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Ask the Pros Series: Sam Strong

By
Reuben Bolieu
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Sam Strong is a notable figure in survival television, known for his role in Naked and Afraid with his Waymaker blade.

What drives the stars of survival television? We’re diving deep with Sam Strong from Naked and Afraid, a respected authority in the field, to uncover the secrets behind their motivations. Join us as we explore survivalists’ intriguing world and discover what fuels their adventurous spirits!

Meet Sam Strong

Sam Strong is a notable figure in the survival television genre, recognized for participating in the reality show “Naked and Afraid.” His journey into the survival industry stems from a passion for testing his skills and personal growth. Strong’s experience on the show showcased his resilience and ingenuity in challenging situations.

One standout achievement on “Naked and Afraid” was his ability to survive in harsh environments while relying solely on bare essentials. This highlighted his skills in adaptation, critical thinking, and real-time survival techniques.

Beyond the show, Sam founded RAW Mental Health — Recovery Through Athletics and Wilderness, a program aimed at helping men regain physical and mental strength through outdoor challenges, fostering brotherhood and self-reliance.

Overall, Sam is celebrated for his adventures on “Naked and Afraid” and his commitment to promoting mental health through survival skills and outdoor experiences, making him a respected figure in the survival community.

GAT Daily caught up with Sam in Georgia, and here’s the skinny!

What got you into the survival industry?

I watched survival television shows and felt challenged to test my skill set. That initial spark of curiosity turned into a personal mission. I wanted to see what I was truly capable of. Through that challenge, I found myself diving headfirst into the survival industry. It became more than just a hobby… it became a lifestyle and a path toward greater resilience, self-reliance, and purpose.

Sam Strong on Naked and Afraid?

By pursuing skill testing and trying to get on the television show Alone, I got on the radar of Metal Flowers Casting. They scouted me and asked if I was interested in trying my hand at what many consider the most challenging survival experience on the planet. I leaped, opening the door to a new level of exposure, growth, and testing my limits in the wild.

Share a time you were lost and what you did to correct it.

While I was on Naked and Afraid, Sarah and I got lost during a three-hour hike from our shelter. We relied on the basics, keeping the sun on the opposite shoulder for our return. Using game trails as natural guides, we followed them toward flowing water, which eventually helped us reorient and find our way back. It was a reminder of how quickly things can turn and the importance of staying calm and thinking clearly.

What are your favorite wilderness survival movies?

Hands down, Into the Wild. That movie was highly inspirational for me. Chris McCandless’ story is tragic, but it walks the line between madness and bravery in a way that stuck with me. It made me reflect deeply on what it means to truly disconnect and face nature with nothing but your conviction and a pack on your back.

One tool or Tool Set?

If I had to choose just one tool, it would always be a knife—no question about it. A knife is the most valuable and versatile gear you can carry… from building shelter to processing food, fire prep, and protection. It’s the foundation of any solid survival kit.

Sam created RAW Mental Health — Recovery Through Athletics and Wilderness, a program for men aiming to regain their physical and mental strength.

If you could pick one person you consider a mentor or significant influence, who would it be?

Without any hesitation, my friend and brother Joe Maynard. I deeply respect him and consider him a significant influence in my life. I’ve never met a more classy, driven, brave, and giving man. His integrity and commitment to living with purpose have had a lasting impact on me, both personally and professionally.

Describe your most memorable camping trip or survival situation.

My most memorable camping trip was as a kid with my father and my uncles, Steve and Al. It was our only all-guys trip, which made it special. We cooked a squirrel, crossed a river, and truly enjoyed our time together. That experience sparked my lifelong love for the outdoors and left a lasting impression.

Tell us about your mental health business and who it’s for.

I founded RAW Mental Health — Recovery Through Athletics and Wilderness. It’s a program built for men who want to get strong again, both physically and mentally. I use my passion for fitness, survival, and the outdoors to guide guys back to a more rugged, gritty way of living… something closer to how pioneers or cowboys used to live. It’s for men ready to break away from comfort, reclaim their strength, and find brotherhood.

Sam Strong on which historical person he’d like to go on a camping trip with?

Teddy Roosevelt, without a doubt. He was the most hardcore outdoorsman, president, and adventurer in history. His love for nature, grit, and willingness to push himself in extreme conditions make him the ideal campfire companion. And let’s be honest… the mustache alone seals the deal.

Sam Strong collaborated with Malcolm on his signature Edition Hidden Woodsman Day Ruck.

Explain what the PNW Games are and how Sam Strong is preparing for them.

The PNW Games, or Pacific Northwest Survival Games, test survivalists of all levels. Participants adapt to unpredictable challenges, showcasing grit and teamwork while competing for cash prizes. I stay disciplined in the gym and experiment with survival techniques to stay sharp and ready for anything.

What knife, gear, books, or designs are you proud of, and where can they be found?

I’m particularly proud of the Waymaker blade I’m launching with Bear Forest Knives — it’s a tool that represents everything I believe in regarding survival and craftsmanship. I’m also proud of the Sam Strong Edition Hidden Woodsman Day Ruck, which was designed for both function and resilience in the field. Both featured on my website, rawmentalhealth.org, where they’re part of the larger mission to equip and empower men through the wilderness.

For more info, please visit R.A.W!
Instagram: @samstrong_outdoors

Herter’s Defensive Buckshot – Load Review

By
Travis Pike
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I’m a shotgun nerd, like a hardcore shotgun nerd. I like testing shotguns, training with shotguns, and exploring new concepts around shotguns. Unlike many other firearms, you can do some interesting ammo testing with shotguns. A round of buckshot from Federal shoots differently than a seemingly identical round of buckshot from Winchester. With that in mind, let’s look at the Herter’s Defensive Buckshot. 

Herter’s Defensive Buckshot – What’s The Point

What drew me to this round was its affordability. It was $10 for 15 rounds of defensive buckshot, cheap enough to try even though I knew it wasn’t going to replace my Federal Flitecontrol. Beyond the prices, the specs looked good. It’s a 2.75-inch round that holds eight 00 pellets. 

Eight is preferable to nine due to the 9th pellet flyer. This magical 9th pellet will often depart from the rest of the cluster and can create a major issue regarding pellet accountability. Eight pellets make a tighter pattern overall. 

The Herter’s defensive buckshot is a low-recoil load. It’s throwing those eight pellets at 1,145 feet per second. Low recoil means you can shoot faster since you have less recoil, so we want a low-recoil round. However, low-recoil rounds also tend to pattern better than high-velocity buckshot. 

Additionally, the round might have low recoil, but it has nice high brass, which can help with extraction with some guns. The price, features, and specs seem to make it a great defensive load. It’s clearly a well-thought-out load and not just a generic buckshot round. 

Shooting The Herter’s Defensive Buckshot 

Specs can be read, but how does the round perform? A defensive shotgun cartridge must be reliable, have low recoil, flash, and be consistent. It should feed, extract, and eject with ease. It also needs to be patterned well and consistently. Let’s talk about patterns. 

Don’t expect anything all that fancy, but it patterns well, especially for the price. At seven yards, the pellets are very tight and very close to each other. They are nearly all touching. At twelve yards, all the pellets will stay within the eight rings of a B8 target, which is quite small for a target. Finally, at 15 yards, six of the eight pellets remained in the B8, with two landing low. That’s still an acceptable defensive pattern. 

The Herter’s Defensive Buckshot had very low recoil and was soft-hitting on the shoulder. It fed easily and ejected with ease. The load functions in the Mossberg 940 and Benelli M4 without an issue. I’d assume it functions just fine in most modern semi-autos. 

Worth the Cost? 

The round performs on par with most defensive loads that lack a special wad to keep the patterns tighter. It’s priced to move and to train with. This type of load falls into the same space as rounds like the Fiocchi Defense Dynamics buckshot. It’s fine. 

Fine is fine, but I prefer a specialized load with a tight patterning wad. However, that stuff can be pricey and hard to find. Herter’s is a Bass Pro/Cabela’s load, making it more available and easier to find. The Herter’s defensive buckshot load works and works well, but won’t blow your mind. 

It’s not cheap enough to be training buckshot, but it’s not pricey enough to keep it out of your hands. A box of fifteen gives you enough for your gun and enough to pattern and test, which is just enough to get a bare-minimum home defense option. 
 

Tying One On – Cordage Options for Survival Kits

By
Jim Cobb
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Cordage - lead

Cordage is one of those things that many people tend to overlook when they put together a survival kit. They might toss a hank of paracord in there, but that’s about it. And who knows, that might turn out to be plenty. But many of the available options are so lightweight, it doesn’t hurt to pack a few others that might be useful.

Paracord

Cordage - paracord
Photo credit: Amazon.

This is the old standby. You’ll find this cordage listed in most survival manuals, at least those written in the last few decades. One of the reasons for its popularity is that it is so versatile. It consists of several inner strands that are covered by a shroud.

What this means is that in a pinch, you could separate one or more of those inner strands from a length of paracord. This thinner piece could serve well as fishing line or perhaps a snare. Overall, it’s very strong and easy to work with. If you cut a piece off, melt the ends by holding them near a flame for a few seconds to prevent unraveling.

Kevlar String

Cordage - Kevlar string
Photo credit: Amazon.

I don’t use this a lot, but I know a few survival instructors swear by it. Look for Kevlar kite string when you’re shopping online. It’s very thin but ridiculously durable. In addition to lashing things together, such as for an expedient shelter, you can use it to saw through plastic pipe and some other materials.

If you have a very sharp knife and hold the string under tension, it isn’t too difficult to cut. Be careful with this stuff, though. A rope burn from Kevlar string isn’t anything you want to experience.

Tarred Bank Line

Cordage - tarred bank line
Photo credit: Amazon.

This cordage comes in a few different sizes or thicknesses. Basically, it’s nylon string that’s been covered in a thin coating of, wait for it, tar. While it sounds messy, it’s stickier than it is anything else. This works in your favor, as it holds knots amazingly well. The tar also makes it water- and weather-resistant, so it’s great for the outdoors.

Braided Fishing Line

Cordage - braided fishing line
Photo credit: Amazon.

Avoid adding monofilament fishing line to your kit. A better cordage option is braided fishing line. It doesn’t have the memory monofilament does, meaning it won’t be a looped mess when you unspool it. It’s a little more expensive, but it’s definitely worth the cost.

Duct Tape

Cordage - duct tape
Photo credit: Amazon.

Okay, this might be blurring the definition of cordage just a touch, but duct tape is well-known for its usefulness. In addition to affixing things together and making quick repairs, it can be used as tinder to get a fire going. Be forewarned, you do not want to nudge it with a finger while it’s burning. It will stick to you, and it will hurt quite a lot as you try to unstick it.

A roll of duct tape is bulky and heavy. A better way to carry it is to wrap tape several times around an old gift card. This will keep it flat and ready to use. Incidentally, this is also a good way to pack other types of cordage.

The Heritage Badlander – Now in Stainless

By
Travis Pike
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Sometimes, you just want to feel like a cowboy. For some, that means some kind of lever-action rifle or single-action revolver. For me, it means I’m grabbing a street howitzer—aka a shotgun. Heritage, a long-time budget brand producing Cowboy awesomeness, has introduced the Badlander. In 2025, they are giving us a shiny option with a stainless finish.

There is some unexplainable X-Factor when it comes to a stainless steel double-barrel room broom with wood furniture. It scratches an itch I didn’t know I had. The Heritage Badlander is a traditional box lock shotgun with two barrels and two triggers, daring you to make its day.

The classic coach gun layout brings you back to the days of Wells Fargo or, in my case, Doc Holliday at the OK Corral. Opening the actions and seeing those two massive bores staring back at you never gets old.

The Badlander gives you short 18.5-inch barrels that make it easy to whip around and control. A gold bead draws the eye and allows you to see the sight while focusing on the target, which is exactly what you want to do with a shotgun.

Shooting the Badlander

I sent a sizable amount of birdshot downrange at our recent Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous. I peppered steel targets over and over and felt happy I was shooting OPA (Other people’s ammo). Recoil is stiff, as you’d expect, but manageable. The checkering on the stock and forend allows you to dig in and get a solid grip for a good push/pull.

Honestly, the checkering is already beyond budget-worthy. However, the wood finish is fantastic and complements the stainless finish. Overall, the gun has an excellent look and feel.

The Badlander has a simple cylinder bore design that you’d expect from a coach gun. It aims to arm the wannabe cowboy and seems to offer an affordable option for SASS. Like any shotgun, you could throw it in any role, and it would succeed well enough.

Keep an eye out; we hope to get one in for more long-term testing.

Case Knives: Bill Ruple Axe Handle Folder

By
Reuben Bolieu
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Hall of Famer Bill Ruple is busy in his shop, turning from peanut farmer to custom knife rockstar!

Guess who’s joining forces with W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery? The one and only Bill Ruple with his Axe Handle Folder! With over thirty years under his belt, Bill has earned a well-deserved spot in the Blade Show Cutlery Hall of Fame, and a trophy case packed with awards. Bill is a legend in the custom knife scene.

Two Titans

Bill and Case, two heavyweights in the slipjoint knife scene, got together for a brainstorming session and devised an awesome new lockback pattern for their first collaboration. 

They’re also whipping up some limited-edition designs that pay tribute to the classics, all loaded with high-quality features. And the best part? The Ruple X Case Axe Handle is the first standout piece from this exciting partnership!

Bill Ruple Axe Handle

This sleek lockback knife has a comfy 4.4-inch frame and weighs a solid 4.2 ounces. The 3.46-inch Clip point blade is precision-cut from 154 CM stainless steel. 

The author used the Case Axe Handle Lockback on limes, oranges, garlic, and onions for some simple southwest cooking.

With shiny satin-finished accents and a one-piece liner for smooth deployment, it’s designed to impress. I went with the Marbled Black Carbon Fiber scales, and the arrowhead-shaped shield on the handle symbolizes strength and precision. This knife is not just practical; it’s a stylish statement!

Axe Handle in the Field

After snagging my Axe Handle from Case Knives at Blade Show 2024, I couldn’t wait to try it out. I tested its sharpness by running it across my arm hair, and it passed with flying colors—just the beginning of the fun!

Every knife I get eventually makes its way to my cutting board, and since I was planning to whip up some carnitas, I got to work prepping limes, oranges, onions, and garlic. The Axe Handle sliced through everything effortlessly. I left it overnight without wiping it down, but when I checked it the next day, there was no corrosion or even a hint of a patina. That’s the beauty of American 154CM stainless steel!

Thin feather sticks are crucial for creating easily ignitable shavings with a knife. The Case Axe Handle worked exceptionally well.

Then, I faced a pile of packages from overseas, all wrapped in thick, heavy-duty nylon webbing that needed cutting. After tackling that, I broke down some heavy-duty cardboard, and once again, the Axe Handle performed flawlessly.

Getting Back to the Essentials

I took the Bill Ruple Axe Handle into the woods and pushed its limits beyond typical pocket knife tasks—no batoning or wood splitting, though!

The handle was great for my larger hands, especially with my leather work gloves on in the winter. I bent a young sapling using a snap cutting technique and easily carved some tarp and tent stakes. 

Jute rope was no match for the sharp 154CM stainless steel edge on the Case Axe Handle.

I sliced rubber tubing for emergency fire starters and cut manila rope to test out fire-making materials. After much use, I was impressed with how sharp the blade stayed while feathering wood for a fire. Thanks to the effective Case grind, those thin shavings catch a spark from a Ferro rod.

Bill Ruple Axe Handle Folder Summary

In short, Bill Ruple’s collaboration with Case Cutlery has produced the impressive Axe Handle lockback knife, showcasing excellent craftsmanship. Bill shares his favorite Case patterns and practical knife uses from his farming days, adding a personal touch. With the Ruple X Case Axe Handle launch, they’re setting a high bar for future projects that knife enthusiasts will love!

For more information, please check out Case Knives!

The Beretta Model 70S – The Puma

By
Travis Pike
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Beretta has mastered branding. Its look immediately lets you know you’re looking at either a Beretta or a clone of a Beretta. The open-top slide is the number one giveaway. But the grip angle and general curves of a Beretta design are also noticeable. When I saw a Beretta Model 70S at a local gun store for a great price, I knew I had to add it to my collection.

The Beretta Model 70S is a curious little gun. It’s nowhere near as well-known as the 80 series, the 92, or even the various tip-ups. It’s almost forgotten, but not forgotten enough to get Ian drooling over it. Luckily, as a dollar-store gun historian, it’s just forgotten enough to get interested.

The Beretta Model 70S

I’m not using the plural of 70 to make 70S. Think of the S as a different designation. It’s the Beretta seventy S. The original Model 70, which adopted the Puma namesake for marketing, was only ever offered in .32 ACP. The Model 70 had a cross-bolt safety, and instead of a proper last-round bolt hold-open device, the slide held onto the magazine’s follower. If you removed the magazine, the slide slammed forward. It was a bit goofy.

Beretta released the 70S to modify and improve the Model 70. The 70S used a steel frame and is chambered in .22LR, .32 ACP, and .380 ACP. The 70S had a thumb-operated safety on the left side of the frame, and most had standard last-round slide hold opens, but not all. I own two Model 70S; one lock is open on the follower, and the other is open like a normal handgun.

These are single-action handguns. The magazine release is placed at the bottom of the left side grip. It’s rather odd, and magazines don’t drop out with ease. You have to pry it out by the pinky spur to remove it.

These are simple, straight blowback pistols. The point of the Model 70 and 70S was to replace the Beretta 34/35. The Beretta 34/35 was the compact handgun in their lineup and was also a fairly basic blowback-operated handgun. The series evolved into the 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, and 76. There are also the 100, 101, and 102 models.

These guns featured various barrel changes. Some came with two barrels, others with just a long barrel. The 76 was a dedicated target pistol. Ultimately, the 70 and 70S were the true successors to the 34/35’s intention.

Notable Users of the Beretta 70S

The most famous users of the Beretta 70S were the Israeli Sky Marshals, Mossad, and Sayeret Matkal. Specifically, these special groups used the .22LR variant and mounted a suppressor. The combination created a light recoiling and likely very quiet weapon. The direct blowback design is also very suppressor-friendly, and there is no need to worry about a booster device.

The Sky Marshals fielded the gun to prevent excess damage to the plane and likely overpenetration. It’s not going to cause explosive decompression, but planes are very crowded and small, so the potential for damage, ricochets, and similar incidents is high. Using a .22LR makes sense for a Sky Marshal with three weeks of training.

An Israeli Air Marshal famously took on four men armed with AKs and grenades, getting one to surrender, killing one with his Beretta Model 70S, and eventually choking another before Swiss police arrested the entire group.

Another famous use is German vigilante Marianna Bachmeier. She used a Model 70S to kill Klaus Bradowski, a serial child abuser who assaulted and killed her daughter. She snuck the gun into the courtroom and executed the man with the Model 70S in a move I completely understand.

The Iraqis created licensed variants such as the Tariq in the 1980s. The Italian police also adopted the pistol.

Shooting the Beast

My Model 70S comes in .380 ACP, which is the most powerful caliber you can get the gun in. It’s not a nice gun to shoot, to be honest. It’s got a thick rear strap with a pronounced beavertail. The thin nature, the blowback design, and the .380 ACP cartridges create some stinging recoil. It digs in and isn’t pleasant.

If you get past the recoil, you can see why the Model 70S was used as the basis for a target pistol. The trigger does what you want a single-action trigger to do. It’s light and crisp with a short reset. The barrel doesn’t move or tip like a short recoil design, and maybe that’s why it’s so darn accurate. I was impressed with what the little sights could do and what I could do with the gun.

At 25 yards, I was hitting 6-inch gongs. I couldn’t even see the gongs cause of the front sight, but I could hit it! At 15 yards, I could punch rounds into a thumb-length group over and over. It’s remarkably consistent. The trigger and the barrel help, but so does the nice grip that fills your hand and makes it easy to handle.

Blowback operation ensures good reliability, and I didn’t have any problems with either of my Beretta Model 70S. They are fairly nice old guns that don’t command a premium. They can often be found for around 350 dollars, and that makes them fun bargain bin collectibles from one of the world’s oldest arms companies.

IWI Beefs Up the ZION Line with the Zion-25

By
Tim Stetzer
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IWI just jumped into the AR-10 game with the release of the Zion-25 series of rifles. As IWI accurately points out, the AR-10 never received the same standardization as the AR-15 platform, and the quality and performance of what has been available have varied widely. With the Zion-25, IWI is looking to provide a top-quality, duty-grade offering of the AR-15’s big brother.

The Zion-25 Series

The Zion-25 series features free-floated 1:8 twist barrels for the 6.5 Creedmoor models, and 1:10 for the .308 Winchester models. They are outfitted with ARCA-compatible M-LOK handguards, and B5 Systems grips and 8-position adjustable B5 stocks. All models offer QD sling compatibility out of the box.

The rifles have a black nitride finish. All of the Z-25s come with the IWI exclusive Timney 2-Stage trigger that debuted with the Z-15 SPR as well. The Zion series rifles are manufactured and assembled at the IWI US facility here in the United States. It’s in my home state of Pennsylvania, in fact.

MSRP for all Zion-25 models is $1949.99.

Zion-25 Carbine 16″

The shortest of the group is a 16-inch carbine chambered in .308 Winchester. It comes with a 15-inch Free Float Carbine Handguard with ¼ ARCA rails. It comes with one 20-round Magpul PMAG.

Zion-25 18″ DMR

The DMR version is also chambered in .308 Winchester. Its features are largely similar to the carbine, except it features an 18-inch barrel and a 17-inch free-float handguard.

Zion-25 20″ DMR

The 20-inch DMR is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and comes with a 17-inch free-float handguard and the +2 gas system length. The 6.5 Zions also come with 20-round P-MAGs.

Zion-25 22″ DMR

The last entry in the Zion line is the 22-inch DMR. Also chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and utilizing the +2 gas system and 17-inch free float handguard. If you’re really looking to reach out with your AR-10 platform, then this is the Zion you are looking for.

SIG Unleashes the M.O.D. and the Off Duty Program

By
Travis Pike
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At the Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous, I had the opportunity to handle a number of firearms that I couldn’t even talk about. As official announcements roll out, I have an opportunity to talk a bit more about the guns I got to handle and shoot at the event, one being the SIG P320 M.O.D. M.O.D. stands for Max Off Duty and is the official sidearm of SIG Sauer’s new Off-Duty Program.

Max comes from Max Michel, who is an absolute beast of a professional competition shooter. Max Michel is a former soldier who served with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and won more championships than I’ve had birthdays.

He’s had input on P320s for SIG before, but those have been firearms designed specifically for competition use. The M.O.D. is designed for defensive use and is designed as such. It’s kicking off with the Off Duty Program that’s available to police, active and veteran military, and first responders.

The Off-Duty Program is open now and offers specially priced firearms to qualified individuals. The Off-Duty Program offers discounts on all sorts of SIG Sauer products. SIG makes everything from guns to optics and suppressors, so I imagine the discounts will go far and wide.

Digging into the P320 M.O.D.

The P320 M.O.D. is a unique P320 configuration. It’s essentially a full-size P320 with a full-size grip module that’s unique to the M.O.D. The barrel is 3.9 inches long, but the overall profile of the gun is that of a full-sized model. Why? Well, at the end of the slide is a two-port expansion chamber that acts as a compensator.

It redirects gas upward to push the gun down and mitigate muzzle rise. The P320 M.O.D. features an optics cut for SIG Pro optics. The gun comes with an XSeries flat trigger and a giant beavertail at the back to allow for a nice high grip on the gun. The gun comes with an integrated magwell and three 21-round magazines.

SIG teamed up with Hogue to produce a set of stick-on grips to increase traction. They are the Hogue Heavy Grit Max Michel edition Wraptor Grips. We have a Springer Precision magazine release as well as the SIG Standard XRay3 day/night sights. It’s quite the package and a great way to kick off the off-duty program.

Shooting the Beast

Shooting the M.O.D. was quite the experience. At first, I noticed how loud a comped handgun is when you’re shooting indoors. I thanked the lord for earmuffs and kept shooting. The expansion chamber does its job of driving the pistol down and keeping it on target. You can shoot very quickly and keep it on target.

It resets almost instantly, and I had no problems keeping the gun on target and tracking the sights. I wish the gun had a red dot. I’d have loved to see what I could do with a dot on this massive, comped gun. A good grip on the gun is a must-have for ensuring accuracy and control.

Those Hogue grips are no joke. They are extremely and aggressively textured. They stick to your hand quite well and don’t budge even a bit when shooting. This keeps the M.O.D. stuck in your hand and, when combined with the expansion port, makes the gun super easy to control.

It makes you smile to shoot this thing. It’s so easy to control and so easy to shoot. It’s loud, but an absolute ton of fun to shoot. I understand it’s designed for off-duty carry, but I could see it being a capable open-category competition gun. It shoots so smoothly and easily.

I look forward to getting more time behind the gun and maybe taking it to a match or two!

What’s a Triple-Action Revolver?

By
Travis Pike
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Have you ever seen the movie Four Brothers? In it, Mark Wahlberg describes the three-shot burst of a Beretta 93R as a triple action. Sure, Hollywood is wrong all the time, but I thought it was interesting. What is a triple-action? We know single and double action. What action is a machine pistol? A continuous action? We are getting off topic. What about triple-action?

The water has always been muddy around actions. Traditionally, we assign the title of a single or double action based on what triggers do. A single action fires the weapon, and that’s it. A double action cocks and fires the weapon. It gets murky around partially cocked strikers like Glocks. The trigger finishes cocking the hammer and fires the gun.

But most people aren’t going to call that double action. The Lionheart Vulcan used to call its trigger a triple-action. The gun used a DA/SA trigger, and the user could press the hammer down to decock it. Typically, the trigger needs to commit the action to get a 1+.

There’s room for interpretation, and a little company called Hopkins and Allen designed what they called a triple-action revolver. Is it truly a triple-action? Let’s explore the gun and try to find out!

The Hopkins and Allen Triple-Action Revolver

You probably know next to nothing about Hopkins and Allen, and that’s fine. I’m an autist who doesn’t talk to girls and seemingly only occupies himself with guns, and I don’t know anything about Hopkins and Allen. As the kids say, let’s spit some surprising facts about the company.

  • Owned Bay State Arms and was the agent for Merwin Hulbert and Company
  • Lost most of their original factory in a fire
  • Employed 600 people
  • It was the third largest gun maker behind Colt and S&W in 1902
  • The first triple-action revolver was created in 1908

The most surprising being the third biggest gun company, but you’ve heard of Colt and S&W. Hopkins and Allen never had a revolutionary design or designer that propelled them to the name recognition of the other big companies. They might have had that if their triple action had taken off.

The Triple-Action Safety Police revolver is the full name of this little gun. Police revolvers are interesting and differ greatly depending on where in the country you live. Out west, it was common to carry something like the .45 Colt, the .44 Russian, or any other caliber that starts with .4.

When you moved east to a more civilized world, the calibers shrank. The NYPD’s first revolver was the Colt .32 New Police. The .32 New Police wasn’t exactly a big-bore round.

This is important to understand since the Triple-Action Safety Police chambered the even less powerful .32 S&W.

Hopkins and Allen designed this top-break revolver for eastern police forces in varying lengths, including my massive 6-inch model. It’s a bit silly-looking, but it represented a police revolver of the era.

How The Triple-Action Worked

I’ve teased it enough. The triple action that’s part of this revolver isn’t anything crazy. The first two actions are predictable. The trigger cocks the hammer, then releases the hammer, and the gun fires. Finally, our third action occurs when you release the trigger.

When you release the trigger, the hammer raises off the firing pin and onto the revolver’s frame. This ensures the hammer cannot touch the firing pin until the trigger is pulled. The third action was a safety device.

It’s nothing crazy, but it was very interesting as far as I’m concerned. It clearly didn’t propel Hopkins and Allen into the limelight. The triple-action design was neat, but it wasn’t the winner they had likely hoped it would be.

Luckily, these are affordable, and it is easy to find guns. Easy as far as century-old guns go. They are quite well made, and my example still handles and fires nicely. If only Magtech ammo didn’t suck so bad.

Pizza on the Trail? Checking Out the Latest from Mountain House

By
Jim Cobb
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Mountain House Pizza Bowl
Photo credit: Mountain House

I receive emails from marketing folks on a regular basis. They’re always touting the latest and greatest products their clients are releasing. Which, of course, is their job. Sometimes the products sound pretty meh, but when one of them offered me freeze-dried pizza, I was immediately all in. I mean, who doesn’t like pizza?

Mountain House has long been at the forefront of freeze-dried camp foods. They’ve been at this since 1963 or thereabouts. Safe to say, they know a thing or two about how to put good food into your pack.

I was blown away by the package that arrived on my doorstep. Seriously, how cool is this?

Mountain House Pizza Bowl package
Mountain House Pizza Bowl package opened

I have a rule that I avoid trying new-to-me foods for the first time out on the trail. If I’m going to find out that I don’t like the food, or that the food doesn’t like me, I’d rather that happen in the comfort of my own home, thank you very much. So, with that in mind, I told my wife that I was adding a little something extra to our normal Wednesday pizza night routine, then got to work.

Prepping the Pizza

Like any similar pouch-style freeze-dried food, getting it ready to eat is pretty simple. Tear off the top of the pouch, then fish around inside for the oxygen absorber. Pour in the required amount of boiling water, in this case 1.3 cups. Stir it up, then seal the pouch and let it sit. The time varies from meal to meal. For this one, it was nine minutes.

Mountain House Pizza Bowl contents dry

The contents started out looking like croutons mixed with pebbles that I took to be pepperoni bits. As soon as I mixed in the hot water, I could smell tomato sauce and spices. This was a good sign.

When the timer went off, I opened the pouch to check it out. Now, here’s the thing. If you aren’t familiar with these types of meals, you need to understand that they rarely look all that great. This freeze-dried pizza didn’t look amazing. It looked like glop. But stirring it up, I was heartened to see little cheese pulls here and there.

Plating and Tasting

Normally, meals like this are eaten directly from the pouch whilst sitting in front of a fire. In this case, since we were splitting the pouch of pizza at the dining table, I broke out actual bowls for each of us. The package indicates there are two servings inside, and that seemed accurate. There was plenty for the two of us.

Mountain House Pizza Bowl served

It was still steaming after sitting on the kitchen counter for the rehydration time, so that was a nice bonus. Out in the field, some people like to use insulated bags to keep the pouches warm as they rehydrate. Not a bad idea, especially in cold weather. Sitting in my kitchen, there were no issues.

Checking out a few spoonfuls, I could taste pepperoni, cheese, and sauce. There were also little chunks of what tasted like pizza crust. The overall effect was like eating pizza that had been cut up and smushed into the pouch. To me, the sauce was very reminiscent of Chef Boyardee pasta sauce, more than what I’d consider pizza sauce.

All in all, I’d give Mountain House Cheesy Pepperoni Bowl a score of 7.5 out of 10. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. If someone handed me a pouch of it when we were camping, I wouldn’t complain. But by the same token, I’ve had other Mountain House varieties I liked better. My wife was less generous and rated it about a 5. She didn’t like the sauce at all, but the pepperoni was okay.

Mountain House Pizza Bowl with regular pizza
It doesn’t beat a rising crust pizza fresh from the oven, but it’ll do in a pinch on the trail.

The IWI Mafteah – The Key

By
Travis Pike
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If I say IWI, what do you picture? Most of us probably picture the Tavor or maybe the affordable and outstanding Zion 15. If you’re a classy type, it’s all about the Jericho. IWI makes a shotgun, the TS-12, but that’s not what they are known for. When I heard that IWI was producing a 12-gauge, semi-auto firearm in the same vein as the Shockwave and TAC-14, I was utterly shocked. It’s called the Mafteah.

As Hector and Jeremy of IWI explained during our recent Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous, Mafteah means Key in Hebrew. I appreciate the cleverness. It’s often a joke that shotguns are master keys, so Mafteah makes sense for a micro-sized semi-auto 12-gauge firearm. The IWI Mafteah isn’t just a firearm; IWI plans to create an entire series of shotguns, including tactical guns, bird guns, and beyond. The Mafteah is just kicking the whole thing off.

The Mafteah is an inertia-driven shotgun, the first inertia-driven 12-gauge firearm. The benefits of an inertia gun include being a lighter gun with a much thinner forend. When you’re aiming to make a weapon small, you’re usually aiming to make it lightweight as well. The Mafteah provides a light and ergonomic platform.

Like other 12-gauge firearms, this gun features a shorter-than-average barrel. I couldn’t get an exact measurement on the range, but it’s in the 14-inch realm. The rear of the gun features a longer, more horizontal grip to get it over the magical, non-concealable 26-inch overall length measurement.

Inside the Mafteah

The Mafteah uses a unique rear grip. It’s a fair bit straighter and thinner than other designs, but quite comfortable in hand. When firing, there is no recoil hitting your wrist. It’s all going upward rather than rearward. This makes it quite comfortable to fire and easy to control. It’s pain-free.

The challenge comes in controlling the upward recoil. That’s the same challenge all of these shorties have. The Mafteah has the benefit of a slim-forward grip that’s surprisingly long. You get a ton of grip texture and a retaining strap to ensure your hand stays put. It forms a very ergonomic front end that makes it easy to lock your hand down on the gun.

What blew my mind is that the Mafteah has a feature I’ve always wanted but never seen on a semi-automatic shotgun. The charging handle can be swapped from the standard right-hand side to the left-hand side. For right-handed shooters, placing the charging handle on the left makes it easy to access without shifting your firing grip. This makes it easier to reload, deal with potential malfunctions, and more.

Additionally, the Mafteah is optics-ready, but in a way you wouldn’t expect. The removable slot features a mounting system compatible with the Glock MOS plates. This also makes it compatible with Holosun and C&H Precision optics that fit directly into the slot. The use of Glock MOS plates allows you to use a ton of different optics.

Shooting the Key

The Mafteah handles quite well. Its big forearm makes it easy to grab, and the rear grip is nice and long, which allows for a good grip. The gun cycles reliably and smoothly. It throws empty hulls like they insulted its mother. The Mafteah has excellent controls and solid ergonomics. You can aim and shoot the gun like a traditional shotgun, but you have to be a man about it.

Any pistol-grip-only 12-gauge can be a blast to shoot, literally and figuratively. It’s fast cycling, and the guys at the IWI station kept allowing me to shoot. While it’s no poodle shooter, the Mafteah’s semi-auto action makes shooting much softer than pump-action alternatives.

The Mafteah is a ton of fun to shoot rapidly, and the five-round tube makes it easy to shoot. The gun works like a charm, and I can’t wait for it to hit the market. Semi-auto pistol grip-only firearms have a ton of self-defense potential for fights. The softer recoil and faster firing action make them quite the defensive weapon.

The Mafteah should be out before summer starts, so prepare for that sweet semi-auto action.

Knife and Tool Pairing

By
Reuben Bolieu
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Here’s a prime example of a Nata chopper (prototype) from Knives by Nuge and a small Bear Forest Knives GT-3 fixed blade.

Like food and fine wine, outdoor tools also know how to join the party. Knife and tool pairing for every trip and environment makes life easier than juggling a trio. Look at these examples and craft your ultimate pairs to match your adventures!

Why Only a Pair?

Two is less to carry and fuss with. If you can make due with two cutting tools for your trip, then you’ve made room for gear that may be more important. Outdoor cutting tools are heavy by nature. Less is more. Knife and tool pairing is a way to make sure your skills are keen enough to tackle tasks with less. 

Use a pair on trips where weight and bulk are an issue. It’s okay to vary from the Nessmuk, Kephart, and Scandinavian Trio. Make an (enter your name here) tool pair and tread lighter and faster!

Knife and Axe Tool Pairing

A super popular duo is an axe and a knife—not any knife, but a fixed-blade knife for durability. Axe is a common term that also includes a hatchet and a tomahawk. Yes, they’re different, but bear with me. These days, felling trees is not as common as in the 1800s. Most wildernesses worldwide have an abundance of downed trees that need processing more than anything. 

An axe-style tool can remove branches and section small trees that are wrist to calf thickness. Firewood and shelter poles will fall into this category. Pole beds, grills, and camping furniture also fall under this category. Call it fuel and drag it on the campfire if there’s anything more significant. 

Kephart-style pairing of a light tomahawk from H&B Forge and stout ML Knives fixed blade knife made in the tradition of yesteryear.

Meanwhile, the fixed-blade sheath knife can make kindling via a wooden baton and shave wood for feather sticks. Let’s not forget how the knife shines in the cabin or camp kitchen with food and common utility tasks.

As Horace Kephart would say, “A camper has use for a common-sense sheath-knife, sometimes for dressing big game, but oftener for such homely work as cutting sticks, slicing bacon, and frying ‘spuds.’ For such purpose, a rather thin, broad-pointed blade is required … It is tempered hard enough to cut green hardwood sticks, but soft enough so that when it strikes a knot or bone it will, if anything, turn rather than nick.”

Saw and Knife Pairing

I want to stress the point that most wilderness areas have lots of dead wood that needs processing more than felling. A folding saw and knife can do most of the camp work required for a cookfire or camp crafts. This pair is the lightest knife and tool pairing combo for light to medium work. 

Some survival classes teach that a fixed-blade knife and saw can handle 90% of camp and survival tasks. I believe. This knife and tool pairing is popular among day campers, bushcrafters, and backpackers. They appreciate its utility for processing wood on weekend trips.

A classic lightweight pairing of a Mora 1/0 and Corona 10” folding saw has accompanied the author for several years.

This pair is perfect for stealthier campers or people who don’t want to attract attention with the ruckus chopping causes. However, they aren’t without essential tools when they need a fire or shelter. The fewer tools you bring, the more skills you need to accompany them. Crack on!

This Bucksaw and Coalcracker Bushcraft fixed blade knife made an excellent combo in the author’s fixed camp over the years.

Chopper Fixed Blade Tool Pairing

Chopping tools wear many hats. Besides axe-type tools, big knives are in the mix. It needs company, be it a machete, nata, kukuri, parang, bolo, or bowie knife. I grew up with a long blade and small knife mentality. However, it fit with the books I read, videos I watched, and training. Above all, experience was the deciding factor. 

A chopping knife and a fixed blade can do a lot. You won’t get any tidy cut ends or pression with these tools. However, with these knife and tool pairing options, you can adjust your methods for a warm fire, shelter, or whatever you desire.

For more information, please check out Knives by Nuge, Bear Forest Knives, H&B Forge, ML Knives, and Coalcracker Bushcraft!

SIG SAUER Romeo 8T-AMR – Magnifier Optimized

By
Travis Pike
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SIG’s optics division often floats under the radar but produces some absolutely fantastic products, from the budget-friendly Romeo5 series to the 9T, which costs as much as a used Civic. One of their latest optics brings us a fascinating piece of tech. The SIG Romeo 8T-AMR is giving us an optic designed to provide increased functionality when used with a magnifier. 

The Romeo 8T-AMR is a big, square-shaped optic aimed at the modern rifle. The 8T series is known for its size and square shape, and with the 8T-AMR, things have gotten a fair bit smaller overall, but it’s still got a nice-sized window. What this thing does when a magnifier flips over is what counts. 

The 8T-AMR and Magnifiers 

The 8T-AMR can change its brightness level and reticle when you slide a magnifier in place behind the red dot. If you’ve never used a magnifier with a red dot, you’ll be surprised when you throw one in place, and your sight becomes crazy bright, making your target difficult to see. 

When you slap your magnifier in place, the optic can be set to reduce the brightness to a user-selectable level. You could also increase the brightness, but that’d be a bit silly overall. Additionally, the optic has four reticles. We have a 1 MOA dot, a 1 MOA dot and circle, a 1 MOA dot with dot holdovers, and a circle, 1 MOA dot, and holdovers. 

You can program the 8T-AMR to swap to a different reticle to work with the magnifier. Maybe you want the dot and circle for use without the magnifier. It provides a quick, easy-to-see reticle for close-range use. Fill the circle with the target and let it fly. When you throw the magnifier in place, the reticle can swap to a 1 MOA dot to provide a cleaner aiming reticle. 

I’d use the circle and dot at 1X and the 1 MOA dot with the .7 MOA holdovers with the reticle. The holdovers would allow for quick and easy adjustments when you need to fire at longer ranges. If you’re using a magnifier, you’re likely shooting at extended ranges, and the holdovers could be handy. 

Which Magnifier? 

You’re not stuck with one magnifier. In fact, you can use any magnifier with the 8T-AMR. SIG would like you to use Juliet3, which is likely the best option, considering how SIG will offer the 8T-AMR as a package deal to save some money. However, if you’re looking for something different, it’s compatible. 

Shooting With the 8T-AMR 

I got to throw a fair bit of lead downrange with the 8T-AMR on a SIG MCX SURG at our recent Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous, and I enjoyed it immensely. Switching between the magnified view and the non-magnified view and seeing the instant swap never got old. The dots are crisp, and the glass is clear with a slight blue notch filter.  

Swapping between reticles and dots isn’t hard, and the SIG guys explained it to me as best they could. Sadly, it was a small shoot house with a lot of loud guns. It seems easy, but I’ll follow the manual for my first few attempts. 

SIG has a brilliant idea with the 8T-AMR, and I can’t wait to get a little more time behind the platform and figure out exactly how the magic works, identify its strengths, and suss out any potential problems. With SIG’s optics being not just a trendsetter but a standard bearer, I don’t think I’ll do much of the latter. 

The Magpul MOE Bipod

By
P.E. Fitch
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Magpul MOE Bipod

Several months ago, I was busy shooting and writing my review of the Tikka T3X Lite bolt-action hunting rifle. On the way out, I impulse bought a basic Magpul bipod in order to make life easier when shooting that Tikka rifle. At the time of purchase, I had no idea that I had taken home a brand-new-to-me variant of Magpul’s dependable polymer bipod.

With a retail price of $71.99 and the fact that it worked on swivel studs, I impulse bought it trusting the Magpul name. It turns out I made the right call, because for $71.99 plus tax retail, the new Magpul MOE Bipod actually impressed me.

Rear view of the Magpul MOE Bipod. Note the extra sling swivel stud included for hunters and marksmen that still need to rely on sling swivels.

Externally, the Magpul MOE Bipod looks like any other Magpul-produced polymer bipod, with its distinctive lines and thick polymer legs capped with rounded rubber feet. Correspondingly, as with other Magpul bipod models, the MOE Bipod’s feet are held in place with roll pins that can be drifted out to remove said feet and replace them with Atlas bipod aftermarket options. 

Setting Up the Magpul MOE Bipod

Internally, the Magpul MOE Bipod uses injection-molded polymer arms instead of the inner metal arms seen on previous models. Bipod legs can extend from a collapsed length of seven inches to a total extended length of ten inches via the internal arms’ ½ inch increments. The MOE Bipod uses an oversized thumb screw to clamp down on standard rifle sling swivel studs.

The upper portion of the clamping mechanism features a flattened rubber-padded surface that supports the rifle’s forend without marring or scratching stock surfaces and finishes. The only thing the MOE Bipod cannot do is tilt or pan, like Magpul’s other bipod. However, I don’t think that’s a huge drawback for a basic bipod designed to securely clamp over sling swivel studs.

Compared to the circular plungers that must be depressed to collapse the legs forward on the older Magpul models, the MOE is equipped with a larger square-ish plunger that’s larger and easier to depress. The Magpul design team thoughtfully included a spare swivel stud behind the bipod’s base to allow hunters to add their swiveled rifle slings.      

Shooting With The Magpul MOE Bipod  

Top view of Magpul MOE Bipod, note the metal jaw which mechanically “swallows” the sling swivel stud.

According to the copy on Magpul’s site, the switch to an all-polymer construction is said to reduce the bipod’s overall weight by 40% compared to some of the other Magpul-produced bipods. Frankly, I was too busy shooting with the Tikka to perceive any disparities in weight.

With that said, I couldn’t help but notice that the MOE Bipod’s rigidity was very impressive. The junction of the legs to the clamping mechanism still provides some play that allows the shooter to load the bipod when they’re behind a rifle.

Besides relying on this bipod for the duration of the Tikka T3X Lite review, it currently sits on my Tikka T1X. There’s not much that needs to be said about the Magpul MOE Bipod. It’s a useful piece of kit that’s ruggedly built and works as advertised without breaking the bank.

I can’t speak for its competitors that retail at the same price-point. Admittedly, my decision to purchase this accessory was driven by Magpul’s sterling reputation and my smooth end-user experience with their products.  

The Takeaway 

The range of different rifle bipods available in today’s market is as diverse as the range of said bipods’ prices. Their prices can vary from the mid to high double-digits to figures that are on par with the cost of actual rifles. Modular Driven Technologies even has an advanced Cyke-Pod model that retails for $999! The price all depends on the make, model, and application of the bipod in question. 


And as a rule of thumb, decent bipods aren’t cheap. As with other types of firearm-related accessories, bipods are definitely part of the buy once, cry once category. Their job of securely stabilizing the front-end of a rifle is too important to lean on a model with a shoddy design and subpar materials. Rifle ammo isn’t cheap either.

Magpul Industries’ products generally have a reputation for punching above their weight relative to their retail cost. Additionally, the American firearms accessory behemoth has been busy offering basic, sturdy, and decently functional rifle bipods for a few years now. Like with most Magpul products, I think their cost-to-performance ratio is commendable. This certainly checks out vis-à-vis the Magpul MOE Bipod.

The Magpul MOE Bipod seem attached to a .22 LR Tikka T1X MTR rimfire bolt-action rifle. The other picture juxtaposes the MOE Bipod against the original Magpul polymer bipod that’s attached to a Savage 110’s Magpul Hunter rifle stock.

Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical SPX Holosun Combo

By
Travis Pike
-

One of the features that sold me on the original 940 Pro Tactical was the optics cut. It’s the first shotgun I’ve ever seen that allows me to directly attach an optic to the gun—no Picatinny rail needed. I loved that, but I also fell in love with a lot of Mossberg’s features. Mossberg is building on those features with the Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical SPX Holosun combo. 

As the combo name implies, you are getting an included Holosun, which drops right into that RMSc footprint in the 940’s receiver. The included model is the HS407K, and it sits low enough to see the front sight. With the SPX design, we also get a ton of new features that make this Mossberg’s best tactical shotgun yet. 

Breaking Down the New 940

Let’s start at the tip of the barrel and work our way back, cataloging the improvements the SPX model has over the standard model. The front sight is a rifle-style design that flows rearward into barrel clamps, outfitted with an M-LOK slot and sling swivel. Then, we get into the uber awesome SPX handguard. 

The SPX integrates a heat shield into the handguard. This allows the thumb to ride high without accidentally brushing the barrel. The handguard is a bit thinner and features an extremely aggressive texture. I can’t measure the new and old handguards, but the new one seems slightly longer. 

The handguard also features a few integrated M-LOK slots for accessory mounting. We also get a QD cup on the handguard to provide just one extra sling swivel option. The controls are still massive, but they are slightly different from the standard 940 Pro Tactical. I love the new safety. It’s huge and easy to manipulate. 

Finally, the stock is mostly the same but integrates a QD cup for a final sling point. With this gun, you have lots and lots of options for slings, probably more than any other shotgun on the market. 

Shooting The 940 SPX 

The 940 Pro Tactical SPX is a serious defensive shotgun. Much like the original 940, it has a smooth and controllable recoil impulse. The gas system takes a bit of sting from the gun’s 12-gauge recoil. It’s not AR-15 soft, but you could shoot it all day and not walk away bruised and beaten. 

The included Holosun 407K sits nice, low, and co-witnesses with the front rifle sight. Should the dot die, your entire optic becomes a massive rear sight with an easy-to-use front sight. The gun’s forend fits the hand well, and the aggressive texture allows you to press outward with a good push/pull technique. 

The gun cycles rapidly and dependably ejects shells left and right. Dropping eight rounds out of the gun takes no time at all, and if you have to fire eight rounds of twelve gauge, you want them dispersed quickly. 

At the time of this article I have only shot the 940 Pro Tactical SPX at our Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous. So, I didn’t have enough time with the gun to do a full review, but I liked what I saw. I fired fifty rounds through it, and if it works as well as the original 940, it will be a killer option. Watch this space for a full review sooner rather than later. 

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