Rex Nanorum

Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field

The Scrubba Tactical Washbag is a nice little design intending to keep your bags a little lighter by offering you the option of cleaning clothes easily and effectively. While I posted my initial impressions here, I’ve now had the opportunity to air my dirty laundry a bit.

To recap, the Scrubba is a polyether bag with a built-in washboard of sorts made from little rubber nodules. Using the Scrubba is easy: simply add clothes, water and a little detergent. Using the air-lock valve to deflate the bag, manhandle the bag for a minute or so. Open it up, wring the clothes out, rinse the clothes off and you should have yourself what is advertised as a “machine quality wash”.

I decided to put it to the test

After a few days hunting in the rocky hills of eastern Oregon in 100°+ heat, I was left with a small pile of pretty funky clothing. I picked out the clothes with the most stank: two pairs of Ranger Panties and a DCU top that hasn’t been washed since midway through my last Afghanistan deployment (in 2004). There’s a layer of salt crust on there that I think might require Holy Fire to remove.

Yes, the Scrubba is a simple-to-use product. I tossed in my clothes, dumped in 3/4’s of a gallon of water and a little dash of laundry soap. My advice is to add a little water to the soap prior to loading in the clothes to let it get a bit sudsy, but I’ll get into that a little later. Rolled the top of the bag down and clipped it shut. Opening the air valve, I squeezed all the air out. Tossing the bag on the ground, I then used my body weight to mush, grind and rubba the Scrubba for about a minute and a half. Not getting a whole lot of movement out of the clothes due to the full-on vacuum, I let just a little air in and washed the clothes for another half-minute.

Opening the bag, I dumped out the water and started wringing out the clothes. A quick rinse, then another wring-out. I found a convenient branch in the sun nearby and aired out my laundry. A couple of hours in the sun and I was ready to pack up and move out, cleaner no doubt than when I arrived.

But how clean? I keep coming back to the advertising point of “machine quality wash” because it is both a bold claim and the easiest reference point for us all. I gave the washed laundry the only two tests that matter: the smell test and the eyeball test. First up, the DCU top. Smell test? Fresh! Eyeball test? Still some sweat and salt stains around the collar. I think even a machine would have a little trouble getting those out though… Second up were the Ranger panties or “silkies”. These are also known as the “undergarments of freedom” and an “oasis for your crotch“. The eyeball test is a little tough on black material, so it was on to the smell test. They were considerably cleaner than when they went into the Scrubba, smelling like they had been worn a bit but showing none of the eye-popping, stomach-churning reek they went in with. Drastically cleaner? Yes. Machine quality? Close but no cigar.

Here’s where I want to go back and cover the adding soap/water before clothes. The directions say to add them all in step one, but if you add clothes first, the top clothes get the soap while still concentrate and the bottom clothes get it once watered down and dirtied. I could have and should have figured this out ahead of time, but experience breeds success quicker than anything.

At the end of the day, the Scrubba Tactical washbag does indeed get the job done. Taking up very little space, this product can clean your clothes pretty well as long as you have an ample supply of fresh water. Coming in at $55, if you find yourself traveling often the Scrubba washbag is a good option to look at to reduce your packing list and increase your hygiene. Check it out!

SOG Terminus EDC blade: All-purpose slip joint folding knife that is legal in many places

With hundreds of knife companies each putting out a number of new blades year in and year out, you have to admire their creativity. Managing dozens of blade shapes, steel compositions, frames, locks and pocket clips while trying to stay innovative and avoiding ground already covered is a daunting task. This is also why I never tire of checking out new blades, like the new for 2017 SOG Terminus.

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Reading through SOG’s website after having had some quality time with the Terminus, I’m getting the answers to my questions about the design of this knife. The point-and-purpose of the Terminus is to provide an EDC blade to those in restrictive areas, such as NYC and the UK. Often, these diet-freedom locales mandate a three inch maximum blade length, lack of lock and sometimes even putting the kibosh on one-handed openers.

With all the above in mind, let’s review the tech specs. The Terminus has a 3″ clip-point blade made from BD1 Carpenter steel. While lacking a traditional lock, the Terminus has a “slip joint”, providing significant resistance before the blade is allowed to fold shut. The blade has a nail nick on each side, to allow some grip when opening. The handles are G10 scales and have a moderately aggressive grip texture. The pocket clip is reversible and allows for deep-carry.

The tough part about reviewing this is getting in the right mindset. This isn’t a “best possible” knife, this is a “best for those behind enemy lines” knife. By working around onerous and draconian legal limitations, SOG is attempting to bring a quality pocket folder to those who are bound by law from obtaining a modern pocketknife.

These legal limitations are where most of my issues with the Terminus come in. The blade is excellent. It’s sharp and made from quality steel. Opening it is a pain in the ass. Without a thumb stud or other pivot point, we’re back to grandpappy’s two-handed “pinch-and-pull” method of opening. The two nail nicks are almost under the frame, rather than being in the more accessible area slightly closer to the hinge. The slip joint does provide adequate tension to prevent the blade from shutting inadvertently, but the added resistance makes closing up shop a little tougher than it should.

The one issue I can’t attribute to legal dramas? Branding. There are no fewer than four instances of SOG branding on this little folder. One on each side of the grip panels, one on the blade and another that looks to have been laser cut into the pocket clip. Don’t worry SOG, we know your name.

Aside from that I do like the Terminus, and there’s a decent amount to like. The G-10 scales offer excellent grip, the whole package is nice and light (2.9 ounces) and the folded Terminus is barely longer than the blade (4″ overall closed length). The pocket clip allows for very deep carry and lends itself to a very minimal footprint in the pocket.

Taken as a snapshot in the wide world of knives, the Terminus would be a well-constructed knife with too many questionable design choices. Understanding it is designed for citizens of NYC, the UK and other places, we can instead look at this as the pocket knife for resistance fighters! Under that lens, the Terminus is a well-constructed knife with only a couple of questionable design choices: the excessive branding and the misplaced nail nicks. With an MSRP of $80, the price feels a bit steep for a knife with such a limited target market. The street price of $59.90 does make it more palatable. If you’re living in a heavily regulated zone, the SOG Terminus is a good knife for you to check out.

Precision rifle zeroing | Basics done right by Ranger sniper team leader

I’ve seen some pretty talented shooters making the same basic mistakes at the range. Over and over again, I see (and have fallen victim to) brain farts that should elude all but the most basic shooter. Screws that weren’t properly torqued coming loose in scope rings, spending far too long (and too many rounds) trying to zero, or just failing to have adequately prepared for the range day.

Former Ranger sniper team leader, owner of RocketFFL.com, MaydaySafety.com and best-selling author of “Long Range Shooting Handbook” Ryan Cleckner is renowned for his ability to impart complex shooting knowledge in easily digestible chunks. His youtube videos produced with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) are extremely informative and offer a number of insights and shooting hacks. In the below video, Ryan walks us through a live range session while zeroing a precision rifle. Simple topic, lots of expensive wisdom being sent your way. Long video, worth the watch.

–Rex Nanorum

Self Reliance & Preparedness | Precious Metals and The ‘End of The World’

Having an interest in history, I’ve been doing a good bit of reading on financial systems dating back to the Old Testament times (7th century BC) as well as more modern societies prior to fiat currencies (fiats are currencies declared by a Government to be valued at a certain amount but are not backed by any physical commodity). These include the Vikings (first known coins 995 A.D), ancient Romans (500 B.C), and ancient Chinese empire (770 B.C). The vast majority of currency in history has been based on the use of precious metals (PM) as an intermediate currency. The reasons are fairly simple:

Coinage is durable. There are still coins in existence from the above mentioned cultures. Even if a coin has a lifespan of no more than 100 years in circulation before needing to be re-minted, the precious metal it is made of still holds value. Chickens die, food spoils and guns rust. Gold doesn’t.
Fiat currencies fail. All fiat money is based on a governmental guarantee that your cash is worth something. It isn’t backed by gold, nor is it redeemable. When a government fails, all of that currency is paper. Look at Soviet Russia in the period of 1918-1921: hyperinflation ruined the ruble and it failed as a method of storing wealth. A mountain of those rubles would be worth whatever a mountain of toilet paper and firestarters is worth.

So I’d like to take a look at PM’s regarding “the end of the world as we know it” (TEOTWAWKI) from a few different angles. I am not advocating PM’s as a sole method of storing value. Prepping is about insurance: the more things you’re prepared for, the more likely when one of them befalls, you will be equipped to handle it. I’ll tackle such arguments as “you can’t eat gold” later.

Before The Fall

You run into two major theories here, both with historical precedent. Either you have a slow decline leading to spiraling hyperinflation before the whole mess crashes, or you have a major event that sends a massive number of people into the bronze age. (Note: I’m intentionally disregarding regional disasters such as major earthquakes or hurricanes. Those don’t directly cause currencies to fail, nor do they change PM’s value as a barter item.)

With a slow decline, your currency becomes less valuable by the month, day or hour (in extreme historical circumstance). PM’s purchased before the decline gain value in direct opposition to the failing currency. When we say the value of PM’s are up or down, we’re really saying the inverse: the dollar is down or up. The value of PM’s relative to the American dollar isn’t the same as the value of PM’s relative to the Yen or Euro. Notice when a country has financial troubles “we buy gold” signs pop up everywhere?

With a cataclysmic and rapid departure from the world we know, the likelihood of using your old currency to buy what you need is low. How much cash do you have in your pocket right now? Don’t count on using your ATM card when there is no internet. Silver and Gold have been treated as valuable since before the Roman empire was an itch in southern Europe’s skinny jeans.

During The Dark Times

Bad times are here. Maybe one country has fallen to accident, war or disaster. If it’s a superpower, the rest of the world will be feeling the crunch financially. In this scenario, the rough days could number in the years before a semblance of civility is restored nationwide and a new government is implemented. Humanitarian aid and multinational involvement would be likely if war is not a factor. PM’s are valuable in other countries right now, that wouldn’t change if they’re still up and running. A fistful of benjamins would be worth a fistful of nose blows. Food is something you will (shockingly) need to survive. Probably don’t want to trade much of that away… Ammo has uses defensive, offensive and for sustainability. That’s good for trading IF you really don’t need it. Ostensibly, nearly every item with barter value is directly related to survival.

A Brave New World

Take a look around the world today. Do you see any nations or regions that were thriving recently and now resemble a terrible Mad Max reality? Nope. Even with a full global meltdown, anything short of an extinction event will leave behind a significant number of people. Wherever there have been humans, there is a tendency towards grouping, commerce and mutual reliance. Don’t expect some long-running Book of Eli business. Even if that were to be a reality, there are a mass number of variables, too many to account for. A sharp brain and strong body are always valuable assets. If you’re looking past the big slump in the middle, what’s the plan for securing wealth now that will stay valuable until then?

I’m no definitive expert on this matter. This article is not the be-all-end-all conversation that will zip up every internet thread regarding PM’s. I am someone who has been in a country where the local fiat currency was nearly worthless. I have also been to a few countries where I exchanged for some of the local currency and now that currency no longer exists as legal tender. Frame it as a memento or give it to the kids to play with. It has no intrinsic value.

You Can’t Eat Gold

Now I’d like to give my take on some of the common arguments against having PM’s as one part of the prepping plan. I’m emphasizing that PM’s should be considered only one part of the solution because number one on the most heard arguments against PM’s is

“You can’t eat gold”. Right. I don’t want to eat gold. I want to eat food. I don’t want to trade away my food. I can’t eat bullets, but I can use them. I don’t want to get rid of those either. The main point of using currency/PM’s is to be able to store value when you’re not engaging in commerce or have no direct trade options. You have a lot of one item but are going hungry. You would like to acquire some of my many chickens. I have no need for that item you have many of, nor for an IOU. PM’s have been used widely though the last 9000 years of human history. Even if there is a system of commerce based on trade of goods and labor, do you think there won’t be even one person who thinks PM’s will be worth a trade?
“What are you gonna do, carry 30 lbs of silver around?” Nope. No more likely than carrying 4 extra guns to trade or herding a dozen chickens around in a nomadic lifestyle. A single .1 ounce gold coin is roughly the same weight at a penny (2.8 grams), yet worth about $121 bucks today. A 1 ounce gold coin is about the same weight as a pair of JFK $.50 pieces, yet worth about $1600 right now.
“Gold and silver aren’t valuable because they’re just shiny metals”. Thousand of years of human history would beg to differ. Even if you take out all space age and industrial uses, silver and gold are still essential in medical and dental uses.

In closing, I agree with the naysayers that “PM’s are only valuable only when we all agree they are. 9000 years of recorded human history says that someone will invariably think that they are, or will be, valuable still. PM’s do not replace beans, bullets or survival equipment. They sure don’t replace knowledge and skills. Precious metals give you a way to store wealth and a way to barter a nonessential item that can be easily transported and hidden.

Jerry Miculek versus Bump stock | Man or machine?

While many online have spend considerable time debating the merits and demerits of bump stocks, one of the quickest ways to reductio ad absurdum (reduce to absurdity) the anti-bump stock argument is to point out that a talented shooter with a properly tuned rifle can exceed both the rate-of-fire and lethality generated by a bump stock equipped rifle. Simply put, one only has to invoke the name “Jerry Miculek”.

Hercules of the shooting world

Jerry Miculek dominates competitions, shatters speed records and spends his free time putting the lie to many gun myths. The man is a legend, though you’d be hard pressed to figure that out by listening to him talk about himself.

Jerry is aware that his name is used often in the bump stock debate and created a demonstration video to show just how effective he is with, and without a bump stock. So here it is, Jerry Miculek versus Bump stock. Check it out!

Rex Nanorum

@Rexnanorum

The SB Tactical SBA3 Brace

Pistol braces (or stabilizing braces) are still a relatively new product, debuting in 2013. Consider it a testament to their utility and popularity. In just five short years, they have gone from dwelling in an extreme niche to being featured on firearms from nearly every major manufacturer. For today’s review, we go back to the company that designed the first brace (on Sig Sauer’s behalf), SB Tactical, to shoot with the SBA3.

The SBA3 is a 5-position (6.1″-9.5″) adjustable “minimalist” brace, sliding on a mil-spec receiver extension (buffer tube), available in black or tan. There isn’t much material here, just the smallest amount of plastic required to do the job. With a QD sling swivel and a little velcro strap in case you want the SBA3 to fully deploy to brace mode. By that, I mean to split the brace open and lash it to your forearm, as the brace was initially intended.

Circumventing NFA Paperwork

However, as so many of us know, the most common use of most pistol braces is as a slightly less comfortable buttstock. While there was some back-and-forth at the ATF about shouldering a brace, it should be noted there is no legal prohibition from doing this as you would a stock. The advantage is circumventing the National Firearms Act paperwork associated with Short Barreled Rifles. With a brace, your sub-16″ barreled gun isn’t an SBR, it’s a pistol.

How does it work?

While using the velcro strap to secure the brace for a one-armed operation makes for a pretty awkward shooting experience, the angle at which I’m looking down a braced gun is simply too extreme: leaving the gun pointed far too high, with me contorting my neck down into a sub-par shooting position. Though, if I were a one armed shooter, I’d not be quibbling at all. This isn’t really an indictment against SB Tactical’s product, just the physics of joints and angles. I’m sure taller shooters (or yoga fans) would find no trouble lining up the firearm comfortably.

As for it’s secondary use as an impromptu buttstock, the SBA3 shines. While there isn’t as much read surface area on the rear “pad” where the brace interfaces with your shoulder, SB Tactical has done an excellent job of engineering ample material to distribute the recoil comfortably. This brace functions just like so many buttstocks out there, just with a slightly shorter range of adjustments (as nebulously defined by the ATF). This is the perfect balance of comfortable, functional and efficient all in one package.

It is said that necessity is the mother of all inventions. Due to onerous laws and draconian ATF enforcement, gun and gun parts manufacturers have spent countless hours looking for loopholes to legally circumvent such infringements. Not only do disabled shooters get access to a more stable and accessible shooting platform, but another option for firing of short non-SBR’s and freedom from the restrictions that follow NFA firearms. SB Tactical’s SBA3 runs $169.99 on their site, with online prices elsewhere hovering around $129.99 for the whole kit-and-kaboodle. The SBA3 is the current pinnacle of pistol braces.

The SBA3 is well worth the money if you’re not willing to go all in for a short barreled rifle. Get some!!

–Rex Nanorum

@Rexnanorum