DIY Drone Drop: How to Deliver Payloads with a Consumer Drone

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Drone shopping can be a bit like car shopping today. Not everyone needs a sports car — some families need a van for soccer practice and others need a truck for work. Just as the original Ford Model T quickly transformed into a wide range of two-door, four-door, and convertible variants, drones have come a long way from being a one-size-fits-all solution. Early commercial drones were instrumental for filmmakers and videographers. The best ones were usually made with composite/carbon-fiber material that would make your heart sink if you crashed it. Your average hobbyist didn’t have a spare $20K to $30K laying around to invest in a toy of this caliber. But today, inexpensive consumer drones can be used for recording high-definition aerial video, light shows, obstacle course racing, and even drone drop deliveries of small items.

Disclaimer: This article is intended to be a brief overview of dropping items from aerial drones, and not a comprehensive guide to drone use. Check your local laws before flying a drone or attempting to carry objects with your drone. Always fly safely and responsibly.

The Evolution of Consumer Drones

Above: Here’s my existing DJI Mavic Air2S drone setup.

As the years passed, Chinese manufacturers stepped up to pump out smaller drones made from affordable plastic components. These weren’t easy to fly, and replacement parts weren’t easy to find. But the popularity of drones continued to grow, and in 2013, DJI released the Phantom drone to appeal to the U.S. and UK markets. As of 2020, DJI has provided over 77 percent of the U.S. market share for consumer drones.

Thanks to reductions in cost and improvements to ease of use, hobby drones have become very popular. These devices are now being recognized for their capability to do more than capture amazing aerial video footage. Much like hot-rodders learned to push the limits of their vehicles by adding headers and high-flow carburetors, the drone market is experiencing a renaissance of tuning and third-party mods. Swarms of drones can put on a “firework style” lightshow. Drones can fly through obstacle courses with precision navigation and incredible speed. The days of aerial photography for fun have quickly evolved to users putting their drones to the test.

Special Delivery

Given their versatility, low cost, and ease of use, it should come as no surprise that consumer drones have begun showing up in wars and conflicts around the world. Military and paramilitary groups have been weaponizing these devices for many years — they’re used for stealthy reconnaissance from high above the battlefield and have even been equipped with improvised explosive devices to directly attack enemy positions. Drones can also be used to deliver important resources, such as medicine or a radio, to allies in heavily contested areas. Powerful motors and extended battery life have made the DJI Mavic Air2S a popular choice for applications such as these. Even if you’re not currently involved in asymmetric warfare, knowing how to deliver payloads with your drone can be a valuable skill. Read on as we explain the basics of drone drops.

Above: My drone kit and accessories fit easily into a small Haley Strategic Flatpack Plus. Clockwise from top left, this photo shows the DJI drone and controller, LoRa communicator, Hanatora drone drop kit, two Midland walkie-talkies, goTenna Mesh, and TinyTx ThrowTx in a custom housing.

How to Set Up Your Drone Drop

The DJI Mavic Air2S has a remote function button that’ll trigger a “landing light.” There are no internal modifications or special auxiliary motors to hardwire into the drone’s system — it’s essentially pre-wired for a remote “trigger.” Sourcing a relatively cheap “light sensor” switch motor will cost under $60 and will latch onto your drone with the included mounting bracket.

Once installed, the switch will open and close, unlatching whatever string/attachment you connect to the switch. Once you’ve tested the light function with your remote before flight, you’ll be ready to drop anything your drone can carry.

Above: I purchased a Hanatora Payload Airdrop kit for $37 on Amazon. The kit clamps onto the body of the drone. Foot extensions for each arm are included and can help with clearance for takeoff and landing.

Above: Here's a photo of the underside of the drone with the drop kit installed. Items can be attached to the retractable metal rod via a loop of cord or a key ring.

Above: To activate the drop function, simply press the FN button on the controller to activate the drone's built-in “Landing Light.” This will trigger a light sensor in the drop kit that opens and closes the attachment rod.

Above: This TinyTx ThrowTx device runs on a single CR2032 battery, and can provide approximately 30 hours of continuous audio surveillance to any UHF receiver (e.g. a handheld ham radio) within a 500-meter radius.

Above: Originally, the ThrowTx was designed with a spherical housing that can be thrown or rolled into position, but this didn’t provide any way to attach it to a drone. I used a 3D printer to create a new housing with a keyring attachment point. The entire setup weighs less than an ounce.

Even if your drone doesn’t have a plug-and-play accessory switch, there are still low-tech options. In an OFFGRIDweb-exclusive article on weaponized drones, we showed how militants in Central African Republic used a drone to carry a hand grenade inside a cut-open water jug. When the drone tilted forward, the grenade rolled out of the jug, and a string attached to the drone pulled the pin. Although this makeshift setup would be incredibly dangerous to everyone in the vicinity, it’s a reminder that improvised drop methods can be cobbled together for almost any drone.

What Can a Drone Carry?

Various weight tests have been performed on many drones. Typically, a DJI Mavic Air 2S can carry roughly 16 ounces at most. Factor wind and battery life into the equation before you take off to deliver that package. I like to stay under 8 ounces for payload weight, since that still allows safe maneuverability and flight distance. Remember that your drone needs enough battery life to make it back from its destination — the last thing you want is an emergency landing in an area you can’t easily access.

Above: This drone can carry about 16 ounces of payload, but 8 ounces is a safer limit to maximize stability and range. That’s more than enough for a goTenna Mesh network device, a solid-state drive full of terabytes of data, or a Baofeng handheld radio.

For reference, here’s a quick list of some possible payloads we weighed:

  • ThrowTx audio surveillance device with custom 3D-printed drop housing: 0.7 ounce
  • GoTenna Mesh network device: 1.7 ounces
  • SanDisk solid-state drive with USB cable: 2.1 ounces
  • Midland X-Talker FRS walkie-talkie: 3.7 ounces
  • Raspberry Pi Zero with 800mAh battery, USB cable, and zippered case: 3.9 ounces
  • Raspberry Pi with PiSugar 1200mAh battery and 3D-printed housing: 6.7 ounces
  • Baofeng UV-5RA dual-band ham radio: 7.2 ounces
  • Raspberry Pi with battery, housing, RTL-SDR dongle, and antenna: 8.1 ounces
  • Raspberry Pi Zero with USB cable, Mophie 6000mAh battery pack, and zippered case: 8.5 ounces

Above: Here’s what the ThrowTX housing looks like attached to the drop kit. The foot extensions allow the drone to take off and land more easily.

Above: After a test flight, we saw almost no impact to drone maneuverability and stability with our drop kit and payload. Lightweight items shouldn’t affect range much, either.

Deciding what you want to carry and what can withstand the impact from the drop will be an evolving goal. 3D printed enclosures partnered with soft foam work well and are scalable and light; I’d strongly recommend foam enclosures for anything that’s fragile or needs to be dropped from more than two stories of elevation. Kite strings and creative knots can secure anything that doesn’t need protection from the drop.

Real-World Drone Drop Applications

Thinking of what to drop? The possibilities are endless. If your mind races immediately to Molotov cocktails or kilos of white powdery substances, you’ll likely need a much larger drone to fly in a country where that sort of lifestyle is accepted. Maybe you want to play extreme fetch with Fido, or have an over-the-top gender reveal party. But this is RECOIL OFFGRID — we want to focus on staying prepared and alive.

Above: For less than $40, the Hanatora Payload Airdrop kit includes a mounting bracket with sensor and drop motor, as well as foot extensions.

Search-and-rescue drones can find a missing hiker, but imagine having the ability to drop a radio so you can communicate, not just hover over the individual. Keeping them intact and working can involve trial and error. A small affordable walkie-talkie weighs a lot less than a clunky CB/ham radio. If you have good cell service in the area, a cell phone would work great. If not, consider a GPS beacon or satellite phone. Find ways to strip items down to bare essentials and protect them with lightweight soft padding.

Surveillance and countersurveillance is another area where drones excel. Dropping listening or jamming devices isn’t something I will explain in great detail, but specialists such as TinyTransmitters offer some surprisingly affordable and capable options. It’s also possible to wirelessly collect information by attaching a radio receiver to the top of the drone using Velcro, and dangling an antenna underneath it. In the event that you need to make a hasty getaway, your drone drop system can be used to ditch the antenna at the press of a button. Similarly, your drone can act as a radio repeater to aid in broadcasting a stronger signal.

Above: In situations where there’s no internet access or networks are heavily surveilled, your drone can serve as a modern-day carrier pigeon. Simply load files onto a portable SSD and deliver it to the recipient. Encryption can be added as a safeguard against interception.

Dropping glow sticks or other markers can help an individual or team navigate into or out of a specific area. Technology can enable us to mimic what we see in military exercises, with marker colors representing different objectives or statuses. Maps and other navigational aids could also be delivered via drone.

Whether you believe Alberto Santos-Dumont or the Wright Brothers were first to fly, we’ve had a lot of pioneers in the field, with every contribution advancing the sky to become our futuristic superhighway. How you navigate the sky and what cargo you choose to carry is up to you.

About the Author

This article was written by SoCal Offgrid, an individual not to be confused with the name of this magazine. He is a full-time electrical contractor who previously shared his urban communications kit Bag Drop in Issue 45. He can be found on Instagram at @socal_offgrid.

Forgotten Weapons: Japan’s Weaponized Opium Cigarettes

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When we think of weapons of war, most of us think of tanks and fighter jets and artillery. For those who experienced war in the Middle East over the last few decades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and chemical weapons may also come to mind. But weapons don't have to be devices that can cause immediate death and destruction. Some weapons are far more insidious. The latest video from Forgotten Weapons shows an example of a highly effective secret weapon created by imperial Japan during WWII to subvert and demoralize their enemies: opium cigarettes. These weaponized cigarettes were secretly laced with opium and distributed throughout China in an effort to cause widespread addiction, leading to a steady source of income for Japan and also reducing Chinese resistance to Japan's invasion.

Opium Cigarettes: Using Addiction as a Weapon

Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons discussed the history of these opium cigarettes with Patrick Phillips, the author of Tobacco of the Emperor. Phillips explains that the head of Japanese intelligence in Manchuria, General Kenji Doihara, spearheaded the opium-laced cigarette program by distributing them to warlords throughout China. Those warlords would then place the cigarettes in bars, brothels, and gambling houses, where unsuspecting Chinese citizens would purchase and smoke them.

Since Golden Bat was already an inexpensive and well-known brand of cigarettes in China before this program, and there was no visible indication of the addition of trace amounts of opium, smokers would not suspect a thing. The narcotic created a pleasant relaxing effect that kept the smokers coming back for more, and soon they were addicted. It's very likely that this concept was inspired by the British involvement in opium smuggling into China in the 1700s and 1800s.

We assumed this might be a mostly unsuccessful experiment, much like Japan's use of high-altitude incendiary balloons against the continental United States. However, Phillips says that wasn't the case for the opium cigarettes. “It was wide-scale, and it worked. It worked really well for the Japanese, actually.” Authorities later testified that the program generated as much as $300 million per year for the Japanese government.

The leader of the weaponized cigarette program, General Doihara, was convicted of numerous war crimes and hanged after WWII. According to former SOE operative Ronald Sydney Seth, “[Doihara's] activity played a key role in shattering China's ability to confront Japan's expansion by generating chaotic conditions, which prevented any mass reaction in the invaded country.”

Check out the full video from Forgotten Weapons below for more details, or pick up a copy of Patrick Phillips' book here.

 

Modern-Day Implications

Above: A table full of fentanyl and other drugs seized by Border Patrol. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection photo by Kris Grogan)

History repeats itself, so we can't help but wonder about the existence of modern programs inspired by the success of this opium cigarette program, much like imperial Japan was inspired by 18th century British opium distribution.

Consider the fact that China is the primary exporter of fentanyl, an opioid drug which generates record-breaking overdose and addiction rates year after year in the United States. China has also expressed a strong interest in the use of unconventional and “Unrestricted Warfare” programs such as economic warfare, political warfare, and cultural subversion against technologically superior opponents (namely the United States). CCP military officials stated that these programs can “have the same and even greater destructive force than military warfare.” While it's certainly possible (even likely) that China's fentanyl exports are being used intentionally to demoralize and destabilize the CCP's enemies, there's no way to conclusively prove it.

For another example of narcotics exports being used as a source of military funding, we recommend reading about opium production in Afghanistan and its links to the Taliban.

Letter from the Editor: On the Cutting Edge

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Note: This editor's letter is from our latest publication, Recoil Offgrid Issue 53. If you'd like to purchase a copy of our magazine or subscribe, go to offgridweb.com/subscription.

In our last issue, we focused on how to survive without the aid of technology. But if we’ve learned anything over the last three years, it’s that most of the legacy survival concepts this community embraced for decades have been disproven. Contrary to the imagined templates of bugging out and living off the land to avoid complete collapse and total anarchy, Western society has instead been served an all-you-can-eat buffet of long-duration, low-intensity crises. The incidents most likely to trigger our emergency plans work on a sliding scale, instead of a light switch. While the collective effect of this continuous bombardment of slowly smoldering catastrophe has taken its toll on our psyche, it has also provided some distinct advantages over the cataclysmic upheavals portrayed by Hollywood.

More often than not, we’ll still have access to electricity, cellular networks, and the internet during simmering unrest or lingering supply line disruptions. Even when rolling blackouts or natural disasters leave neighborhoods and municipalities without power, large-scale regional communications are at least partially intact. Economically focused disasters like the ripple effect of draconian COVID-19 lockdowns don’t affect existing infrastructure at all, and severely challenge the notion that we’ll grab our go-bags, fire up our overlanding rigs, toss our electronics out the window, and head to the hills at the first sign of trouble.

Photo of the cover of recoil offgrid featured in this month's letter from the editor.

It’s always a good idea to know how to start a friction fire, build a primitive shelter, and live off the land. However, you’d be foolish to hunt exclusively with a flint-knapped spear when modern firearms and ammunition are readily available. In the same vein, if the situation we’re presented allows access to modern survival tools like electronic communication and powered preparedness equipment, those who overlook or reject these tools will be at a substantial disadvantage. That’s why, for our final issue of a year that has continued to demonstrate ongoing global chaos, we’re focusing on how to survive with the aid of technology, instead of abandoning it wholesale. Whether you need to communicate securely with loved ones and an ad hoc neighborhood watch team or use a drone to ferry supplies to those out of reach, there are a vast (and still-growing) number of ways to leverage technology to facilitate your survival during a variety of really bad days.

By the time you read this, Christmas will be right around the corner. We urge you to consider using a couple of those stocking-stuffer gift cards to invest in gear and training to get you through when times are tough and every advantage counts. A little bit of advance planning and the right knowledge will let you use every ounce of processing power in your brain and in the computerized conveniences we often take for granted. From Dean Freeman’s roundup of secure messaging apps to SoCal Offgrid’s rundown on how to create your own drone delivery system, this issue pushed us to find more ways we can use ordinary consumer devices to beat the odds. Think critically, spend accordingly, and stay safe.

Happy Holidays from the RECOIL OFFGRID team. We look forward to expanding your preparedness horizons and helping you through the year ahead — whatever it has in store for you.

Mastering the LPVO: Part 2 – Low-Power Variable Optic Training Tips

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In Part 1 of this article, we covered the advantages and disadvantages of a low-power variable optic, discussed important factors for buying an LPVO, and talked about how to choose an appropriate LPVO mount. Now that we've addressed these “hardware” considerations, it's time to address the “software” you'll need to get the best performance from your LPVO-equipped rifle. Like any complex tool, you can't expect to use it properly if you're not trained. The two-day TruKinetics Intro to the LPVO class we attended provided many helpful lessons to keep in mind.

How to Mount an LPVO

Before firing a single round out of our guns, task number one was to confirm our optics were mounted correctly. That might sound like a no-brainer, but it's easy to mount an LPVO incorrectly, and if you do, you'll be left wondering why you're constantly struggling to find the eye box or hit targets. Knowing your optic is mounted securely and zeroed will leave you with a sense of confidence, and that's especially important for a magnified optic that may be used at 500 yards or more.

LPVO mounting involves three factors:

  • Placement – Is your optic an appropriate distance from your eye? If not, you'll struggle to acquire a clear sight picture quickly.
  • Leveling – Is your reticle level? If not, you'll be constantly chasing a proper zero. Even a few degrees of tilt in the reticle can cause rounds to completely miss a target at 500 yards.
  • Torque – Is every nut and bolt tightened to the correct specification? If not, your optic level, placement, and zero may shift unexpectedly (usually at the worst possible time). Estimating “gutentight” is not acceptable!

Tools
Here's what you'll need to mount your LPVO:

  • Inch-pound (not foot-pound) torque wrench and/or torque driver
  • Bubble level and/or leveling wedge
  • A small amount of oil to lubricate the rings

TruKinetics LPVO Mounting Procedure

Step 1: Apply a small drop of oil to your fingertip, and rub a very light film of oil onto the inside of the mounting rings. This allows your optic to move freely in precise increments until it's fully torqued.

Step 2: Set the LPVO into the mount and insert the hardware, turning each screw a few times with your fingers to confirm it's threaded in properly.

Step 3: Determine the appropriate placement of your optic on the gun at full magnification power. Make sure your rifle's stock is set to your preferred setting, and move the optic back and forth until you get a full sight picture without shadow at the edges of the lens. Large adjustments can be made by shifting the mount forward on the upper receiver Picatinny rail (never attach or “bridge” it onto to the handguard). Finer adjustments can be made by sliding the optic tube inside the mount.

Above: Instructor Todd helped this student position his LPVO for a clear sight picture before tightening the hardware.

Step 4: Once the placement is correct, lightly snug the ring hardware in an alternating X pattern, maintaining equal gap between the ring halves on either side of the mount. The LPVO should still be able to move a little, but shouldn't be sliding around loosely.

Step 5: Hold the mount on the Picatinny rail and press it forward to eliminate any wiggle room within the rail slot. Then, with your inch-pound torque wrench, torque the rail mount hardware to the manufacturer's recommended specification (for example, 30 in-lbs).

Above: The Arisaka Defense leveling wedge is an easy and inexpensive way to quickly level an optic. However, it may not work for setups with tight clearance between the mount and optic housing. Bubble levels are a tried-and-true method, even if they require some patience and finesse.

Step 6: Level your optic. There are many tools for this job, but TruKinetics recommends the Arisaka Defense Optic Leveler ($28 MSRP), which is a wedge system that physically levels the flat bottom of an optic against the mount. Bubble levels should be used to confirm that the mount and optic are completely level relative to the gun.

Step 7: Using the inch-pound torque wrench, torque all the hardware on the rings in an X pattern to the manufacturer's recommended specification (for example, 15 in-lbs). Watch the level carefully to confirm it doesn't move during this process. It's generally not recommended to use any kind of Loctite or thread-locker compound on this hardware, since it lubricates the threads and can lead to unwanted variances in torque.

Step 8: Add witness marks on the torqued hardware using a paint pen or silver sharpie. This will give you a visual clue if anything comes loose in the future.

Step 9: Set the diopter on your optic. Aim at a plain white surface such as a wall and begin slowly turning the diopter ring (obviously do this in a safe direction while following all firearm safety rules). At the correct diopter setting, you should see a clear, in-focus reticle without any fisheye distortion or unwanted magnification. You may need to look away or close your eyes occasionally to reset your vision and confirm the diopter setting.

Above: Diopter setting is specific to the user's eye, so if your rifle is used by multiple people, you may want to add color-coded witness marks for each shooter's setting.

LPVO Training Tips

Read on for a few of the lessons we learned from the drills during our two-day TruKinetics class.

Start With a Good Zero
This probably sounds like another no-brainer, but if a trusted zero is important on a red dot sight, it's doubly important on a magnified optic that may be used at 500 yards or more. TruKinetics instructors recommend the classic 50/200-yard zero — rounds impact on your point of aim at both 50 and 200 yards, and will impact high by a negligible amount at 100 yards. Beyond 200, you'll need to hold over using the markings on your reticle and the data you've recorded while testing your gun (data on prior engagements, a.k.a. DOPE).

We zeroed our rifles at 50 yards from supported prone positions, using a bipod, backpack, and/or sand bags. Our LPVOs were set to full power, and we shot 5-round groups before making adjustments to elevation and windage turrets. Once we were absolutely confident about the settings, we loosened and reset our optic turrets back to the 0 mark. If it's necessary to dial in elevation or windage adjustments in the future, this will allow us to quickly return to our rifle's zero, rather than some arbitrary number on the dial.

Don't Be Afraid of the Shadows
There's an important difference between a perfect sight picture and an acceptable sight picture. With an LPVO, especially on higher magnification settings, achieving a perfect sight picture without any scope shadow at the edges takes time. In any life-and-death shooting situation — whether it's civilian self-defense, law enforcement, or military — time is one thing you won't have much of. Therefore, it's critical to know how to take quick shots from an acceptable sight picture (i.e. one where there's visible scope shadow). This is the single biggest training hurdle associated with moving from a red dot sight to an LPVO.

Above: Shooting quickly with an LPVO requires learning to accept an imperfect sight picture. Scope shadow can feel distracting at first, but with some practice, it's easy to tune out the shadow and still get good hits.

Thankfully, scope shadow is both manageable and predictable. As we mentioned earlier, shadow on one side of the scope “pushes” point of impact towards the other side. In other words, if you notice shadow at the top of your optic, expect rounds to impact lower than your point of aim. How much lower? That's something you'll need to test for yourself, since every gun and optic is a little different. We did several drills during the TruKinetics course to check this principle, and most students noticed that even with substantial scope shadow, there was barely any deviation in point of impact.

Of course, if you're shooting at longer distances or smaller targets, eliminating scope shadow becomes increasingly important, so you should take more time to refine your sight picture. But at 10 or 20 yards, there's no reason to let a little scope shadow slow you down.

Focus On What Matters
Many of us who have spent time using red dot sights have learned the importance of being target-focused. Instead of focusing our vision on dot itself, we focus on what we're shooting at and simply remain aware of the dot's placement. This lowers the risk of fixating on small movements of the dot, which can cause us to slow down too much or miss the target entirely.

On the other hand, those who have spent time shooting precision rifles will know that the opposite is true — it's generally considered better to bias your visual focus towards the reticle, not the target. This allows us to determine a precise point of aim on the reticle, including elevation and windage measurements, and hold that point on the target while pressing the trigger.

Since an LPVO can be used for both short-range and long-range shooting, you'll need to let the situation dictate what you're focusing on. For a quick shot at 1x within 50 yards, focus on the target just as you would with a red dot. A daylight-bright illuminated reticle will help you use your LPVO in this manner. If you're at 6x magnification trying to hit a small plate at 300 yards, take more time to focus on the reticle and use it to measure the appropriate hold-over.

Above: It's essential to understand your LVPO's reticle and take mental notes on hold-overs at various distances. Even if you're not pausing to use a DOPE chart and laser rangefinder before taking a shot, your reticle will help you quickly estimate a target's distance and the appropriate point of aim.

Measure Your Misses
As we mentioned before, one of the LPVO's greatest strengths is its use as an observational tool. That observation shouldn't end after you fire your first shot. If you hit the target, great — keep watching to determine if you need to fire again. If you missed, the reticle's “ruler” should give you all the information you need to correct your error. With a red dot, you may not be able to see where your round impacted, and if you can, you're forced to use a generalized correction (e.g. hold right edge of target). An LPVO offers better visibility and much more precise corrections (e.g. hold right 0.6 MIL).

Above: Misses happen. With a red dot, you'll need to estimate wind and elevation holds, but an LPVO's detailed reticle offers precise information to help you make a quick follow-up shot. (This is the same reason why TruKinetics doesn't recommend oversimplified duplex reticles.)

Don't Overmagnify
Magnification is a double-edged sword, so use it with caution. Just because your optic can go up to 6x or 8x or 10x doesn't mean you always have to use all that power. Doing so may give you a great view of the target, but it also gives you tunnel vision.

Excessive magnification can slow down your ability to scan the environment for a target, or it can cause you to mistakenly shoot the wrong target. Dialing back to an intermediate magnification setting gives better spatial awareness — the last thing you want is for an innocent bystander to run into your field of view just as you break a shot.

Above: Magnification should be high enough to identify the target and determine whether it's a threat, but low enough to maintain spatial awareness around the target. To demonstrate this balance, some paper targets depicted individuals with weapons that weren't easily visible until magnification was dialed up.

Hold Before Dialing
In the precision shooting world, it's advisable to take time to measure the environmentals, enter them into a ballistic calculator, and dial corrections into the scope before firing. With an LPVO-equipped carbine, you may be moving around or shooting at multiple targets at various ranges, so dialing becomes less practical. It's smarter to simply use the reticle markings to hold corrections and take the shot. This is where a “Christmas tree” reticle with a grid of windage and elevation dots becomes especially helpful — it offers quick reference points that help you shoot precisely and quickly.

As one of the instructors explained, LPVOs offer enhanced precision capability, but that doesn't mean every LPVO user needs to become a sniper. All we really need is “a knuckledragger understanding of how to get good hits.”

Closing Thoughts

The TruKinetics LPVO class culminated with drills that tested every student's LPVO proficiency, incorporating speed, precision, target transitions, movement, and positional shooting.

In one drill, we started near a parked truck in hilly desert terrain, and moved in a two-man team to assess 10 paper targets scattered through the environment. Each student communicated by shouting “set,” “moving,” and “move” to his partner, and we covered each other as we wove through cactus and scrub brush. Some targets depicted simple armed threats; others were holding hostages, surrendering, or carrying harmless objects that might be misinterpreted as weapons. We used our LPVOs for positive identification of each target, and made quick decisions to shoot or keep moving.

Above: Practical drills forced students to maintain the fundamentals of shooting, moving, and communication while also using LPVOs to positively identify targets at various distances.

Another drill involved a timed competition-style stage, with paper targets as close as 10 yards and steel plates as far as 200. This also involved bracing off barricades and sprinting between shooting positions. We were scored based on one hit in the A zone (head box) or two hits in the C zone (body) on paper, with time penalties incurred for failure to eliminate or engage targets. This was a fun challenge that generated some friendly competition between students, and the top shooter received a prize at the end of the class.

After two full days and 600 rounds of ammo expended, I walked away from the TruKinetics class feeling confident in my LPVO-equipped rifle as well as my ability to use it to the fullest. Although there's certainly a learning curve involved with any LPVO, overcoming it will make you a better, more well-rounded shooter. I know that my AR-15 can get reliable hits at 500 yards and beyond. More importantly, I know I have enough magnification to positively identify those targets before taking a shot, and I have reticle markings to quickly correct any misses after the first shot. That's a massive advantage over a red dot sight, even one with a magnifier.

For more information on TruKinetics civilian and law enforcement training courses, go to trukinetics.com or follow @trukinetics on Instagram.

Mastering the LPVO: Part 1 – Low-Power Variable Optic Buyer’s Guide

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Red dot or LPVO? Spend five minutes in any gun store, forum, or social media group, and you'll probably hear someone asking this common question about optic choice. Red dot sights are often considered the default — unless you're still rocking iron sights, you probably already own an RDS, if not several. They offer a quick-to-acquire point of aim and wide field of view with zero magnification. On the other hand, the low-power variable optic (LPVO) is a powerful tool that can help you maximize the capabilities of your rifle through adjustable magnification ranging from 1-4x, 1-6x, 1-8x, or more. However, if you want to get the most out of it, you'll need to do your homework.

Above: An LPVO, such as the Vortex Razor HD 1-10×24 seen on the 13.9-inch AR I used during the TruKinetics course, can be supplemented by an offset red dot sight (such as this Trijicon RMR in a Scalarworks KICK mount). But as you'll see later in this article, that addition is far from mandatory.

TruKinetics Intro to the LPVO Course

Above: Norman offers advice to a pair of students after moving through a practical course of fire in the Arizona desert.

In an effort to address the pros and cons of the LPVO and learn how to use one effectively on an AR-platform rifle, I signed up for a two-day Intro to the LPVO class from TruKinetics. Founded in 2020 by 23-year law enforcement veteran David Norman, TruKinetics started strong with a focused selection of course offerings and a cadre of instructors with highly-relevant skill sets. For a class focused on LPVO use at distances from 5 to 500 yards, you'd be hard pressed to find a group of three instructors with more real-world experience behind these optics:

  • David Norman – 23+ years working law enforcement in Phoenix, AZ, including 13 years of full-time SWAT experience with Special Assignments Unit (SAU); Department of Defense contractor
  • Brian Langoliers – retired USMC Scout Sniper, U.S. State Department security contractor, and Phoenix Police SAU sniper
  • Todd Besaki – retired Army Ranger, federal agent for the U.S. Department of Energy training teams that escort nuclear materials

Read on for some lessons learned from this course, and how our experiences on the range reshaped our perspective on the value of the LPVO.

Red Dot (+ Magnifier) vs. LPVO

In essence, the LPVO bridges the gap between a red dot sight and a medium-power rifle scope. A quality LPVO offers true 1x magnification (or extremely close to it) and a bright illuminated reticle for close-range targets, as well as the capability to adjust quickly to a higher magnification setting for targets that are further away.

LPVO Advantages
Most importantly, TruKinetics emphasized that an LPVO's magnification offers enhanced ability to positively identify (PID) a target before choosing to shoot. At extended range with a red dot, you might not be able to determine if the individual you're looking at is carrying a gun or some other object. That's critical information, no matter if you're a member of the military, a law enforcement officer, or a civilian. The LPVO is a potent tool for gathering information, even if you don't have to pull the trigger. And it allows you to obtain this information from further away — that distance enhances your safety and buys you time to react to any potential threat.

Of course, there are a variety of magnifiers for red dot and holographic sights, as seen on Tom Marshall's OD green rifle above. These magnifiers can improve extended-range PID capabilities with a red dot, but they're not without drawbacks of their own. According to the TruKinetics instructors, red dot magnifiers are typically…

  • Less versatile than LPVOs — they offer fixed-power magnification with an on-off switch, rather than a range of magnification settings
  • Dependent on the battery in a powered red dot, rather than an always-present etched reticle
  • Open to dirt, smudges, and other obstructions on four lenses, rather than two on an LPVO
  • More complicated to zero, since the magnifier and red dot each have elevation and windage adjustments
  • More prone to shifting parallax, since toggling the magnifier adds/subtracts layers of glass
  • Less effective under low-light environments or tinted windows, due to poorer light-gathering

As a quick example, if a 1x red dot has acceptable PID capability on a given target out to 100 yards, a dot plus magnifier might offer the same level of PID out to roughly 300 yards. Under the same circumstances, a 1-6x LPVO could offer solid PID out to 400 yards. A 1-10x optic can easily PID targets at 600 yards and beyond. If your rifle and ammunition are capable of remaining effective at that range, why wouldn't you want an optic that can match their performance?

LPVO Disadvantages
Even though each of the three instructors swears by the LPVO based on decades of professional experience, they weren't afraid to point out some of the drawbacks of these low-power optics. Here are some of the cons of LPVOs versus red dots, with or without added magnifiers:

  • Weight — LPVOs are generally rather heavy, although this has been getting better in recent years. It's up to you to decide if the extra capabilities are worth a few ounces of added weight.
  • Eye Relief — Any magnified optic (including red dot magnifiers) will be more sensitive to the shooter's eye position than a 1x red dot. This can be overcome by setting up your optic properly and understanding the impact of scope shadow.
  • Night Vision Capability — If you need to passively aim while wearing NVGs, it's not easy with an LPVO. Adding an offset or top-mounted backup red dot sight is a simple solution for NVG users.
  • Cost? — At first glance, an LPVO might seem expensive. However, the price of a comparable-quality red dot, magnifier, and two mounts adds up fast, and this often ends up as a wash.
  • Training — There's a bit of a learning curve for newer shooters to feel quick and confident behind an LPVO. More on this later.

For a more in-depth guide to these points, refer to the article “Grudge Match: LPVO vs. Magnifiers” from our sister publication Recoil.

How to Choose an LPVO

So, you've decided to buy an LPVO — which one should you get? There are many good choices, but before you spend any money, you should learn what you need. During our class, TruKinetics instructors offered a list of important considerations for buying an LPVO, in order of importance:

Focal Plane – SFP vs. FFP
Second Focal Plane (SFP) and First Focal Plane (FFP) optics both have their place. This discussion could be its own article, so to keep things simple, we'll summarize:

  • SFP optics have reticles that stay the same size regardless of magnification. They're less expensive, and usually have simpler reticle designs that lend themselves to close-quarters use at 1x. However, SFP reticle markings (subtensions) are only correct at a specific magnification value, so you'll need to memorize that and avoid intermediate magnification settings if you plan on doing any long-range work.
  • FFP optics have reticles that increase in size as magnification increases. They're more expensive, but no matter what magnification setting you use, the reticle markings will be correct. FFP reticles tend to offer more precise “Christmas tree” markings for long-range use, but can appear more cluttered at 1x. These optics are ideal for users who may need to quickly engage multiple targets at varying distances, especially longer ranges.

Reticle
Your optic's reticle is extremely important. Consider it carefully before buying! There are four main options:

  • Duplex a.k.a. plain crosshairs — These reticles give the user no additional information or measurements, and are not recommended.
  • Bullet Drop Compensator (BDC) — This gives a “quick and dirty” point of aim for various distances, but only if you're using the barrel length and ammo the reticle is designed for. For military- and law-enforcement-issued duty guns with consistent ammo, it makes sense. For civilians who mix and match various brands and weights of ammo, it's not a good choice.
  • Minute of Angle (MOA) — One of the two primary measuring systems, which equates to 1/60th of a degree (or 1 inch at 100 yards).
  • Milliradian (MIL a.k.a. MRAD) — The other measuring system, which equates to 1/1000th of a radian (or 1 meter at 1000 meters).

Above: I chose this EBR-9 MRAD reticle for my Vortex Razor HD Gen III LVPO. At full magnification (as pictured) its dotted “Christmas tree” offers clear measurements to hold for wind and elevation at longer ranges.

If you're trying to decide between MOA and MIL, we'll refer you to this article from our sister publication Recoil. Basically, both are viable — even the TruKinetics instructors had varying preferences, with two preferring MILs and one MOA. Whatever you do, don't get an optic that uses both (i.e. an MOA reticle with MIL adjustments) because this gets extremely confusing. One instructor put it bluntly, “sell that sh*t if you have it.”

Lastly, consider your mission before picking an LPVO reticle. Some reticles are great for long-range precision but will appear cluttered at 1x; others are nice and clean at 1x but don't offer much useful info for long-range use.

Eye Relief / Eye Box
Eye relief is the distance your eye needs to be from the eyepiece to achieve a full image; eye box is the 3D space where your eye can move while maintaining that full image. As mentioned earlier, LPVOs are sensitive to eye/head position, and can produce scope shadow as the eye moves towards the edges of the eye box. TruKinetics recommends LPVOs with “generous” eye box and eye relief of 3 inches or more. This makes it easier to get a consistent sight picture quickly.

Above: Brian of TruKinetics explained scope shadow with this diagram. The arrows indicate point of impact shift — if you see shadow on one side of the optic, the impact of your shots will be “pushed” slightly in the opposite direction.

Trueness of 1x
Ideally, your LPVO should offer a true 1x magnification, or extremely close to it. If the minimum setting is noticeably greater or less than 1x, you may not be able to shoot well with both eyes open, and your brain's processing of visual information may be slowed.

Illumination
If you intend to use your LPVO in bright environments, look for “daylight bright” reticle illumination. This will help your optic feel more like a red dot sight at 1x. If you intend to shoot in low light environments, your full reticle should be illuminated, not just the center point.

Turret Security
In order to prevent your LPVO's elevation and windage turrets from turning inadvertently, choose an optic that has locking and/or capped turrets. This will help you trust that your rifle is zeroed every time you need it.

Above: The Razor HD Gen III has capped elevation and windage turrets, plus a locking illumination dial. It's mounted in a Scalarworks LEAP 1.93-inch mount.

Durability & Track Record
If you need to trust your life to a weapon, choose an LPVO make and model that has a track record of proven durability, preferably in the hands of military or law enforcement users. Research this carefully and do your best to exclude single-user anecdotes.

Magnification Ring
Put simply, the magnification ring should move when you need it to, and stay put otherwise. Many users prefer a throw lever for fast adjustments, but be careful that it doesn't snag on gear and unexpectedly change the magnification setting.

Above: Another configuration of my rifle included this Leupold Mark 8 LVPO, which features locking turrets rather than removable caps. Also, the magnification ring has a raised tab rather than a large throw lever.

Glass Clarity
It's not necessary to get too far into the weeds here, but poor-quality glass can lead to “fisheye” distortion near the edges of the image — this can cause parallax shift problems if your eye isn't centered inside the eye box while shooting. Japanese and German glass tends to be clearer, but Chinese glass has also come a long way in recent years.

Diopter Design
“This is one of the most important and most misunderstood pieces of an LPVO,” said one instructor. The diopter ring on an LPVO must be adjusted to match your eye, and failure to do so can cause a true 1x optic to feel anything but. An improper diopter setting can even cause eye fatigue and headaches. Like the magnification ring, your LPVO's diopter ring should move only when you want it to.

Weight and Size
How will you use your rifle? If it's mostly a bench rest gun, a little extra weight is no big deal. If it's something you'll carry on a sling for hours or days at a time, every ounce matters.

Above: If you need to run with your rifle or hike long distances, weight is a major consideration, but it should also be balanced with the optic's features and durability.

…and Finally, Price
The old adage still applies: you get what you pay for. However, be realistic and don't assume you need the most expensive optic money can buy. As one of the TruKinetics instructors put it, “Buy what you really need, not what someone on Instagram says is awesome.”

For a trustworthy entry-level LPVO, TruKinetics instructors recommended the Vortex Viper PST 1-6×24, which retails for about $600. If you're looking for something professional-grade, they recommend stepping up to an optic in the $1,000 to $1,500 range, such as an EOTech Vudu, Vortex Razor HD Gen II, or Trijicon Accupoint.

How to Choose a Mount

Above: In this photo, Todd from TruKinetics is installing an EOTech Vudu 1-6×24 LPVO in a Bader Ordnance Condition 1 mount. Note the cantilevered design that places the rail mount near the midsection of the optic.

Much like you'd be foolish to buy a $150,000 Porsche and install the cheapest set of tires you can find, you shouldn't try to cut costs with your optic mount — it's where the rubber meets the road. TruKinetics recommends one-piece scope mounts for LPVOs, specifically cantilevered mounts that allow the optic to be mounted further forward on the gun. This ensures the optic can be positioned appropriately while remaining securely attached to the upper receiver (not “bridged” onto the handguard). Make sure you choose a mount that matches your optic's tube diameter (e.g. 30mm or 34mm).

There are many excellent LPVO mount manufacturers to consider, including LaRue Tactical, American Defense Mfg. (ADM), Warne, Midwest Industries, Geissele, Badger Ordnance, and Scalarworks.

Above: Instructor Brian's rifle is equipped with an EOTech Vudu LPVO in a Larue Tactical SPR quick-detach mount. Its 1.5-inch height offers plenty of cheek weld stability for prone shooting. Brian's setup also includes a backup Trijicon RMR in a separate 45-degree mount.

Is QD Really Necessary?
Quick-detach functionality is optional, but certainly not mandatory. After all, it's best practice to avoid removing your optic once it's zeroed. The likelihood of any quality LPVO failing so catastrophically that it must be removed during a firefight is very low, and if that's a concern, you should consider installing an offset sight system (45-degree irons or a backup red dot).

Poor-quality QD mounts can come loose unexpectedly, throwing off your zero or even allowing the optic to fall off the gun; high-quality mounts should be just as secure as a bolt-on mount, but you'll generally pay more for this feature.

Above: While low optic mounts offer a comfortable cheek weld for prone shooting, high mounts make it easier to achieve a clear sight picture in more challenging positions. Each student experienced this firsthand after shooting through the various openings in a plywood VTAC barricade.

How High?
Mount height has a substantial impact on shooting comfort, so you should consider it carefully before you buy. Base your decision on the height measurement in inches, rather than vague terms like “standard height” or “lower 1/3 cowitness.” Here's a quick breakdown of some common choices:

  • 1.2 inches — These mounts are usually designed for traditional hunting rifles, and are too low for most AR-platform applications.
  • 1.5 inches — This is the most common height for traditional LPVO mounts. It works fine for many shooters, and offers a very stable cheek weld against the stock, but it can be a little tougher to acquire a sight picture in compromised shooting positions.
  • 1.7 inches — Another popular choice, and a nice middle ground for most shooters.
  • 1.9 inches — These taller mounts offer a “heads-up” shooting position, which some shooters find faster and more comfortable. However, there's a trade-off: it may lead to neck strain while shooting from the prone. Muzzle awareness is also important with tall mounts, since it becomes easier to inadvertently shoot the edge of a barricade.
  • 2.0+ inches — These are often referred to as night-vision-height mounts, and they're more common for red dots than for magnified optics. They have some substantial drawbacks for LPVOs, including difficulty establishing a solid cheek weld against the stock (especially in the prone) and hold-over issues at close range.

In the next part of this series, we'll cover how to properly install your LPVO on your rifle, as well as some TruKinetics training tips for close-range and long-range shooting with an LPVO. Click here to read Part 2.

Toyota Gibraltar: The Secret Factory That Builds Trucks for the UN

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Toyota 4×4 trucks such as the Hilux and Land Cruiser have become renowned around the world for their ruggedness and durability. In nearly every modern armed conflict, you'll see combatants on both sides using these trucks, often with the bodies clad in camouflage spraypaint and a machine gun mounted in the bed (these are often referred to as technicals). However, they're also popular outside the military among humanitarian aid groups and other non-government organizations (NGOs). The United Nations uses thousands of Toyota trucks in third-world nations every year, often with specific upgrades such as heavy-duty bumpers, snorkels, winches, and radios. A little-known company called Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings (TGS) stepped up to meet this need, shipping approximately 650 white Toyotas per month to war-torn and disaster-affected regions around the globe.

A recent video segment from the BBC show Top Gear gave us a sneak peek at the Toyota Gibraltar facility, which resides in the tiny 2.6-square-mile British territory at the southern edge of Spain. This is an optimal location for distributing the white Toyotas, since half of the world's seaborne traffic passes through the Strait of Gibraltar between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Much like the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark where the camera zooms out to show a nearly-endless sea of wood crates, this BBC video shows multiple parking garages crammed with a mind-boggling number of identical white Toyotas. At the time of filming, there were more than 1,000 of these vehicles on-site.

The most common vehicle at Toyota Gibraltar is the venerable 70-Series Land Cruiser. The base vehicles are spartan, with cloth interiors and manual locks. Most of them are fitted with all-terrain tires, upgraded bumpers, roof racks, snorkels, spare tire carriers, jerry cans, dual batteries, and other off-road-oriented upgrades. This custom work is done by in-house mechanics at TGS, using items from storerooms stacked floor-to-ceiling with parts.

Depending on the needs of the customer, TGS can build fully-outfitted ambulances or search-and-rescue vehicles. The video also shows some more specialized vehicles, such as a green Land Cruiser built for anti-poaching operations in Africa and a white Corolla built with shatter-proof film on the windows (likely for transporting aid workers through dangerous cities).

This leads to a question. Given the obvious demand for these trucks in armed conflicts, there's a lot of money to be made by selling to less peaceful clientele. So, does Toyota Gibraltar also build vehicles for militaries and warlords? The Top Gear host explains, “They do not do armor plating here. This is not the sort of place you can go for a military-specification vehicle. Toyota and the UN do not want to be involved in that sort of business.” We'll let you draw your own conclusions from this statement, but it's hard to deny that Toyota has hinted at military applications of its trucks in the past.

Check out the 6-minute Top Gear video below:

New: Vertx Gamut Gen 3 Backpack

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If you've ever shopped for a discreet-looking every-day carry backpack, you've probably heard someone mention the Vertx Gamut. This series of packs has been around for several years, both in its original Gen 1 version and in the Gen 2 version that came out in 2019. These backpacks have also appeared in many of our Bag Drop gear loadout articles, such as Alexander Crown's Office Escape Bag and Joe Dawson's Personal Security Detachment Pack. So, we're glad to hear that the company has continued to refine this series with the release of the new Vertx Gamut Gen 3. This announcement also mentions 3.0 versions of other EDC bags, such as the smaller Commuter.

The new Vertx Gamut Gen 3 is currently available in four colors: black, olive drab, grey, and dark earth.

It's slightly bigger than the Gamut 2.0, increasing in capacity from 25 liters to 28 liters, but it retains the same core features — a padded laptop/ballistic panel sleeve, a 180-degree-opening main compartment, and a quick-access front flap that conceals a field of MOLLE-compatible webbing. The latter feature is where you'll find one of the biggest changes. The traditional-style nylon webbing has been replaced with a much larger area of Velcro laser-cut webbing. As always, the slick front flap can be stowed behind the MOLLE panel if you prefer to add external pouches or show off your favorite morale patches.

On the opposite side of the pack, the redesigned Rapid Access pull-tab can be relocated or interchanged with other zipper pull styles, depending on which compartment you need to open quickly. The CCW compartment is also half an inch deeper for easier access, and the side pocket water bottle retention has been improved. We're pleased to see that the slit-style sunglass pocket at the top of the Gamut 2.0 has been replaced with a medium-sized, full-zip pocket that should be great for storing snacks and other loose items.

While the Gamut 2.0 had permanently-stitched pen/knife/flashlight pockets inside the top of its main compartment flap, these have been replaced with plain Velcro material and a detachable Tactigami Double Admin Panel. This makes it easier to re-configure the storage for various sizes of items, such as pistol mags or a med kit.

The back of the Vertx Gamut Gen 3 has a new air channel material for improved breathability and airflow to the wearer's back. It also has the rolling luggage handle pass-through and stowable waist belt from the previous version.

Check out this video for a full walkthrough of the new features:

MSRP for the Gamut 3.0 is $265, and it's currently available on Vertx's web site. We hope to get our hands on this new Gamut in the near future, so stay tuned for more of our thoughts once we've worn and tested it.

Tenkara: A Better Way of Survival Fishing

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I love fishing, especially fly fishing, so it’s no surprise that I like to count it as one of my survival skills. I mean, who doesn’t have occasional fantasies of being able to bug out into the woods and live off the land? Depending on where you’re located, fishing certainly sounds like a great way to put food on the table. Of course, if you can’t pack the gear, you won’t have it. That’s why a plethora of “survival fishing” kits have been produced over the years, with some being solid and others being gimmicky as can be. Tenkara is a minimalist fishing method that’s surprisingly close to what most people envision when they think of “survival fishing.” Of course, this system does have some drawbacks, but they’re hardly unique to tenkara. In this article, we’ll discuss what tenkara is, the pros and cons, and some basic techniques.

What is Tenkara?

Tenkara is essentially a Japanese form of fly fishing, and both the gear and techniques have many similarities. For instance, both use a weighted fly line to cast a nearly weightless artificial dry fly. In modern tenkara and fly fishing, both the rods and lines are made from similar materials. However, tenkara hardware has many unique attributes that make it particularly suited to backpacking and survival fishing purposes.

Above: A tenkara rod can fit comfortably inside a typical 72-hour pack, such as this 5.11 Tactical AMP72.

The Equipment

The main piece of equipment in every style of fishing is the rod itself. Unlike western fly, spinner, or bait casting fishing, tenkara rods don’t use a reel to hold the line. Because the line attaches directly to the tip of the rod, there are no eyelets. The lack of eyelets allows the tenkara rod to telescope into itself. The collapsed footprint is much smaller than other telescoping fishing rods or multi-part rods, which friction-fit segments together.

The size and weight factor becomes clear when looking at a side-by-side comparison, such as between my Wetfly tenkara rod and my Orvis Recon 7-weight fly rod. The rod tubes only contain the rod. In the case of my fly rods, I still have to pack the reel separately.

Above: The tenkara rod is telescoping and fully retracts into itself.

The tenkara line is similar to a fly line. One key difference, however, is that it has a small segment of monofilament extending from the end, rather than being either bare or supplying a welded loop to attach a leader. This built-in “leader” is very short, making the use of tippet a necessity to attach flies to the line.

The tenkara line itself is also much shorter than a fly line, and unlike a fly line on a reel, there’s no backing. The advantage here is that it packs much smaller, but with the obvious disadvantage of reach. However, tenkara technique is built around the limited means of line management, so in practice this isn’t that big of a deal — especially in narrow, fast-moving water such as smaller trout streams.

At the tip of the tenkara rod is a small string, which is used to attach the welded loop on the tenkara line. This can be done with a simple clinch knot that all fishermen know and can be undone when packing up.

Above: A typical tenkara line has a welded loop to attach to the rod and a piece of monofilament coming out of the end. Here you also see the loop from the monofilament for attaching tippet.

Another key advantage that the properties of tenkara gear provide is that there are fewer parts that might break or need maintenance. In a prolonged, grid-down scenario, for instance, a broken eyelet on your rod or a broken mechanism in a reel isn’t going to be easily repaired or replaced.

Tenkara equipment is also much cheaper than fly fishing gear. The higher-end Tenkara USA gear can come in at around $250 for a full kit, whereas my Orvis setup (toward the high-midrange) was about $750. My Wetfly tenkara rod cost only $99 when I got it, although the same model is now going for $125 at time of writing.

Above: A simple clinch knot with about five twists is all it takes to attach the line to the rod tip. The knot can be easily undone later to break down the rig.

While there’s fishing gear available at all price points, there’s no need to go all-out. My very budget-conscious tenkara rig has caught some nice fish, from Wyoming to Texas.

The Techniques

Above: The first fish I ever caught on tenkara was this cutthroat trout on the Snake River in Wyoming, just below the dam in Grand Teton National Park.

In a lot of ways, tenkara fishing is like fly fishing, but there are some differences. The lack of the reel, for instance, means you can’t strip line, so working streamers or poppers like you may be used to is pretty much out. The shorter line attached to the tip means you’re not going to be shooting line like you would with a fly rod, either.

The tenkara cast is unique as well, with many experts teaching a short, forearm-based cast with more play in the wrist, as opposed to a classic fly cast. This makes it ideal for narrow streams or areas with decent tree cover, such as many of the streams I fish in central Texas. However, I’ve found that tenkara works well with a roll cast as well. Additionally, I’ve used tenkara gear to teach a fly cast to my elementary school-aged daughter.

Above: Small wrist adjustments are all it takes to move the rod tip and give action to the fly. Here, we see a bank beetle gently creating ripples on the water to attract fish.

So, what are the key techniques that lead to success with tenkara fishing?

The first is dead drifting. Casting the fly upstream in moving water and having it float downstream toward the waiting fish, simulating a dead insect on top of the water. While by no means a tenkara-specific technique (I’ve caught some pretty beefy brown trout on traditional fly gear while dead drifting), the way the line is attached to the tenkara rod, as well as how it floats, combine to make this technique feel natural.

Similar to dead drifting is pausing. In this technique, you cast upstream and float the fly into an area where you think — or know — the fish are and then pause to give the fish a chance to strike. You then pull the fly and recast, or let the fly go to another spot downstream and pause again first.

Pulling the fly allows you to work a fly somewhat like a streamer, however, rather than stripping the line you’re working the rod tip.

Above: The rod tip is up, letting the line come down at a 90-degree angle into the water, which is about 8 feet below me here. Gently move the rod to create up-and-down motion of the fly on top of the water.

An iconic tenkara technique is pulsing, where you hold the rod tip high and bob the fly up and down in place to entice the fish.

Tenkara purists are also more likely to change techniques up before changing flies, unlike Western-style fly anglers. Sometimes you need to match the hatch and sometimes you need to work the fly right, so keeping both approaches in your mind will help get bites.

Above: Casting the fly out and letting the water take it down stream as if it was a dead bug is what dead drifting is all about. That was enough to entice this hungry bluegill.

What About “Survival” Fishing Kits?

The market is stuffed to the gills with kits of various quality and composition claiming to be for “survival” purposes. These range from new-style “survival cards” to old-school military survival kits that come with a bit of fishing line and some hooks. So, why would someone choose to carry tenkara equipment rather than one of these “survival” fishing rigs?

Above: Some “survival fishing” setups, like this Ka-Bar, are more gimmicky than practical. For me, setting the hook without the leverage of a rod is the main challenge.

First of all, let’s talk about effectiveness of the equipment. One of the “survival fishing” setups that I tried recently is the Ka-Bar Backpacker Caster, which provides a way to spool a good amount of monofilament and to hold a few lures (and maybe some sinkers and floats) in a polymer handle designed to look like their famous combat and survival knives. The compact, self-contained nature of the design appealed to me, and it cost about $20 when I bought it.

Using it, I found that both casting and setting the hook were very difficult, even though I was able to get bites. I chalk this up to the lack of rod. The rod essentially is a lever, which allows you mechanical advantage when both casting a lure and in setting the hook in the fish’s mouth. Using this tool was essentially glorified hand lining. I wasn’t able to land a single fish, no matter how many bites I got. If I needed them for my dinner, I’d be in trouble.

Above: Tenkara rods pack down much smaller than typical fly rods, and the tubes are much smaller as well. This Wetfly is about a third as big as the Orvis rod tube.

Of course, my lack of success could just be due to my lack of practice. But that leads us to another advantage of tenkara — it’s enjoyable on its own, which means you’re likely to take it out to fish on purpose, rather than having it in the bottom of your bug-out bag “just in case.”

You wouldn’t buy a .38 revolver, never practice with it, and then assume you’d be good to go if you were attacked in the parking lot one night, would you? So, why would you assume that you’d be putting food on the table with a “survival fishing kit” that you’ve never used, and which is likely incomplete?

By incomplete, I’m referring back to the lack of a pole I mentioned earlier. I’ve caught many a fish as a kid using line tied to a stick, but the stick is key. There are many trees, such as willow, which provide branches that have similar properties to a tenkara rod. So, even if you were in a prolonged grid-down or survival situation and the tenkara rod broke, you could fashion a replacement that still allows you to leverage the skills and techniques you’ve built up over time, practicing with the equipment for the pure joy of fishing.

Final Thoughts

Above: This green sunfish was caught with tenkara and a Chernobyl ant fly pattern, just north of Austin, Texas.

To sum it up, tenkara provides an excellent choice for a cost-effective low-profile, resilient, fishing kit for use by backpackers who want to reduce weight, people looking for something to keep in a bug-out or bail-out bag/truck box, or anglers who are looking for something familiar but with new challenges.

Anyone already familiar with fly fishing will pick up tenkara quickly. If you’ve never fly fished, or you’re trying to train children without the distraction of dealing with reels and line management, then tenkara is an excellent place to start. It’s enjoyable enough that you’ll want to spend the time to master the equipment and skills, increasing your effectiveness and reducing frustration if you suddenly find yourself relying on your catch to feed yourself and your family. Tenkara is definitely worth adding to your inventory and skill set.

Above: I generally keep my tenkara rod and a small pouch with the line and flies in a Plano box in my truck, where I keep my roadside and emergency equipment as well.

Gear Up: New Survival Gear for December 2022

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Welcome back to our dive into the world of gear! In this edition of Gear Up, we explore the latest innovations and reliable classics that are key to staying prepared for any challenge. From cutting-edge technology to time-tested tools, our focus is on equipping you with insights and information that keep you one step ahead wherever the journey of life may take you. Whether you're bracing for the unknown or fine-tuning your preparedness kit, join us as we unpack the must-haves for this month.

Blue Ridge Overland Triple Run MOLLE Seat Back Panel

NOTES
Many folks take pride in what they consider their EDC, but usually limit that term to the gear they carry on their person. Little do they know that vehicles are often just as important when it comes to preparedness. Enter the Triple Run line of gear from Blue Ridge Overland. They take vehicle EDC to the next level by crafting a back-of-the-seat MOLLE panel and with enough options to suit almost anyone’s needs. Laser-cut MOLLE rows are backed with a high-vis orange underlay, which not only looks cool, but makes attaching gear more efficient. Velcro paneling on the top is perfect for securing grab-and-go pouches or affixing your favorite morale patch. The headrest mount is woven through the entire length of the panel, ideal for anyone familiar with how hanging weight can affect durability. Accessory pouches are sold separately.

COLORS
Black; Black/Orange; Blue, Coyote/Orange

MSRP
$80

URL
blueridgeoverlandgear.com

Breeo X Series Smokeless Fire Pit Firemaster Bundle

SIZES
19, 24, 30 inches

MSRP
$1,039

URL
breeo.co

NOTES
No electricity? No gas? No problem! Whether it’s because of overtaxed electrical grids or natural disasters, food security becomes extremely important. Breeo stepped up to the plate in that regard by putting together a comprehensive system to cook for family, friends, and even a close-knit community. Start by picking the diameter that best fits your available space, and continue by choosing the necessary cooking accessories that fit your needs. The sear plate griddle is great for sauteing veggies or heating up flapjacks, and the outpost grill swivels to adjust how much direct heat is underneath your favorite protein. An adjustable kettle hook makes for easy water boiling closer to the flames, or bringing stew to a simmer when set higher. After a great home-cooked meal, place the lid over the top to extinguish the flames, or use the ash shovel to clean it up for storage until the next use.

Bertucci M-2RA Women’s Field Watch

BANDS
Black, Espresso, Field Drab, Field Khaki, Liguria Olive Leather, Tan English Bridle Leather

MSRP
$85-$100

URL
bertucciwatches.com

NOTES
Analog watches tend to be overlooked in the age of smart technology, but their dependability continues to stand the test of time, pun intended. Bertucci has introduced a new line of field watches specifically designed for women, and it doesn't disappoint. The classy 35mm case is lightweight, water resistant, and features passive luminosity for quick reference when the sun goes down. An adjustable band made from Bertucci's proprietary blend of woven nylon is one-size-fits-all, and the case weighs a mere 1.2 ounces, which lends to soft and comfortable wear. In an industry where the majority of gear is designed for men, being able to find an item that's both rugged and feminine is a rare treat.

Thyrm CellVault-5M Modular Battery Storage

COLORS
Black, Flat Dark Earth, MultiCam, MultiCam Black, MultiCam Tropic, Olive Drab, Rescue Orange

MSRP
$55

URL
thyrm.com

NOTES
A ton of products and accessories require electricity, and in the field, this typically comes from some form of battery. Being prepared often means carrying several extra batteries just in case a headlamp goes dark or an illuminated optic runs out of juice. If you’re sick of digging through a pack or pocket looking for those spares, scratch that organizational itch with a product that'll keep your energy solutions protected and easily accessible. The CellVault holds a variety of batteries from AAA and 18650 to CR2032. A waterproof gasket seal keeps them safe from environmental conditions, and the tough polymer casing holds up to strong impacts. Integrated straps are built into the case for securing to MOLLE panels, and an adhesive Velcro patch is included if you want a label that corresponds to the type of battery being stored within.

LTWK Handcrafted Knives Frontier Valley

OPTIONS
With or without sheath

MSRP
$69-$100

URL
ltwrightknives.com

NOTES
Rather than collecting dust in some vast horde of blades, here comes a knife that was made to be used frequently. Whether it’s in the field or around the homestead, the 25⁄8-inch blade of the Frontier Valley is just the right size and shape for a wide array of tasks. As far as designs go, it has been a tried-and-true LTWK favorite for several years, and harkens back to Appalachian-made knives of the early pioneer days. The handle material is made from natural Micarta, indexes well, and is comfortable to work with. The blade is 1⁄8-inch A2 tool steel, an alloy steel renowned for its ease of sharpening, and has been expertly heat treated to a Rockwell hardness of 57-59 by Peters Heat Treating in Meadville, Pennsylvania. From game prep to general EDC, this is a quality knife that'll fulfill many roles. Overall length is 6 5⁄8 inches.

MPOWERD Luci EMRG

LUMENS
25

MSRP
$20

URL
mpowerd.com

NOTES
How often have we heard our public officials warning us about rolling brownouts and blackouts over the past several months? Thankfully, we don’t have to be left in the dark. The Luci EMRG is an inflatable, solar-charging emergency lantern, with no batteries needed. Set the lamp in the sun during the day — eight hours for a full charge — and the light will run up to seven hours in its low output setting. Other modes include high, flashing, S.O.S, and steady red. Luci EMRG will operate within a temperature range of 32 to 113 degrees F, has a waterproof rating of IP67, and can withstand up to 150 pounds of pressure. Weighing only 2.8 ounces, the collapsible lantern also makes a great addition to a camping, hunting, or backpacking loadout.

First Tactical Men’s Tactix System Jacket

COLORS
Black, Midnight Navy, OD Green

MSRP
$385

URL
firsttactical.com

NOTES
What you choose to wear when the weather is wet, cold, or both, can be the difference between just another day and a full-blown emergency situation. Having a three-seasons-style jacket like the Tactix System will happily take some of the harshest weather conditions and ask for seconds. This is a technical jacket that has a boatload of features, starting with its outer shell, which is 100-percent nylon, waterproof, breathable, and bloodborne-pathogen-resistant. Tucked into the collar of the outer shell is a triple-adjustable hood that features a rain gutter brim to keep water from dripping into your face. Beneath the outer shell is a short jacket made from a combination of nylon and four-way stretch spandex, which is also both water- and wind-resistant. Remove the outer shell entirely and either wear it as a lightweight rain jacket, or leave it at home and wear just the softshell zip-out on a brisk autumn morning. This is a solid choice for first responders and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Black Diamond Soloist Gloves

SIZES
XS, S, M, L, XL

MSRP
$100

URL
blackdiamondequipment.com

NOTES
Frostbite typically occurs first on exposed skin, then fingers and toes, and it's of the utmost importance to protect those areas when the wind brings temperatures below freezing. When venturing out into extreme winter conditions, a reliable set of knuckle roasters is worth its weight in gold. The Soloist Gloves from Black Diamond fit the bill and will keep your mitts nice and toasty. Outside is a lightweight, abrasion-resistant shell, with goatskin leather stitched to the palm with Kevlar thread. This allows the wearer to grip jagged rock and ice without worrying about damaging their handwear. Inside is a removable, 100-percent waterproof liner, with 170g of PrimaLoft Gold insulation on the back of the hand, and 130g on the palm. The removable liner makes drying and cleaning easy to do, and prevents possibly damaging the outer shell during maintenance.

Wazoo Adventure Kit

WEIGHT
3.5 ounces

MSRP
$110

URL
wazoogear.com

NOTES
When searching for a robust set of EDC tools that are both functional and reliable, you'd be hard-pressed to beat the Wazoo Adventure Kit. This tiny kit — no larger than 7 by 2 inches — is packed with a whopping 23 tools, and after reviewing its TSA- friendly contents, you may wonder why you ever left home without one. This kit contains many of the items you need to secure the necessities of life. Need fire? A ferro rod and fire plugs have got you covered. Need water? Katadyn tablets and 1L food safe bags will help you purify it. Hungry? There's fishing tackle and 50-pound-test fishing line. The kit also includes several items to signal for help, a button compass for navigation, an LED light for illumination, strong technora cordage, 24-gauge brass snare wire, a braided wire saw, and more. This kit was designed to fit comfortably into any of Wazoo’s cache clothing items, but it'll fit just as easily into a glovebox or the top flap of a rucksack.

WESN The Microblade

STYLE
Black, Blacked Out, OD Green G10 X Titanium, Salmon G10 X Titanium, Titanium

MSRP
$75

URL
wesn.com

NOTES
Knives have remained useful from the days of primitive man through the age of self-driving vehicles. However, there are circumstances when pulling out a large blade may have undesirable consequences. In some non-permissive locations, there are caps on how long of a blade you can carry in public. Fortunately, The Microblade is just long enough to be useful and small enough to be discreet. D2 tool steel swivels smoothly on ceramic bearings, and a frame lock holds it in place securely. When it's fully open, The Microblade is a mere 3.75 inches long, or 2.25 inches when closed. The pocket clip helps you tuck it beneath the waistline, onto a belt or webbing, and since it weighs in at only 1 ounce, you won't even know it's there. It’s tiny, constructed with durability in mind, and makes a handy addition to an EDC loadout.

Wiley X Mystique

STYLE
Gloss Black/Polarized Rose Gold, Gloss Black/Polarized Grey, Gloss Demi/Brown

MSRP
$100-$180

URL
wileyx.com

NOTES
Vision is one of those things that's easily taken for granted until it’s degraded or taken away. Wearing a quality set of sunglasses is a must to prevent excessive sunlight from causing irreparable harm. Bonus points if the lenses are impact resistant. Wiley X Mystique sunglasses for women check both of those boxes and look stylish to boot. The lenses are rated to shield your peepers from 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation with distortion-free clarity. They also meet ANSI Z87.1 safety standards for high-mass and high-velocity impact protection. Mystique sunglasses are durable, come in several frame and lens color schemes, and are a great option for an active lifestyle.

Earthsafe Chemical Alternatives Aquatabs

QUANTITY
30 tablets per box

MSRP
$11

URL
earthsafeca.com

NOTES
Hydration is a key to life, and all the gear or survival knowledge you possess won't be of any use if a steady flow of potable water isn't maintained. So, what do you do if the only source of water is from a stagnant pond or is possibly contaminated? Boiling is an option, but it requires you to stop moving and build a fire, consuming valuable tinder, fuel, and time. This is where Aquatabs becomes an appealing solution to clean drinking water. The active ingredient in these tablets is sodium dichloroisocyanurate, a tried-and-true chemical that’s commonly used on an industrial scale to purify drinking water. One small tab will sanitize 0.75 liter of contaminated water in as little as 40 minutes, and you can keep moving while it does its work — just scoop up some water, drop in a tablet, and continue hiking. Aquatabs are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization, and are certified to NSF Standard 60 for drinking water.

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Technical K.O. – Dillon Aero’s Minigun-Equipped Ford Ranger

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The term “technical” is often used to describe a civilian vehicle — usually a 4×4 pickup like the venerable Toyota Hilux — that has been modified to carry an onboard weapon system such as a heavy machine gun, anti-aircraft cannon, or anti-tank rocket launcher. The underlying light, mobile weapon concept dates back far beyond the automobile to horse-drawn tachanka carts of the First World War and carroballistas (essentially huge crossbows mounted on carriages) of the Roman Empire. However, according to the book Technicals: Non-Standard Tactical Vehicles from the Great War to Modern Special Forces by Leigh Neville, this descriptor originated during the Somali Civil War in the early 1990s, where NGOs hired local gunmen in “Mad Max-style armed pickup trucks” for protection under the guise of being “technical advisers.”

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 64 of our sister publication Recoil magazine.

As with other weapon concepts that have persisted through history, technicals still appear in nearly every modern conflict because they’re extremely effective. Unlike purpose-built military vehicles that require specialized, expensive parts and complex maintenance routines, technicals are based on vehicles that can be purchased locally and serviced at any Jiffy Lube (or its third-world equivalent). Their weapon components are bolted or welded in place, so they can just as easily be removed and exchanged. And if the vehicle is damaged in combat, repairing or replacing it is a matter of tens of thousands of dollars, not hundreds of thousands.

Serious Firepower

Above: The Dillon Aero MMC turret system built into this custom bed cage helps the operator maintain control of the M134D as it spews a near-continuous beam of rounds downrange. This weapon produces a considerable pile of spent brass and belt links after a few short bursts.

Arizona-based weapon manufacturer Dillon Aero recognized the merits of the technical formula, but wanted to put its own spin on it — literally. The Dillon team purchased this 2021 Ford Ranger and equipped it with the company’s Multi-Mission Capable (MMC) system, which is a modular, power-operated turret that can accept a wide variety of weapons. The compatibility list includes M240 and M60 medium machine guns, M2 .50-caliber heavy machine gun, MK19/MK47/H&K GMG automatic grenade launchers, the Russian PKM, and many others. But this truck features the cream of the crop — Dillon Aero’s M134D minigun, which doles out a staggering 3,000 rounds of 7.62 NATO per minute. That’s 50 rounds per second, or about four times the rate of fire of an M240. While taking photos for this article, we had the opportunity to send some rounds downrange with the M134D in the MMC turret, and we can only describe it is as a firehose of hot lead. If you can use one without grinning ear-to-ear, we can’t be friends.

Above: The bed cage was designed to accommodate overland accessories such as these Rotopax fuel canisters.

As cool as the minigun is, there’s more to this truck than its armament. A representative told us, “The Dillon Aero Ford Ranger goes a step further with the engineering effort to mount field-deployable communication systems that allow for ground control of military and civilian aircraft. We also implemented overland features that allow for extended capability in various mission settings.” The most noticeable upgrade is a one-of-a-kind custom bed cage that supports the MMC system; Dillon engineers designed and prototyped it using CAD files provided by Ford. The truck also features Coastal Offroad front and rear bumper sheetmetal kits, which were welded and finished in-house. The front bumper contains four Baja Designs LED lights and a Warn winch; the rear bumper has a swing-out spare tire carrier and antenna mount. That antenna is connected to a Mil-spec PRC-113 VHF/UHF radio that sits atop the truck’s dash.

Above: A Mil-spec PRC-113 radio adds communication capabilities to this truck. To save space on the dash, its bulky amplifier was relocated to the floor behind the center console.

Above: Fox coilovers with remote-reservoir shocks allow this Ranger to handle washboard desert roads smoothly at speed.

For improved off-road capability, the Ranger was equipped with ShrockWorks rock sliders, a Coastal Off-road skid plate, Fox remote-reservoir shocks, 17-inch Fifteen52 wheels, and 33-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires. Additionally, a Roam Adventure Co. awning was bolted onto the Prinsu roof rack, and Rotopax fuel canisters were installed on the bed cage.

Above: The MMC turret accepts a variety of weapons, including heavy machine guns and grenade launchers, but this Ranger is equipped with Dillon’s own M134D Minigun. We’re told they also have plans to try it with the .50-caliber 503D Gatling gun in the near future.

Although technicals are typically the work of “austere” mechanics and fabricators in war-torn countries, it’s not hard to see why mainstream manufacturers like Dillon Aero (and Global Military Products, distributors of the Scorpion mortar truck we featured in Recoil Issue 61) are getting on board with the idea. It’s much easier and more cost-effective to install a weapon system on a locally sourced civilian truck than it is to send a custom-built military vehicle halfway across the globe and keep it running. Kyle Goodale of Dillon’s Special Projects skunkworks explained, “We’ve had many vehicle platforms come into the shop, usually built for one purpose or another … The Ranger represents the first project of its type for Dillon Aero, where the Special Projects division was given a blank slate to build upon. We look forward to implementing it in our testing processes for various weapon systems such as the 503D (.50-caliber Gatling gun) platform and having a good time with it as well.”

Above: This high-clearance Coastal Offroad rear bumper includes a swing-out with a full-size spare tire, trash bag, and antenna mount.

Dillon Aero Ford Ranger Specifications

2021 Ford Ranger XLT SuperCrew 4×4

Drivetrain: 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder with 10-speed automatic transmission

Suspension: Fox Performance Elite Series 2.5 remote reservoir coilover shocks

Armament: Dillon Aero MMC turret system equipped with Dillon Aero M134D Minigun and Trijicon MGRS sight

Wheels & Tires: 17-inch Fifteen52 Turbomac HD wheels, 285/70R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires

Body Modifications: Dillon Aero custom bed cage, Coastal Offroad front/rear bumpers and skid plate, ShrockWorks rock sliders, Prinsu roof rack, Roam Adventure Co. awning, Rotopax fuel containers

Electronics: Baja Designs Squadron Pro bumper lights and S2 Pro A-pillar lights on SDHQ brackets, sPOD HD light/accessory controller, PRC-113 radio with VRC-83 amplifier and bumper-mounted antenna, Warn winch

Owner & Builder: Dillon Aero Inc. Scottsdale, Arizona

WEB: dillonaero.com

Special Thanks: Foothills Fabrication, ShrockWorks, Coastal Offroad, SDHQ Motorsports