Plate Carrier Placards Overview: Part 2

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Editor's Note: In yesterday's OFFGRIDweb-exclusive article, we shared Part 1 of our deep dive into the subject of plate carrier placards. If you haven't read it already, go check it out — it explores four different placards for general-purpose and weapon-specific applications. Read on for Part 2 of the article, where we'll address a MOLLE-compatible placard that allows you to bring your own pouches, and show how modular placards can be applied to chest rigs in situations where armor may not be necessary.

Direct Attachment: Dynamic Principles Laser-cut MOLLE Placard

What piqued our curiosity with this placard was not its load carriage. While we appreciate the use of laser-cut, we were more interested in the fact that this Dynamic Principles placard actually has TacTik buckles mounted directly to the ends of it. Our Arbor Arms CAS 2.0 plate carrier already uses a QD cummerbund with TacTik buckles, so this presented an interesting new option not to how we load our plate carrier, but to how our carrier wears said load.

Using the Dynamic Principles placard allows us to bypass the need for those buckles, since the cummerbund arms can “click” directly into the placard itself. The CAS 2.0 specifically has the ability to remove the TacTik buckles from the front plate bag. So, if you were to use the Dynamic Prinicples placard as your “dedicated” front plate for this carrier, you could rely solely on the placard's own buckles.

Above: The cummerbund on our Arbor Arms plate carrier can be connected directly to this Dynamic Principles placard, maintaining a snug fit and eliminating the need for sandwiched Velcro adapters.

What’s gained from this? If your cummerbund is elastic, or partially elastic, this would push the mounting point further forward and put a little bit of additional load on the elastic. If you have a problem with your plate carrier bouncing or shifting, or just prefer a snugger fit, this is one way to address that. Likewise, you now have cummerbund holding tension directly on the placard – the part which is bearing all the weight of your ammo and other gear. Any placard, especially those with heavily-loaded MOLLE pouches woven into webbing loops, will begin to sag after extended periods of those pouches pulling on those loops. Repeated tearing and re-pressing of the Velcro, plus environmental factors like dust, mud or water, will also weaken the bond between plate bag and placard. Even if your plate carrier sits snug against your body, those pouches on the front may still shuffle, rustle or bounce a little when moving once placard fatigue sets in. Using the cummerbunds to literally pull-in against the placard helps secure the placard, and the load its carrying, against your carrier for a more secure placard-plate-carrier-torso sandwich.

Having said all that, we certainly don’t want to overlook the placard itself. The all-MOLLE design gives maximum modularity to use whatever pouches you may already have in whatever configuration you prefer. If none of the “pre-set” placard options we’ve covered tickle your fancy, you could simply purchase several of these and build out your own pouch suite on each one for different purposes. We set this one up for general carbine use – think range days or weekend classes.

The double magazine pouch is from Wilde Custom Gear, paired with a Bleeder/Blowout Pouch from HSGI. In addition to the standard-width six rows of MOLLE loops, the Dynamic Principles placard has three elastic loops. A wider loop on the bottom edge of the placard for a fast-access tourniquet, and a narrower loop on either end ideal for Sharpie markers, chem lights or other slender, cylindrical tools. These loops are a nice touch that add some low-profile bespoke storage for a couple few small items to make life easier for the end user. There are plenty of all-MOLLE placards out there. But the direct-connect feature, and “nice touch” onboard elastic storage set this one apart in a sea of otherwise-all-the-same.

Wraparound Placard: JTACtical Solutions

JTACtical Solutions offers another solution for scalability in the form of two products: their Elastic Mag Placard and their MOLLE Wrap. The Elastic Mag Placard is a simple 3-mag shingle for AR-style rifle magazines. The pouches are elastic, with loop-side Velcro on the front of each pouch. The MOLLE Wrap offers three rows and eight columns of MOLLE. If all you need is ammo, run the mag placard by itself.

Need to beef up your loadout to handle additional tasks? Add the MOLLE Wrap for additional load carriage. We like this concept because you could keep several of the MOLLE Wraps on hand, pre-configured for different tasks/situations. There are also some loops on each end of the wrap meant to accommodate First Spear Tubes buckles. With some zip ties or small carabiners, they could easily be adapted for hanging 550 cord or chem lights off of.

We kept our loadout of the MOLLE Wrap simple: three G-Code Scorpion Softshell pistol mag pouches. Two shorter pouches for Glock 19 mags, and a longer pouch for a flashlight. No matter what additional equipment you need to swap on and off, you’ll never be without ammo with this setup.

What About Placards on Chest Rigs?

Plate carriers like the CAS 2.0 are great for hosting a variety of placards, but is there an equally modular solution for those who don’t need to wear armor? The answer we found comes by way of Javlin Concepts, in the form of their JCR (Javlin Chest Rig).

The JCR is lightweight design that, like the CAS carrier, is able to host placards from across an array of manufacturers. The JCR Base consists of two rigid, lightweight, Tegris panels covered in soft-side Velcro and connected by an X-style shoulder harness. It should be noted that there the JCR Base does not come with any kind of cummerbund or closure system, so you will have to add your own. We went with a 3-inch Hybrid Skeletal Cummerbund by Defense Mechanisms.

This cummerbund is designed to attach to their Mission Essential Plate Carrier by large Velcro panels sewn to either end of the cummerbund, but the configuration of the JCR Base panels allow them to adopt the Def Mech components without any hassle or heartache. The flexible, semi-elastic cummerbund arms are equipped with TacTik quick release buckles, identical to those on both the CAS 2.0 and the Dynamic Principles placard – creating a seamless ecosystem between panel, plate carrier, and chest rig.

The rigidity of the JCR helps support even fully-laden placards and cummerbunds, while adding little additional weight or bulk to the system as a whole. It can also be worn over slick or low-profile armor carriers for a scalable two-part system that can include armor as needed.

Placard Compatibility and Fitment Tips

Above: The Wilde Custom Gear PCC placard (discussed in Part 1) on our JCR chest rig.

There are three primary factors that will affect how well your placards fit to you plate carrier: buckle size, width between buckles and lead length from the “male” end buckles to the placard itself – the latter affecting at what height the placard sits. These dimensions are not standardized across the entire spectrum of plate carriers and chest rigs, or even within the same manufacturer, which is demonstrated in our sampling here. A couple of the issues we noted:

  • The lead length (from buckle to top edge of placard) was different even between the two samples from HRT Tactical. The Shotgun placard had a longer lead length than the Maximus
  • The width between buckles between the two HRT placards also varied somewhat. The Maximus buckles were a little narrower than the female buckles on the CAS, while the buckles on the shotgun placard lined up perfectly.
  • The buckles on the Wilde Custom Gear subgun placard were sewn almost directly into the top edge of the placard, with little lead. The male buckles on the Wilde placard were also closer together than the female buckles on the CAS carrier.
  • The buckles on the LBX Tactical Placard were a different size, ¾-inch, as opposed to the so-called-standard 1-inch buckles on all the other placards.

Above: The HRT Tactical shotgun-specific placard attached to the Javlin Chest Rig.

None of these issues are an indictment of the placards, or their manufacturers. But consider it an advisory that there is not a hard industry-wide standard for these kinds of placards and their mounting footprints. The lead-length/placard height issues were easily remedied, thanks to the design of the Arbor Arms CAS 2.0. The CAS 2.0 has multiple sets of cutouts for mounting female QASM-type buckles and, since the buckles are not hard-sewn to the carrier, they can be moved to whichever row of mounting loops provides optimal height. Likewise, those placards with slightly-narrower buckle spacing didn’t suffer. The width disparity was not enough to prevent any placard from clicking in to either the CAS or JCR and sitting flat.

Above: The LBX Tactical Variable Assaulter Panel placard attached to the Javlin Chest Rig. The 3/4-inch buckles on this placard had to be swapped out to match the 1-inch buckles on the JCR.

The only “hard stop” was with the LBX Tactical placard, as there was no easy fix for the buckles on the placard being too small for the buckles on the plate carrier. Again, we do not hold this against LBX, as their website clearly states on the product page that the Variable Assaulter Panel comes with ¾-inch buckles. We remedied this issue on a factory visit to Arbor Arms – where they were able to do a little slicing and sewing to mount 1-inch buckles on the LBX placard.

Closing Thoughts

Based on our experience, it’s unlikely that one plate carrier or chest rig will play nice with every modular placard on the market. But we were able to find enough positive matches across an array of manufacturers to make the prospect viable. Straying outside of the sample combinations listed here is certainly possible, although may take some trial-and-error. Be prepared to either utilize a few companies’ return policies or have some conversations with their customer service reps to determine width-between-buckles before you put money down.

The JCR—the only chest rig we’ve seen to utilize a blindly modular system—further expands the possibilities for a successful multi-placard “armory” that doesn’t require lugging around armor plates. The idea of one host with swappable faceplates is far more attractive than setting up multiple, dedicated rigs for different uses. But your needs will dictate how necessary or beneficial this type of placard ecosystem would be for you.

Plate Carrier Placards Overview: Part 1

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The market for plate carriers, chest rigs, and modular plate carrier placards has seen unprecedented growth in the last 10 years. We still remember when things like bandoleers and chest rigs were being custom-sewn for special operators by their parachute riggers. Now there is an ever-expanding playing field of plates, plate carriers, chest rigs, and accessories that nearly guarantees an off-the-shelf solution for any use case. However, this huge variety of choices comes with some drawbacks.

An Overload of Options

One of the side of effects of this tactical nylon renaissance is something we call “kit glut”. There are so many options to choose from, that we wind up choosing separate options for individual use cases.

It’s frighteningly easy to wind up with a row of plastic tubs or cardboard boxes in your attic or garage containing:

  • A chest rig for range days and classes
  • A slick plate carrier for low-profile concealed protection
  • A chest rig to wear over the slick plate carrier when more firepower is needed
  • A plate carrier for recon or surveillance applications
  • A plate carrier for direct-action or assault applications
  • et cetera…

Some of this could be driven by professional requirements. For example, if you are a patrol officer who serves on your department’s SWAT team as a collateral duty, you may have different armor carriers for patrol use and entry-team use. If you are in a military unit with varied mission sets, you may fall into the “recon vs assault” conundrum and have a kit for each. If you are a civilian running multiple weapon systems (a shotgun or pistol-caliber carbine for home defense, but an AR or AK for SHTF use) you may have a carrier or chest rig dedicated to each system.

Streamline Your Kit with Modular Placards

While there’s nothing inherently wrong about building a handful of chest rig and plate carrier setups for different tasks, it costs a significant amount of time, money, storage space, and potentially heartache. This is why the advent of modular plate carriers with interchangeable front panels (or placards) is so appealing.

 

Above: This Dynamic Principles Laser-cut MOLLE Placard served as our direct-attachment setup. Stay tuned for a full list of its features and components in Part 2.

While there are a myriad of variations available, you’re likely familiar with the basic layout of a modular plate carrier: slick front with loop-side Velcro and a pair of quick-release “pinch” buckles, sometimes known as SRBs (Side-Release Buckles) or QASM buckles (Quick Attach Surface Mount). The placards then attach to the carrier with both Velcro and buckle.

Above: These buckles on the plate carrier support the weight of the placard, and prevent it from peeling off the Velcro unexpectedly.

Some carriers will come with a basic MOLLE-loop-covered placard as a standard offering. Other companies offer the plate carrier as a standalone purchase, with a suite of different placards available a la carte. But the true beauty of a QASM-placard-based system is that you are not confined to the manufacturer you purchased your carrier from.

The plate carrier you see here is a Arbor Arms CAS 2.0—Communicator Armor System—loaded with Level III+ plates from Prime Armor. These plates weigh less than 5 pounds each while still being able to stop 7.62x39mm Armor-Piercing ammo out of an AK-47, or the military’s new M855A1 round in 5.56mm.

Like many modern plate carriers, the Arbor Arms CAS is a testament to modularity. To prove our point, none of the front placards showcased here are from Arbor Arms. Only their carrier is used. If you purchase your own CAS 2.0, Arbor does have their own placard options, and they are good. But we want to showcase the vast compatibility across brands. The following overview is a sampling of different placards from different companies, with a variety of unique features. This list is not even remotely inclusive of what’s available in the market-at-large. But we hope to give you a starting point to plan out a survival armor carrier, or perhaps streamline your existing setup.

General Purpose Load Carriage: HRT Tactical Maximus Placard

The HRT Tactical Maximus is an excellent plac-of-all-trades (see what we did there?) that offers well-rounded load carriage for a variety of jobs while still bringing some modularity. The Maximus is built off a velcro-lined “kangaroo” pocket that can accept a variety of elastic inserts, which are included, for different magazine types.

There is a 3-mag AR-15 style mag insert, a 2-mag insert that accepts AR-10 or similar mags, and a 5-mag insert for subgun/PCC sticks. There is even a full-length zipper-top that can used if you don’t want/need to carry any rifle mags at all. In that case, the kangaroo pouch would be ideal for everything from food to maps to medical gear.

Each end of the Maximus has a pistol mag pouch. These pouches have full cover flaps that are removeable, as well as S-shaped polymer inserts that provide mag retention without the flap. The polymer retention inserts are also removeable, allowing the end pouches to hold other miscellaneous items like flashlights, multi-tools, folding knives, small OC spray cans or a bundle of chem lights. The front of the placard has two square general-purpose pouches hard sewn in place. The square zippered GP pouches have elastic loops inside to retain an assortment of gear.

On our test sample Maximus, we used one of these pouches as a personal trauma kit, and the other to hold pyrotechnics – one smoke grenade from Sport Smoke, and one flash bang from IWA International.

Lean Load: LBX Tactical Variable Assaulter Panel

If you want maximum ammo storage, we’d suggest looking elsewhere. But that’s not the point of LBX’s Variable Assaulter Panel. An offshoot of London Bridge Trading, a company doing custom nylon gear for elite professionals long before anyone was paying attention to such things, LBX brings the same ingenuity and verified design experience to a more commercial-facing market. The Variable Assaulter Panel features a single sewn-on rifle mag pouch with a double-pistol-mag pouch layered over that. The rifle magazine is retained by shock cord, the two pistol mags by a single large Velcro flap. The one hybrid ammo pouch is flanked on either side by two rows of sewn-on MOLLE webbing.

Could you use said webbing to add more mag pouches? Absolutely. But we think that’s sort of missing the point. There are plenty of other front panels purpose-built to hold more ammo. We see this as an option for someone who 1. Does not use a carbine as their primary weapon, and 2. Does not expect a protracted gunfight. Plainclothes LEOs who use plate carriers for warrant service or fugitive recovery could find the Variable Assaulter Panel an excellent fit. To that end, we adorned this panel with an open-top handcuff pouch and radio pouch from Sentry Tactical.

 

Of course, this placard is hardly cop-specific. We set up an alternate loadout featuring a pair of civilian-legal flashbang devices from IWA international, in Longship Design Frag Pouches from Unobtanium Gear. We also added a Quick Open Sled IFAK from Wilde Custom Gear, which features a removable tray for your med supplies.

For the prepared citizen, 30 rounds of 5.56mm and 30 rounds of 9mm—plus whatever is in your weapons—ought be enough to solve just about any problem you’re likely to encounter, short of a full-blown foreign invasion. Which is why we like the Variable Assaulter Panel’s stripped-down design. It keeps a modest amount of ammunition front-and-center on your loadout, while allowing proper space for other items, from radios or med kits to fire-starting tools or meal replacement bars.

PCC-Specific: Wilde Custom Gear CZ Scorpion/SIG MPX 30rnd Placard

If your go-to gun is a submachine gun or PCC, this Wilde Custom Gear placard is a straightforward choice to maximize firepower. There is a caveat to this. There are some important dimensional differences between magazines, depending on which PCC platform you’re running. Whether you’re running curved mags like a Scorpion EVO or MPX, or straight ones like B&T, Colt SMG or Glock-pattern “happy sticks” will make a difference as to which pouches or placards you need.

In this case, Wilde specifically states this placard is for CZ and SIG magazines. Whichever you’re running, the Wilde placard will hold four magazines in individual pouches with shock-cord retention. Each pouch as a column of laser-cut slots for attaching additional pouches, so you can carry more than just bullets on board this placard.

We added some various sundries including a Blue Force Gear tourniquet pouch, pair of chem lights, Emdom Multitasker pouch and HSGI TACO with a mini smoke grenade from FAST Ordnance.

Shotgun-Specific: HRT Tactical Shotgun Placard

Like the Wilde Custom Gear PCC placard, the HRT Tactical Shotgun Placard is a very straightforward solution for ammo management, and perhaps the least-complicated design of all the placards featured here. What you see is what you get here – 21 elastic loops in three columns with just enough space between them to hold 2-¾ or 3-inch 12-gauge shotgun shells. That’s enough to completely fill a standard Remington 870 or Mossberg 500 three times, with a 6- or 7-shot tube. More if you’re using a shorter pistol-grip or breacher model. It’s also exactly 10.5 reloads for a double-barrel, if you ascribe to the current President’s philosophy of home defense.

Our only gripe is that it that the loops are just too big for 20-gauge shells. Having said that, if we were facing a problem that we felt would require almost 30 rounds from a shotgun to fix, we’d probably be bringing a 12-gauge anyway. Covering the entire front placard with elastic loops does preclude any other type of load carriage on the front of your kit, but this placard was made for one purpose and one purpose only – making a whole lot of shotshells available in a hurry. If that’s a niche you need to fill in your preparedness plan, we think this is one of the better ways to do it.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this article, which will contain info about direct-attachment MOLLE placards, a placard-compatible chest rig from Javlin Concepts, and tips for getting your placard of choice to fit your plate carrier.

Review: Steambow AR-6 Stinger II Crossbow

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Throughout history, the archer has been treated as a superior warrior, as his considerable training, physical strength, and expertise at the efficient operation of a traditional bow and arrow began when he was young and lasted most of his career as a warrior. He was envied, lionized, and celebrated by many ancient cultures — not just anyone could be an archer. Then, there’s the crossbow.

Developed much later than the bow and arrow — around the 7th century B.C. in China — and “rediscovered” by Western cultures 300 years later, the handheld crossbow technology derived from the gastraphetes, a “belly shooter” used by the Greeks. Instead of the string being pulled back like later medieval crossbows, a mechanism was pushed down by the weight of the user’s body. This and later crossbows outpaced the bow and arrow as a formidable weapon because it required very little training and less skill to operate. It meant that an average warrior could operate a crossbow efficiently and accurately compared to the highly trained archer.

Above: The Stinger II crossbow is a light and compact weapon that provides a lot of fun at the range as well as effectiveness in the field or in the home. 

Photos by Natalie Price

The Steambow AR-6 Stinger II

Steambow is an Austrian company that formed from a group of enthusiastic crossbow shooters who had a desire to produce innovative crossbows for like-minded shooters. They partnered with various companies in the automotive, aerospace, and weapons industry to help with the design and manufacture, and from the efforts of a team of engineers and testers, it took two years to perfect the AR-6 Stinger II. It’s an ultralight repeating pistol-style crossbow with a quick rate of fire, a comfortable and adjustable stock, and a host of accessories to aid in shooting and increase individuality.

The weapon arrives in a box unassembled, and although some might see that as a chore, we see it as an opportunity to explore the functions of the parts that make up a crossbow. Putting it together helps you better understand the mechanical elements in their parts of the whole. Pulling it from its Styrofoam packaging, the carbon fiber and glass laminate limb feels smooth and strong. The parts fit without any guesses, and the whole thing can be assembled easily. The tools (Allen wrench, screws, and nuts) are supplied. One drawback is that the instructions don’t include a sketch, showing the various parts and terminology, which would be helpful to a novice.

Above: Many of the components are hardened plastic, including the trigger, although there’s a thin rubber coating on the grip that makes it more comfortable.

It came with two strings (one is a spare) and a stringing aid to install them. The magazine, foregrip, and rifle stock came together easily, but we didn’t initially notice the optional laser sight (sold separately). It required pulling apart the deck, which meant taking apart the entire thing, so we skipped it. Our experience with the crossbow didn’t rely on the accuracy of the laser but the quality of the weapon itself.

Steambow AR-6 Stinger II

MSRP: $280

URL: steambow.at

Crossbow Pros and Cons

One of the largest advantages of a crossbow over other arrow-based weapons is that once the crossbow is cocked with a bolt at the ready, it requires no further energy from the user to maintain the readiness of the weapon. A longbow can have a draw weight of about 50 to 80 pounds, which must be maintained throughout the aiming and firing process, whereas a crossbow can have a much higher draw weight — up to 200 pounds — giving it a higher velocity. This is especially good for people with disabilities or young shooters who don’t have a great deal of upper arm strength. With a mechanical draw and a locked-in string, all one needs to do is pull the trigger.

Above: The adjustable stock allows for different-sized people to get the most out of the Stinger II, while removing it altogether provides a more compact configuration. 

Crossbows are versatile and very accurate. They can be combined with telescopic sights and laser sights for additional ease of use; not to mention the rifle stock adds to the stability of the weapon when aiming. One can use a crossbow in any position, as opposed to merely standing or kneeling with a standard bow.

As a trade-off for these benefits, crossbows are heavy, since they need more engineering and material to handle the heavier weight of the draw string. Crossbows are bulkier, making them unwieldy in tight situations. This can hamper a quick draw.

Above: There are three options for bolts. Six blue training bolts are included (140 grain), but you can also purchase broadhead hunting bolts and black Bodkin bolts (160 grain). 

They’re also noisy. The draw mechanism has a distinct clatter to it, and the initial pull of the trigger unleashes a sharp clank that can spook prey before the bolt has a chance to strike. In situations where stealth is a must, a crossbow will betray you.

If you got off a shot but missed, odds are good you’re not going to get another chance at it, since crossbows have a long reload time compared to traditional bows. With a traditional bow, a skilled archer can nock another arrow with one hand and without ever taking his aim away from the target. With a crossbow, however, the user must take down the weapon, load a bolt, pull back the string until it locks, and re-aim. This takes two hands and some time.

Above: We lost a couple of bolts during our range time, including one burying itself so deeply in the foam target that the head popped off, leaving us with an aluminum fletched straw. 

At the Range

One of the benefits of the Stinger II is that it’s lightweight. Tipping the scales at a mere 2.6 pounds, it debunks the critics of crossbows who claim they’re usually overweight. Another advantage is that it’s easy to cock, and with a magazine filled with six bolts, you can easily have six steel-tipped daggers flying downrange in under 20 seconds.

Above: The bottom Picatinny rail can hold a variety of items. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do a very good job retaining the included foregrip. 

One commonly held drawback to operating a crossbow is that the cocking mechanism is usually too tough for normal people who don’t have arms like Daryl from The Walking Dead. Usually, they employ a cocking tool that must be kept handy, or you must use your feet as an anchor. The Stinger II, however, employs an easy cocking method. After activating a thumb release lever at the front of the rifle stock, the whole unit can bend in half, forcing a pair of chrome arms to grab the string and pull it back into the retention notch just above the trigger. When this happens, a new bolt falls into place and is ready to fire. Aim, pull the trigger, skin it, and fire up the stove. It’s that easy, but it’s a strange motion that requires some practice to execute smoothly and quickly.

Above: The chrome arms are the business end of the cocking mechanism that grabs the string and pulls it back toward the retention notch. 

There’s some give and take here, though. The limbs included in the example we reviewed came with 55 pounds of tension, so it didn’t require a great deal of strength to cock the crossbow. There’s a 90-pound option, which would be much more difficult to get the string into the retention notch. Steambow suggests that the 55-pound limbs produce a projectile speed of 180 feet per second, while the 90-pound limbs increase that velocity to 220 feet per second, an increase of about 18 percent.

Stay on Target

Above: Six bolts loaded and ready to go. If in all the excitement of the moment you lose count, a quick glance will reassure you of how many bolts remain. 

With the standard limbs, we went to the range (aka the backyard) to test the accuracy and penetration of the Stinger II. Steambow supplied a couple dozen bolts (target, broadheads, and Bodkins). The kit came with a foam target about 20 inches square that we set “down range” approximately 50 feet away.

Starting closer, at 20 feet, hitting the target was absolutely no problem. After dialing in the sight and adjusting our shooting style to the slightly jerky trigger, we were able to achieve a nice grouping, as each bolt buried itself about halfway into the target. Pushing back to the 50-foot line, our groupings became haphazard and the drop rate increased significantly.

Above: The fiber-optic front sight can be supplemented with many options: a laser sight that incorporates into the body of the crossbow, a red dot sight, and/or a scope (which is probably overkill). 

Since the speed of the bolt is only about 180 feet per second, we lost about 12 inches of drop by the time the bolt reached the 50-foot target. So, you’ll struggle to maintain a solid grouping at this distance. That doesn’t mean we didn’t penetrate what we were shooting at. For example, at 75 feet, a bolt missed the target completely (we tried hip firing with not such great results) and bored itself into the sod behind the target at such a depth that the bolt has yet to be found. The rest of the rounds easily penetrated the dense foam target.

Above: Made from hard plastic, the buttstock is comfortable and thanks to the textured surface, won’t ever slip off your shoulder. However, since there’s zero recoil from this crossbow and it’s so light, we were never concerned about slippage. 

One issue we struggled with was getting an accurate aim by using the fiber-optic front sight with the push tab for the magazine release button, which seems clumsy. The body of the crossbow also tends to block a lot of the target before the user can get a solid view. It could be argued that mounting a red dot (Steambow sells one as an option) would increase one’s view of the target, but at an advanced range, would it make you more accurate? Perhaps not.

Thanks to the slow speed, you can watch the bolt’s trajectory as it hits the target. The more we shot, the easier and more natural the cocking mechanism became, to the point where it started to flow into a natural movement.

Above: This tab releases the magazine cover for reloading, and doubles as the rear sight.

Concerns

Overall, this is a formidable weapon. Its unique design is easy to use, has virtually zero maintenance, and is so simple it can be mastered by anyone. However, there were a couple of concerns. Although it’s lightweight, some of the components feel cheaply made and poorly attached. This leads to the weapon rattling when moved, and that can lead to unneeded noise when trying to get the jump on some nervous prey.

Above: Your groupings may vary depending on distance, skill, patience, and reloading speed. This was at 50 feet. 

The foregrip is made of a hardened plastic and instead of it being attached to the bottom Picatinny rail with a horizontal retaining screw — as accessories usually are — a plastic “screw” (more of a nub) is tightened from the bottom of the grip and pushed in between the rail slots. Since this piece is fairly integral in the cocking process (it provides a great deal of leverage), having it attached this way is disconcerting. Without it, cocking the weapon becomes very difficult, so tightening it down sufficiently is important.

Above: A bolt inside the magazine rides on top of the string while it’s pulled back into place before firing. One fiddly thing we noticed is that sometimes the fletching of the first bolt dropped in will face down, impeding the string, until we reach in to straighten it. 

Wrapping Up

Above: Shooting the crossbow is as easy as shooting any other shouldered weapon thanks to the AR-style buttstock and foregrip. 

The press release that came with the crossbow claimed this is an ideal tool for home defense, pest control, and small game hunting. We’re not sure how effective it would be for home defense; although we can’t imagine a bolt having the same effectiveness as a 12-gauge, I’m sure a couple, correctly placed into vital organs, would permanently dissuade any would-be burglar. As for a rat invading your attic or a rabbit needed for the next meal, there’s no doubt the Stinger II would knock it off its feet at 50 feet or so.

Since it’s lightweight and easy for anyone to use — even with very little prior knowledge of weapons beyond a quick safety lesson — the Stinger II is a great weapon to keep handy and is a delightfully fun shooter as well.

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The Basics of IV Fluids for Emergency Scenarios

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The off-grid medic has to deal with lots of medical issues. Bleeding, broken bones, burns, and infections can lead to major challenges when you don’t have modern medical facilities at your beck and call. Many of these problems result in loss of fluids from the body. Oral rehydration will replace what’s lost, but what if your patient is unconscious? In normal times, that’s where intravenous (IV) fluids come in. One study reported that almost 90 percent of hospitalized patients have an IV line placed. In a true long-term disaster scenario, hospitals will be few and far between, but injuries and infections will still occur. You’ll get by with oral fluids in most cases, but it’s a good idea to know some basics about IV therapy. In the right hands, IV infusions are used to maintain hydration, balance electrolytes, replace blood, give medicine, and even provide nutrition. IV fluids can save lives but can also cause life-threatening situations if used incorrectly. Proceed with caution.

Disclaimer: This is meant to be a brief overview and not a detailed guide on IVs. Please seek qualified medical training before attempting any of these steps. 

General Types of IV Fluids

Above: Dehydration can usually be treated with oral fluids, but IV fluids can be used in more severe cases.

Giving fluids to a human is more complex than pumping gas into a car. To understand the basics of IV fluid administration, it’s important to understand some terms.

A “solute” is a solid that’s dissolved into a liquid. A classic example of a solute is salt in water. Salt is the solute that dissolves in water (a “solvent”) to form a saline “solut-ion.” IV fluids that contain solutes dissolved in water are known as “crystalloids.” They’re the options most commonly used to replace fluids and balance electrolytes.

Fluids in a blood vessel may be inside the cells (“intracellular”) or outside the cells (“extracellular”). The fluid in blood vessels outside the cells is called “plasma.” The concentration of solutes (“osmolality”) of a particular IV fluid affects the pressure balance (“tonicity”) of the plasma. Choosing the right IV fluid matters, as it affects whether red blood cells remain stable, shrink, or swell.

There are three main IV fluid tonicities: isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic.

Above: Plastic bags have replaced glass IV bottles in modern medicine.

Isotonic fluids: These fluids have a similar solute concentration to that naturally seen in plasma, so they don’t cause significant pressure movement of fluid into or out of the patient’s red blood cells. IV solutions in this group include the most commonly known: 0.9-percent “normal” saline, lactated Ringer’s solution, and 5-percent dextrose in water. You’d use these to replace fluids lost from dehydration.

Hypotonic fluids: These fluids have lower concentrations of solutes than blood, resulting in a tonicity less than that of plasma. When cells in blood have more solutes in them than the IV fluid or plasma, they tend to swell as osmotic pressure drives water into them. Hypotonic solutions are used when a patient has very high sodium levels or a condition that dehydrates cells, such as diabetic ketoacidosis. Examples include “half-normal” saline (0.45 percent) and sterile water.

Hypertonic fluids: These fluids have a higher concentration of solutes than blood. They’re typically used in critical care to treat very low sodium levels, which can cause fluid in the lungs. The hypertonic solution will help remove excess fluid from red blood cells. An example would be dextrose 5 percent in 0.9-percent normal saline solution or even 3-percent saline.

Practically speaking, the family medic fortunate enough to have IV setups on hand and a supply of isotonic IV fluids will use them to replace fluids lost from dehydration or, perhaps, hemorrhage. Adjusting electrolytes like sodium with hypotonic or hypertonic solutions depends on knowing the level, usually identified by lab tests. With such tests scarce off the grid, this involves some risky guessing.

Above: IV bag ports and drip chamber

Deaths in survival settings from severe dehydration may be prevented by giving fluids like Ringer’s lactate or 0.9-percent normal saline solution. This is called “fluid resuscitation.” Ringer’s lactate is a mixture of water, calcium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and sodium lactate.

Most cases of dehydration can be improved with oral fluids. To identify dehydration that requires IV resuscitation, look for these signs:

  • Thirst
  • Dark urine in decreased volumes
  • Weak, rapid pulse
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Dry mouth and lips
  • Sunken eyes
  • Fatigue
  • Lethargy
  • Poor skin tone (“turgor”)

Above: Thicker fluids like packed red cells need larger gauge catheters.

To check turgor, pinch the skin on the forearm; normally, the skin snaps right back, but will remain “tented” in victims of dehydration. Dehydration is more commonly seen in people who have a high fever or are diabetic, vomiting, alcoholic, or overheated.

How much fluid should we give for dehydration? For those over one year of age, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 30 ml of Ringer’s lactate (preferred) or normal saline per kilogram of body weight (1 kilogram equals 2.2 pounds) in the first 30 minutes and 70 ml/kg spread out over the next three hours. If not improved, you can continue for longer periods. This might be necessary in someone with cholera, where huge amounts of fluids are lost as watery diarrhea. Signs of improvement include larger volume of and lighter-colored urine, stronger pulses, good skin turgor, resolution of vomiting, and less thirst. Once improved, the IV may be removed and the patient can switch to oral fluids.

Above: Hydration status can be determined by urine color.

Oral rehydration salts are available commercially to mix with water, or you can make your own. The simple formula involves mixing 6 teaspoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of salt in a liter of water. You may choose to add a small amount of salt substitute (potassium source) and a pinch of bicarbonate (baking soda) to the mixture as well. A flavoring agent may also be added to make the solution taste better. Those recovering from dehydration, vomiting, or diarrhea should start with frequent sips of the solution rather than gulping it down.

A Note on “Normal” Saline Solution

Why is 0.9-percent saline solution known as “normal” saline? In 1883, a Dutch scientist named Hamburger suggested that the concentration of salts in the human body was 0.9 percent. He said that a solution of equal concentration would be a “normal” content for IV fluids, and the name stuck.

Components of an IV Set

Special materials are needed for intravenous infusions. A typical IV setup contains a number of components for the insertion and maintenance of the therapy.

IV fluids: In the past, fluids like normal saline or Ringer’s lactate came in glass bottles. Today, they’re almost universally in sterile plastic bags. Bags may contain anywhere from 50 to 1,000 milliliters. For dehydration, liter bags are best due to the volume of fluids needed. Small bags like 50 ml are used to deliver dilute intravenous medications, although most IV bags have a port that allows injection of medications into the main bag.

IV catheter: The IV catheter is a hollow, plastic tube that’s pre-loaded over a hollow, beveled needle. The needle/tube is attached to a “hub” that remains above the skin. A small, transparent chamber is found behind the hub that allows the medic to see when blood from the vein flows into the catheter from a successful insertion. The catheter is then connected to tubing that attaches to the fluid bag.

IV needles typically range in size from 14 to 24 gauge, a measure that tells you the internal diameter of the catheter. The higher the gauge, the narrower the catheter. Saline can be infused through relatively small gauge needles, but thicker fluids like packed red blood cells require larger gauges.

Above: Butterfly IV needle

IV tubing: Also known as primary infusion sets, this is the tubing that connects the IV bags to the IV catheter. The connection is usually a “spike” that inserts one end of the line into the bag. The set contains a “drip chamber” that allows you to estimate the rate of the IV fluids going down the tubing. It also allows gases to rise out from the fluid and prevents passage down the IV line. In order to control the rate of fluid going into the vein, a roller clamp is provided below the drip chamber. Primary infusion sets usually come with a port further down in which medications can be directly injected. Extension sets are available for when additional length is needed. The entire line is flushed with fluid to remove air before connecting to the catheter.

Tourniquets, tape, antiseptics: Alcohol or povidone-iodine wipes are used to clean the skin at the site prior to the procedure. A thin tourniquet band is used above the contemplated site for insertion to make the vein easily identifiable. Once the catheter is placed and the metal needle removed, Tegaderm or other adhesive is used to secure the line in place. Date and time of placement are noted.

Above: Primary infusion set

Tips for IV Placement

Above: IV line secured in place

  1. Put gloves on and connect IV tubing to the fluid bag. Flush the entire line with fluid.
  2. If the patient is right-handed, choose a vein on the left arm and vice versa.
  3. Start with veins farthest out from the torso and work upward, but if an IV is needed in an emergency, you may need to place it in the crook of the arm.
  4. Apply the tourniquet snugly, about 20 to 25 cm above the needle insertion site. Have the patient clench and unclench their fist.
  5. Feel the vein. It should seem “bouncy” compared to surrounding tissue. Don’t slap the vein; flicking it with your thumb and second finger may cause it to stand out.
  6. Disinfect the insertion site with an alcohol pad in the direction of venous flow.
  7. Once the alcohol has dried, pull the skin taut just below the entry site to stabilize the vein.
  8. Taking care to avoid touching the needle or catheter with your gloves, Insert the catheter at a 15- to 30-degree angle right on top of the vein. Going from the side can push the vein sideways and cause you to miss.
  9. Make sure the bevel of the needle faces upward to make it glide more easily.
  10. Once the catheter is within the vein, untie the tourniquet to prevent it from blowing due to an increase in pressure. Gently slide the needle back away from the catheter and out.
  11. Press a finger over the inserted catheter to prevent blood spillage while connecting the tubing.
  12. Tape the catheter securely in place and slowly loosen the roller clamp to begin the infusion.

Above: The fastest option for an IV site is often the crook of the arm, but it limits mobility.

IV Complications

There are many reasons why intravenous therapy may be necessary, but many people are now undergoing treatment with IV fluids in situations other than medical emergencies. Some go to “IV lounges” where cures for hangovers, colds and flus, and other issues are touted. While hydration is part of the answer to these problems, it’s important to know that there are several risks associated with any IV therapy.

Above: This image shows a “blown” IV site.

Infiltration: Infiltration occurs when the tip of the catheter slips out of the vein. This can happen during a faulty placement or with excessive movement. The IV catheter passes through the wall of the vein, resulting in leakage into surrounding tissue. This tends to cause pain and swelling. Discontinue the IV and apply a warm or cold compress (there’s disagreement as to which is best) and elevate the limb.

Extravasation: Extravasation refers to infiltration into surrounding tissue of substances in the IV fluid, which can be hazardous, such as chemotherapy drugs. It causes swelling and pain. In the worst cases, it can cause death of tissue. Remove the IV line immediately.

Phlebitis: Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein. Improper insertion of the IV catheter can cause trauma that results in redness and pain and predisposes the area to infection. Remove the IV and treat with warm compresses and anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, phlebitis can lead to the formation of a dangerous blood clot (“thrombosis”).

Infection: Whenever skin is broken during IV catheter placement, the barrier to infection is weakened. Signs of infection include spreading redness, warmth, tenderness, and fever. Close observation of an IV site is imperative to nip these infections in the bud. Improperly sterilized IV fluids can also cause problems. An infection in the blood caused by a contaminated IV can spread to the entire body and can be fatal.

Overload: Without careful monitoring of fluids going into the patient, overloading may lead to “hypervolemia.” The overloaded patient will likely exhibit swelling of extremities, increased blood pressure, and respiratory distress, among other symptoms.

Proctoclysis: A Controversial Alternative

The survival medic is unlikely to find large quantities of prescription-only IV solutions and equipment in tough times. Thinking outside the box, we look to what was used in the past when an unconscious patient required fluids. During WWI, a now-controversial method was used: rectal rehydration, also called “proctoclysis.”

Above: Here’s a setup for rectal rehydration, only to be used in extreme settings.

The large intestine functions to absorb water, electrolytes, and vitamins (but not nutrients), leaving solid waste. It stands to reason that, if the colon can absorb fluid introduced from “above,” it should be able to absorb it from “below.” The benefit of rectal rehydration is that sterilized water or pre-mixed oral rehydration solutions may be used effectively via the rectum to improve fluid status. This provides an inexpensive and readily available avenue when intravenous therapy isn’t possible.

To perform proctoclysis, you’ll need the following:

  • Sterilized water/normal saline/oral rehydration salt solution
  • #22 Nasogastric (NG) tube or a #14 Foley urinary catheter with a 10 ml. syringe
  • A reservoir container to contain the fluids
  • Tubing to connect the reservoir container to the NG or Foley Catheter
  • Gloves (wash your hands!) and lubricant
  • A clamp or other method to regulate the rate of infusion (250 to 400 cc/hour)
  • A way to secure the tube in place
  • A “stand” to place the reservoir at a level higher than the patient
  • Equipment to monitor vital signs

The fluids used should be warmed to normal body temperature to prevent excessive lowering of body temperature. Placing the patient on their left side decreases leakage. Closely monitor vital signs throughout the procedure.

If using a nasogastric tube, it can be inserted further into the large intestine than the Foley catheter, which might result in improved absorption. The Foley catheter, however, will prevent much of the leakage that you may find with the NG tube (Foleys have an inflatable balloon that can act as a “plug”). The nasogastric tube is inserted about 15 inches. The Foley need be inserted only about 5 to 8 inches before filling the balloon with water from a syringe and then pulling back gently until the balloon meets resistance. An enema effect may be observed if high volumes of fluids are given too quickly. If this is observed, stop proctoclysis immediately (the patient is losing fluids).

It’s important to know that proctoclysis is not for “feeding” and has even been used as a method of torture in the past. Never try this procedure if there’s modern medical help available.

Above: IV fluids can be a lifesaver, but it’s critical to seek training on how to administer them safely so you don’t make a bad situation even worse.

About the Author

Joe Alton, MD, is a physician, medical preparedness advocate, and author of the 2022 Book Excellence Award winner in medicine, The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide For When Help Is NOT On The Way, and other books. Alton is the founder of the survival medicine website doomandbloom.net, with over 1,200 articles, podcasts, and videos on medical preparedness. He’s the designer of an entire line of quality medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net.

New: OKC Ti22 Equinox Folding Knife

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Top-shelf S35VN steel, a titanium frame-lock, a deep-carry pocket clip, and a smooth-opening flipper mechanism — these are all ingredients found on many of our favorite pocket knives. However, many big-name knives with these features also carry prices in the $300 to $400 range. Ontario Knife Co (OKC) has released a new folding knife that checks all these boxes at a much more affordable $138 MSRP. Read on as we take a quick look at the new OKC Ti22 Equinox folder.

The Ti22 Equinox is the second knife in OKC's titanium-based folding knife series, following the Ti22 Ultrablue. Both the Equinox and Ultrablue feature a machined titanium handle with frame lock. The lock mechanism features a steel insert to prevent galling between the lock bar and blade, an issue that often leads to sticky lockup on knives that lack a steel insert. This insert also has a built-in overtravel tab to prevent the lockbar from bending too far outward and incurring damage.

Both Ti22 models use the same tanto-style blade design, with a flipper and jimping along the spine. They also both use the same deep-carry pocket clip, which is reversible for tip-up or tip-down carry — out of the box, it comes in our preferred tip-up configuration.

The Ti22 Equinox diverges from its Ultrablue sibling in both finish and materials. The Ultrablue used AUS-8 steel, which is a decent (but not excellent) entry-level choice. However, the Equinox seen here uses S35VN steel hardened to 58-60 HRC. This is one of our favorite steels for every-day carry thanks to its solid durability and edge retention.

This blade is finished in black powder coat, which contrasts nicely with the bronze titanium handle. The hardware for the pivot, spacers, and pocket clip is all finished in black as well. Although we'd prefer this knife to be made in the USA rather than China, we understand that this is the reason its price isn't a few hundred dollars higher. The sample we received has a smooth flipper mechanism, precise lockup, and clean grind, so it appears that OKC isn't skimping on manufacturing quality.

For more information on the new OKC Ti22 Equinox, go to OntarioKnife.com.

Video: FedEx Truck Tiny Home Conversion

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The concept of recycling isn't just about dropping off empty bottles and cans — it's about taking an item that has reached the end of its service life, and rebuilding it into something new. That's exactly what Jonathan Norris did with this old FedEx delivery truck, which he bought at auction for only $3,500. Although it still looks like an ordinary box truck from the outside, the inside is packed with creature comforts including a queen-size bed, enclosed shower, 4K TV, sound system, and even a spacious “garage” for Jon's bikes and outdoor gear. YouTuber Jarrod Tocci met up with him to show the van's interior and ask some questions about the details of this tiny home on wheels.

Above: Jon, formerly a truck driver in the Army, explains that he did most of the work himself using off-the-shelf parts from Home Depot.

Thanks to its top-mounted ventilation, absence of side windows, and secure sliding cargo door, the delivery truck's exterior doesn't offer any hints at what's inside. The only unusual exterior design cue is the lettering on the sides, which now reads “Ex round” rather than “FedEx Ground.” After stepping into the cab, Jon slides open the original locking cargo door to reveal a second insulated door. Behind that, there's a spacious living area lined in cedar planks. On one side, a custom-made butcher block countertop with a deep stainless steel sink sits below the range-top microwave. On the other, there's a large 12V fridge/freezer, enclosed shower, and custom pantry.

Towards the rear of the cargo area, there's a four-person seating area with a 4K TV and Playstation. Behind that, a queen-sized bed platform folds up to reveal what Jon calls his garage. It contains mountain bikes and a road bike, as well as bins of gear for his other hobbies (rock climbing and whitewater rafting). Like many residential garages, there's also a water heater in one corner that provides hot running water to the sink and shower.

Check out the 22-minute video below from Jarrod Tocci for a detailed tour, and follow @stepvan88m on Instagram for updates on the build.

What If You’re in the Middle of a Terrorist Attack?

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The recent declassification of documents seized during the Bin Laden raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, revealed some alarming information about future attacks al-Qaeda was planning on U.S. soil. Strategies included bombing trains as well as chartering aircraft for suicide missions, rather than hijacking them. This is only a fraction of what’s been publicly disclosed about a single terrorist group’s intentions. When it comes to protecting your family from such catastrophes, keep in mind that if you can imagine it happening, someone else is likely trying to pull it off.
In order to understand what you might be up against, you’ll need to develop what security researchers call an “adversarial mindset.” As uncomfortable as it may be, try to imagine you’re a terrorist seeking to maximize destruction — what would you target? From interrupting cashflow to paralyzing critical industries to causing mass casualties in crowded locations, assume an attack will be designed to generate a great deal of panic and confusion. If all you have to worry about is being one of the millions glued to a TV set when something happens, consider yourself lucky. But if you someday find yourself in the path of a terrorist attack, do you have a plan for how you’ll react if you’re fortunate enough to survive?

The Terrorist Attack Scenario

Situation type
Possible terrorist attack

Your Crew
You and your family

Location
A large retail center

Season
Summer

Weather
Warm; high 97 degrees F, low 63 degrees F

The Setup

Whether it’s the World Trade Center, Boston Marathon, Centennial Olympic Park bombing, or the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing, no one knows when terrorist events will happen or on what scale they’ll occur. Those in proximity to the origin of the attack who are lucky enough to survive an explosion may fall victim to the panic that ensues. The aftermath involves terrified crowds of people running to escape, which may lead to trampling of other innocent bystanders. Damage from the explosion may lead to fire or structural collapse, and there’s often a possibility of secondary attacks. These terrorist events are meant to spread fear and confusion before authorities can regain control of the situation. Imagine you were at the epicenter of such an attack. In the chaotic moments after a detonation, how would you determine its cause and the likelihood of follow-up attacks?

The Complication

During a vacation, you decide to take your spouse and 5-year-old daughter to see one of the largest shopping centers in the country. Because of its size, importance as a transit hub, and immense popularity, it’s tough for newcomers to know their way around. As with many crowded, high-profile venues, it has also been a known target for terrorist groups. The location has a large security force, but violent crimes can still happen. After spending about 30 minutes at this retail hub with your family looking at different shops, you and your spouse decide to find a place to sit down for lunch.

About 75 yards ahead of you is a movie theater, which looks crowded due to a popular film that recently premiered. As you approach it, a major explosion rocks the inside of the theater and drops you to the ground. Your ears are ringing and you’re all incredibly startled, but you haven’t sustained any injuries. People in the immediate vicinity of the blast have clearly been wounded and many appear to be dead or unconscious. Some onlookers scream and start to run, while others stand frozen in shock. The likelihood this is some sort of industrial accident is very low, but you still have no way of knowing exactly what just happened. There could potentially be more explosions or other forms of mass violence in the vicinity. Do you attempt to help the injured, or find some cover? Do you try to get away from this location as quickly as possible and risk getting caught up in crowded escape routes? What if there’s another bombing or an attacker waiting to ambush fleeing people at the exits? What if the location goes into lockdown and you’re unable to escape?

Self-Defense Instructor Melody Lauer’s Approach

Preparation
It’s impossible to ever be fully prepared for a terrorist attack, as they’re unpredictable and unexpected by design. However, that doesn’t mean we throw our hands up and do nothing. We may not be able to prepare for every eventuality, but we can prepare for what we are likely to experience during and immediately following these events. Attacks featuring explosives are particularly attractive to terrorists given that they accomplish the goal of achieving the highest body count possible, as quickly as possible, with the fewest resources expended.
This also makes large venues with lots of traffic a particularly attractive target. So, while there are no certainties, when preparing a trip to such a place, I might consider planning the trip during a time when crowds are likely to be thinnest.

Other preparations for the trip might also include collecting information via the internet or a local friend regarding nearby trauma centers, response times, and maps of the area and facility. While I do normally carry a gun, knife, tourniquet, flashlight, and pepper spray, when out with my family I’ll add an additional tourniquet for each family member. I keep chest seals, compressed gauze (both regular and QuikClot), triangular bandages, and a multi-tool in a bag in my car that’s easy to grab when going into crowds. In larger venues, I also choose to carry a firearm equipped with a weapon-mounted light and a red dot sight, as well as throwing a spare magazine or two in my bag. Additionally, my children also have rechargeable flashlights they carry on their persons when we’re on outings.

In every terrorist attack in the last decade, it has been the quick action of those with medical training who have saved the most lives — this makes becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) the single most important thing I’ve ever done to prepare for any terrorist attack.

It’s not uncommon for terrorists to stage a preliminary accident or small-scale attack that’s large enough to draw emergency personnel and law enforcement away from the site of what’s intended to be the primary target. Monitoring for reports of anything along these lines is important; if I become aware of an incident, I’d probably cut our trip short or postpone it for another day.

On Site
Once in the mall, I head to the nearest directory and take a picture of the map. I share it with anyone in the party who has a cell phone, and we go over the plan. Where are we going? How long are we staying? Where are we meeting if we get separated? What do we do in the event someone misses the rendezvous? Answers to these questions can provide a starting point for good decision making even if the plan cannot be followed as expected.

When evaluating an environment for a potential threat, the first place to start is gathering baseline sensory data. Is it noisy or quiet? Are people rushing or sauntering? How are people dressed? This information can help alert you to sudden changes indicating danger. No matter how vigilant one attempts to be, however, it’s entirely possible that the first indication you’ll get that you’re in a violent encounter is getting caught in the middle of it.

If you didn’t lose consciousness during the blast, that’s a good sign you may have avoided substantial head trauma, though internal injuries are still likely. However, if you find yourself regaining consciousness and struggle to remember much before the explosion, it’s almost certain you’ve suffered head trauma that could negatively affect your cognitive and physical abilities. It’s also possible you have limited time to act before you fall unconscious again, perhaps permanently.

While gunfire and secondary detonations would eliminate all doubt, it may not be immediately clear if an explosion was an attack or an accident. Injuries such as multiple penetrating injuries in victims up to hundreds of yards from the blast; traumatic amputations of arms, hands, legs, or feet; a significant number of eye injuries caused by rapidly expanding gases, particles, and debris; victims bleeding from one or both ears; and debris peppered with odd materials such as ball bearings are indications of an explosive device instead of an accident. Accident or not, however, any explosion should be treated as the first in a series of life-threatening dangers that are best avoided by getting far away as quickly as possible.

Every second you stay in the building decreases the chance of survival for everyone in the situation. Running is the best option, but that doesn’t mean merely running from danger. The most obvious avenue of escape may not be the safest. Main exits may be the target of secondary attacks, as well as emergency lanes and parking lots where larger explosives can be hidden in cars or trucks. By law, public buildings may not have doors prohibiting the exit of people within, but that doesn’t stop terrorists and active killers from barring or blocking them to prevent escape and causing people to pool in one location for a follow-up attack.

If there’s an obvious exit nearby, orient yourself toward it, but don’t rush to it. Pause briefly to look around the exit. Are there any odd packages? Do people seem able to move freely through it? Are there any individuals standing near or around the exit who don’t seem particularly alarmed or dazed by what’s happening and don’t seem concerned with escaping? Answers to these questions may help you decide whether to continue or look for an alternate path.

In our family, we’ve determined that should we be in a violent encounter, my husband is responsible for collecting and moving the children while I provide security. While we’re both accomplished shooters, he’s stronger and faster than I am. He can carry all of our kids at once. I cannot. While each family must do what works best for them, it’s important not to allow gender roles and ideologies to blind you to options better suited to everyone’s capabilities.

After a quick assessment to rule out any immediate and obvious life-threatening injuries, our first priority is moving toward safety. It takes precedence over treating the wounded, calling for help, or helping others. People have attempted to hide and wait to be rescued in almost every terrorist or active-shooter event. While this has worked for some, there are many more who have been executed, died of injuries, or were killed in subsequent disasters because they didn’t escape.

Make no mistake about it — you’ll never be safe until you’re out. Every action you take should be toward accomplishing that goal. But that doesn’t mean that you cannot or should not take an opportunity to take stock of your options, stabilize your wounded, make a call for help, and gather intelligence if it’s safe to do so.

An ideal temporary hiding place is one that’s out of sight of would-be attackers, has more than one exit, can be secured against entry, and allows some form of protection from gunfire and shrapnel (although no place is impervious to a well-placed explosive).
Cell services are often overloaded in emergencies, though Wi-Fi and internet services may remain active for longer. If you can reach emergency personnel, tell them your name and location, then let them know your injuries and what you look like. It’s also a good idea to let them know if you’re armed. It won’t guarantee you won’t be mistaken for a terrorist, but it’s a start. If you do have a weapon on your person and it’s not in use, the best place for it to be is accessible, in a quality holster, and out of sight.

Whether with a firearm or some other means, if you choose or are forced to fight terrorists, it’s not likely you’ll survive. While there may be times I’d willingly go on the offensive, I won’t volunteer my children for that fight. As long as I’m responsible for getting them to safety, I’ll try to avoid confronting anyone unless they impede our escape. In that case, it’s my job to stand and fight, and my husband’s job to save our children.

Former Scout/Sniper Alexander Crown’s Approach

Preparation
Being on vacation doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared. Your everyday-carry items shouldn’t be relaxed; if anything, you’re now in an unfamiliar environment and you should beef them up. Traveling to a large shopping complex isn’t ideal due to its potential as a target for active shooters, lowly thugs, and possible terrorists, but I’d be lying if I said my last vacation didn’t involve going to a mall to walk around, get ice cream, and buy T-shirts.

Prior to visiting malls, parks, or any large venues, I like to go online and see if they have a map. This helps me understand the layout, what stores may be best for us to visit, and I get a general idea of exit locations, bathrooms, AEDs, directories, and security offices. This could be considered your map recon, which is the bare minimum that should occur during mission planning. Some larger places have entire trip planners where you can map out your route and save it to your phone. If nothing else, I may screen shot the directory on my phone to reference later, even without cell service.

Also, prior planning would be ensuring proper clothing and footwear are being worn. This is a big place and will mean a lot of walking, so flip-flops are a no-go. Comfortable shoes for walking should also mean the ability to run in them. Reacting to an event means there’s a decent chance of having to run. Clothing-wise, it’s summertime and very hot, so dress accordingly. Pants or shorts with pockets for your everyday-carry gear is a must. These principles also apply to my wife and children. They need to be able to walk or run as needed and stay as comfortable as they can.

Your everyday carry is a personal choice and should reflect your level of training. I carry a Sig Sauer P365X with RomeoZero red dot and Streamlight TLR-7 Sub weapon light every day, no matter what. This would of course be with me. My other everyday-carry items include a SpyderCo Endura 4 knife, iPhone, wallet (with cash), Swiss Army Knife, mini BIC lighter, Fisher Space Pen, SureFire Stiletto flashlight, bandana, and a SWAT-T tourniquet/North American Rescue S-rolled gauze, held together with a rubber band. These items all fit comfortably in my pockets and come with me everywhere I go. They are a baseline, and when traveling or going to a large space, I’ll add items.

Usually, medical items are the priority. A proper tourniquet or two, like the Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T), more pressure dressings, and chest seals get stuffed into a highly functional and fashionable fanny sack from Spiritus Systems. I’ll also keep a small snack, like energy chews, on hand as well as about 20 feet of tarred bank line, small shears, and a foldable N95 mask.

Another important piece of preparation is the training you have prior to the emergency. Shooting classes are fun and being proficient with your handgun is vital, but it’s also important to have medical training. In my opinion, a prepared and responsible citizen should have at minimum Red Cross First aid training, CPR/AED training, and Stop the Bleed. These three courses are usually free and local to you, so there’s no excuse to not have attended them. The skills from those courses will benefit you in a mass casualty event, a car accident, and even situations within the home. Advanced medical training would also be beneficial.

On Site
Establishing a plan is always a good start. In this case, my wife and I would outline stores we want to attend and where we’d like to eat while visiting the shopping center. An informal threat assessment could be done during this phase — we know we don’t need or want to go to large department stores, we’re not going to attend a show or a movie, and we know that we want to eat somewhere better than the food court. All those locations are large gathering places within a large gathering place, and we plan to avoid them.

Our interests are in the smaller boutique stores, which will have smaller crowds in some cases. During the map recon, we noted that on the upper level near the restaurant we plan to go to is a walk-in clinic that can treat minor emergencies and illnesses. This could be an excellent place for a casualty collection point as medical personnel are on site.

Situational awareness is key when in unfamiliar crowded places. These places always make for great people watching, but watching for nefarious activity can be tough with such a large space. Relying on local security teams is never a great plan, but watching them is. They should be on guard for bad actors and a sudden change in their behavior may be your first warning sign if trouble pops up. The bottom line is that you should be on the lookout for things that are out of place — abandoned bags, people not dressed for the weather, people looking agitated or nervous, those with backpacks that appear heavier than what’s common, etc. Your instincts can play a pivotal role in your survival.

The last consideration is on-site communications. My cell phone would be my primary means of communication with the outside world, but those can go down. The main plan would be not to separate from the rest of my family; we’d always be in proximity of each other. I’ve been known to carry a Yaesu FT5D handheld HAM radio with me while on vacation, but realistically I wouldn’t have brought it to a place like this. Part of the plan could be establishing a meeting place if we’re separated. As far as communicating with people or authorities outside, many of these stores will have landlines that’d be unaffected by a power outage and could be used to relay information to 911.

Crisis
After the initial blast and assessment of my family, the first thought would be to get out of the area or seek cover. We’re on the upper level, so escape routes into the parking garage will be close by, but those could also be a potential target for gunmen or more explosions. That’s not to mention the mass exit of people, which could lead to trampling and crushing of children and the elderly. There’ll also be a crazy amount of traffic leaving and coming into the venue, making driving a no-go for several hours as police cordon and search the area. I think the best approach will be to get my family to a relatively safe place, such as the clinic or in the back of the restaurant. Securing them is the first priority.

At this junction, the decision must be made to either stay with my family or go and attempt to help the injured. Being at the clinic, it’d make sense for others to come here, and I could help render aid or start triage for the actual medical personnel. I’d be very hesitant to leave my family after such an event, and staying in this place with them while potentially being of use seems like the best course of action.

If the area goes into lockdown, which I’d fully expect, I won’t want to be caught in the parking garage. That seems like another likely target and a choke point to prevent emergency services from getting inside. Being able to communicate with local law enforcement and emergency services via the clinic would be the best bet. There’s greater potential for the clinic to have a backup generator in the event of power failure and it’ll have more resources.

In the event of a fire or obvious structural integrity issues, we’d have to leave the area. Being such a large shopping center, any direction has an exit, and I’d attempt to go to the less busy route. This will be very dependent on surroundings, but generally I’d try to avoid smaller exits that’d be a choke point for a crowd rush with a higher potential of being separated. This is a great point for physical fitness — being able to carry your child to help with egress can be critical.

Conclusion

The advice to “run, hide, fight,” isn’t bad, but it’ll help if you know what to run toward, where to hide, and when and how to fight. We may not be able to be fully prepared for terrorist attacks, but we can collect the knowledge, skills, and experience that allows us to take hold of even the most chaotic and tragic of circumstances and move within them. Even if we can’t guarantee our own safety, perhaps we can protect those we love most dearly.

Terror attacks are an ambush and difficult to prepare for. You’ll be in full reaction mode and will only rise to the level of your training and physical ability. Being prepared starts with planning. Use all the resources available to you to be better prepared. In this case, it means doing a map recon to find points of interest and route planning. Talk to your family about potential threats and how you expect to handle them. These principles go beyond indoor shopping centers and can be applied to all forms of gatherings, road trips, and travel abroad.

Meet Our Panel

Melody Lauer

Melody Lauer is a Rangemaster Certified Advanced Handgun Instructor, Deadly Force Instructor through the Massad Ayoob Group, and Agile Training & Consulting OC/Pepper Spray Instructor. She is an NRA Certified handgun instructor with 14 years of experience teaching men and women how to defend themselves with a firearm. As the owner of Citizens Defense Research, she has dedicated herself to quality, reliable self-defense information and training. With approximately 1,000 hours of professional development, Melody is one of the leading experts on armed conflict with children present. She continues to challenge herself through active participation in her local Brazilian jiujitsu academy and works as a front-end developer for a local programming firm. Melody is a mother of three and writer dedicated to learning and sharing the most effective skills in preserving innocent life.

Alexander Crown

Alexander Crown is a former U.S. Army Paratrooper who spent time in a scout/sniper platoon in OIF. He has extensive experience in firearms, particularly silencers and military weapons. Alexander spends his time exploring Idaho, hunting, fishing, and camping. He’s a lifelong practitioner of family preparedness, emphasizing self-reliance and organic gardening.

Forbidden Fruit: Maltec Land Cruiser Overland Truck

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As Americans, we take great pride in our unique national treasures. The Bill of Rights, National Parks, baseball, barbecue, rock and roll — the list goes on. In addition, our cultural melting pot has given us access to a huge variety of iconic creations from foreign shores; we didn’t invent pizza or tacos, but we’ve certainly embraced them. So, it’s always surprising to come across an item that’s essentially unobtainable in America. Such has been the case for the 70-Series Toyota Land Cruiser. However, one look at Tim McGrath's custom Maltec Land Cruiser might make you question that fact.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in Issue 8 of our sister publication, Carnivore magazine.

Blending the 70-Series and 80-Series

Produced from 1984 through the present (yes, it’s still in production), the 70-Series is an immensely popular vehicle for militaries, government organizations, and off-road adventurers around the world. However, it was never sold in the United States — we got the rounder and more luxurious 80-Series, sold here from 1990 to 1997. Although it’s possible to bring over some foreign-market 70-Series Land Cruisers under the 25-year-old vehicle import law, making one street-legal comes with a long list of additional headaches and costs, especially if you live in a state with strict emissions regulations.

Above: It only takes a few seconds to deploy the pop-up roof and set up camp. The truck also includes a deployable awning and shower enclosure with hot and cold running water.

Tim McGrath, founder and lead designer for overland apparel company Sackwear, fell in love with the 70-Series Land Cruiser, especially its 79-Series pickup truck submodel. “The people that know about the 79 wish they sold them here in the States,” he says. Knowing the difficulties of legalizing an imported 79-Series, he began looking for alternative ways to achieve the appearance and rugged functionality of one of these trucks. This led him to Maltec, a company in Germany that builds custom Land Cruisers that — despite their appearance — are actually based on the easily importable 80-Series chassis. They agreed to build him a North American-spec truck that features a modified 70-Series cab and carbon-fiber camper on top of an 80-Series frame.

The build began with a 1993 80-Series Land Cruiser. After removing the original body, its frame was stretched to match the desired wheelbase for the camper conversion. A four-door cab from a 79-Series donor vehicle was mounted onto the 80-Series frame, and the back of that cab was cut out to create a pass-through into the carbon-fiber camper shell that was added next. Normally, having a custom vehicle built halfway across the globe would be rather nerve-wracking, but Tim says the builders listened to his needs and were extremely communicative. “Maltec did a great job keeping me connected with the progress, and sent me lots of emails with photos. I trusted their expertise and craftsmanship since they build really awesome rigs.”

Above: The Front Runner roof rack holds two Alu-Boxes and a large dry bag for gear storage. Additional rails atop the camper can be used to retain a kayak or paddleboards.

In addition to the body modifications, Maltec installed a 4.2-liter 1HD-T turbo-diesel engine and five-speed manual transmission, a configuration that was also unavailable in U.S.-spec Land Cruisers. The truck’s underbody is armored with a variety of Maltec skid plates to fend off rocks on the trail; it rides on OME 3-inch-lift springs and OME shocks, 17-inch Braid beadlock wheels, and 37-inch Cooper tires.

Above: Despite its many creature comforts, this Land Cruiser is no pavement princess. It can still go just about anywhere and take Tim’s whole family with it.

Tim says this combination balances a spacious interior and compact exterior, with “enough room to travel and sleep four while still remaining small and capable.” He explains, “There’s not a lot of room, but it’s doable — I guess that’s the trade-off. I can wheel this thing to places where most campers can’t go. I love that we can set up someplace crazy and stay comfortable, warm, and dry at night. We can even cook inside and watch a movie.” It wasn’t an easy or inexpensive process, taking a year to complete and costing north of $200,000, but he doesn’t regret it for a second.

Above: Maltec built the camper with luxurious teak flooring, custom cabinets, Dometic windows, and a fully enclosed pass-through into the cab.

Over the course of the last year, Tim has taken his Land Cruiser out on family expeditions at least once a month. In one of his most memorable experiences, he and his daughter drove to Colorado, arriving late in the evening to a dark and narrow trailhead. They continued onward, winding up a steep mountain road to a lake just above the tree line at 12,000 feet. He recalls, “The truck tackled the obstacles without any issues and delivered us safely. We were the only ones there under a star-filled sky, and had paddle boards to keep us entertained the next day.”

Above: A triple-burner stove and espresso machine allow Tim and his family to enjoy a hot breakfast without leaving the comfort of the camper.

Maltec Land Cruiser Specifications

 

Make/Model
1993 Toyota Land Cruiser

Drivetrain
4.2L 1HD-T turbo-diesel inline-6, 5-speed manual transmission, 4×4 with 2-speed transfer case

Suspension
Old Man Emu springs and shocks

Wheels & Tires
17-inch Braid Dakar Beadlock A wheels, 37×12.5R17 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro tires

Body Modifications
79-Series Land Cruiser cab with rear cutout; Maltec aluminum front bumper, skid plates, fender flares, and carbon-fiber camper; Front Runner roof rack, awning, and camper roof rails; Alu-Cab exterior hot/cold shower, two 42L Alu-Boxes and Halite dry bags for storage

Interior Modifications
Maltec cabinets, gray and black leather door panels, suede headliner, and teak wood camper flooring; four Recaro Sportster CS leather seats, Webasto heater, 15-gallon fresh filtered water tank, water boiler, hot/cold sink, three-burner stove, espresso machine, upper and lower beds (sleeps four)

Lighting & Electronics
Dual AGM house batteries, two 100W SunWare solar panels, Victron Energy 2,000W power inverter, Alpine Halo 11-inch head unit/navigation, Simarine PICO touchscreen information panel, two Dometic refrigerators, LED camper lighting with charge ports, Warn Zeon 10-S Platinum winch with Factor 55 fairlead and FlatLink E, Baja Designs S1 bumper lights and LP9 Pro driving lights, KC Hilites Cyclone rock lights

Built by:
Maltec
Menden, Germany
www.maltec.org

Infographic: Backyard Gardening Tips for Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs

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Emergency preparedness isn't just about turning your home into an unassailable fortress with perimeter defenses and an arsenal of weapons — if this is all you focus on, your home might end up feeling like a prison you made for yourself. You should also prioritize ways to make your home into a sanctuary. Backyard gardening is an easy and cost-effective way to maintain a sustainable supply of fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs. This produce can help you stay self-sufficient in an emergency, but it's also tasty and healthy during less catastrophic circumstances. The following infographic from Fix.com includes an overview of some of the most common backyard gardening methods: container gardens, raised beds, and plots.

Freshly picked radishes lying on the soil in a garden.

Containers such as pots or buckets provide the most compact footprint of the three categories, and can easily be implemented in apartment balconies and other compact urban spaces. They're perfect for staples like tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. Raised beds are a midsize option; they can be built around the perimeter of a yard or porch. Depending on the size and depth, they can handle anything from strawberries and spinach to squash and watermelons. If you have more open space in your yard, consider a traditional square or rectangular plot. These are ideal for “companion planting” of multiple types of produce (or even flowers).

An infographic of backyard gardening tips including which vegetables are suitable for container gardens.

An infographic of backyard gardening tips regarding what types of containers to use, and how to fill them with various potting mediums.

An infographic of backyard gardening tips that highlights which vegetables are best for raised beds.

An infographic of backyard gardening tips which illustrates how to build a raised gardening bed.

An info graphic that that highlights which plants grow well together.

An infographic that illustrates how to select and create a gardening plot.

iPhone 14 Adds Satellite SOS and Crash Detection Features

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Nobody wants to be in a situation where the only remaining option is to call for rescue. For those of us who take emergency preparedness seriously, it's easy to assume our skills and gear will enable us to self-rescue. Unfortunately, there's always a chance Murphy's Law will kick in and all your best-laid plans will fail spectacularly. In those rare situations, it's highly advisable to have at least one way to signal for help — this might be a handheld radio, an emergency strobe, flares, a whistle, a high-vis signal panel, or a GPS beacon such as the Garmin InReach. This week, Apple announced some new capabilities that enable the iPhone 14 to serve as a distress beacon, even when there isn't cell signal or WiFi. These include automatic car crash detection and satellite SOS.

Car Crash Detection

Much like OnStar and other onboard units in vehicles, Apple's new crash detection system is designed to detect a collision and place a call to 9-1-1 or emergency services unless the user cancels the call. This is intended to help those who might be unconscious or unable to reach a phone.

So, how does it work? Apple says the system relies on “a new dual-core accelerometer capable of detecting G-force measurements of up to 256Gs and a new high dynamic range gyroscope.” It also factors in the barometer for cabin pressure changes, GPS for sudden speed changes, and microphone to identify loud noises associated with crashes. Apple claims the system has been fine-tuned through over a million hours of real-world driving and real crash record data. The system is also capable of integrating with the Apple Watch to display the emergency notice.

Satellite SOS

Although the crash detection feature sounds helpful, we're much more interested in the iPhone 14's satellite SOS capability, since it has the potential to replace or augment traditional GPS rescue beacons for those of us who venture off the grid regularly.

The Emergency SOS via satellite uses new hardware and software components to “allow antennas to connect directly to a satellite, enabling messaging with emergency services when outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.” Before attempting to connect to a satellite, the SOS feature begins by asking a few critical questions, such as the type of emergency, geographic obstacles, number of people involved, and information about injuries. The user is then prompted to point the phone at a passing satellite using a simple, compass-style gauge on the screen.

With a clear view of the sky, SOS messages can be sent in as little as 15 seconds. In areas where emergency services can receive text messages, the SOS is bounced from the satellite through to the local dispatcher; otherwise, it goes to “centers staffed by Apple‑trained specialists who can call for help on the user’s behalf.” First responders can reply via satellite text message to inform the user that they're on the way, or to ask additional questions.

MacRumors reported on a recent SEC filing that indicates Apple is working with satellite operator Globalstar, who will “provide and maintain all resources, including personnel, software, satellite systems, and more, and maintain minimum quality and coverage standards” under Apple's direction.

For less dire situations, iPhone 14 users can share their location via satellite using the Find My Phone functionality. This can keep approved family and friends informed about the user's location, even when they're in remote areas with no cellular signal. Apple says this will provide “a sense of security when hiking or camping off the grid.”

Emergency SOS via satellite starts in the US and Canada in November 2022, and will be free for the first two years. After that, fees will apply to continue using the satellite SOS function. For more details, check this article on the Apple Newsroom.