The Tactical Advantage: A Definitive Study of Personal Small-Arms Tactics

Book Review: The Tactical Advantage: A Definitive Study of Personal Small-Arms Tactics
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The Tactical Advantage and learn the combat-proven techniques big-city cops use to stay alive and effective when the bullets start flying.

Maintain the tactical advantage in any situation by knowing how to search buildings for armed intruders, use cover and concealment, maintain proper distance intervals and much more.There is some political viewpoints and religious scripture that turn some away from this work.  I understand the mindset and agree with most of it.  However, I feel like it should be mentioned in a review.

My biggest issue with this book is that it needs to be updated.  It is pretty old and some of the pictures look like the 1980’s  Which is pretty accurate given the career of the author.

Now the base mindset of a warrior doesn’t change – I imagine if a Samurai woke up in today’s America he would quickly learn how to run an AR platform rifle.

This book is not a definitive study of gunfighting techniques, but I do think his arguments on room clearing are valuable.  I have my own views of the subject – namely don’t clear alone – but for a cop or someone that has no choice, his words should be read.

While I don’t think the Tactical Advantage is the best book on the subject, I do think it has a place in a well read prepper’s bookshelf.

Kitchen DIY: Substituting Honey for Sugar

Kitchen DIY: Substituting Honey for Sugar
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If you want to eat healthier, or use honey that you have produced yourself, the first thing you need to know is that the rules for Substituting Honey for Sugar are more like guidelines.

In general, substituting honey for sugar is a matter of preference.

Some use it cup for cup, others prefer 1/2 cup – 2/3 cup of honey per cup of white sugar.

However, because of the water content, reduce the amount of other liquids by 1/4 cup for every cup of honey used.

Honey also causes foods to brown much easier, so lower the oven temp about 25 degrees F to prevent over-browning.

Also, since Honey is naturally acidic, and baking soda is a base add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for each cup of honey to your recipe.

If you are using the sugar to can, use 7/8 cup of honey for every cup of sugar, but don’t change the other liquids. Honey may be substituted effectively for up to half the sugar called for in a canning syrup recipe. (test this for jellies)

Remember that Honey has its own unique flavor. In general it is a light and pleasing flavor, but if it conflicts with the desired taste of your recipe, there’s not much you can do about it. However, the flavor depends on the flowers the bees used to make it, and some flowers give an off taste.

If you are diabetic, as I am, keep in mind that honey does not reduce the calorie or carbohydrate content of the sugar syrup, and thus is not acceptable sugar replacements for people on diabetic diets. However, it is less processed, and there is some evidence that it a much healthier sweetener in other ways.

You can also use honey as a substitute for other sweeteners

Brown Sugar: Follow the equation for plain table sugar under General Recommendations, but also substitute molasses for a portion of the honey to retain the expected flavor – (brown sugar is just unrefined White sugar -they take the molasses out).

Corn Syrup: Use exactly the same amount, but reduce any other sweet ingredients, since honey has more sweetening power than corn syrup.

Molasses: Use exactly the same amount. The resulting flavor and color will be lighter and less heavy. The reverse is true if you swap molasses for honey.

Gear Review: Cree T6 800 Lumens 3-Mode LED Zoomable Flashlight

Cree T6 800 Lumens 3-Mode LED Zoomable Flashlight Review

Gear Review: Cree T6 800 Lumens 3-Mode LED Zoomable Flashlight
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I got the opportunity to review this Zoomable Flashlight and really didn’t have very high expectations, however, upon using it I find to be a really good deal.

This flashlight is pretty sturdy and works well – especially against other flashlights in the same price point.

It is super bright and adjusts easily.  I actually find it easier to use than my very expensive tactical flashlight.

Being a LED it has a life of over 90000 hours, while my surefire burns out after 20 or so hours.  It is much cooler running which is important when I am laying up under a metal bunk in some inmate’s cell.

I find it really neat that when focused into a tight beam, the actual LED’s show up and it throws a square beam.  This doesn’t add or detract from the function, I just think it is pretty cool.

It feels very sturdy in the hand, and the design seems to be well thought out.

As a firearm instructor, I value the rubber grommet on the shaft that allows the light to be operated in a palm grip.

It has a clip to hold the light in a pocket, and it has a crenelated bezel that is pretty good for self defense moves.

The only real complaint I have is the focus ring seems a little loose.

While I received this flashlight in return for a review, I find it to be worth the price point it is advertized at, and plan on purchaisng a few more to put in each glove box.

#WateResistanCreT80LumenFlashlight

Gaffer Tape for DIY Review

Gear Review: Gaffer Tape for DIY
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It may seem strange that a prepper would be reviewing an item commonly used on movie sets, but I take pride in my ability to grab the worthwhile from wherever I find it.

Before I get into why I think preppers and DIY’ers of all stripes can use gaffer tape let me explain what it is so you won’t think it is just high priced duct tape.

Gaffer tape is a coated cloth tape that is designed to be non-reflective, easy to rip, and adhere to most surfaces and remove without leaving adhesive residue.

The easy to remove nature of gaffer tape is the main reason I like having a roll sitting in my tool bag.  I often need to tape something up to hold it temporarily before I fasten it more permanently.

Just the other day I needed to tape together a bunch of hydraulic lines so I could cram them into a plastic bag so they would shed water while I waited on a part – I don’t need sticky residue all over my lines, and I needed to be able to tear the lines free without getting near the expensive hoses with a knife.

Gaffer tape was a perfect solution.

The Hardy Barbarian brand of tape is a good product and is $10 or so cheaper than many other brands of gaffer tape.

I hate that it costs more than duct tape, but the specifications for gaffer tape is much higher and it is a specialty item so it will always cost more, but sometimes the right tool for the job makes the expense worth it.

#HardyBarbarian

I did receive this tape in exchange for an honest review.

Muscle Roller Stick Review

 

Gear Review: Muscle Roller Stick
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I got this Muscle Roller Stick for my wife Genny, because she has devoted a lot of time and energy into her exercise program.  After a hard set of exercises she almost always asks me to rub her back to help relieve the tension.

Luckily for me this device came in the mail right after a hard day on the land cutting trees and hand digging a drainage ditch.  I only stopped work when my hands could no longer grip the pick-axe and as I write this review I am extremely grateful I took the opportunity to review this item as it has reduced my soreness to the point that I can actually function.

This 18 inch bar has two fixed handles with a series of rollers along the inside.  It is designed to allow the user to roll the device over muscles and help relieve tension and soreness.  The device came with a set of instructions, but frankly being both a guy and someone that was in desperate need of a massage I just grabbed it out of the package and began rolling it over my legs, hands, and arms.

I think it would do best as a back massager, but frankly it is either to short, or I am to fat and inflexible to contort myself to set it behind me.

I can testify that after rolling it on my legs and arms I did feel better.

This was not something I would have bought for myself, I got it at a reduced cost in exchange for a review and only did it because I felt it was something my wife would like, but frankly I am glad for the opportunity as I was over exerted and all alone and it helped me be able to move the day after a hard day.