a law enforcement officer or to supervise law enforcement officers for the state or any political subdivision of the state.

In other words: Anyone who tries to enforce anti-gun stuff in MO would be permanently barred from police work in that state. Bravo!

As always, I’m saddened that such things are necessary — but heartened that there are still some folks willing to stand up and do them.

Here’s hoping it will pass and be signed into law… and that other states will ‘grow a pair’ and follow suit.

The post Missouri Bill Would Ban all Federal Gun Control appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Hunting waterfowl is very demanding for hunters and their gear. Of all our gear, decoys take the most abuse throughout the season. Day after day being shot over, as well as thrown in boats causes a lot of wear.

Avain-X decoys, however, are some of the best on the market and have some rather impressive features that showcase their craftsmanship. At first glance they are very atomically accurate to live birds as well as having in-depth feather appearance along with a perfect paint job. Which is a reflection of their great detail in each decoy, also unmatched by others of the same price point. Speaking of price point, a set of six will cost consumers around $99.99. This might come across as higher than normal but when it comes to gear that works day after day it’s worth the extra cost to have something that’s reliable.

With all of that aside, we can agree that there is always that one guy in our group the shoots a decoy every time ducks work the spread, or accidentally runs over them at the boat ramp. Things of this nature generally decimates the decoy beyond repair. Although this is true, Avain-X doesn’t have that problem with their foam filled design. Being foam filled, makes them virtually unsinkable in most applications. Furthermore this feature, among many others, makes them one of the most rugged decoys on the market today.

Trying every decoy on the market is costly, especially when hunters have to replace numerous sets each season. Replacement is due to wear or simply because of poor quality. Most of the time it is due to budget shopping but I realized that decoys are an investment which will either be a reoccurring purchase each season or last a lifetime. Though this is true about a  lot of things hunting wise, Avain-Xhas decoys on hand that will last longer despite the conditions you experience.

The bottom line is that Avain-X is dedicated to providing consumers with the highest quality products which can handle any situation afield. Whether its tough open water diver hunts or green timber mallards they have everything you need to improve your chances.

The post Avain-X Waterfowl Decoy Review appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

To those who own a Walther PPQ or looking to purchase a Walther Q5 but are not impressed with their factory 5 pound trigger, well you are in luck. At IWA Show in Nuremberg, Germany, they unveiled the Expert Drop-In Trigger Kit designed for both PPQ and the Q5 Match series. You can adjust the pre-travel, over-travel and weight. Trying it at the Walther booth gave the impression it was around 3 pound pull with an extremely short reset.

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That #TriggerReset though. Announced at IWA! This is the Walther #ExpertTrigger for #WaltherPPQ models (Polymer and Steel Frame) This modular trigger system takes the amazing trigger that already exists only on the Walther PPQ Models and makes it EVEN Better. Adjustability: Pre-travel, Over-travel and Weight. Trigger Shoe Size options: Small, Medium and Large. Trigger styles: Flat and Curved *Professional Installation Recommended. NOTE: Pricing and release date will be announced soon! (We know you’re excited and someone will ask anyway but we love you even if you didn’t read this!) #PoweredPerformance #Q5Match #Q5MatchSteelFrame #CompetitionTrigger

A post shared by Walther Arms (@waltherarms) on Mar 9, 2019 at 9:58am PST

The kit includes different trigger housing profiles for you to customize to your own liking.

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Here is a look at the #ExpertTrigger options for #WaltherPPQ models (Polymer and Steel Frame) This modular trigger system takes the amazing trigger that already exists only on the Walther PPQ Models and makes it EVEN Better. Adjustability: Pre-travel, Over-travel and Weight. Trigger Shoe Size options: Small, Medium and Large. Trigger styles: Flat and Curved *Professional Installation Recommended. NOTE: Pricing and release date will be announced soon! (We know you’re excited and someone will ask anyway but we love you even if you didn’t read this!) #PoweredPerformance #Q5Match #Q5MatchSteelFrame #CompetitionTrigger

A post shared by Walther Arms (@waltherarms) on Mar 10, 2019 at 8:05am PDT

This factory trigger kit, however, is NOT drop safe since it does not feature a trigger safety or hump in the middle.

The Expert trigger drop-in kit are available for Steel Frame, SKU# 2841037 and Polymer Frame, SKU# 2841070.

They expect to hit US market in the next few months and pricing is yet to be announced.

The post (IWA 2019) Walther PPQ Series Expert Drop-In Trigger Kit appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Competition pistol market is getting more saturated in 2019 with more steel frame designs from the likes of Beretta and Walther joining the foray along with the ever popular Shadow 2, now in Optic Ready model which started to ship since late last year.

A new company called Arma Zeka, from Czech Republic had their new AZ-P1 9mm pistol on display at IWA Show in Nuremberg, Germany. Their pistol had only been available within their home country of Czech Republic in the last few months. This was the first time they displayed it at an international show and they are looking for distributors worldwide.

The pistol features a 5″ bull barrel on an alloy frame. It’s chambered in 9mm but it will also be available in .40S&W and .45ACP. It does have a wide frame in comparison to other 9mm pistols. It has standard fiber optic sights with an adjustable competition DA/SA trigger. The only other notable feature is the captive take down pin.

I was told by their representative that the company first started as a machine shop producing small parts for CZ. It appeared it was only logical that the next step is to start making pistols themselves.

Unfortunately, at the time of the show they did not have pricing for the US market.

Their website can be found at www.armazeka.cz.

The post (IWA 2019) Arma Zeka AZ-P1 9mm Sport Pistol appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Here’s one for the “Well, that was a bad idea” department: A revolver that’s identical to other revolvers except that it’s made much less strong, and therefore will blow up if loaded with standard ammunition. Derp.

It’s the Colt M13 Aircrewman Air Force revolver, a compact 6-shot revolver chambered for 38 Special, but with frames and cylinders made of lightweight aluminum alloy to make them lighter — and weight is always an issue when you’re talking about aviation. If you don’t have low-pressure groceries, you’d better not fire one of these little wheel guns, because the cylinders can’t take the pressure. The Air Force specified a particular low-pressure load for them.

Here’s what Ian says about it in the video description:

In 1951 and 1952, Colt supplied a small number of extremely lightweight revolvers to the US Air Force, designated the M13 Aircrewman. These guns were very similar to the commercial Colt Cobra; 38 special 6-shot revolvers with aluminum alloy frames and cylinders with a loaded weight of just 11 ounces. Only 1189 were made, and they were issued with a special low-pressure loading of 38 Special ammunition. It was designated M41 and fired a 130 grain FMJ bullet at just 725 fps. This reduced-pressure loading was safe in the aluminum cylinders of the guns, but nothing prevented a person from loading and firing standard 38 ammunition — which was definitely not safe. In 1959 the Air Force decided that the potential hazard from standard ammunition was not worth the slight weight reduction of the aluminum cylinder, and recalled the guns for destruction. Only a small number survived to get into the commercial market today, making the Colt Aircrewman a very scarce revolver indeed.

It would’ve made a lot more sense to short-chamber the guns so they wouldn’t accept standard 38 Special ammo, instead using something mild and uncommon such as the 38 Short. But because whatever can go wrong will go wrong, people were wont to cram full-power groceries into the Aircrewman, which is a recipe for disaster.

Therefore, the Air Force recalled them from use and destroyed most of them… instead of, you know, maybe fitting them with steel cylinders so they could still be used. Typical government waste.

And it’s that same sort of government inefficiency that explains why there are some of these guns still around… they weren’t tracked well, and some found their way home with servicemen. The few which remain are highly desirable, and it’s nice to observe the real-life features that make them what they are, from the markings on the frame to the Air Force medallions in the grips, instead of the Rampant Colt medallion commonly used on Colt grips.

Enjoy the video.

The post The Colt Revolver so Light It’ll Kill You appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Sleeping bags and jackets with natural down (feathers) as insulation are known to be some of the warmest available… but many folks shy away from them because they don’t think their down-insulated products can be washed. But wearing the same jacket season after season without washing it can make it rather ripe, and sleeping bags can also get funky. What to do?

A recent survey revealed that while 70% of respondents own at least one down product, more than half of them thought the items should not be washed. A third of respondents said they don’t wash their down products because they don’t know how, and another 20 percent believed they don’t have the proper machine or products to do so. You might be surprised to learn that “down care” ranked twice as high as “animal welfare” among the reasons people may choose not purchase a down insulated product. Lastly, 62 percent of respondents said they would consider adding a down-specific detergent at time of purchase if it were readily available.

Well, there’s a new product coming out that will help with that. It’s called Down Wash, and it’s coming from Allied Feather & Down, a company which has an awful lot of experience washing down — they’ve been perfecting their method for 30 years — and have created an environmentally-friendly product for washing down garments, comforters, etc.

The press release specifies that Down Wash is palm-oil-free… but why should we care about that? Delving deeper, I learned that most laundry detergents use palm oil, which is bad for down. And there’s also concern that widespread use of palm oil may contribute to deforestation and loss of habitat for orangutans.

They also say this is the first “home laundry solution for down” to be produced by a “non-chemical company in the outdoor industry.”

So, if you have down products that need to be decontaminated and you want to be palm-oil-free, here’s what you do:

1. Start by running your down product through a rinse only cycle, without detergent, to thoroughly wet the product. Most jackets can be washed at home, but some heavier weight sleeping bags may require a commercial washer and dryer.
2. Using a down-specific detergent such as ALLIED’s Down Wash, wash in cold or warm water and, if possible, add an extra rinse following the wash without detergent.
3. Dry thoroughly on low heat. This may take several cycles. Many times, the exterior shell will feel dry but the down inside is still slightly damp. It is critical to dry your down product completely and it is unlikely you would damage the down when using low heat.
4. While drying, add two to three clean tennis balls to aid in breaking up the clumps of wet down and maximizing loft.

Looks like a jug of Down Wash will cost you about ten bucks.

Down Wash will launch in specialty retail outlets globally and online in 400ml bottles, initially priced at $9.99 USD.

There’s a preorder page here, which allows interested parties to add their email address to Allied’s list

The post You Can Wash Your Down Jacket & Sleeping Bag appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

I’ve always been a fan of 300 Blackout, mainly because it’s a ballistic geek’s delight. The ability to swap between supersonic and subsonic performance simply by changing magazines the availability of loads ranging from 110-grain rockets to 240-grain bricks is compelling features. That’s a lot of performance variance out of the same rifle or pistol. Adding a suppressor makes the 300 Blackout shine. The suppressed supersonic loads are muted, at least for the muzzle blast components of noise, and the subsonic loads are shockingly quiet when fired through a silencer. The sound of “thud” comes to mind when the noise of those heavy subsonic bullets hitting the backstop dwarfs the volume of the shot itself.

There have been two big problems with 300 Blackout that have inhibited wider adoption, at least in my opinion. First, establishing simple aim points for such widely varying ammunition types through a standard scope requires math and memorizing custom hold-overs. Second, while it’s easy to make expanding supersonic ammunition for hunting or defensive use, subsonic loads have been a challenge. The standard 220-grain load will tumble when it hits an organic target because of its inherent instability, but up until now, a more traditional expanding bullet has been hard to find.

Previously the team at Sig Sauer Ammunition developed a variety of 300 Blackout offerings including 125-grain full metal jacket supersonic and 220-grain full metal jacket subsonic loads. The company also developed a 120-grain supersonic HT cartridge that fired an all-copper expanding bullet. This year, there are new members of the family, two of which are optimized for short-barrel 300 Blackout rifles and pistols where the 300 Blackout shines.

Here’s the thing about “short barrel” ammunition. Designing a bullet to perform to very specific penetration and expansion goals is a balancing act. Both factors work against each other. With all else being equal, more aggressive expansion will limit penetration as the bullet encounters more friction and loses velocity quickly. Bullets that penetrate deeply generally have slower or reduced expansion. Additionally, both factors are velocity sensitive. At higher than expected velocities, a bullet can expand too aggressively and penetrate less. Lower than expected velocities may not create an expansion effect at all.

So, “normal” ammunition is designed to balance penetration and expansion at “normal” velocities. When a firearm has a shorter than “normal” barrel length, it will launch any given bullet at a lower speed. Performance differs, but you can expect a 30 to 60 foot per second velocity decrease for each inch of barrel length reduction. Here, we’re working with a 7.5-inch barrel rather than a standard 16-inch rifle barrel, so we might see actual velocities from the pistol that are several hundred feet per second slower than the same ammo fired from a full rifle barrel. Manufacturers design this “short barrel” ammo to balance penetration and expansion at those reduced velocity levels.

With all of that said, the folks at Sig Sauer have developed three new 300 Blackout offerings, two of which are optimized for short barrel pistol or rifle use.

Sig Sauer Supersonic 300 Blackout SBR Elite Copper Duty 120-grain

This supersonic load is like the existing HT all-copper bullet but has notable differences. As the name implies, the bullet has been redesigned to expand at lower velocities. Factory velocity is rated at 1,897 feet per second when fired from a 6 ¾-inch barrel, delivering 959 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. You’ll notice that the case is coated with a black oxide finish, partly to provide a visual cue that it’s the short barrel version.

Sig Sauer Subsonic 300 Blackout Elite Tipped Hunting 205-grain

This subsonic round is rated at 1,000 feet per second, which should operate well below the speed of sound in most any normal atmospheric conditions. As a reference, here in South Carolina, the speed of sound is normally somewhere in the 1,130 feet per second range. It features a jacketed lead-core bullet with an unusual shape. More on that in a minute. This projectile features a polymer rounded tip which presumably aids both feeding and expansion at lower velocity. At the rated velocity, this 205-grain projectile will deliver 455 foot-pounds to the target. Sig recommends that you use a firearm with at least a nine-inch barrel with this particular load. The factory tested velocity from a 16-inch barreled rifle.

Sig Sauer Subsonic 300 Blackout SBR Elite Tipped Duty 205-grain

Coming out in April is a variant of the Tipped Hunting round, but for tactical use. The Tipped Duty round is also subsonic but designed for short barrel firearm use so the similar looking bullet is reconfigured to expand at lower velocity. The company recommends an eight-inch or longer barrel for this one. Like the Tipped Hunting, it features the stepped bullet design and rounded polymer tip.

Shooting Configuration

I got my hands on two out of three of these loads, the Short Barrel 120-grain and the Tipped Hunting 205-grain. I should note that the 205-grain Tipped Hunting round is not optimized for short barrel use – it’s intended for full-length rifles and Sig recommends that you use a firearm with at least a nine-inch barrel. I tested it anyway with the Aero Precision 7.5-inch barreled upper, so just know that the results here are not official as I did not meet the factory spec. Therefore, they’ll be a bit slower than advertised and may not expand properly with my gun configuration. The Tipped Duty ammo should be out in the April time-frame so we’ll get our hands on some to test then.

Function so far has been perfect across the board using both standard Magpul and Lancer magazines. I did do all testing with a SilencerCo Specwar 762 suppressor attached because it seemed a shame not too. Besides, I think it’s probably illegal, or at least a violation of good taste and class to shoot subsonic rounds without a silencer.

Weird Subsonic Bullets

If you jumped right to the pictures, you might have noticed something strange about the appearance of the subsonic Tipped Hunting bullets. At first glance, they look more like a staged Saturn V rocket than a typical rifle projectile thanks to their stepped body design. There’s a good reason for this. The 300 Blackout cartridge case is a cut-down version of the .223 Remington and the cartridge uses the same magazines as the popular .223. The challenge is that most magazine ribs are placed squarely in the cartridge case neck area on the .223. Since that doesn’t exist in a shorter 300 Blackout case, the bullet itself aligns on that rib. To reliably cycle subsonic rounds, the clever folks at Sig designed the bullet to have the right diameter at the right place to sit in magazines properly. That means you can stuff a standard magazine full of 30 rounds and everything will work. I verified this and had no reliability issues at all with the subsonic Tipped Hunting rounds.

Trijicon 3×30 Compact ACOG Scope

I mounted a unique Trijicon ACOG optic on the Aero pistol upper. This particular model is a great fit for this 300 Blackout pistol as the low fixed magnification (3x) allow natural “both eyes open” shooting while providing enough magnification boost for accurate shooting out to a couple of hundred yards. Like other ACOG models, this one features dual illumination. A light gathering tube on top powers the bright green center crosshair in daylight conditions while Tritium makes it glow in dark conditions.

What really makes it interesting is the custom design features for the flexible 300 Blackout round. The reticle is graduated to accommodate both 115-grain supersonic and 220-grain subsonic rounds, so you can change magazines at will, and with no scope change, put rounds on target at a variety of distances. The crosshair bars mark supersonic projectile bullet holdover points while two round dots indicate hold points for subsonic rounds at 50 and 100-yard distances.

The two new Sig Sauer rounds weigh a little more and less for the supersonic and subsonic rounds respectively. Also, I’m shooting both from a short barrel configuration, so velocity also differs from the reticle calibration design. I zeroed this pistol with the Sig 120-grain Short Barrel rounds at 50 yards and see how things worked with both ammo types and the Trijicon 300 Blackout reticle.

With the scope adjusted so that the 120-grain SBR ammo impacted on the center crosshairs at 50 yards, I did some quick tests with the supersonic loads at 100. Accounting for group variance, I figured the point of impact was a hair less than an inch higher than the aim point. That’s close enough for me, so I decided to stick with the 50-yard zero.

Next up I wanted to see if the two subsonic aim points matched “close enough” to the points of impact. The Sig Sauer 205-grain Tipped Hunting loads were spot on at 50 yards and as near to “on target” as I would need at 100. As far as I’m concerned, this configuration is good to go, even with the slight variances in projectile weights and muzzle velocities from the design specs of the Trijicon reticle.

Velocity

Since I didn’t yet have the new Tipped Duty ammo, I went ahead and tested both the supersonic Elite Copper Duty and the subsonic Tipped Hunting rounds. I figured that the forthcoming Tipped Duty would be similar in terms of velocity and accuracy performance even through my 7.5-inch barrel test pistol is a bit below factory recommendations. That would only really matter for testing expansion and penetration performance anyway.

Setting up a Shooting Chrony Beta Master 15 feet down range, I clocked multiple-shot strings and averaged the recorded velocities for the two new ammo types. Since I had them, I also included some of the Sig 300 Blackout 125-grain FMJ ammo released a couple of years ago.

Accuracy

I’d shot this Aero Precision upper before with other types of ammunition and a higher magnification scope. At 100 yards, and with most ammo types, it would shoot five groups in the two to three-inch range from its short 7.5-inch barrel. With that baseline in mind, I set up targets at 50 yards. That distance seemed more appropriate for practical AR pistol use with the Trijicon 3x ACOG sight. Again, I shot multiple five-shot groups for both new ammo types and “control” groups of the Sig Sauer Elite Performance 125-grain Match bullet loads. After averaging the group sizes, here’s how they stacked up from the Aero upper.

Given what I’d recorded in the past with this particular upper, the 50-yard results were consistent with the performance past performance of the pistol itself, so no complaints there.

I’ve tested the 120-grain Sig Sauer Elite HT 300 Blackout ammo in the past and gotten fantastic results with expansion and penetration. These all-copper bullets expand into picture-perfect four petal blossoms that increased to over double their original diameter. The spent projectile sitting on my desk measures a whopping .63 inches across. Given the explosion of the AR-15 pistol market, I’m glad to see a short barrel optimized version in the supersonic category.

As for the subsonics, what’s not to love about that? Before, the easy availability of big and heavy bullets that would tumble when hitting a target was interesting, but there’s just something about a controlled expansion bullet the provides a level of confidence and precision. Whether for hunting or defensive use, I suspect these innovative expanding subsonics will breathe new life and enthusiasm into the 300 Blackout SBR and pistol market.

The post Innovative New 300 Blackout Ammunition From Sig Sauer appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Chiappa Firearms, a small but rather interesting manufacturer situated in Brescia, Italy, have announced a brand new 9mm carbine or PDW called Black Rhino CBR-9.

It features low bore-axis similar to the Chiappa Rhino revolver (hence the name Black Rhino), as well it features patent-pending magazine design that merges the double-stack rounds into a single stack feeding that alleviates the pressure on the feed lips. Notice how close the person’s index finger is to the barrel.

It has a hammer that sits above the barrel and swings downwards instead of going upwards like almost all traditional semi-auto carbines.

Handing the production units at their booth at IWA, it felt really nice in the hand. The receiver is quite wide to accommodate the big bolt carrier as this is a blow-back design. Take down only takes a few minutes via the removal of 2 pins. The muzzle device is locked by a tab can be unscrewed by hand by depressing the tab.

The collapsible stock can be quickly deployed with one hand. The only criticism is the lack of cheek weld especially when an optic is mounted. The gun features integrated fiber-optic sights sitting right on the same plane on the picatinny top rail.

I was told the full-auto version, strictly for military & law enforcement and marketed by Tangfolio, can be fired one handed with very little recoil.

Americans will have to hang tight as Chiappa is currently working with the ATF to get their final approval for this product to become commercially available in the US, either as a carbine with 16″ barrel, a pistol without a stock and/or via a use of a pistol brace. It will be slightly different to what you see in these press photos.

As an gun enthusiast, it’s nice to see there are companies out there that are still innovating and trying to bring something unique to the industry. We can’t wait to get our hands on one at the firing line soon.

Official press release is attached below:

Chiappa Firearms introduces the CBR-9 ‘Black Rhino’ pistol, a brand-new weapon intended for personal defense and professional activities

With a substantial shift from its traditional production line, but following a logic started with the Rhino revolver, Chiappa Firearms introduces a new personal defense weapon: the CBR-9 Black Rhino. Not something “just like” anything else already seen around, the CBR-9 Black Rhino is an original project.

The Chiappa Firearms CBR-9 Black Rhino is a 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol, built around a steel upper receiver hosting all mechanical components and a polymer lower receiver, hosting the ejector and the magazine, inside the grip, which provides a better balance in off-hand operation and shooting.

A blowback-operated pistol, the CBR-9 Black Rhino features a low-weight bolt and an inverted-operation, heavy hammer. This peculiar interlocking system between the hammer and the bolt provides an inertial increment for a superior reliability in all situations and with any load.

The CBR-9 Black Rhino feeds through double-stack, single-feeding proprietary magazines featuring a patented feed lip system that can withstand substantial use and undergo deformation without affecting negatively the overall reliability of the system. Magazines are available in 15, 18 and 30 rounds versions, depending from local laws and regulations.

Featuring a substantially lower barrel axis than many similar firearms on the market, the Chiappa Firearms CBR-9 Black Rhino provides superior controllability in rapid fire. A patented high-effectiveness flash hider drastically reduces muzzle blast for operation in low-light conditions when muzzle flash could impair the shooter’s vision.

The CBR-9 weights 2,2 kilograms, but the barycenter is located in the area of the pistol grip, hosting the magazine, so offering a balanced off-hand operation also. The sliding (metal struts) stock e polymer buttstock, along with the front folding grip provide additional stability and precision shooting.

The Chiappa Firearms CBR-9 Black Rhino comes equipped with low-profile, high-visibility fiber-optic emergency sights. A full-length top MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rail and two front rails at sides of the front grip offer plenty of room for flip-up open sights, red dot sights or other kind of accessories.

The Chiappa Firearms CBR-9 Black Rhino comes with a set of three safeties: an automatic safety against accidental hammer drop; a trigger safety; and a manual safety, to provide one of the highest levels of safety in a firearm of this class.

The Chiappa Firearms CBR-9 Black Rhino has been designed to allow both left-handed or right-handed operations: the slide stop release lever is ambidextrous, while the cocking handle, the magazine release catch and the manual safety are reversible.

The location of all key components within the upper receiver makes cleaning and maintenance a breeze. The weapon strips AR-15 style, easily and without tools, by simply removing the flash hider and the large passing pin located at the back of the receiver.

The Chiappa Firearms CBR-9 Black Rhino comes in a dedicated case with 4 magazines (two 15 or 18 rounds magazines, plus two 30 rounds magazines, depending on local laws and regulations), a magazine loader, a carry sling and a cleaning kit.

For further information, visit www.chiappafirearms.com

The post (IWA 2019) Chiappa Black Rhino CBR-9 9mm PDW appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

In less than 15 minutes, this video shows the making of a homemade rifle without using a welder… just to prove it can be done.

It’s a hammer-fired single-shot 22WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire) rifle that he makes using the following tools:

• Reciprocating saw (Sawzall)
• Cordless drill & drill bits
• File
• Deburring tool
• Tape measure
• Jigsaw
• Wrenches
• Hammer
• Bench vise
• Tap & die set

For a barrel, he’s reusing one that someone gave him. Beyond that, he’s using common hardware items and miscellaneous steel parts.

Interestingly, the barrel and forend make up an assembly that’s completely separate from the receiver. You slip a round into the chamber, then slide the two parts of the gun together, and hold lightly back on the front end when you fire it.

He points out that, when fired, there’s really no strong force trying to make the two parts of the gun fly apart. Hmmm.

Anyhow, it’s pretty cool… and illustrates how dumb it is to try to outlaw firearms.

Enjoy.

The post Homemade Rifle Using Basic Tools (No Welding) appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Just when you thought anti-gunners couldn’t get any more invasive or ridiculous, they come up with something like this. It’s Florida Senate bill SB1310, and it makes it illegal for a minor to post a photo of a gun — or even something that looks like a gun — on social media.

Aren’t these the same people who want 16-year-olds to vote? Lawdy.

Oh, and it would also allow cops to steal any gun that appears in such a photo — as well as “warrantless arrest.”

Even if you forget about the obviously anti-Second-Amendment intent of this stupid bill, even the most rabid anti-gunner should be apalled at the infringement upon the First Amendment being allowed here, clearly setting a precedent that could be used to squash expression of an idea about which he or she may deeply care.

As Reason Magazine summed it up:

(1) A minor who posts or publishes a picture of a firearm, a BB gun, an air or a gas-operated gun, or a device displayed to resemble a firearm to a social media page, post, profile, or account that is openly viewable to the public commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable [by up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $1000].

(2)(a) Any parent or guardian of a minor, or other adult responsible for the welfare of a minor, if the minor possesses a firearm in violation of this section, may, if the court finds it appropriate, be required to participate in classes on parent education which are approved by the Department of Juvenile Justice, upon the first conviction of the minor. Upon any subsequent conviction of the minor, the court may, if the court finds it appropriate, require the parent to attend further parent education classes or render community service hours together with the child.

(3) Any firearm that is possessed or used by a minor in violation of this section shall be promptly seized by a law enforcement officer and disposed of ….

What is wrong with people? Are they so stupid they can’t look back just a few decades to a time when guns were in nearly every home and were freely carried about in public and plainly visible on gun racks in pickup trucks… and nobody ever used them to shoot up schools?

How can people not realize that the tool is not the problem?

Sigh. Worst of all for me, this crap is being proposed in my own home state… once referred to as “the gunshine state” because of its lack of idiotic gun regulation, Florida began a downward spiral one year ago, when the Republican-led legislature and Republican governor Rick Scott enacted a sweeping anti-gun bill that’s already causing strife for legal gun owners.

Humans can be such a disappointment.

The post Proposed Bill Outlaws Social Media Pics of Kids with Guns appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Fans of the Beretta 92 series will be happy to know that after 10+ years, they have released a 92 pistol featuring a frame safety like a 1911. The last 92 pistol featuring a frame safety, called 92 Steel I, was a limited production pistol produced around 2004.

This “new” pistol, 92X, is designed specifically for competition such as 3-Gun, USPSA & IPSC similar to the popular CZ Shadow 2 & Walther Q5 Steel Frame pistols. It features a steel frame with Vertec grip. After all these years, Beretta finally admits that the regular 92 series grip is simply too big.

Slide is the Brigadier-style, heavy slide with aggressive serrations. Checkering on the grip is also improved. Sights have been upgraded with fiber-optic front and blacked out adjustable rear sight.

In addition, it has an adjustable trigger that weights just over 3 pounds in single action. This pistol remains as double-action/single-action, not single-action only.

One known issue that we already noticed at IWA is that due to the wide safety, it’s very difficult to engage the slide release with your thumb unless you reposition and rotate the pistol slightly. This is not an issue for striker fired pistols like Glock 17/34 and Walther PPQ/Q5.

The rear sight, due to its increased length, also causes difficulty for the operator to cock the hammer. Unfortunately, the skeletonized hammer is an existing, off-the-shelf part and is not made specifically for the 92X.

It would also be nice if Beretta is able to offer different sizes slide release and safety levers. They are going to the right direction with this pistol, but there are still more work ahead.

The 92X is due to be available across Europe in June 2019 with US release slated for later time.

The post (IWA 2019) Beretta 92X Steel Frame 9mm Competition Pistol appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden recently paid a visit, complete in her army uniform, to the Särskilda Operationsgruppen – Special Operations Group (SOG), Swedish’s only Special Forces unit. It might be a bit surprising to discover the Swedes, home of Aimpoint, were seen using American made EOTech holographic sights.

They are also using American made LWRC‘s piston driven ARs in 5.56mm Nato & 7.62x51mm stead of the green army’s AK5. What you do not see, however, is the pixelated portions of the photos which masked the type of IR laser illuminators they are using.

Needless to say, it looks like the Crown Princess knows what she’s doing and she certainly had fun blowing stuff up. It reinforces the fact that female vikings is likely not a myth.

Photo: Jimmy Croona / The Armed Forces

Photo: Jimmy Croona / The Armed Forces

Photo: Jimmy Croona / The Armed Forces

The post Swedish special forces unit using EOTech sights appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

We now have live photos of this fully engraved, one of one, Walther Q5 Match Steel Frame “We The People” 9mm pistol first displayed to the public at IWA Show in Nuremberg, Germany.

All the engravings were done by hand by master engraver in Germany with all controls done in 24 Karat gold plating. The barrel could not be gold plated so it is finished in titanium nitride (TiN).

We were told by Walther that it was for sale with a MSRP of 38,500 EUR which equals to roughly $44,000 USD and the pistol is now sold to one lucky owner.

The post (IWA 2019) Walther Q5 Match Steel Frame Custom “We The People” Live Photos appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Disaster preparedness and disaster prevention should be at the forefront of American culture. We have seen disasters rock this nation in every aspect. From water to fire we have seen communities ravaged by mother natures wrath.

In a purely beautiful display, we have seen neighbors and communities step up after these brutal disasters and help one another. Still the question hangs out there to be asked.

Why don’t Americans care about preparing for disaster?

In the last few weeks we have seen another rash of natural disaster and emergencies.

Alabama Tornadoes

Between three and five tornadoes probably touched down in central southeastern Alabama, she said. The Weather Service confirmed that a tornado at least a half-mile wide with 136 to 165 m.p.h. winds — or an EF-3 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita scale — had touched down in the southern part of Lee County.
Source

23 people lost their lives in this nasty outbreak of tornadoes. There were incredible pictures of things like fallen cell towers across highways. Alabama gets hit by tornadoes but we are watching this problem from a national view and it doesn’t seem to have the affect on people that it should.

We have more covered, deeper coverage but the meter on national preparedness just doesn’t seem to be moving. Could it be that we are just too busy to be bothered by disaster preparedness.

Venezuelan Grid Failure

A failure of the power grid left 70 percent of the nation of Venezuela without electricity in early September.

Venezuela was the world’s eighth-largest net oil exporter in 2010, and, the same year, had the second-largest natural gas reserves in the Western Hemisphere.

The power line failure blacked out 14 of the country’s 23 states and the nation’s capital, Caracas…
Source

It’s rare that we get to witness a nation suffer a 70 percent grid failure. Its also rare that we watch a nation suffer a full scale socialist meltdown.

The long term power outage is one of the most terrifying disasters of them all. The idea that essential services, supply chain and the modern conveniences of our world could go away for months, is horrible to imagine.

In 2018 the US government drafted a simple document on the affects of a large scale grid failure. The draft mentioned many things, not the least of which was the average Americans neglect of emergency preparedness. They talked about the minimal amount of preps most people have on hand and how unprepared they would be for a situation like this.

12 Years to Live

While this is the least concrete of the threats, it’s the influence and the impact that is worth discussing. We are seeing presidential candidates like Beto and AOC talking about the impacts of climate change in the next 12 years.

The theory is that devasting affects will be felt in that time by some populations across the world. No matter how you feel about human impact on the planet you cannot argue the fact that if you pave the ground that should absorb the water, you get flooding. It’s a simple example of how we negatively affect the world around us.

Having these voices in the highest offices in the world lamenting mass extinction of species and dire consequences for humans is just another layer to the cake. However, we see very little movement on the prepping front.

The Five Factors that Affect Americans from Prepping for Certain Disaster

Debt

Most Americans are laden with debt. They are broke. There is no money saved and they are living paycheck to paycheck. It’s a scary thing but its real. SO, you add to that the idea that scrapping a living also needs to include stockpiling resources for a possible disaster and people just go dark.

As Americans we have to get out from under debt.

Stigma

Whether you fear words like Alt Right or Communist or Neo Marxist, there will always be name calling in the cultural spectrum. That said, we need to get away from the idea of being called a “Doomsday Prepper” and start concerning ourselves with what might happen following a natural disaster or greater.

Many Americans fear being made fun of or called names.

Commitment

Disaster preparedness is just another commitment in an already busy world. People are overwhelmed with all their running and their dashing from place to place. In order to find balance, they spend their quiet time in front of a screen. This leaves very little time to focus on preparedness.

When you start down the path of preparedness you quickly realize how much time you have been wasting!

Fear

The threats we face are terrifying. There is no getting around that. Just the fact that a hurricane can blow into your city and take everything you have worked for is enough to cause a panic attack. Many Americans put up a natural defense to this and just decide to ignore it. The fear is to great, so they turn it off.

Family

Unfortunately, we can also find ourselves in a situation where family forces us to be less prepared. We might have family members that do not agree with our actions and do not support them. In this case we are stopped short of meeting our full potential.

In this scenario we have to become leaders in the household and point to these very real threats to get the rest of the family to see the light.

Conclusion

Now is the time to start setting aside preps. Focus on things like water and food. You increase reliance on self and not on others when you have food and water. There is real liberty in these things.

We are ushering in an age of high population density and an uptick in emergency and natural disaster. That is just the reality of things. Its time for modern Americans to take ownership of their level of preparedness. We can change the culture in this nation one person at a time. So, I implore you, start prepping, start storing and start sharing information about preparedness culture.

The post Tornadoes, Fallen Grids and 12 Years to Live appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

People love the Paramilitary 2.  It is one of the most heralded Spydercos ever with a bevy of steel choices and a plethora of aftermarket parts from scales to clips.  There has been a brisk business in PM2 mods with stonewashed blades and reprofilings.  Spyderco iterated on it recently with the Para3, which, in my mind, missed the mark, losing the big knife that carries like a small knife design trick that made the PM2 so notable.  But for quite a few folks the Paramilitary 2 has been replaced as the go-to mid-sized hard use folder from Spyderco.  In its stead for a lot of people is the Spyderco Shaman.

With superb ergos and a shape that echos its smaller but older brother, the Native, the Shaman has all the great things about the Paramilitary 2–the compression lock, hardy build quality, and a decent blade to weight ratio.  But it improves upon the formula with a handle that allows for more room around the compression lock, and a taller, wider blade that makes for better slicing.  I am not sure all of the PM2 acolytes agree, but there is at least a reason to consider something else in this price and size range for once.

The Internet Knife Community’s (IKC) overwhelming complaints with the Shaman come in two forms–price and steel.  The Shaman came out when Spyderco announced its Amazon-resistant MAP increase and as a result the price went up considerably in the first six months the knife was in production.  The second complaint, the steel, is something that can actually be fixed.  And fixed it has been.

Blade HQ recently announced that it will sell an exclusive Shaman in Jade G10 with M4 steel.  A lot of people, or actually just one, have been really clamoring for just such a knife.  And when you add M4 to the already great ergos you have the makings of a classic.  For those unaware, M4 is a high hardness and high toughness steel that gives up a bit in corrosion resistance for this unusual use profile.  Many steels are high hardness (ZDP-189, M390) and many are high toughness (3V, INFI, and Vanadis 4 Extra) but no steel really matches M4 in its combination of the two.

While quite a few people don’t like Jade G10, I for one, do.  Its ghostly effect makes the internals of the knife mostly visible, as if you are looking at them through water or smoke.  Here you can see the locking leaf of the Shaman’s compression lock and the liners, giving the knife an almost fountain pen demonstrator like appeal.

Like the standard Shaman this Blade HQ exclusive features a four way positionable pocket clip, sculpted handles, a half-and-half finger choil, and the traditional thumb hole opener that all but two Spydercos have (bonus points if you can name which two).

Important Info:

What: Spyderco Shaman in Jade G10 with M4 steel

Where: Blade HQ exclusive

When: Spring 2019

Price: $199.95

Specs: 3.01″ blade, 5.24 ounces

Highlights: M4, Limited Edition, Jade G10 scales

The post One to Watch–Spyderco Shaman in M4 appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

We have a soft spot for Leatherman tools, as much on account of their clever design as for their very respectable bang-for-buck pricing. Each month their deals and promotions change, and this time around a new batch of tools is up on the clearance list, with discounting as low as 40% off. Their custom shop offerings are currently marked down by 25% for those wanting a more personal look for their multitools, and beyond that we’ve narrowed down a brief highlight reel of some of our other favorites that are currently on sale.

Leatherman Juice C4S

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Simple and compact, the Juice C4S is the contemporary interpretation of the classic Leatherman multitool, boasting 15 practical tools in one easy to carry package. Currently discounted by 25%, the C4S is available in either blue or grey handled versions.

Leatherman Cam

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A bit more of a task-specific item, the Leatherman Cam is the perfect companion for bowhunters and archery enthusiasts. The clip-on carry tool includes a bit driver, gut hook, as well as a broadhead sharpener and wrench that allows for easy bow maintenance either a the range or out on the hunt. At only $18, it’s currently 40% off its sticker price.

Leatherman Freestyle

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The Freestyle is effectively a scaled down version of the Leatherman Skeletool that keeps things simple (and on budget). More complex than a simple folding blade, the Freestyle incorporates pliers and wire cutters into the occasion without bulking up your pocket much more than a standard blade would. Though not currently marked down, at $31.96 it’s still a steal in our eyes.

The post appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Conservation has made a huge win with our legislators after the Natural Resources Management Act passed in the House of Representatives 363-62. This is just a month after it had also passed in the Senate 92-8. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) strongly supported this bill from its outset and is tremendously proud to see its passage.

The reason why the Natural Resources Management Act is so important is because it permanently restores the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF is important because it protects wildlife areas for hunting and recreation whether it is land or water. Back in 1964 the LWCF was established and ensures that $900 Million is set aside annually to complete conservation work. This money comes from federal offshore drilling fees.

Kyle Weaver, who is the President and CEO of the RMEF, had these words to share regarding the Natural Resources Management Act passing in the House and Senate:

We wish to thank Congress for acting in a positive and timely manner in getting this done. This important legislation permanently reauthorizes LWCF—the nation’s most important land conservation tool that expired in 2015. We now call on President Trump to sign it into law. Once that happens, LWCF will become a regular part of the appropriations process and will be available to help RMEF and other organizations continue to conserve wildlife habitat and secure access to public lands.

The RMEF has directly benefited from the LWCF in growing their own conservation efforts over the years. Through 2018, the RMEF has received $108 Million from the LWCF and that has helped 80 different projects affecting 152,000 acres of land. Some of the most important highlights of the Natural Resources Management Act containing the LWCF can be read below as presented by the RMEF:

• Permanent Reauthorization of LWCF w/ 3% or $15 Million of Annual Appropriations made available for the Purpose of Securing Additional Access for Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting & other Outdoor-Related Activities
• Authorizing the Transportation of Archery Equipment through National Park Service (NPS) Units
• Directing Bureau of Land Management (BLM) & US Forest Service (USFS) Lands to be Open for Hunting, Fishing & Recreational Shooting unless specifically Closed
• Directing the NPS, BLM, USFS & the US Fish and Wildlife Service to annually Identify Lands where Sporting-Related Activities are Permitted, but where Access is currently Unavailable or Restricted
• A number of measures to Conserve National Parks, Monuments, Wilderness Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers & Conservation/Recreation Areas around the Country

As you can see, the passage of the Natural Resources Management Act is a huge victory for hunters, shooters, recreational enthusiasts, sportsmen, sportswomen, and everybody in between. What do you think though? Should we be setting aside more money for efforts like this? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

The post Natural Resources Management Act Passes Congress 363-62 appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

A lot of people tend to tell you that carrying a tactical backpack is a big “NO-NO”; that couldn’t be further from the truth. While they say you are declaring yourself as a threat to others around you, or that you have tons of gear that others might want (thieves), that is minimal in comparison to the benefits that you gain from carrying an EDC backpack such as the 5.11 Backpack Rush 72.

If you are a prepper, then you understand the importance of having everything you need close by. There’s nothing worse than finding yourself in an active situation, not having what you need, but knowing exactly what needs to be done. Without your equipment and/or gear, you are fairly useless … and that’s a horrible feeling.

But, that the exact reason that you should considering a large bag such as the 5.11 Backpack Rush 72. But, if that’s not enough of a reason, here are a few more reasons why you need to make your next backpack a 5.11 Backpack Rush 72.

It Could Outlive You

The 5.11 Backpack Rush 72 is built for use and abuse. They use high-quality, ultra-durable, water-repellant nylon to build each backpack. Additionally, they include dual-zippered front and main compartments to ensure a smooth, consistent zip each and every time; no more rips and tears from a stuck zipper.

Now, it won’t really outlive you, unless something “freak accident” style happens, but they will last through a lot of rough seasons. If you want a backpack that can handle your lifestyle, then the 5.11 Backpack Rush 72 should be your next backpack.

It Can Hold Everything You’ll Ever Need

Of course, a backpack is just a big compartment that can hold everything you need in one jumbled mess … right? NOPE!

In fact, while this can hold everything you need, they’ve made sure to incorporate TONS of storage compartments. Don’t waste time trying to find that flashlight at the bottom of the bag; instead, go straight to it because it is exactly where you put it. In a frantic moment, you don’t have the time to waste digging around for the right tools.

Just because a bag is big, doesn’t mean it is effective. But, the 5.11 Backpack is not your standard backpack. It was designed for the tactical minded protector and prepper. So, know where you equipment is and rest comfortably knowing you have what you need, where you need it.

It Is Customizable For You

And finally, most backpacks don’t allow for any type of customization. But, the 5.11 Backpack Rush 72 does. You can add AR Mag Pouches, Radio Pouches, HEXGRID Inserts, Hook Adapters, Joey Pouches, H20 Carriers, Holster Pouches, Ammo Pouches and so much more to your backpack from 5.11. Too many manufacturers believe they’ve made the best possible product, only to have left something out that you need. But with this 5.11 backpack, you add anything you may need.

For the tactical minded survivalist, having a durable, long-lasting, hold everything you need, fully customizable backpack is just the start. While some may scoff at the idea of carrying a backpack with all your gear, first aid, and weapons, you’ll be prepared for what comes your way. Don’t be caught in a BAD situation wishing you had your gear. You can prep for every situation in the world, but if you leave your home without your gear, you could be risking it all. Don’t take a chance like that … get a 5.11 Rush 72 and you’ll be glad you did.

Images courtesy of 5.11

The post Why The 5.11 Rush 72 Should Be Your Next Backpack appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Now this is a really cool knife, and would be a great one for a fish camp… at least as a conversation piece. While it looks like a simple tube, you have a really useful design that can deploy a blade that’s surprisingly long, and a handle that’s equally impressive.

It’s a Russian creation, known as the Fortel Fisherman and sold by Atroposknife. There’s a video down below showing how it works.

The round micarta handle can be separated, revealing the blade and a pair of sharp spikes on the removable portion of the handle.

Fortel Fisherman knife

You can then deploy the other half of the blade from the handle, giving you a really long blade.

Fortel Fisherman knife

You can even reconnect the handles if you want, and have this super-lengthy knife.

Fortel Fisherman knife

On the company website, this knife is cataloged under the heading “Transformer.”

The guy in the video calls the spikes a primitive fork, but commenters inform him the spikes are used to secure a fish while you fillet it with the blade. Nice!

This thing is really cool… but if you’re really trying to sell knives to fishermen, don’t make them round. Round stuff rolls a lot on a rocking fishing boat! And an apparently-Russian commenter observes that it’s an old design and that this blade may be too stiff to function well for filleting.

For $235 I think I’ll pass… but I do admire the design. What do you think of it?

The post A Russian “Transformer” Fishing Knife appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

US Wildlife officials are expected to remove the protections placed over the gray wolf across the Lower 48 states. No formal announcement has currently been made, but there are stronger rumors that a press release or public statement is soon to come. This effectively will open the door for states to decide if a hunting season will once again take place on them. Many states will capitalize on this opportunity because of the amount of complaints, conflicts, and issues faced by ranchers, farmers and hunters due to the gray wolf.

We at AllOutdoor reported twice last year on how US Wildlife officials were making a serious assessment of removing protections on gray wolves. It was back in June 2018 that the US Fish and Wildlife Service openly stated that they were examining the idea of lifting protections from wolves. While this news was happily greeted by ranchers and farmers, the US Fish and Wildlife Service received a lot of backlash from anti-hunters. Then, in Novermber 2018 the House voted in favor (196-180) to lift protections from gray wolves.

Fast forward to present day and the Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt was expected to make a public announcement on this on Wednesday, but it simply did not happen. US Wildlife officials have more than determined that gray wolf populations are at stable and healthy levels throughout the Lower 48 states. In fact, the Associated Press has been quoted as stating this:

State officials and government biologists have said wolves continue to thrive despite pressure from hunting. The animals are prolific breeders and can adapt to a variety of habitats.

Many wildlife biologists believe gray wolves to be at healthy population levels, but contend that opening up a season on them would be premature at this point. The interesting part is when they are asked at what point would it be more safe to open up hunting seasons to the public?… they do not have a figure or answer in mind.

With populations of gray wolves rebounding significantly across the United States, do you believe the US Fish and Wildlife Service is making the correct call? If so, would you hunt them if a season opened up in your state? Have you already? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.

The post Gray Wolf Seasons are Coming Back across the Lower 48 appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

If you consider yourself a survivalist, a protector, or  someone with a survival mindset, you should considering carrying a CRKT M21 pocket knife. If you don’t already have an EDC pocket knife, then you need to check out the CRKT M21. If you do have an EDC pocket knife, you may want to consider an upgrade.

Either way, here are three reasons why you need a CRKT M21 as part of your EDC kit.

Self Defense

This falls into the category of … DUH! But, think about it for a moment. Some threatening encounters happen when you “can’t carry” a pistol or they happen in extremely close combat type situations. In those moments, having an EDC pocket knife such as the CRKT M21 is your fastest, most efficient, most effective weapon.

Since your first intention is to use the CRKT M21 as an EDC weapon, you need to train with it. No, don’t go around stabbing and slicing your friends up. But, practice pulling it out and engaging with it. You train with your other weapons, so why not train with this too?

First Aid

First aid situations never occur at the “right time”, but you can be prepared for it with a CRKT M21. Sometimes you simply need to get a splinter out, or cut away a little skintag. Other times, you may have to cut clothing off of a badly injured buddy/family member. And if you are prepared, you’ll be working against time.

Imagine you came up on a car wreck and the occupant was trapped inside by their seatbelt. What would you/should you do? If you have a CRKT M21 on you, you would cut the seatbelt and remove them from the scene. If you weren’t carrying a CRKT M21 (or another type of EDC pocket knife), they may not survive before help arrives.

Opening Packages

And finally, and this is the “big” one, you need to carry a CRKT M21 so you can open packages. Okay, so we’re being a little sarcastic here, but it does help.

When your wife is on here 15^th package from Amazon this week, it’ll be a whole lot easier cutting into the box with a CRKT M21 pocket knife. And since you already have it on you (part of your EDC kit), you’ll be the hero she wants and needs.

With the cost of a CRKT M21 being so relatively inexpensive versus what you get, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be part of your EDC arsenal. Even if you carry another type of EDC pocket knife, you can never have too many pocket knives.

The post Three Reasons Why You Need A CRKT M21 As Part Of Your EDC Kit appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

I always enjoy shooting… but some things make it more enjoyable. Reactive targets are the most fun, because you can see your target react to the shot — and when you miss, you know it’s time to correct some problem with you, the gun, the ammo, or all of the above.

I recently ran across a kit called the Hang ‘N Hook which includes several specially-cut pieces of 1/4″-thick steel, which can make a nice target stand when combined with some one-inch metal conduit pipe. You slip the 4 hooks over a crosspiece, add the leg adapters, add legs, and you’re ready to start hanging stuff to shoot.

Steel targets can be expensive, and that’s a bummer. And some reactive targets seem to cost a bunch just because they’re targets. And while this little kit isn’t dirt cheap, neither is shipping these days — and you can get this setup sent to you for just 35 bucks. Drop another few dollars on 1″ EMT conduit pipe and you can conjure up a pretty cool-looking setup for hanging all kinds of different objects.

The steel parts are powder coated, so they won’t rust away — and as the tongue-in-cheek guy in the video (company owner?) says, “to look beautiful.”

Speaking of the video, scroll down to check it out. I’m not easily impressed by cheeseball humor, but this silly guy made me smile while selling his product, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

You may wonder why he doesn’t include the conduit pipe. Frankly, it’s not worth the cost of shipping because EMT is pretty cheap. Head on down to a hardware store or Lowes and pick up a hunk or two. In fact, it would take two 10-foot lengths to make the frame in the video. Around here, one stick will run you about $10 plus tax.

Hang ‘N Hook is a cool product; hopefully I can put my hands on a kit so I can test it for y’all.

In the meantime, enjoy the video below.

The post The Hang N Hook DIY Target Hanger Kit Looks Pretty Cool appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Most shooters are aware that different ammo companies make different grades of ammo, and several have even created lower-cost versions with no real indicator of the difference aside from less-ornate labeling and a lower price. For Remington, most handgun ammo sold on the civilian market in recent years has been in a green and white box with a stylized Remington logo.

Also seen in recent years was a yellow box with “Remington” in small letters and “UMC” in large letters. I always considered this to be Remington’s answer to the “Winchester white box” ammo that’s of good quality but less expensive. And apparently, that yellow packaging has gone by the wayside.

In its place is another green-and-white (G&W) box, but like the old yellow-box groceries it bears both the Remington and UMC names. Paul Harrell takes a look at both of these green-and-white-boxed versions to see if he can determine whether there are any appreciable differences between them.

For what it’s worth, UMC stands for Union Metallic Cartridge, an old ammo company which was acquired by Remington more than one hundred years ago. These days, Remington usually uses the UMC brand to designate their lower-priced ammo.

Paul begins by comparing velocity between Remington G&W and Rem-UMC ammo in 9mm Luger 115-grain FMJ.

• G&W: 1128 FPS
• UMC: 1141 FPS

The UMC actually seemed a bit more consistent. (My numbers vary slightly from Paul’s because I “crunched the numbers” myself.)

Next he compares 45 ACP ammo in a 1911, 230-grain FMJ.

• G&W: 836 FPS
• UMC: 811 FPS

On to the accuracy test, starting with the 9mm and then the 45. Both did just fine.

His conclusion: :If there is any difference, it’s not enough to make a difference.”

Happy shooting.

The post Comparing Remington Ammo: UMC vs. Rem Green & White appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

If you’re anything like me, you might think this would be just another “shoot weird stuff from a gun” video. But it’s actually really interesting to see what happens to some of these solid rubber balls when they hit a target — after being fired from a 12 gauge shotgun.

They take “reballs,” which are reusable rubber balls the same size as paintballs, and replace the shot load in a shotgun shell… then they shoot them at various surfaces.

It’s pretty amazing to see how some of the balls react when they hit a solid object. Some expand 5 times their original diameter, if not larger, and bounce off with extreme force, like a Superball. Others just hit and bounce off without drama.. and the one that hit the ceramic tile really put on a show, with a ring of rubber separating from its center after impact, and wobbling off through the air like a rubber band.

The effect on the big block… er, face… made of modeling clay was the most dramatic.

Enjoy.

The post Shooting Rubber “Reballs” From a Shotgun appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

From time to time there is  a theory that makes its rounds through the prepping community.  This theory says if a collapse of society were to ever happen, the local sheriff (or any high raking government official) could seize crops from farmers, then distribute those crops to the starving masses.

Believe it or not, we have an example from the 20th century of that exact event happening.  The event was the Russian Famine of 1921- 1922. Even though there were numerous causes of the 1921-1933 famine, it was in part due to the seizing of grain in Russia under the Prodrazvyorstka policy of Vladimir Lenin.

With their crops seized, and no money, farmers had to leave their farms to find food.  It is estimated around 5 million people starved to death in the famine.

To solve the problem created by Prodrazvyorstka, Lenin introduced a new policy called the “New Economic Policy.” Under the new policy, rather than seizing crops from farmers, the government bought crops from the farmers.

Using the real world example of the Russian Famine of 1921-1922, we have an idea of what could happen if the local government started seizing crops after a Doomsday event.

Think this story has a happy ending?  Think again.  After Lenin died, Stalin implemented his own policies, which included driving farmers off their land, sending them to prison camps, then putting people who are loyal to the communist party to work on the farms.

What happens when someone new is put on the job and replaces someone who has decades of experience?  Typically, production goes down.

If we look at the estimated grain production of Russia during the 1930s, we see production took a nosedive after Stalin put his policies into effect – Estimates for grain production in the USSR between 1928 and 1940 millions of tons.

Let’s use the revised grain production column:

1930 83.5 million tons.
1931 69.5 million tons.
1932 69.8 million tons.

From 1931-1940, there were only two years that exceeded grain production in 1930.

Seizing crops failed, which contributed to the Russian famine of 1921-1922.  An estimated 5-10 million starved to death.

Seizing land failed, which resulted in the Russian Famine of 1932-1933. An estimated 5-7 million people starved to death.

Depending on source death toll between the two famines vary widely.

Final Thoughts

We have three examples set by the Russians during the 20th century:

Seizing crops

Selling crops on the free market

Seizing land and replacing workers

The only example that worked, and still works, is the free market system.

The post Seizing Crops After a Collapse of Society appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Walking into a genuine war surplus store can give you goosebumps. What the military has shed in terms of high quality used gear or contract overruns of brand new gear can be put to good use by preppers, survivalists, outdoors people, campers, and such. However, of all the gear and goodies to be had in such stores, there are at least five pieces of web gear that every prepper should have.

If you ever get to Seattle, then wonder back off the famous fish market area to 1st Avenue. There is the location of the Federal Army & Navy Surplus. This is nirvana for military surplus as well as more commercial outdoors gear of all kinds. Their selection of genuine military goods is hard to beat. Here you can find all your web gear.

Preppers are often envisioned as outback campers that have either escaped the latest SHTF event or they are just off the grid for a weekend (or longer) adventure. Carrying on prepper survivalist activities in the outdoors often means having to carry certain types of gear on your belt or harnessed over your shoulders. Web gear does that.

Though there are undoubtedly many choices for what are individual priorities, at least five pieces of web gear should be purposed for carrying stuff on a daily basis. This is in addition to the assumption that one will likely be carrying a rifle with sling over the shoulder and/or some type of handgun in a holster of choice. These web gear choices support those items.

In no particular order of priority you will need mag pouches to tote extra magazines and ammo or Blackhawk and others make a bandoleer that carries both pistol and AR/AK or other rifle magazines. Next comes one or two of a general Molle pouch into which can be carried a wide variety of items from knives, flashlight, or nabs. These can go on your belt or a web Molle gear carrier.

Then go for a canteen or a water bottle carrier. Next, add a compact medical/FAK pouch. Pare this down to essentials. Finally add a communications zipper pouch to secure your iPhone and or a com radio to stay in touch with base operations.

Certainly more web can be added and carried, but these are the basics to get you by in the field. Some prefer a gear vest carry system or a backpack. Your option. Consider what you need to take away from camp and get the proper web gear to carry it.

The post Five Critical Prepper Web Gear Items appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Lately there seems to be a high crime rash of breaking into vehicles and stealing firearms. Ironically, in many of the cases the police determined that the vehicles robbed were not even locked at the time of the theft. It would seem like a no brainer that people would lock their vehicle doors especially if there is a firearm inside.

So, are there safe ways to leave a firearm in a vehicle? Well, of course, but you have to be smart about it, because criminals that break in will know where to look that makes it easy on them. First rule, don’t make it easy for a gun to be stolen in a vehicle or at home either.

Despite what you might think and we are all guilty of this, a gun in a car or truck is not totally secure even if the vehicle doors are locked, windows are up, and the trunk or hatch is locked. A break in is just that. It means a forced entry to steal whatever is lying around in the vehicle, or hidden somewhere inside.

So, under the seat is not good enough. Sure, if the doors are locked and a gun is totally out of sight and nothing else of value is visible, then a crook might pass to go to the next car in the lot or driveway. Remember, time has to be on their side. They don’t have a lot of time to rummage around inside a vehicle. If there is an alarm, all the better. Thieves hate noise that draws attention.

Next, a glove compartment or even a center console is not a gun safe. In fact, for criminals that know what they are doing. These are the first places they search for anything of value. It just takes a second and a good pry bar to pop these open. Don’t keep your guns there.

To properly secure a firearm in a vehicle, what you actually need is a gun lock box made specifically for a vehicle. There are many of these on the market that can be permanently bolted into the vehicle in different manners. Some of these lockable safes are also designed with easy and fast access when needed. Again, it is best to install these out of sight, too.

Guns can be carried safely in a vehicle. If you have to keep a firearm in a vehicle beyond just a trip to the range or hunting, then install a locking gun safe device in your vehicle. But never leave the vehicle unlocked.

The post Keeping Guns in Vehicles Safely appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Irvine, Calif. (March 12, 2019) – Global leader in innovative tactical apparel, footwear and gear, 5.11 Tactical, is officially launching a program of instructional classes hosted at its 45 company-owned retail stores throughout the U.S. The 5.11 ABR (Always Be Ready) Academy events are free to the public and will be held monthly at different company-owned retail locations nationwide. The 5.11 ABR Academy shows 5.11’s commitment to the 5.11 Always Be Ready mentality extending beyond just a customer’s apparel, footwear and gear.

“One of the main focuses of 5.11’s company-owned retail expansion plan is to make 5.11 stores experiential retail destinations,” said 5.11’s Senior Vice President of Retail, Jeff Roberts.

“We will provide our consumers with not only the gear they need to be ready – but also practical experiences to help them be prepared too.” Roberts continues, “Our 5.11 ABR Academy program will transform our stores into more than just a point of sale – they’ll serve as the interactive consumer destinations we always intended for our stores to be.”

The clinics themselves will provide attendees with lessons in readiness skills within five main areas of training: trauma care, self-defense, everyday/concealed carry, fitness and outdoor adventure. Each class will be hosted by certified experts in each field and provide consumers with first-hand learning and guidance in these areas of practice.

The 5.11 ABR Academy mission is to empower the community to “Always Be Ready.”

 

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Whether you’re gearing up for the last weeks of winter or setting your sights on spring, our new arrivals are here to help you complete your next mission. Click the link in our bio to shop new arrivals!

A post shared by 5.11 Tactical (@511tactical) on Feb 22, 2019 at 9:40am PST

To learn more about 5.11’s ABR Academy and see a list of events nationwide, please visit: www.511tactical.com/ABRAcademy

Image is a screenshot from the YouTube video

The post 5.11 Launches ‘5.11 ABR Academy’ at Company-Owned Retail Stores appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Dick’s Sporting Goods announced on Tuesday they will be removing hunting rifles and other hunting products from 125 of its stores.

Last year, in a move that was highly disappointing for gun sellers, buyers and the firearms industry as a whole, the sporting goods store pulled all modern sporting rifles from their shelves. On Tuesday, the company doubled down on that strategy and will be moving even further away from selling firearms.

According to The New York Times, Dick’s plans to replace hunting goods with merchandise such as ski apparel, batting cages and other outdoor gear. Nonetheless, this type of shift to scale back on gun sales appears to be a growing trend for the store and its chief executive, Edward Stack.

“If it goes as well as expected, we would probably take another batch of stores next year,” Stack reportedly said.

The changes are expected to be final by the end of this year.

Dick’s has over 700 stores located across the U.S.

Image courtesy wikimedia

The post Dick’s Sporting Goods Removing Hunting Rifles from Stores appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Download Mossy Oak GO (MOGO), the streaming television provider for all things outdoors, and you can win a chance to Hunt for the Grand Slam. Follow the steps to enter here.

Mossy Oak GO features original, 100% free outdoors video content and offers a vast library of online videos for those who live the outdoors lifestyle. With no subscription costs like other content providers Mossy Oak GO, removes the hassle of free trials, monthly fees or restricted access.  Available for Apple and Android devices, the Mossy Oak GO app is supported across all smart devices without subscription, allowing you to watch the best in outdoors TV anytime, anyplace.

Access Mossy Oak GO from your favorite streaming media player like Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku, Apple TV and Chromecast. Mossy Oak GO is also available through your computer, tablet, iOS or Android device.

Mossy Oak Brand Camo

The post Win a Chance to Hunt for the Grand Slam with Mossy Oak GO appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

TRAINING FOR CONSISTENT REPEATABILITY

The dictionary describes the word “practice” as “To perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of; to exercise or perform repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill; to work at; to carry out in action.” That defined, this article could probably end right here.

Except as humans we rarely do what we are supposed to do in order to maintain our skills or otherwise behave in ways that would contribute to our overall well-being. That is human nature. Otherwise we would all be on a diet of some kind, exercise daily, quit our vices, stop drinking including soft drinks, drop that occasional cigar, and shoot our guns more regularly.

Some professionals such as military and law enforcement are required to shoot regularly. I know police that have to qualify once a month, some every other month, but few of them like it. I know one highway patrol officer that gives most of his allotted ammo to his next door neighbor rather than shoot it himself at the range as required. That’s comforting.

Every gun owner should know their own guns inside and out. They should practice with them regularly, like it or not. Same with tennis, golf, or whatever. We preach to preppers and survivalists all the time to hone their shooting skills in order to be at a decent level of proficiency should a SHTF occur, demanding heightened self-defensive response to threats.
This requires shooting practice.

I can hear the defeatist commentary now. “I don’t have the time to run to the range every month. Shooting practice is expensive, ammo is so costly now. If I shoot my pistol, then I’ll have to clean it. Heck, I may never have to use my gun in self-defense anyway. I love my AR-15, but it is a royal pain to take down for a thorough cleaning,” says the distractors.

Gun ownership demands shooting practice. Today, there are many choices for ranges indoor and outdoor, some public that are reasonably priced and easy to access. You can shop endless venues these days for better ammunition prices, some with free shipping. Targets can be made from many sources. I use the cardboard inserts in frozen pizzas and just mark off an “X” on them. Gun cleaning should be a hobby instead of a task.

Take pride in your practice as your skills increase. Don’t forget to shoot weak side and from various positions, around barriers, and practical situations. Then should a real SHTF occur, you’ll be ready and confident.

The post Training for Consistent Repeatability appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

BUILD A SPECIAL PURPOSE RIFLE

For any number of reasons a user of many weapons should construct an SPR type rifle. What for and what is one? Using the military model as a template, an SPR is a rifle built up or even accessorized from a basic or custom rifle to perform special tasks. Those tasks could be long range targeting of steel or hide, or even for precision shooting to execute an exact target.

One could create an SPR as a type of sniper rifle, but its application is much broader in its use at the range, or afield. It could be used for targeting adversaries at a non-typical range, or likewise for putting the crosshairs on a select deer, varmint, or other like game for the cartridge you elect to choose for the chamber of your SPR.

There are many scenarios for which an SPR rifle could be set to task. For preppers and survivalists, it could be for dispatching an adversary or their vehicle of conveyance from some distance apart from a bug in residence, or across a field or down a roadway from a bug out hideaway encampment. It is built for exact targeting not for laying down a broad range of fire.

For these purposes, an SPR could be built on an AR platform, or a precision bolt action rifle chassis. This may depend only on the shooters preference. The military and law enforcement have such rifles in stock and trade they label as sniper rifles. So be it, it does not matter the category name.
Many will I think choose to build such a rifle on an AR format. The concept of a quick repeated follow up shot is to the liking of many. Though it is but a campfire or gun shop counter argument about the same potential of a bolt operated SPR. You choose. What else about this rifle should equip it to be a suitable SPR?

Cartridge choice first. Keep it on the light side but big bores are viable, too. Choose your own level of recoil. Among the list of potentials would be the .223/5.56, .223 Wylde, .224 Valkyrie, .22 Nosler, .243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .260 Remington, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 Remington SPC, 7mm-08, .300 Blackout, .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum, 338 Federal, and the .338 Lapua. Some of the later choices more suited to the bolt actions. Other potential rounds are out there including some still considered wildcats, but soon to enter the realm of mainstream use.

After picking the cartridge, then choose a high quality AR or bolt rifle so chambered. The higher the innate quality the better. This likely will be gauged by cost and value. Good rifles can be found and enhanced to fit the SPR format and purpose without having to mortgage the ranch. Be sure there is a good accessory driven fore arm equipped to handle MLOK or KeyMod attachment points. A long Picatinny rail on top is a must.

Besides the basic rifle, enhancements could or should include adding a precision trigger like a Geissele, a barrel of at least 20-inches of a medium profile to control heat, a solid muzzle brake not necessarily a flash hider, a hard, durable, matte exterior finish in a terrain enhanced coloration, ambi-safety controls and mag releases would be good. Have a sturdy, but adjustable buttstock with a cheek height suitable for comfort, but cheek placement for precision shooting. Some may prefer a high quality fixed buttstock and that is OK.

The choice of optics is critical. Combined with this is a really good scope mount to fit the rail to lock down solid. A one piece mount of any primary brand will provide the best foundation to place an optic on this rifle. Choosing an optimal optic can be more confusing than one might think. The optics marketplace is more stacked than a corned beef sandwich at New York’s Katz’s Deli.

Picking a suitable optic for an SPR takes a lot of shopping and product comparison. This rifle is going to demand a high quality, named brand traditional glass scope with exceptional multi-coated lenses with a crosshair option designed for precision targeting. I have often advocated paying more for a high end scope than paid for the rifle itself, but this is a thin line of recommendation. I believe there are very good scopes well under $2000 and few in my mind offer that much more when priced above that level. Same for rifles.

There are many high quality scopes including Leupold, Nikon, Zeiss, Schmidt and Bender, Kahles, Nightforce, Steiner, SIG, Vortex, and Trijicon. The difficulty is choosing a model. First, choose a variable scope with a power selection range of at least 3x to a high end, or better yet a 4.5 to an upper power of 12-20x. Don’t overwhelm the rifle with a huge, heavy scope.

Pick an objective lens of at least 44mm, but 50mm is better for enhanced light gathering. A 30mm scope tube transmits more light and is a stronger scope, but you can get by with a traditional 1-inch tube. Be sure the exterior finish is a dark matte to reduce or eliminate glare.

What else? For precision shooting in the field or even off a range table or other platform, a really good bipod is a necessary accessory. From raw experience I like the GG&G XDS heavy duty bipod. I understand that Magpul now has a good, military grade bipod. Others are out there, just examine them carefully.

For field carry a good sling with solid attachment points is required. I prefer the push-button release type made by GG&G but others are available. This type of rifle is going to need two points of attachment for comfortable carry. Forget the single point for this gun.

Finally, use thoughtful care in adding other accessories to avoid cumbersome weight. I see no reason for a light or a laser on an SPR. Use quality magazines that work, ten or 20 round should do. Above everything else plan on plenty of range practice to get this rifle kit dialed in for precise shots out to 300 yards as necessary. Most cannot even see a man-sized target at 800-1000 yards, so don’t be obsessed with that. Just make your special purpose rifle for special purposes.

The post Build a Special Purpose Rifle appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Once upon a time, the Gyrojet was invented; a gun which fired self-propelled rockets instead of simply flinging projectiles. And… it failed. But why?

Cost was certainly one large factor. Not only were the guns costly, the ammo was much more expensive than other ammunition.

The guns were apparently priced high purely for profit reasons, because they are actually simpler than conventional firearms, and don’t even have to be as strong, because they are not tasked with containing the extreme pressures of conventional ammo. Instead, they simply ignite each round and then serve as a launch tube to direct its flight.

The projectiles are quite light, with an unfired 13mm (roughly .50 cal) Gyrojet round weighing just 240 grains — the weight of a 44 Magnum hunting bullet. Remember, the Gyrojet “cartridge” also contains the propellant, which will burn off in flight, further reducing its weight before impact to about 209 grains.

Unlike conventional bullets, which begin to slow and fall towards earth as soon as they exit the muzzle, Gyrojet ammo actually accelerates as it flies downrange.

In the video, a Gyrojet pistol and carbine are both fired. The first is from the pistol, and it fails. I mean, it does fly, but the primer ruptures and it flies in an unintended way, hitting higher than expected and having to be recovered with a metal detector days later.

The second round buried itself into a Kevlar vest… something even a 45 ACP isn’t apt to do. The third round hit their watermelon target, and the fourth was stopped by a fiberglass panel.

Somewhere, I have some ammo for these things. I probably need to sell it off…

The post Rocket Ammo — Firing a Gyrojet Pistol and Carbine appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

RECOMMENDED PREPPER SUPPLY QUANTITIES

One of the initial primary concerns of newbie preppers just getting into the planning and preparation for SHTF survival is just how much stuff to store up. Certainly this varies in each individual case depending on a lot of factors such as how many people you are planning for, what kind of budget you may have, medical issues, security concerns, housing options, transportation, bug in or out philosophy, and so forth.

First, establish priorities. It makes little sense to stock up weapons and ammo if you have nothing to drink or eat, so start there. If the water utility service ends, then count on having storage water for three months. That is a tall order. Maybe a hand pump well is an option, a creek, or rain water tank to provide water that can be treated or boiled as needed. Save milk jugs to store extra water for multiple uses.

Stock your pantry plus add extra storage cabinets to store enough long term canned, survival foods or dehydrated foods to last at least six months. Put all of these foods on a rotation basis to freshen the stock but also to determine which foods will actually be eaten. This way you can also learn how to prepare such foods and conduct real SHTF practice.

After water and food, concentrate on essential health needs. If you require meds to live for a specific disorder, disease, or whatever, then collect as much medicine as you can acquire. This is not easy these days with all the restrictions in force now. Same with common everyday OTC med needs. Stock up heavy on pain relievers, stomach meds, cough and cold remedies, eye drops, lotions, soaps, and anything needed to make aches and pains easier to deal with. Stock up on anything you use regularly. Include personal hygiene items.

Personal security and self-defense wise, think at least in supplying the minimum. That would mean at least one handgun, shotgun, and rifle. Tomes are written on this, so do your research. If you need more weapons, then standardize them. Add extra magazines, carry gear, cleaning tools and supplies. As to ammo, build a stock of at least 1000 rounds in each caliber or gauge you have. Backup redundancy is a wise strategy.

Preppers need to realize that Rome was not built in a day. Dedicate as much reasonable time and money as you can to achieve your prepping goals. Prepping is a lifelong learning experience. Supply, train, and practice to be ready.

The post Recommended Prepper Supply Quantities appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

John J. Woods
Magnolia Outdoor Communications

HOME-KIDS-GUNS

Just last week another young child found a gun at home and in the process of playing with it shot his little brother. This is happening far too often these days. Who is at fault in these situations? Should the parents be blamed, and charged? What are kids doing “playing” with guns anyway? And what happened to basic at home safety about a whole list of things including guns, matches, electrical cords, the stove, and opening the door to strangers?

Ironically, like so many safety issues in and around the home, gun safety is really an easy one, a no brainer. Any gun in the house should be properly locked up, hidden away, or secured in a manner to keep it out of sight until needed. The same with ammo. Even a loaded gun can be secured in a house away from prying eyes and little hands.

Virtually every gun these days bought new comes with an owner’s manual that covers every possible safety issue related to handling that firearm. But, do owner’s read it? I doubt it. In many retail gun shops, the sales staff usually goes over some basic gun safety issues especially related to shooting, loading, unloading, and the gun’s safety mechanisms. Many new guns come with cables and locks to secure the firearm from being accidentally loaded or discharged, but they have to be used.

We know the arguments about having a gun at home, kids or not. In some neighborhoods in this country unfortunately drive by shootings or home invasions are all too common. A gun locked away in a closet is therefore unavailable for quick access to respond to a threat. What good does it do to have a personal defense gun at home if it is locked up, unloaded, or cable locked with the action open? These are tough questions.

First, responsible adults who decide to have a gun at home, can keep it loaded, perhaps without a round in the chamber, then put up where it cannot be easily accessed. Next, every person in the house should be briefed on having a gun in the house. Kids should be taught “hands off”. Older children can actually be taught safe gun handling and taught how to shoot responsibly with the whole “it’s not a toy” dialogue.

Training and education is paramount for every household that contains a firearm no matter what kind. Even hunting guns, rifles or shotguns, must be secured. Gun safety really is a no brainer, if gun owners will just do it.

The post Home-Kids-Guns appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Somewhere, there’s a Hi-Point 45 carbine owner who 1) probably needs some firearms education and 2) has a very effective guardian angel.

Hi-Point recently posted a couple photos on Facebook, explaining that a customer had sent in a 4595TS 45 ACP carbine, telling them he was unable to hit a target with the firearm. The reason? His bullets were not even making it through the barrel!

The issue probably began with a squib round, an underpowered cartridge which lacked the oomph to propel the bullet all the way through the barrel.

His next shot should have ruined the gun. Most of the time, when a firearm is fired with an obstructed barrel, the barrel fails by rupturing in an explosive manner. But the Hi-Point did not fail.

The hapless shooter continued firing — 34 more times! And the Gun. Still. Would. Not. Fail.

Wow.

Then, instead of chalking it up to firearms abuse and saying it wasn’t covered under warranty, Hi-Point replaced the barrel and returned the gun.

Doesn’t matter whether you love Hi-Point or hate them… you have got to be impressed by the fact that the gun was not utterly destroyed, and that they replaced the barrel for free.

About my only misgiving is that this owner may be one of those folks you wish really wouldn’t own a gun, much less fire it next to you at the range. Fortunately, he chose a really strong firearm.

The post Hi-Point Barrel Contained 35 Bullets, Why Didn’t it Explode? appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

When talking about overpenetration in home-defense scenarios, the main concern is that bullets may pass through walls and cause injury to someone on the other side. And apparently there are folks who attribute fiberglass insulation with bullet-stopping capabilities. So Paul Harrell has decided to demonstrate for all to see whether the most-common wall insulation in the USA (fiberglass “wool”) has any value for stopping bullets.

There are people who strenuously assert that this stuff is some kind of bullet stop. Well… let’s put that to the test.

To give the fiberglass its best chance, he starts with a wimpy round: 25 ACP — firing hollowpoints, which should penetrate less than “hardball” (a.k.a. FMJ) bullets. Predictably, it fails.

He then fires a typical small 9mm personal-defense pistol through a chronograph with and without insulation “slowing” the bullet. With average velocities of 1100 vs. 1081 fps, we can see that the bullet is — maybe — slowed by a mere 19 feet per second… which ain’t much.

Insulation as a bullet stop? Yeah… no.

The post Will Insulation Stop a Bullet? appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

North American Whitetail reports that Luke Brewster’s huge whitetail buck was scored even higher than before, becoming the largest-antlered free range buck ever recorded to be taken by a hunter. The buck was slain on November 2, 2018 in Edgar County, Illinois.

Brewster took his Illinois giant with a compound bow, making his buck the new archery record-holder as well — by a margin of almost 34 inches.

The Illinois giant’s score was verified Friday by the Pope & Young Club and already has been accepted by the Boone & Crockett Club, whose copyrighted scoring system P&Y uses by permission. On Jan. 5 Luke’s trophy had been officially measured by Tim Walmsley at 320 5/8 net, but the P&Y panel found another 7 2/8 inches of length in the rack’s massive array of abnormal points.

Luke’s buck now will rank No. 3 all time in B&C, whose records include trophies taken not just by hunting but also found dead. The only two wild whitetails scoring higher are the so-called “Hole in the Horn” buck, which scores 328 2/8 net, and the world-record “Missouri Monarch,” which tops the list at 333 7/8 net. The former deer was found dead in Portage County, Ohio, in 1940, while the latter was found dead just north of St. Louis in 1981.

As you can see, Brewster’s buck is non-typical… the current world-record typical whitetail was also taken in Illinois.

Illinois already could boast of one archery world record, with the late Mel Johnson’s 204 4/8-inch typical from 1965 still wearing the crown in that category. Acceptance of the Brewster buck’s score of 327 7/8 makes Illinois the only state to have held the No. 1 spots in each category simultaneously.

Amazing… and something not many people will ever experience. But Brewster does say, “if it can happen to me, it can happen to anybody.”

The post World-Record Whitetail Scores Even Higher Than Before appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Another for the “Duh” file… turns out, a sign saying “No Firearms or Weapons” was reportedly not effective at keeping gun-wielding crooks out of a liquor store in Houston, Texas… and thankfully it also failed to prevent a legally-carrying citizen from being there when a good guy with a gun was needed to stop a crime.

Two armed thugs entered the store and attempted to rob the place. The store owner and an employees responded with their own firearms and thwarted the theft.

In a video interview, the store owner Mike described the encounter, saying the crooks barged in and demanded that everyone get down on the floor. Customers complied and one of the crooks “starts shooting.”

He didn’t even ask me for money, he didn’t ask for nothing. He just POW POW POW POW [unintelligible] these bullets to me.

Mike got out of the line of fire long enough to arm himself.

I got my shotgun, I came back.

Mike and another employee, who was armed with a handgun, returned fire and the crooks decided to retreat. One of the employee’s bullets hit the older crook in the chest.

Both miscreants fled the store, and one of them, aged 35, was later found dead nearby. His 17-year-old accomplice was later picked up by police, apparently uninjured.

The post “No Guns” Sign Fails to Stop Armed Robbers, Good Guys With Guns Kill One appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

Salomon has a broad presence in the world of outdoor gear, and particularly in the area of functional footwear. If you have at least one foot, and do things with it, Salomon has a footwear option for you (likely a good one). Their options span from trail running shoes, to Nordic ski racing boots, to water shoes, and of course, tactical boots.

I was first introduced to Salomon some years ago when I picked up a pair of their GTX boots form a prize table at a match. A number of my friends had Salomon boots, and I saw numerous pairs sported by competitors at matches, but I never had any for my own until then. Only a couple weeks after the match I found myself, and my new boots, in the North Cascades in Washington state. There wasn’t much rainfall on that particular trip but there were plenty of creek crossings, steep slippery slopes, and dew-wet vegetation. My feet stayed dry and comfortable the entire time. From then on, Salomon was my default brand for footwear.

Appearance

The Salomon XA Forces boot looks a lot like its sibling, the XA Pro 3D, but with a more robust design to handle the rigors of tactical or similarly demanding use. Design efforts toward durability are clear when looking at the XA Forces. It looks like a tough, business ready boot without appearing overbuilt and clunky. Because of the XA Forces’ aesthetic, I don’t think I’d wear them to the office on a daily basis (though I have worn them a few times). I do, however, love wearing them at the range, on the trail, or whenever the barometer drops.

Lacing System

The XA forces is equipped with the Salomon Quicklace® system. I’m sure most of you are familiar with this system, and those similar to it, but for those who aren’t:

Step 1: Put your foot in the shoe.

Step 2: Pull the laces evenly to a comfortable level of tightness.

Step 3: While maintaining tension on the laces, push the buckle down to your foot.

Step 4: Tuck the buckle and excess lace into the elastic pocket at the top of the tongue.

I’ve found the Quicklace® system to be incredibly convenient and easy to use. It is my favorite feature of the majority of the Salomon shoes I own. They never come untied (obviously) and loosen only in the rarest of circumstances. I have found the system particularly convenient when I have cold clumsy hands or while wearing gloves. If you haven’t tried them yet, I’d highly recommend it.

GTX Waterproofness

One of my favorite things to do with my gear is test it in inclimate weather. I feel almost invincible wearing a Gore-Tex jacket when the snow, sleet, or rain is coming down so hard that visibility is barely 100 feet, and yet, I remain dry and comfortable, defying the elements. I was excited to test the Salomon XA Forces and see how they’d perform.

The boot’s first test was freezing rain in Ohio. It wasn’t extended exposure, but I made sure to, like a child, step in every puddle I could find. I made it to every stop with warm dry feet. The feeling of invincibility started to grow..

The next, much more challenging test took place a little over a week later in Utah. The rain switched to sleet, then back to rain again, as is typical in early March, so I decided to go on an extended walk to really put the Salomon XA Forces boots to through their paces. I set out along a trail system that meanders through some wetlands and wooded areas near my home. The paved path was clearly no challenge for the XA Forces boots and I soon made my way off trail. I walked through soaked long grass, stepping on and over fallen logs, cattails and other slick wet vegetation as the rain beat down in a consistent drum against my hooded head and shoulders. The boots maintained their grip and my feet maintained their comfort.

After an hour or so of walking, and still having completely dry feet, I decided to take the test one leap further. There is a small creek that runs along part of the trail. Instead of simply crossing the creek, exposing the XA Forces to only a couple of seconds under water, I decided to stand near the edge of the creek, with the majority of the boots completely submerged. There I stood for an entire minute with no water making it to my feet. I was impressed.

Breathability and Temperature Regulation

It’s one thing to be waterproof, it’s another thing entirely to be breathable. As a kid, I’d line the insulation of my snow boots with a plastic grocery bag and be baffled when I pulled my soaked feet out of what I thought were completely waterproof boots. It was much later in life that I realized the importance of breathability in footwear to not only keep my feet dry but regulate temperature as well.

Since I haven’t worn the Salomon XA forces boots in warm weather, I can’t really say how well they regulate high temperatures. Looking at them though, I see some thick paneling on the upper, above the inside arch. These boots are designed to be tough, durable, and withstand the use, abuse, and harsh treatment required of a tactical deployment. I suspect the robustness comes at the cost of some breathability.

In the time I’ve worn them I haven’t noticed any excessive moisture accumulation, or that hot, stifling feeling of poorly designed footwear suffocating my feet. I’m glad to say that my feet have remained completely comfortable in every place and condition I’ve worn the XA Forces boots, including temperatures well below freezing for many hours on the range, and while walking for what seemed like 5 miles from one end of the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport to the other.

Durability

By all appearances, and all experiences thus far (about a month or so of consistent use), the XA Forces boots look nearly brand new. As mentioned previously, the boots have a new, thick rubber paneling on the upper that appears to be either for fast roping or super aggressive hacky sack play. In either event, you’ll definitely be covered, and the boots will perform admirably.

Price

The Salomon XA Forces Mid GTX boots are priced at about $189, and if the boots are as durable as Salomon has intended them to be, they will be well worth it.

I’ll admit, I have a clear preference for Salomon footwear. I wouldn’t call it a bias per-se, as I  have no personal affiliation with the company, and I buy their boots and shoes with my own money, but I do very openly admit that I love their stuff. Their products look good, feel good, and perform as you would expect them to.

After what I would consider a very successful test, I plan on the Salomon XA Forces being my primary footwear throughout the summer while teaching courses, shooting matches, and archery hunting. I also plan on using them throughout the fall and maybe even into the early winter months for late season archery. These boots work well for me, and I think they will likely work for you too.

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