The 5.56x45mm (5.56 NATO) and the 7.62x51mm (7.62 NATO) are both over half a century old, but are still popular. Both have qualities worthy of praise, but also have drawbacks that warrant critique. I have used both a good amount in various types of rifles, so I am going to compare the two based on my experience and certain considerations. Deciding on a caliber should not be as simple as what makes you look cooler.
The Olight PL Pro needs no special introduction since it has been out for a little while now. Plenty of reviewers have shown you the basics of how it works and functions, so I will glaze over those details so we can get to the meat and potatoes of the subject.
The Legions of the Roman Empire still hold vast renown for their military might. I believe the core of this was the Roman Legionnaire training. Much of the Roman Legion characteristics are still used today, to include how they conduct training. Certain parts of their training has not been crossed over into the modern era, unfortunately. My goal with this article is to encourage a merging of some of the old Roman training methods. The desired outcome is you becoming more disciplined and truly fit to fight. The Romans had a particular way of training and maintaining the fighting capability of their army, and I believe we can incorporate some of these forgotten traits for our own benefit.
I admit that I am a bit addicted to analyzing gear and brainstorming every bit of it. Is it enough? Is it too much? Will it get used often? I think this has something to do with my history as a grunt in the Marine Corps or being a Boy Scout. You always wanted to go with the bare minimum on your person so you could be fast when you needed to be, but you had plenty in your pack if things got bad or drawn out past the expected time window. I think the same philosophy should be applied to the zombie apocalypse, and then some. Mobility is survivability, and faster is always the goal.
In a zombie apocalypse, there is a certain set of things that are highly needed in order to make survival much easier and manageable. In this article I am going to analyze each item and talk about how they can help you in day-to-day life, or even in a pinch. Most of it is obvious, but some things might not have entered your mind unless you were thinking a bit more unconventionally.
In this fictitious scenario, zombies are real and can run for the first couple of months until their ligaments and muscles lose much of their function through necrosis. There is something about the undead virus that preserves tissue in a form of suspended animation, but only for a certain amount of time before only about 10 to 20% of the remaining tissue is available for use indefinitely. Theoretically, the bodies will not truly decay and have will retain basic functionality until they are put to permanent rest. Destruction of the brain is the only way to stop them permanently. For the purpose of this article, you are alone in this hypothetical fantasy world. Working in a group is ideal for security and lowering the individual workload, but it does come with its own issues. I personally feel that a true test of a survivor is how well they can survive alone. After that, their unique and tested qualities can be an asset in a group setting. You are simply dead weight (no pun intended) if you lack the ability to survive alone. The very existence of humanity depends on your ability to survive.
In this article, I am going to be doing an apples-to-apples comparison in the sense that I am going to compare two belt-based combat systems. However, this is going to be somewhat of an apples-to-oranges comparison because one is modifiable (US ALICE LBE) while the other is sewn onto the base pad (British system). Regardless, both belt systems are still liked and used to this day. I am just going to relay my experience with these load bearing systems and give you my opinion on the two.
Fighting in an arctic environment requires a different approach than fighting in the desert or in an urban environment. The arctic is similar to the jungle because the environment is just as hostile as the enemy. You will have to pack specific items and have a plan to fight off the enemy and the environment at the same time. This is not an easy environment to fight in, which is why Alaska and Northern Canada are popular locations for experiencing and learning winter warfare strategy and tactics. However, the complexity becomes compounded when you conduct these operations in Rural areas near large population centers.
In arctic regions like those found here in Alaska, it is important to know how to survive in the winter. There are plenty of people who have perished due to not knowing how to use the land or not knowing what it takes to survive in the frigid cold of the arctic. One of the most important things you need to know is how to build a fire with what the land provides. Fortunately, the land is filled with flammable foliage, hence the high dangers of wildfires all year. I am not going to waste time talking about rubbing sticks together or using a flint and steel since others are more into teaching that type of skill. I would rather talk about the specific bits needed to get your fire going and keep it going. I suggest learning HOW to build a fire before learning how to use caveman tech to START one.
I can not tell you how important it is to make sure that your combat loadout is logical to your mission. In the past, I have written about my feeling towards body armor, universal loadouts, etc. In this article, I want to talk to you about mitigating the burden of your loadout in order to increase your chances of survival and mission success. I will toss in a few anecdotes and links so you can get a better idea of what I am talking about. The moral of the story is to REALLY consider your mission and be honest with yourself about each item and its necessity.
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Do It RiteAlaska-Based Youtube Vlogger, Retired Marine, Firearm and Gear Tester. Archives
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