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Picture shows a metal army surplus ammo can.

Camping & Survival

Throwback Thursday: 50 Survival Uses for Ammo Cans

The first and obvious use for these metal and plastic new and surplus ammo cans are to keep your ammunition in. However, there are limitless uses for ammo cans whether in a survival situation or not. Ammo cans are perfect for the garage, workshop, camp, hunting, boating, cache, the shooting range, a 72-hour bug out kit, and as extra storage in your vehicle. I have seen people make space heaters, barbeque grills, mailboxes, and even radios out of ammo cans. The gasket lids and o-ring seals create a water-resistant seal and are perfect for caching valuable items. The plastic ammo cans offer durability, the same water-resistant seal and are undetectable to metal detectors. Bury them along a fence line, as most treasure hunters won’t search there. Items in metal ammo cans can rust, so throw in a desiccant or store your gear in a waterproof bag first to prevent moisture damage to the contents.

M1 Garand rifle quartering right

Firearms

Update: CMP Releases M1 Garand Ordering Information

Last week, Cheaper Than Dirt’s The Shooter’s Log ran an article regarding the U.S. Army’s release of 100,000 M1 Garand rifles to the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). Several of you expressed great interest in owning one of these fine shooting pieces of history and requested that more details be forwarded along as soon as they became available. Here is the full story straight from the CMP.

Firearms

The CMP Starts Release of 100,000 M1 Garands!

While I wish we were reporting that the 1911s were ready for distribution, that’s not the case. However, we have something as good, if not better. The CMP received the Garands over the last month or so. Currently, the CMP is busy prepping the guns for sale. Each of the M1s will have to be cleaned, inspected, potentially repaired or rebuilt, and then test fired. Best of all, some of these rifles are already being offered for sale.

Firearms

H.R. 2810: Here Come the Military Surplus 1911s to the Public!

H.R. 2810 starts with a pilot program that will transfer between 8,000 and 10,000 1911s to the CMP for sale to the public. The Secretary of Defense, currently Gen, Mattis, will then report the outcome of the program to Congress. The Secretary of Defense is then authorized to continue transferring up to 10,000 1911s per year for sale to the public through the CMP.

Mauser C96

Firearms

Throwback Thursday: The Top 5 Military Side Arms of All Time

In putting together the top combat sidearms, a number of factors influenced the decisions including design, battle performance, cartridge, performance, comparable technology of the day and reliability versus practicality, but can a Glock be considered a “Combat Handgun?” Read on to see if the author agrees.

Reviews

22 Uses for Tactical Operator’s Bag

I usually find it quite difficult to find more than two uses out of most military surplus equipment. Designed to fulfill a specific need, gas masks and weapons gear top my list of favorite collectables. However, neither really are useful beyond its single purpose. Once and awhile, though a product comes along that is so versatile, I can’t pass it up—such as the tactical operator’s case. I’ve come up with 22 different uses. What about you?

Picture shows a worn pair of military surplus ski goggles.

Reviews

Military Surplus Spotlight: “The Ski Troopers” WWII Ski Goggles

Though you know heroes and freedom fighters of yesteryear used much of the military surplus items you acquire, it is rare to come across a piece with such a specific history. Buried deep in a Swiss bunker, we found original WWII, U.S. Mountain Troop ski goggles manufactured by Foster Grant. These well-worn military surplus goggles are a true piece of history. To know that a member of the “greatest generation” fought so hard in such harsh conditions fighting off the Germans, the well-worn goggles are worth every penny.

Picture shows a camp cup full of milk on a camp stove.

Camping & Survival

30 Days of Preparing for Severe Winter Weather Day 22: The Best Hot Chocolate Recipe

Hot chocolate is not only yummy and comforting; it actually warms your up. You don’t have to forgo this delicious treat when the power goes out—severe winter weather is the perfect time to enjoy a mug of hot chocolate using a few ingredients from your long-term food storage and a gel fuel camp or survival stove. I whipped up my own ultra chocolaty version in about 20 minutes. Here is my favorite single-serving hot chocolate recipe using a Swiss military surplus gel fuel M1 stove kit.

Ammunition

Firearm of the Week, the US Caliber .30 M1 /M1A1/M1A3/ M2/M2A2/M3 Carbine

And so ends our story of the little rifle that could. It almost never made it to the range must less the war, laughed and scoffed at it still came to game and was loved and revered by those who carried it. For several years, I trusted my life to one. Today I would choose something different but back then I never had a doubt in the little brother, the M1 Carbine.