Table of contents for December/January #46 2021 in RECOIL OFFGRID

1. Bino Case Make: Kuiu Model: Pro Bino Harness MSRP: $99 URL: www.kuiu.com 2. Binoculars Make: Leupold Model: BX-5 Santiam HD 12x50mm MSRP: $1,200 URL: www.leupold.com 3. Watch Make: G-SHOCK Model: GSWH1000-1 MSRP: $699 URL: www.gshock.com 4. Sunglasses Make: Gatorz Model: Delta Polarized MSRP: $240 URL: www.gatorz.com 5. Hard Case Make: Pelican Model: G40 Personal Utility Go Case MSRP: $40 URL: www.pelican.com 6. Portable Stove Make: Jetboil Model: MiniMo Cooking System MSRP: $150 URL: jetboil.com 7. Water Filter Make: Sawyer Model: Squeeze Water Filtration System MSRP: $35 URL: sawyer.com Make: Sawyer Model: Squeeze Water Filtration System MSRP: $35 URL: sawyer.com Make: Viktos Model: Wartorn Vented Glove MSRP: $38 URL: viktos.com 9. Socks Make: Viktos Model: Operatus Sock MSRP: $13 URL: viktos.com 10. Pants Make: 5.11 Tactical Model: Apex MSRP: $85…

Few people ever experience actual combat in a war. And of those who do, fewer still turn that experience into something positive. Bucky Pratt is one of these rare individuals who has faced and grappled with his inner demons instead of avoiding them or letting them consume his life. After much introspection, he has turned his passion for traveling and exploration into an example of how others may learn from his hardships. From a young age, Bucky had a yearning to explore. Growing up in rural Oregon provided ample opportunities to roam the wilderness that he found undeniably enticing. It was a thrill to jump on a bike and pedal over the horizon to a friend’s house or grab his trusty BB gun and wander the edges of farm fields.…

When looking at the continuum of force options available to civilians, as opposed to those used by armed professionals in law enforcement and military service, there’s a small but glaring gap in available technology. They’re known by a slew of monikers like flash-bangs, NFDDs (Noise and Flash Distraction Devices), concussion grenades, stun grenades, crashers, or bangers. No matter what you call them, the operating principle is the same: a hand-thrown “grenade” type device with a short time-delay fuse that emits a loud bang and blinding flash of light for the purpose of distracting or disorienting anyone in the immediate vicinity. This allows an attacker (or defender) to expand their OODA loop by disrupting their opponent’s, buying valuable time to attack, counterattack, or escape. The first known example we could find…

Disclaimer: This book contains techniques that may be dangerous and/or illegal in some jurisdictions. Check your local laws and do not attempt to replicate its contents without proper training and safety precautions. The Premise: The Anarchist Cookbook (TAC) was promoted as a manual for guerrillas to overthrow a tyrannical government. It includes recipes for all manner of weapons, explosives, and drugs, and also directions for sabotage, surveillance, and improvised weapon use. Originally published in 1971, it was envisioned as a compendium of knowledge to fight what the author considered to be an impending communist tide. The 411: This book is truly infamous, and its “questionable” contents tend to make some people uneasy. To that end, I was interested to examine it from both a knowledge perspective and a historical one. The…

MAKE & MODEL 1 Leatherman Bond WEIGHT 5.8 ounces MSRP $50 URL www.leatherman.com NOTES While the folding multitool has existed for at least 1,800 years — some crafty tinkerer from the Roman Empire invented it sometime between A.D. 201 and 300 — in modern times, it hasn’t changed too much since Tim Leatherman started selling the Pocket Survival Tool (or PST) in 1983. To honor yet evolve the PST, his eponymous company has released the Bond. It maintains a similar minimalistic aesthetic, while upgrading the functionality with 14 tools, including a blade, pliers, a can opener, a bottle opener, and multiple screwdrivers. Plus, the Bond’s closed length is 4 inches, so if you don’t want to stow it in the included nylon sheath, you can carry it conveniently in a…

Danny Pritbor, director and owner of Firebase Combat Studies Group, currently serves as a Department of Defense contractor. Danny’s career spans over 29 years with service as a U.S. Marine, law enforcement SWAT officer, Department of Energy and Department of State contractor, federal agent, and private security consultant. He’s served worldwide in various war zones and high-threat areas. His company partnered with Panoplia to develop a nine-hour, online training program called Soft Skills and Tactics. It consists of three parts, nine lessons with 45 topics covered. In conjunction with the online course, Firebase offers a two-day security training program that consists of lecture, hands-on, and a field training exercise with stations that push participants to take charge, make decisions, and problem solve. For more information on the online SST program,…

One of the most important skills for the family medic to master is the ability to rapidly stop bleeding (also known as “achieving hemostasis”). In survival scenarios, bleeding can occur from various sources, from a fall on uneven terrain to a hostile encounter with another group. Failure to properly treat bleeding wounds can lead to unnecessary deaths among survivors. A 2013 study reported in Military Times found that close to 25 percent of the combat deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2001 and 2011 might have been survivable with rapid and appropriate actions. Certainly, the survival medic can save some lives with the right knowledge, training, and equipment. For example, a caregiver with a tourniquet will be more successful than one without. In addition to tourniquets, there are commercially available…

The Scoped Carbine Class at Ridgeline Defense in New Hampshire has been on my to-do list for a long time. A scoped carbine is the Goldilocks porridge of choice, so to speak. Not dedicated for close-quarters or true long-range use, the scoped carbine can do most of it well, as long as you understand its realistic limitations. Configured with a Low Variable Power Optic (LVPO) and the right balance of bolt-on parts, this style of AR is a great contender for the “if I can only grab one” scenario. Shortly after I signed up for the class, COVID-19 hit, along with ammo shortages and social unrest. This situation reinforced the value of a scoped carbine for protecting my family or traveling discreetly to help someone else. The class came at…