Living Outside, with Cody Lundin

Henry Ar-7 Survival Rifle

 

Guns, whatever your opinion on them, are an excellent survival tool. While my AR-15 might be a great tool for self defense if the proverbial "shit hit the fan" it would certainly be a bit much for varmint hunting. I have been wanting a .22 caliber rifle for awhile for this purpose, and one that is this tailor made for survival is right up my alley. The Henry U.S. Survival rifle is a semi-automatic chambered in .22 LR. The biggest selling point being that it all breaks down and stores in the buttstock. It also floats when stowed. You can get it in black or camo and it comes with two eight round magazines.

First impressions, well made and sturdy, despite the light weight. Solid construction and ease of use make it the perfect survival weapon. The light weight and low recoil make it feel like the ideal weapon to hand off to a novice shooter. Right out of the box it fired dead center at 25 meters and 3 inches low and left at 50. Had it firing consistently within the 20 ring in minutes. Over the day at the range I fired off about 280 rounds... with 6 malfunctions. Normally I would consider this pretty bad, but all but one were misfeeds on loading the first round. I think the issue was mostly due to the hollow point ammunition I was using. All I shot was CCI high velocity hollow points in 36 grain. I didn't have an issue until after the 200 round mark, so I think lead fouling was a bit of an issue. From what I have read these rifles don't like hollowpoints, that is all I shot today so I guess I did pretty well. The only malfuction I had while firing was a stovepipe ejection. For those that don't know this is when the empty shell lodges in the ejection port. Other that that all malfunctions were on loading the first shell.

Overall I think that the benefits of this rifle handily outweigh its shortcomings. I don't have any reservations about adding this rifle to my kit. Aside from the couple misfeeds I had, the rifle shot well and was accurate enough to hunt with. Firing a consistent 5 inch group with hollow points is just fine at 50 meters, and at 25 the groups dropped to about three inches. Did I mention it's fun as hell to shoot?

Merrell Minimalist Shoes

Over the last couple years I have been really getting into the "barefoot" movement. I have been wearing Vibram Five Fingers every day since last Christmas and have done a few barefoot hikes and camping trips. The results I've experienced have been phenomenal, my back pain is all but gone and I don't feel nearly as tired after a hike. The only place I cannot wear my Vibrams is at work. Believe me, even being a mechanic I would still wear them at work if I thought I could get away with it. Two weeks ago I had finally had it with work boots. My feet hurt, my back hurt, my ankle is constantly getting tweaked. (Aggravating an old injury) So I began looking seriously at "barefoot" type minimalist shoes. 

There are a lot of these out there from nearly all running shoe manufacturers. I decided on a pair of Merrells, the "Barefoot Run Trail Glove". (wide width) The reviews were excellent and they had Vibram soles. The wide toe box was a nice selling feature as well. First impressions were not great, they seem a little cheaply made for the 110 dollar price tag, I heard a few stitches rip when using the heel loop to put them on the first time. 

When I did finally get them on they seemed pretty comfortable. (I knew that they would be difficult to fit at first, I'm used to this with Vibrams) I immediately noticed an odd feeling that I was facing uphill, almost as if the heel was lower than the front of the shoe. An odd feeling at the very least, but not horrible. I think it has something to do with the fact that they are supposed to be running shoes. The wide toe box is very nice, and they feel very secure going up and downhill. The following day I wore them to work, after that day I wasn't quite sold. The low heel makes it feel like you're doing toe lifts all day, something I've never experienced with a minimalist shoe. They also aren't very grippy on tile floors, not an issue on pavement or dirt, but an issue for daily use. I didn't want to make a decision based on one day so I gave it a week. At this point I've gotten used to the quirks and I'm fairly happy with them. There was certainly a transitional period where my shins hurt and my feet would cramp a bit. I went through the same thing when I went to Vibrams, but it passes quickly. Now aside from traction issues indoors, they work pretty well for my purposes. I'm sure for trail running or hiking they would be absolutely perfect. I really don't see myself ever choosing them over my Five Fingers, but on a cold day the ability to wear thick socks might make these tempting. For work they're passable, though they offer no protection in the shop, they look enough like sneakers that no one would question them. I would certainly choose them over a boot any day, but they don't even come close to the comfort of my Five Fingers.

Update 8/14/13

I have now been wearing these to work everyday for eight months. I gotta say, no complaints here. (just don't expect them to be waterproof at all) They have certainly held up better than any of my Vibrams have. I'm nearly through the tread and I've had nothing break down on me at all. They are light, comfortable and durable. I only wish they had toes. 

An Apocalypse Survival Christmas 2

So this is survival Christmas number two! Sorry I couldn't get this one out sooner, been a busy few weeks. Well it seems we have all survived the 2012 apocalypse then, oh well, I think we were all secretly hoping for it. Those who know me well enough to buy me a gift, I'm sure you've noticed my Amazon wishlist has a bit of a theme. Pretty much an even mix of survival gear and vinyl records. Apparently even with the survival gear I still qualify as a hipster. For the most part I have about all I need (or can afford) for gear. I certainly have way more than I can carry, so why more? It just seems like every time I feel like I have it all, I find out about some awesome new thing that must be mine.

 

 

My first gift this year was from my dad, a Smith & Wesson tactical pen. (Pictured right) There are a few of these types of pens out there, but I haven't really heard to much about them. The basic idea is an aluminum pen with a decent point at one end that can be used as a stabbing implement in a defensive situation. Now hopefully I won't have to resort to my pen for self defense, but you never know. Ideally I carry a firearm on my person at all times, but there are dozens of times a month I would say, where this is not an option. For instance when I head down to the city, or when at work. Now usually at these times I do have some kind of weapon on me, generally a knife at all times and the addition of my Kimber pepper blaster when visiting the five boroughs. Now the very few times that I would be without either I would say is if I left my knife at home by accident when I headed to work. This is a pretty rare occurrence. Being a mechanic I utilize a pocket knife dozens of times in a day, making my lockback as important to carry as my wallet. This being said, I like to have at least one backup for every piece of gear I own, and dual purpose items are a plus. I need a pen at work anyway, so it might as well have a tactical purpose. Now I know all of these factors are extremely unlikely to occur all at once, but I prefer to hedge my bets. So lets assume I head to work and forget my knife, then head to lunch with some of the guys. For the most part the guys at work are all into this kinda stuff, but there are a few that would be unnerved by "lemme just run out to the car and grab my gun." So in these situations, the weapon is safely locked away (unloaded and cable locked) in the glove box. In this highly unlikely situation, I would be completely unarmed. In my youth I would never have had a problem with this, but a couple pulled back muscles and an old ankle injury have made me question how well I could really handle myself in a fight nowadays. Something solid to defend myself with is just as much a sense of security as it is a real asset, so I'll take it. 

 

First impressions of it are that it feels pretty solid, with a nice clip that is bolted on with two torx screws. This was one reason that this model caught my eye. Many of them have a clip that is attached with a semi-circle of metal that can easily pop loose when snagged. An issue I constantly run into with Streamlight pen lights. (more on that in a bit) One surprise was that it had a screw on top, making the "stabby" end the bottom of the pen. The top unscrews from the main body of the pen and sits on the pointy bit while writing. At first glance on the internet it looked like a click or screw type retractable. Not really an issue that affects performance, but with daily use it is a little more annoying to be constantly unscrewing the top to use it. As far as quality it is akin to a decent quality aluminum flashlight. The screw doesn't have a seal of any kind so submersion in water probably wouldn't be an option. Though all that would be damaged is the refill, I won't be checking how well the machined aluminum seals until I have a refill in hand. The only major disappointment in the pen I would say is that it's kind of a crappy pen. For stabbing, seems great, pen part not so much. Writing feels like a cheap-o bic. Admittedly I am a bit of a snob in this regard, preferring Uni-ball or Pilot Precise for daily use. Hopefully the refill is a common type, allowing for the option to upgrade to a fountain or higher quality roller ball. Overall seems like a good deal, especially since it it only costs about 20 dollars on Amazon. For something like this the thing you need to consider is that you can't plan for everything, and sometimes you cannot justify paying a lot for something you will hopefully never use. Until I hear of someone actually having to use this, there is just no way to know what the performance will be. All I can put forward is that it's a working pen, and I would not want someone to stab me with it.

 

Another gift I got (also from Dad) Is the Streamlight ProTac 2AA LED flashlight. (Pictured above) I have owned one in the past but had lost it. I am extremely happy with pretty much any Streamlight product I have used. I believe I have reviewed them before so I won't be too long winded with this one. Solid, durable and reliable, you really can't go wrong with this light. With a 120 lumen max output it is really bright. It has a 1.75 hour run time on the highest setting, 4 hours on the low setting. It also has a strobe feature and a rubber push button tail cap. Excellent tactical flashlight and small enough for everyday carry in your pocket. The only real down side to this light is the clip, if it gets snagged on something it goes flying. I have had this issue with all of my penlights from Streamlight. I think I have four or five AAA versions missing the clip. If you were to use the included nylon holster this wouldn't be an issue I suppose, but I just have too much crap strapped to myself already. 

 

With the help of Christmas money I was able to finally purchase a decent bicycle, something I have wanted for a long time. A bike is something everyone really should have, It's great exercise, (something I certainly need) as well as a gasoline free form of transportation. Just seeing the panic that ensued at the pumps after hurricane Sandy, I can only wonder what would happen if there was a national fuel crisis. With my bike I could get back and forth to work and the store, albeit much more slowly. At about 10 miles it will be a bit of a haul to work but it is doable. I look forward to giving it a shot when it gets a bit warmer. When I went to get my bike I had a Cannondale Quick CX in mind. Msrp was around the 600 dollar mark. What I really wanted was the higher end one with disc brakes, unfortunately way out of my price range. So while at the store I asked about some of the other brands to see if there was something comparable in my price range. The salesperson suggested a Specialized Crosstrail. All the same features of the Cannondale I wanted, but below the 600 dollar mark. I felt the disc brakes were more important than the brand, so after some quick Googling of reviews on my phone, I went with his suggestion and I am very happy with it. Riding around the city of Poughkeepsie, the ability to stop on a dime makes me feel much safer. When selecting a model, front suspension and slightly aggressive tires were important to me. I like being able to cut through parks and hop up and over curbs easily. Though I don't think this particular model would be great on the trail, it works well for mild off road use. Today after work will be my first long distance ride, hoping to get 20 miles in before dark.

 

 

My Review of VIBRAM FIVEFINGERS Men's TrekSport

Originally submitted at Eastern Mountain Sports

With an emphasis on traction and performance, the FiveFingers TrekSport features a cleated 4 mm Vibram rubber outsole and a Coconut Active Carbon upper for natural breathability and abrasion resistance.

VIBRAM FIVEFINGERS Men's TrekSport

Five fingers will change your life.

By Captain Hitop from Poughkeepsie NY on 12/23/2012

 

5out of 5

Sizing: Feels true to size

Width: Feels too narrow

Pros: Comfortable, Durable, Lightweight

Cons: Not Water Resistant

Best Uses: Mixed Terrain, Grass, Around the house, Rocky/Unstable Terrain, At The Gym, Everyday, Paved Trails

Describe Yourself: Recreational Walker/Hiker, Survivalist

Was this a gift?: No

Vibram five fingers are by far the most comfortable shoe you will ever wear. I have been wearing these every day for about a year and I now own three pairs. They are really comfortable and lightweight. Humans are not built to wear shoes, so why wear something that is bulky and impedes natural movement? Ever since I started wearing these all my back problems have dissapeared. I feel less fatigued after walking and they are just flat out more comfortable. They can be a bit cold in the winter so I recommend buying a pair a size up to accomodate socks. My only complaint is that they no longer make this model in leather, and that they don't offer enough models in earth tones. Try them out, they will change your life.

Bailey, uninterested in my new footwear...

Tags: Using Product, Picture of Product

(legalese)

Tinder

Dry tinder is the first and most important ingredient in a fire. Building a fire is all about adding bigger and bigger pieces slowly until it can sustain itself. It all starts with a tiny ember, unless you're using gasoline that is. For most of my fires I use a farrow rod, and I have dozens of favorites for tinder. In this post I will outline a few of the best ones. One you can make, one that is plentiful in urban areas and two that can be found in the wild.

The first can be made at home or at the campsite, it's called charcloth. To make your own charcloth start with any cloth made of 100% cotton. Place it inside a tin that can be sealed, an Altoids tin works well, and puncture a small hole in the top with a knife. Place the tin in the coals of a fire and give it about five minutes, it should stay in until you can no longer see smoke coming from the hole. Remove the tin and once it's cool check the cloth. It should have turned totally black and be very delicate, ripping easily. The cotton has now turned to pure carbon and will take the tiniest spark. Keep it dry and it will light first try every time.

The second is simple steel wool, found at places like Home Depot or any automotive shop. Steel wool takes a spark easily and will glow red hot when blown on. Lighting it with a match works well too. Placing a 9 volt battery on the surface of the wool will also cause it to ignite.

Cattail is going to be the easiest to spot, everyone knows what they look like. Not only are they edible, but at this time of year they are great when gathered for tinder. By now they are all dried out and the normally densely packed seeds have now turned to a fluffy white mass. Simply place in the middle of your tinder bundle and drop in an ember. If they are still fresh and brown they can be dried for a few days after breaking them off the plant.

The fourth is a bit harder to find, It's called Chaga. Chaga is a fungus that grows exclusively on birch trees. Birch bark has an oil in it that is extremely flammable, and this fungus absorbs this oil. Birch bark itself is an excellent fire starter, but this stuff takes it to a whole other level. Once it takes a spark it's actually hard to put out. I carry a chunk with me in my bag at all times. To find it you want to look for a large black mass growing on a birch tree. When broken open, it's a reddish orange inside.

Maxpedition Fatboy Versipack

Those that know me have seen my "Survival Attache" before. When I first got into all this survival stuff I realized that in order to be prepared at all I would need more than what I could carry. So my approach has become somewhat akin to not keeping all my eggs in one basket. If I lose one cache of gear, I have another backup. The basic idea is to have everything you need to survive within your home. Then to have enough to survive till you get home within your vehicle, and enough to survive till you get to your vehicle on your person. Go bags are pretty easy, just imagine you're going on a camping trip with the possibility of being robbed or shot at. Now it is certainly not possible to carry all that crap around with you all day, but you can carry the basics. I won't go into everything I carry as I already did a blog post on that. ( It's not a purse, It's a "Survival Attache" )





What I want to talk about is my new bag, the Maxpedition Fatboy Versipack. I heard about these bags from an ad in a magazine, they looked pretty good so I did some research. The reviews were overall very good aside from the occasional complaint that it was too small. (I can see that complaint, it seems bigger in the picture. If you want something bigger they do make the jumbo model, which I haven't checked out yet. ) There are many options with these bags, for this model there is the regular one and the GTG. This is the standard one. (The video below illustrates the differences) So you will have to decide what suits your purposes best.

First impressions are, damn, this may be too small. After a few days though that feeling has passed. It really forces you to prioritize. So I am carrying a smaller water bottle, but all the other essentials I was able to fit after organizing a bit. The construction is very heavy duty and it is quite obvious this will outlast my off brand bag. With many pockets and compartments it makes excellent use of the limited space and has molle style webbing so it can be expanded if needed. The major selling point for me was the dedicated concealed carry pocket at the back. Any hook and loop (velcro) universal holster fits but you can get one right from them for about ten bucks. The bag being a bit small it wont accommodate my 1911, but the XD fits (barely) and my little Smith and Wesson is the perfect size. If you don't plan on using it for this purpose the back pocket would still come in handy.




My complaints are few, but they should be noted. The "cell phone pocket" is a joke. Even a bottom shelf free phone barely fits. You could never fit a smart phone in it. The GTG model has eliminated this pocket, and put molle webbing in its place. I wish this was the case for mine, but I decided the rear pocket with the molle and the magazine pocket was worth the sacrifice and went with this model. I do wish my 1911 would fit, but I didn't expect it to. I am not a fan of off body carry, and rarely do it. If anything I wanted options. Now if I'm just running out in shorts and a t-shirt I can sling the bag with the .38 in it and not worry about a bulky holster. It also gives me an option for a backup in the bag with a primary on my hip. My final complaint is that It's made in Taiwan. Now I am not one to avoid a product based on it's country of manufacture, I would just prefer it was made here. If it is a quality product, I will deal with it. Overall an incredibly comfortable and well made little bag. At 78$ it seems like a very good deal. The quality being way higher than many bags I've seen. The bag can be purchased through the Maxpedition website, but I found it a bit cheaper on Amazon.