Author: Suzanne Wiley

Most Recent Posts

Range Reports

Range Report: Smith & Wesson M&P .22 Pistol

Looking almost identical to its bigger brothers and sisters, the S&W M&P .22 pistol is the perfect trainer if you own or plan to own one of S&W’s 9mm or .40 caliber M&Ps. Introduced in 2011, the .22 LR M&P is made by Walther in Germany. Though the rimfire M&P looks similar to the centerfire models, the two are functionally different. While the centerfire M&P is striker-fired, the rimfire models have an internal hammer. The slide is as smooth as butter and those who have issues with pulling back a slide on a semi-automatic pistol will be pleasantly surprised at the ease of cocking it. As a trainer, teaching a new shooter, a fun plinker or rimfire competition gun, the S&W M&P 22 rimfire pistol is excellent for its ergonomics, reliability and functionality.

Camping & Survival

Important Skills to Have After TEOTWAWKI

If a catastrophic world-wide event happened that wiped out a large portion of our population, infrastructure and destroyed many of our natural resources, what skills do you have that would be useful in rebuilding? What skills would you like to learn? You might have stockpiled food, water, ammunition and guns, but thinking beyond a few days of disaster can put you ahead of the game. Knowing a little bit about all those essential skills means you can not only provide for your family, but also be a good bartering tool. Any trade skill makes an excellent hobby—do you like to tinker with cars? Then you have some basic mechanic skills. Do you like to grow your own vegetables? Why don’t you expand that knowledge and raise some chickens?

Safety and Training

Managing Recoil with the Correct Stance

Unfortunately, I have seen way too many pictures of women on the Internet shooting a gun incorrectly. You know the picture or the YouTube—the woman has a gun, she leans back to take the shot and the next thing you know the gun has recoiled back and hit her in the head or she has dropped it. A lot of people repost these pictures on their Facebook wall and hilarity ensues. However, most of the time this mishap is not the woman’s fault. The person who gives them the gun fails to give them any training. To manage recoil, get a good stance that provides proper balance and allows your entire frame to absorb the recoil.

Growing beans, tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers on a small balcony.

Camping & Survival

Container Gardening for Urban Preppers: Growing Your Own Food Virtually Anywhere

Being an urban or apartment dwelling prepper presents many challenges. Storage space and privacy is always an issue. If you have always wanted to be self-sufficient, but your location prevents it, you can start by growing your own supplemental food supplies in even the smallest spaces. Called container gardening, herbs, vegetables and some fruits can grow on balconies, patios, front porches, fire escapes, and even windowsills. Some of the best survival foods such as beans, kale, berries, broccoli, potatoes, and spinach will grow in containers. Squash, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, radish, cucumbers, peppers, and herbs also require a small amount of space to thrive. Small-rooted vegetables are best for container gardening.

The medical tactical trauma kit works well as is or as a stand-alone backpack.

Gear, Parts and Accessories

The Best Backpacks for Everyday Carry and Bugging Out

As someone who used to travel half way around the world twice a year, I know how onerous a task it can be picking a bag. The wrong size or shoddy construction can spell disaster with a capital D if your bag does not stand up to its intended purpose. Bags come in all different shapes and sizes; you have simple two pocket backpacks, large duffel bags, load-bearing tactical backpacks, and messenger-style shoulder bags. They aren’t created equal either. Your Jansport from high school won’t work for a hiking trip in the Rockies. Whether you are picking a bag for your bug-out gear, a weekend camping trip or for every day carry—you must consider size, shape and capacity. You’re bound to find one that fits your needs from everyday carry to a weekender from Cheaperthandirt.com’s five top selling backpacks.

bucket guns

Camping & Survival

101 Survival Uses for a Plastic Bucket

When supplies are limited, it will be imperative for you to think outside the box and think of alternative uses for the gear you have. Many preppers already utilize food-grade plastic buckets for their food supply; however, these five-gallon buckets provide a lot more uses than just food storage. Here is 101 ways to use a plastic bucket in a survival situations.

Exactly what I have been waiting for.

Reviews

Product Review: Magpul for Girls

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Magpul makes women-specific products and because their products are so good, I purchased some accessories to show off just how much Magpul rocks my world.