And the Winner Is....

Me!




That's right my friends! I won the East Coast Gun Sale "14 Days of Giveaways" for March 9th, and my prize was 500 rounds of Federal XM193C 5.56 ammo.

Now I won't deny that this is a most opportune moment to win some ammo! With the national shortage, I am very pleased that the good folks at East Coast Gun Sale gave some great gifts to a lot of folks, including ammo to yours truly.

Their site is still under construction, and they are working diligently on it. I'll be calling them this coming week and I will have a full update on them and their business.

Happily loading magazines,
Albert

The Range Reviews: Tac-Pack First Aid Packs

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

Tac-Pack by Tactical Medical Packs

Designed by Dr Maurizio Miglietta for Secret Service use, the Tac-Pack® is for the emergency treatment of open or bleeding wounds, wounds like gunshot wounds, knife wounds, broadhead wounds, explosive trauma, and it has an N95 mask that can handle certain smoke and dust conditions.

What it is, is a trauma kit that is compact and light enough to carry in a jacket or trouser pocket.

Inside the vacuum packed pouch, you find the necessary items to render immediate first aid. It is easily used on yourself, or on others, immediately. A trauma kit like this, in the hands of just about anyone, could potentially save any number of people, who normally would have been lost due to help not arriving soon enough.

No to belabor the point, but all of us need to be prepared in case of any kind of incident. With the ever present potential for a terrorist attack, or the possibility that a mentally disturbed individual goes on a rampage, citizens everywhere need to have capabilities that where once reserved for soldiers and first responders. The Tac-Packs should be the first thing placed in everyone's personal kit.

Tac-Pac Contents

The Tac-Pack contains the following:
Latex-Free Gloves
Roll Bandage
Gauze
Abdominal Pad
N-95 Respirator Mask
Triangular Bandage
Tape
Occlusive Dressing
CPR Microshield.

Tac-Pack QC

The Tac-Pack QC has everything the Tack-Pack has, and adds QuikClot, which helps to staunch the flow of blood from a wound. It is vacuum packed and compact so that it fits just about anywhere.

Tac-Pac QC Contents

The Tac-Pack QC contains the following:
Latex-Free Gloves
Roll Bandage
Gauze
Abdominal Pad
N-95 Respirator Mask
Triangular Bandage
Tape
Occlusive Dressing
CPR Microshield
25gram Quick Clot® Sponge

Dimensions and the back has a notes section that you can affix to the patient.
(Click on picture for a larger image.)

Important Information

Trauma and Gunshot wounds:
What you need to know to save a life.
Dr. Maurizio A. Miglietta

And for further instruction on using the Tac-Pack, Tack-Pack QC, or the Individual Battle Pack, see this information filled PDF: Instructional Training Materials. This is a well thought out Power Point style instructional manual that can be shown as a slide show or printed out as a handout.

N95 respirator has at least 95% filtration efficiency against solid and liquid aerosols that do not contain oil. For more information on N95 type respirators see this PDF from 3M


TMC will be coming out with a Hunter-Pack soon, which is very similar to the Tac-Pac QC. That's no excuse for not getting the Tac-Pac or Tac-Pack QC immediately for your home, business, vehicle, and rucksack. Again, as I frequently say, it is cheap insurance!

And don't forget, it's made in
The United States of America!

Tactical Medical Packs
1-800-892-2801

Tac-Pack
MSRP: $24.95
Tac-Pack QC
MSRP: $36.50

This review is also available at The Range Reviews: Tactical TacticalReviews: Tactical Medical Packs

The Range Reviews: ClearShot Lens Cleaning Kit

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

ClearShot Lens Cleaning Kit

I recently received Charlie King's ClearShot Lens Cleaning Kit. Charlie is a motorcycling enthusiast, who after struggling to find a kit to keep his helmet visor clean, put together the ClearShot. (Charlie's ride to the Arctic Ocean is photo-chronicled here.) As a fellow outdoor enthusiast he saw a need and striking out on his own, has built a great product, and is now marketing it through dealers throughout the United States.

ClearShot Lens Cleaning Components

The ClearShot system puts all of your lens cleaning items in one self contained package. The container is a rigid ABS plastic case, with three separate compartments. Four rubber caps seal the ends securely. The caps are attached, so you can't lose them!

The long compartment contains a small spray bottle of Charlie's proprietary lens cleaning and anti-fog solution. The raspberry colored compound is non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe for all optic surfaces; this includes glass, mineral glass, plastic, and polycarbonate lenses. The pump sprayer works very well, surprisingly well! I can tell that Charlie put a lot of thought into the whole package.

There are two cloths for cleaning your lens, a blue heavy cleaner, and a white polishing cloth. The Blue cloth is an optical grade microfiber made for coarse cleaning. (Like getting bugs off your visor.) The white polishing cloth is also a microfiber textile, but softer and with a finer weave. It will leave a polished, streak-free finish on the surface on your optics

Here is a word of advice. If your lenses are so dirty that you think you need the blue cloth, wash them with running water. Tip your canteen over and get the grit and grime off first, before you try to use a piece of cloth on it. Then use the blue cloth to dry it. Otherwise you will just damage the surface of your optics and degrade its capabilities. This is especially true of coated optics.

ClearShot Lens Cleaning Spray

Blue Cloth

White Cloth

If it is just a case of fingerprint smudges, fog, or nose oil on your lenses, then a quick spritz, and a wipe down with the polishing cloth will get you back in business again.

It is available in the following colors: Red, Blue, Orange, Silver.

My only suggestion is to take a Sharpie, or an engraving tool, and mark the ends of the tubes with their respective components. Makes it a whole lot easier to determine the contents!

The ClearShot Lens Cleaning Kit is a great little package that is well designed. It is cheap insurance for those optics that frequently cost far more than the rifle they sit on, and for all of your lens cleaning needs.


ClearShot Lens Cleaning Kit
1-888-294-8109
Email: info@clear-shot.net
MSRP: $20.00

Call the Whitehouse! Call the DNC!

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

If it's good enough for Freedom States Alliance, It's good enough for everyone else!

Freedom States Alliance is an anti firearm ownership group that is trying to disarm citizens in an ill thought reaction to gun violence. As you might imagine it is using the despicable acts of a troubled person to attack lawful and constitutional ownership of firearms.

Give President Obama a buzz, and let him know how you feel.
White House Switchboard: 202-456-1111

And while you're at it give the DNC a call too.
Democratic National Committee: 202-863-8000

I put this on the DNC's online forum:


Do not allow the acts of a troubled individual to infringe upon the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. As a voting and law abiding citizen, I will look at the voting record of all members of the House and the Senate and vote accordingly, and encourage all my friends and associates to actively oppose any member of Congress who votes in favor of any more restrictions in gun ownership.

Respectfully,

(Feel free to copy and use as you see fit)

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...

Florida Falconers: The FWC Wants Your Opinion

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

I recently received the FWC alert on the comment period for the Delisting of the Peregrine Falcon. As many of you know, the peregrine has made a spectacular comeback from the brink; mostly through the efforts of a dedicated group of people, many of which were falconers. As the peregrine population is now stable, Florida falconers would like to be included as part of the management plan.

To that end I have taken information I got from Issac at Another Falconry Blog
and crafted the following letter:

FWC,

As a Florida resident, sportsman, and supporter of all outdoor activities, I feel that the delisting of the Peregrine and the management plan for it are of utmost importance.

I would like to point out the following:

Management of peregrines for use in falconry should be based on sound biology, not politics. Politics is not Science and politics should not be allowed to interfere with sound scientific principles.

Healthy raptor populations are not affected by the practice of falconry, it has been proven on more than one occasion that falconry has no impact on raptor populations.

The peregrines who were being held for falconry in captivity were used as breeder birds to repopulate the wild population. Falconers designed the current methods used to breed raptors in captivity to helps repopulate peregrines.

Falconers went to wild Peregrine nest sites and removed the un-cracked eggs to be incubated and then returned chicks once they were hatched to the nest sites.

All subspecies of peregrine populations in North America are healthy, self-sustaining, and require no special management for falconry. The peregrine falcon populations in the U.S. have continued to increase and show no sign of having reached an upper limit.

Peregrines were delisted (no longer requiring special protection) by the USFWS in 1999, 10 years ago. Now that their populations have been restored, restrictions on the use of the peregrine for falconry should be no greater than those for any other raptor with a healthy population.

Since 1999, when the peregrine was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species, the peregrine population in the U.S. has more than doubled and is now several times larger than the recovery goal and the historic pre-DDT population.

A fair estimate of the North American peregrine population is 20,000 breeding pairs. Being healthy, this population produces 40,000 young per year. Using the USFWS's conservative allowable take of 5% of the young produced per year, a take limit of 2,000 peregrines per year for falconry should be permitted. [It should be noted that with the number of licensed falconers in the U.S. is at around 4,000, only a small fraction of which would be interested in flying passage peregrine falcons.]

The take of passage (first year and fully independent of parental care) peregrines for falconry should be permitted in all 48 lower states and Alaska.

No special considerations, limits, or quotas are necessary to protect the peregrine beyond those in the falconry regulations (i.e. only immature raptor may be taken and only two raptors may be taken per year per permittee).

Studies have shown that passage raptors taken for falconry and released the following spring have a better chance for survival then if they had been left in the wild.

Again, I would urge the FWC to allow falconry to take its proper place in the sporting traditions of the state.

Sincerely,
Albert A Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
The Range Reviews: Tactical
My Home Address

Feel free to copy it verbatim and forward it to: peregrine@MyFWC.com

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...

Florida Felons Report: Poaching Does

Well here we go again.

I'm a little late on this, on account that I am trying real hard to acquire gainful employment! Unemployment hit 10% here in sunny Florida. But not to worry, it will turn around soon enough, we are a resilient Nation!

But, back to the miscreants.

I get a weekly email report from the FWC. Among the different items of interest was this:

"Officer Ken White was off duty when he was called by FWC dispatch just after 4 a.m. to respond to a night hunting complaint on County Road 1883 and Broxson Road. Officer White arrived at the scene where he discovered that an off-duty Walton County deputy sheriff was awakened by a gunshot near his residence. The deputy immediately responded in his patrol vehicle driving less than 100 yards where he saw headlights and discovered a vehicle with three males in possession of a freshly killed doe deer in the back of the vehicle. The deputy called for backup and requested his dispatch notify FWC. A computer check revealed the firearm discovered at the scene, believed to have been used to shoot the doe, was stolen. The three subjects were booked into the Walton County Jail for night hunting. The subject who shot the doe was charged with being in possession of a stolen firearm. The owner of the vehicle and one of the passengers were charged with being in constructive control of a firearm by a convicted felon. Officer White seized the vehicle, the stolen shotgun, shotgun shells and a knife. The subject who was charged with the constructive control of a firearm by a felon and the owner of the vehicle had been charged by Officer White several years earlier for night hunting. Lt. Dennis Welsh responded and assisted with the investigation. The investigation is ongoing with possible additional charges pending."

FWC DIVISION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
FIELD OPERATIONS
WEEKLY REPORT

Well...

If you're gonna poach, do it next door to a deputy, with a shotgun. A stolen shotgun. And it helps if you're a felon, or that you're helping the felon commit a crime. That they were all this dumb!

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...

The Range Reviews: TriSquare eXRS TSX 300 Two Way Radio

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

TriSquare eXRS TSX 300 Two Way Radio

I have been looking forward to this review of the TriSquare eXRS TSX 300 two way radios. Two-way, texting capable, and license free communication radios, they are innovative and modestly priced for the technology and privacy received.



TriSquare’s eXRS (Extreme Radio Service) products are "new technology," hand-held, portable, two-way radios. eXRS utilizes advanced digital frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) techniques originally developed to provide stealth radio communications for the military. By constantly switching between many frequencies,rather than broadcasting on a single one, the FHSS techniques prevent eavesdropping and interference from other radios and scanners, including other eXRS radios if not tuned to the same channel. Furthermore they operate in the 900MHz range as opposed to the more common 400MHz, thereby staying out of that very crowded frequency range. And if that isn't enough, the transmissions are digital which gives a bit more privacy and clarity of signal.

All the pieces and ready to go!

Size comparison to a 30rd CMMG Immortal Magazine

Starting Out:

First thing I did was install the two 4.8V NiMH batteries into their respective radios. The Value Pac comes with a dual desk top charger and the AC adapter. I dropped them in for a daylong charging session. The Desktop Charger does have built in overcharge protection circuitry to prevent overcharging and damaging the batteries. When I picked them up, the radios battery level indicator read full. Note: To prolong the life of the rechargeable battery pack, the radio should be removed from the charger regularly and the batteries should be allowed to discharge. The full discharge and charge cycle keeps the battery in good condition.

Reasonably sized.

There are also two ear pieces that connect to the radios via standard Motorola connections. The wrap around earpiece molds to the shape of your ear and holds it in place securely but comfortably. The wire is long enough to be routed in whatever way you deem suitable.

Set up for unobtrusive Push-to-Talk.

I wrapped it around my belt, and then in my shirt and out the collar (While using the VOX setting.) to keep it unobtrusive and snag free. On PTT (Push to Talk) I routed it out between buttons and back in again.

Left Voice Actuated, Right Push-to-Talk.

Earpiece is light and stays in place.

Power:

It puts out the signal at one watt. That is enough that the Mrs and I, traveling in different vehicles, were able to communicate across several lanes of traffic and at varying distances of up to about one mile. That was the outside limit on the road. Possibly the metal car bodies affected the signal strength.

Another operator and I tested them in thick, subtropical brush and woods, and found that we had several hundred yards of range with no problem. We actually never reached a signal loss point. This would be great item for hunters working an area together, or checking in with each others before approaching a blind or stand. I can think of many applications for this when out in the field!

The Mrs and I also tried them in a "big box" store with plenty of aisles between us, and again had no problems.

On bicycles though, we never were able to get far enough to degrade the signal. I estimate we were 3.5 miles apart and still getting crystal clear signals. This of course is Florida near the coast with flat land and few obstacles.

Though they are not waterproof, we where caught in a rain squall which soaked us thoroughly. The radios were somewhat protected by our shirts, and I was pleased to see that they suffered no ill effects from the dampness.

The model TSX300 is available in a single pack and in a value-pack which includes 2 TSX300 radios, a dual port drop-in charger with AC wall adapter, 2 NiMH rechargeable battery packs and 2 VOX/PTT headsets.


I think this is a great value for the money. Clear communications, rugged, programmable, private, and once again reasonably priced. The only thing I did was add clear packing tape over the screen to protect it from the rough use I knew the kids and I would put it through. I was impressed with the package as a whole. If you need more headsets and units, they are available in single units, and as I mentioned earlier they are programmable so they synchronize to a single net.

TriSquare
eXRS TSX 300
MSRP: $99.00
Street: $79.99 to $99.00

This review can also be found at:
The Range Reviews: Tactical; and TriSquare eXRS TSX 300

The Thinking Hunter: On Television and When is Enough, Enough?

© 2009 Albert A Rasch

hebetudinous- the state, condition, or quality of being dull, enervated, or lethargy. Dull or lethargic, especially relating to the mind.


Here is a blog that I thoroughly enjoy. The Thinking Hunter is written by Galen Geer. Mr Geer is a Marine Corps and Army veteran, angler, and hunter. He also spins a pretty good yarn, a thinking man's yarn.

His latest installment, Not Making Any Friends with The Outdoor Network broaches a subject that I have frequently talked about with folks, but never written about.

"...I was struggling to watch The Outdoor Channel. Either the network’s executives are only functionally literate or they are dedicated to the principle that if we show enough trash we will destroy fishing and hunting.""...personally I think many of them are somewhat hebetudinous."

I feel much as Mr Geer does. I rarely watch any hunting or fishing shows. And honestly I think the hunting shows in general are far worse than any of the fishing ones, with few exceptions.

Here's an interesting idea. For those of you that frequently watch hunting or fishing shows, let us know which ones you watch and give us a quick idea on how it reflects on the sporting person. I only get VR on my provider, but I am going to catch a few shows in the next couple of days and give my opinion in the comments section.

This might be enlightening...


Regards,
Albert A Rasch
The Hunt Continues...