The Superior Hat

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography.

Used with permission.

That title isn't my opinion; it's literally called the "Men's Superior Hat" over at Duluth Trading Co., but I do have to say that it is pretty nice. 

Ladies, don't let the name put you off from this hat. Despite the name, you'll look good in it too, and since the reviews state "It runs small, so order a size up" I'm certain that a medium or large size will fit you. 

I bought mine so long ago that I can't recall when it was; it was after I moved back to Florida in 2005, but before I started this blog in 2014. It was available in other colors back then, including forest green (the color I have), camouflage, khaki, and I think red. These days it only comes it black, which is a shame, but it likely keeps the cost down and black does go with everything. 

https://www.duluthtrading.com/s/DTC/mens-superior-hat-11106.html

I haven't used it often, as this is a cold-weather hat and Florida doesn't get very cold very often, but I'm always happy to have this hat when it does. 

Here's what the Superior Hat has:

• The exterior is hard-working and hard-wearing firehose cotton. Considering I've had mine for 15-20 years and it still looks new, that's a testament to its toughness. 
• The fabric is treated to be water-repellant, and I've never had it leak on me. 
• There's a fold-down flap that can cover my ears. 
• The 150-gram Thinsulate insulation keeps my head and ears toasty warm in even the coldest of Florida weather (which is, let's face it, only about 30° F).
• In case I get too toasty and start to sweat, there's a moisture-wicking sweatband built into the buttery-soft polyester fleece liner. 
• All this for only $30 (today's prices; I think I paid $20-$25 for mine.)

Since I don't live anywhere it snows, I don't know how well it would keep you warm in truly wintery conditions. However, the first page of reviews shows four star ratings from Michigan and Oregon, and the only reason they didn't give it a full five stars is because they ordered their regular size, found it to be too tight, and had to exchange it for the next size up. I figure if it's good enough for them, then it ought to be good enough for anyone not living in Alaska. 

https://www.duluthtrading.com/s/DTC/mens-superior-hat-11106.html

My Rating: A+

It does everything it says it will do, and has done so for over a decade without showing signs of slowing down. I recommend this for all preppers.

Even if you have a winter hat you already love, or need something more robust where you live, at $30 this is something you can keep in your car for emergencies or let friends and family borrow if they're caught in the cold. 

You'll get your money's worth out of it, and more, for a good long time. 

Portable Propane Heaters

Winter camping can be miserable, and I’ve winter camped in Washington State in the snow and the wet and the cold as a Boy Scout. Now I’m camping in Georgia year-round with my son’s Trail Life Troop, and “below freezing in Georgia” is just as miserable as “below freezing in Washington.”

There are two schools of thought among the adults who provide some level of safety for our troop. One is “I need to be able to carry all my kit long distance,” and the other is “What the heck, I own a truck, and I’ll carry my gear from the truck to the campsite.” The first group doesn’t use any artificial heat sources, and the second group does. At the last campout, the second group was more comfortable than the first group because they had bigger, roomier tents. In two of those tents were Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heaters, and I got to enjoy them simply by being there.

https://amzn.to/4hJdxY7

In Use

First observation: even the smallest Mr. Heater product is plenty for a tent that a single person can pack. The advertisement says “up to 225 square feet” which I think is a bit generous for most tents, but in a well-insulated room or small cabin it would make sense.

Second: plan to use one 1lb bottle of propane per night, or six hours of burn time. You can get an adapter to use any size of propane bottle you want if you need more than six hours of heat production. 

Note: while commercial locations won’t refill most 1lb propane bottles, you can buy adapters to refill them yourself.  This is obviously discouraged by single-use propane vendors, but there are  refillable bottles on the market.

Pros and Cons

A Mr. Heater is a bit of a luxury item for camping in Georgia or Washington, even in the winter time. But as a survival/resiliency prep it has a few things going for it. 

1. If you have a gas grill and adapter hose, or a few 1lb propane bottles on hand, you have a safe indoor heating in a pinch. 
2. A heat source can be used to heat food. One YouTuber I watch routinely opens canned food and gently heats it using his Mr. Heater in the depth of Canadian winter, and toasting frankfurters or marshmallows is very similar to using a campfire.

Is it perfect? No, not really.

1. It takes up space when not in use. Not much, but some.
2. Unlike a rocket stove or Solo Stove or Kelly Kettle, it uses a fossil fuel that may or may not be easy to get in an emergency. If you live in an apartment where wood or twigs aren’t plentiful, that might be a positive rather than a negative.
3. It’s big enough that I wouldn’t bother keeping one in a full size van unless the van had been converted into a small camper. In a large camper, a Mr. Heater makes quite a bit of sense.

Should You Get One?

I’m not in a hurry to go out and buy a Mr. Heater of my own, but if I see a good sale I’ll probably snag one. They run very quietly, and in an elevated deer stand in the winter where I sit still for hours on end, it might be really nice to not feel the cold so deep in my bones.

Also, don’t underestimate the value of the “nice to haves” in a situation where you have to rely on your preps and not public infrastructure. The little luxuries can make all the difference between a miserable experience and a merely inconvenient experience.

Hammock Camping

I’m not getting any younger, and the ground isn’t getting any softer. Several of the fellow Dads in my son’s Trail Life Troop are avid backpackers, and they all recommend hammock camping. Some camping hammocks are mini-shelter solutions in themselves, some even with snuggly sleeping bags built in for cold weather... but not the ones I bought at Harbor Freight. I purchased two of these hammocks, one at the full price of $19.99 for my son, and one for myself when it was on sale for $14.99.

https://www.harborfreight.com/parachute-hammock-with-adjustable-tree-straps-57399.html

Bottom Line: It Works

It is a hammock. It is actually a very well-designed hammock for what it is: two nylon straps to wrap around trees, two steel carabiners, and a hammock with its own storage bag sewn in.

What It Lacks

Any sort of built-in coverage or bug screening, or any sort of thermal insulation. This means that when I slept in it for the last few nights of sub-freezing weather (I woke up with frost inside my bivy cover on my outer sleeping bag), I had to adapt my sleeping system a little bit.

To keep from freezing in the freezing weather, I put my close-cell foam sleeping pad inside an Army surplus bivy cover, and used both the winter and summer bags for the modular sleep system and a woobie to fill in the air gaps and Hot Hands brand hand and toe warmers to make me toasty. The Hot Hands warmers weren’t strictly necessary, but they definitely helped me get comfortable faster when the temperature was below freezing.

My Plan to Hammock Camp in the Rain

1. Bring 550 cord, bungie cords, ground stakes, and a tarp. 
2. String the 550 Cord over my hammock using the same trees I attached the hammock to, and make a rain cover. 
3. I wouldn’t recommend any tarp smaller than 8x10 feet, although the “Amazon’s Choice” recommendation for a hammock rain fly looks really tempting.

How to Overcome Bugs 

Other than chemical repellents, there aren’t many options. But for only a few dollars more, why not just buy a hammock with a bug screen built in?

https://amzn.to/4haOtJN

Complete Side Note and War Story

I once served with a bit of a character who had done some bounty hunting prior to his life in the Army. His team used a full-size van as part of their stakeout platform, and had modified the interior with hard points in the front and back to attach a hammock so one member of the team could get some sleep while the others observed, and the hammock could get stuffed away into nearly no space quickly (something an inflatable mattress couldn’t do). Having slept in a Ford Econoline van before, I’m positive the hammock provided an upgrade to the floor. If your preps include a van-sized vehicle, that might be an option for you.

I'm a Hammock Camping Convert

I still have to pack a sleeping pad in the winter time, but between the weight of the hammock and a rain fly, I’m saving weight and space over a tent. 

Is this something you absolutely need in your preps? Probably not, but it did provide me much better sleep than any other option I’ve tried, including some very expensive inflatable sleeping pads.

Product Review: GOAT-15 Helium .22LR Rifle

In previous posts I've talked about gun safety and properly introducing children to firearms. Both topics are intertwined with using the right tools: firearms that are not only functionally safe, but also of appropriate size and weight for smaller shooters.

While attending the GOA GOALS Expo last year, I got to meet Caelinn, Alex, and Braxton of Mountain Billy Gun Labs. They were more than willing to spend some time talking about their product with me. In the short time I was able to handle this firearm, I was quite intrigued.

Following the expo I reached out to them about getting one of their .22 long rifle GOAT-15 Helium mini AR-15s for testing and evaluation. After the usual communications and assurances, they sent one to my local FFL.

Caelin, Alex, and Braxton at GOA GOALS

Description and Specifications

The GOAT-15 is 28 inches long with the stock collapsed and 31 inches long with the stock fully extended. 

Size comparison

The buffer tube has seven positions, enabling it to fit a variety of shooters.

Smaller, but traditional AR-style stock adjustments

The 16" barrel is rifled 1 turn in 16 with a right hand twist. The muzzle is threaded with standard 1/2-28 threads and comes with a thread protector for when another muzzle attachment isn't in use.

The rifle weighs a featherlight 2.75 pounds unloaded. Adding a Swampfox Liberator green dot optic increases that weight to only 3.2 pounds.

Weight with and without optic

Mountain Billy Gun labs contracted with MagPul on the one piece upper receiver and hand guard. The fore end has standard M-Lok slots for accessory attachment on the sides and bottom, and a full length Picatinny rail on top.

M-Lok handguard with Picatinny rail

The GOAT-15 comes with two magazines, one that holds a single round for training purposes and another that holds five. Ten round magazines are now available as well. If the GOAT-15 product line takes off like I hope it does, maybe Pro-Mag will make a drum for it.

Five round and single round magazines

Other than the M-Lok slots, Picatinny rail, and muzzle threads, no parts on the GOAT-15 are interchangeable with standard AR-pattern rifles or accessories. All other parts are proprietary.

In accordance with BATFE regulations, the serial number is located on a metal plate inset into the right side of the magazine well.

The full Billy

Handling and Shooting

The GOAT-15 Helium is on the compact side for me, but it's a good fit for smaller-statured shooters. My 5'2" tall wife and a 5' tall friend were both comfortable shouldering the rifle with the stock fully extended. Two taller friends and I found that it required a somewhat cramped hold, but we were able to manage with no real issues.

All controls are of the standard and familiar AR pattern, with one exception:  the safety lock, a unique feature of this rifle.

From their website:

Safety was so important, we developed and patented a new tamper resistant safety switch that requires strength and dexterity to release, adding a level of safety found on no other firearm, of any size.

The safety lock is a knurled knob on the right side of the receiver where the boss of the safety lever cross pin is located. In normal use, it can be completely ignored and doesn't interfere with operation of the safety lever in any way. To activate, the knob is pulled out slightly and rotated 180 degrees. This locks the safety in the safe position, rendering the rifle inoperative until the knob is rotated back. If desired, the safety lock can be removed. 

GOAT-15 Lower Receiver

When I talked with Caelinn, Alex, and Braxton at the GOALS Expo, they mentioned the future possibility of a safety lever that could be put in place of the safety lock. This would allow for full ambidextrous operation of the safety. However, that's not a priority at the moment. 

If I were to describe my experience shooting the GOAT-15, the first word that comes to mind is fun. 22s are nearly always fun to shoot, and the GOAT-15 takes that to the next level. It's small and light, while still maintaining the negligible recoil of a 22. It's also quite accurate: shooting from ten yards freehand, anything other than one-hole five-shot groups were the exception.

Shell casings ejected in the four o'clock direction and landed about 10 feet away in a relatively contained area. When the last round is fired, the bolt locks open as with any standard AR platform firearm.

The only issue encountered was on the second day of shooting. We were several hundred rounds in, and the rifle suffered a series of failures to feed. As many people know, 22 rimfire is pretty dirty ammo, and firearm function being affected by a build-up from the externally lubricated bullets and combustion residue is not uncommon. An examination of the rifle revealed a ridge of gunk had accumulated on the feed ramp; a quick scrub with a nylon bristle brush through the ejection port cleared this up and we were back in business.

The rifle was tested with Federal and Winchester 36 grain copper plated hollow points, as well as a mix-and-match of other brands from my leftovers bin. Other than the fouling issue I just mentioned, the GOAT-15 handled them all without a hiccup.

For amusement value, a few of the testers tried shooting it like a pistol, with a one- or two-hand grip. Although a bit muzzle-heavy when shot in this manner, it was manageable, but group size suffered as would be expected.

A passable but unwieldy handgun

Internals

Disassembling the GOAT-15 for cleaning or maintenance is only slightly different from standard AR-patter rifles. While the upper and lower are still connected by takedown and pivot pins, they're not retained by detents. They're also not pushout, instead having a hex socket on one side and a flat slot on the other, which necessitates two tools to unscrew one end of the pin from the other. This process takes a little getting used to, but it isn't complicated. I do recommend securing the rifle before attempting disassembly.

After the pins are removed and the receiver halves separated, remaining teardown is consistent with most ARs. The bolt and charging handle slide out the back of the upper receiver, and that's it. The rifle is field stripped.

Bolt and Charging Handle

When I looked down into the fire control pocket, I would have believed I was seeing a standard AR if I didn't have a sense of scale.

All the internal components look like what we expect to see, just smaller.

Fire Control Group, Hammer up and Down

Packing and Accessories

The GOAT-15 Helium comes packed with foam spacers in a sturdy cardboard box. In addition to the rifle, it also contains two magazines (one-round, and five-round), the federally mandated lock, a manual, and a sticker.

The GOAT-15 in its pen

The MSRP of the GOAT-15 Helium is $470 for the rifle and $23 for the 10-round magazines. In my opinion, this is a remarkably good price.

Mountain Billy has also recently released the ATOM pistol and H2 SBR versions of the GOAT-15, at MSRPs of $480 and $490 respectively. The SBR price does not include the $200 National Firearms Act tax stamp fee.

Summary

At the end of the T&E period, I was so impressed with the GOAT-15 Helium that I talked to Mountain Billy Gun Labs about purchasing their test rifle. They agreed, so I'm now the keeper of this lovely firearm. I foresee it getting plenty of use, both by me and by every friend whose hands I can get it into.

Whether for training new shooters, outfitting a smaller statured shooter, or just as a fun plinker, I highly recommend any of the GOAT-15 variants.

As you might guess, I give it a ten out of ten.

Have fun, and safe shooting.

Product Review: Laser Ammo's Recoil Enabled Glock G19 Training Pistol

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography.

Used with permission.

David has talked about the importance of dry fire for marksmanship, and I agree with that position. If you carry a firearm as a self-defense prep, then you must  ensure that all of your shots go where you need them to go if you ever shoot in defense of yourself or another. Unless you're law enforcement, you aren't protected under qualified immunity if you miss your target and hit an innocent person; regular folks like you and I are legally responsible for every bullet that leaves our gun. 

David also reviewed the Mantis X3 dry fire system, which has the benefit of enabling the user to practice with their own firearm. However, as he observed, any gun which uses a striker rather than an external hammer will require either working the slide between shots or the purchase of specialty dry fire magazines, which are both expensive and only fit a limited selection of firearm models (Glock seems to be universal, followed by Sig Sauer and S&W M&P). 

Another solution to this dilemma is to purchase a recoil-enabled training pistol from Laser Ammo. I have the Gen 5 Glock 19 version with infrared laser, so my review will focus on that, although I assume that the other Laser Ammo guns (Glock 17, 1911 and Sig Sauer M17, M18, P320) function similarly. 

https://amzn.to/4gEtEpF

Comparisons With Reality

Built on the chassis of an Umarex airsoft Glock 19, these training pistols function exactly like a Glock 19 with the sole exception of being unable to fire bullets: the trigger safety functions the same way, the slide reciprocates and can be locked back, magazines are loaded and ejected identically, and it can even be field-stripped in exactly the same manner as its real counterpart. 

https://amzn.to/4gEtEpF

It's also worth noting that a proper Glock magazine will not seat inside this trainer. I have several, and they all encounter friction resistance about halfway in. It's possible to force the magazine in further, but it stops well before the slide can engage the ammunition. Only airsoft magazines will fully seat inside this trainer.

As a point of curiosity, an unfilled Umarex magazine for the airsoft Glock 19 weighs about as much as a real and loaded Glock 17 magazine, and more than a real and loaded Glock 19 magazine. I'm not sure why this is, but it does mean that magazines on this laser trainer drop free cleanly.

https://amzn.to/4gEtEpF

Speaking of weight, the Laser Ammo G19 weighs less than an unloaded Glock 26. This will become somewhat relevant later. 

Operation

Because this laser trainer is so similar to the Glock 19, the manual of arms is almost exactly the same. The two exceptions are that the slide doesn't need to be racked for it to function (although I find myself doing that anyway), and the magazine is filled with green gas from a pressurized can. 

I specifically chose a green gas (essentially propane without the smell and with silicone oil added for lubrication) trainer over CO2 because of price. According to this source, green gas is more cost-efficient and is easier on the gun because it has reduced recoil. This allows the user to practice more often without worrying about hand fatigue from recoil, although there's enough recoil that it's easy to lose your sight picture without sufficient control and practice.

As an indication of its recoil and the amount of noise it makes -- best described as a sharp snapping sound, akin to a stapler gun -- I asked my 85-year-old mother to give it a try. Despite the arthritis in her hands, the recoil wasn't too much for her, nor was the noise harmful to her ears. 

To my mind that makes this product ideal for teaching firearm safety to children and hesitant adults:

• The light weight makes it easier to lift and use.
• The similar manual of arms makes it possible to teach safe firearm handling without using a real gun, and with more function than a dummy gun. 
• The mild noise means it can be used indoors. (I would suggest a well-ventilated area, as after a magazine's worth of shots are fired the smell of the green gas is noticeable. I don't find it objectionable, although some might.)
• The gentle recoil means that children, the elderly, and anyone with an injury can use this product without discomfort. 

In fact, using this as an instruction tool is the main reason I bought it. The fact that it helps me with my shooting is a welcome secondary benefit. 

Red vs. Infrared

Laser Ammo offers two types of lasers on its trainers: visible red lasers and invisible infrared. They both have benefits and drawbacks. The red laser is less expensive, and you get immediate feedback about where you hit. On the other hand, many shooters end up "chasing the dot" rather than focusing on their technique. The infrared is the reverse, being more expensive (but only by about $20) and lacking the immediate feedback, but allowing the user to concentrate on sight picture rather than "I saw the dot go down and left, so I need to aim up and right to fix that."

Pick whichever one best suits your needs. I went with infrared because I already have a visible red laser trainer from LaserLyte (reviewed here, available from Amazon for $141). 

Targets

Regardless of which you choose, you'll need some kind of target to register your shots. I use the LaserLyte Score Tyme ($214 from Amazon, reviewed here) which I acquired 10 years ago; it still works great, and I'm happy to report that it registers hits from infrared lasers just as well as from red.  

https://amzn.to/3BQ1EQO

Another option is the LaserPET (Personal Electronic Target), also from Laser Ammo. At $70 it's much less expensive than the Score Tyme, and it's also a lot more portable (2.25" x 5.25" x 0.75", takes 2 AAA batteries). 

In terms of functionality, the LaserPET is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it doesn't show you where you hit like the Score Tyme does, only if you hit or not. If you're like me and you get validation from seeing tight groups, that's a drawback. On the other hand, the LaserPET has more modes (hit counter, shot timer, timed burst shooting, and double tap) and also comes with inserts which restrict the shot window. For example, you can shoot a 1" or 1/2" aperture if you like punishing yourself want a challenge. 

The 1/2" aperture insert

The B-27 aperture insert

I contacted Laser Ammo to ask about the size ratio of this target and was told that 1 foot away from the PET equals 3 feet away from a full size target. This is likely only of use when shooting at the B-27 silhouette target, but I thought it was an interesting fact. 

My feeling is that the Score Tyme is better for new shooters and the LaserPET is better for experienced shooters, especially those who want to dry fire while away from home. 

The Price: $$$

Unfortunately, there's just no getting around the biggest drawback, which is its price. At over $400, these laser trainers cost as much as a good used gun and are approaching new gun prices, and that's before you add the cost of a laser-sensing target. Some people may balk at these prices, and I can't blame them. I bought mine specifically for my work with Operation Blazing Sword, and as a combination instruction tool and dry fire trainer it's fantastic. This is a good tool for anyone who teaches people how to handle firearms; for everyone else, it's likely too expensive and you should get a Mantis X3 instead. (Although, fun fact: the Laser Ammo G19 has an accessory rail on it just like a proper Glock 19, so you could also mount a Mantis on it for maximum training efficiency.)

There's also the drawback that, much like the dry fire magazines, Laser Ammo only has a small amount of brands available. If you don't shoot a 1911, a Glock 17 or 19, or a Sig P320, you aren't practicing with your carry pistol. I chose a Glock because it's still the most popular and prevalent pistol in the world, and because I have familiarity with the platform because I own a G26. 

My Rating: Well, It Depends

Are you someone who dry fires a lot, either because you need to shoot professionally or because you want to shoot really well? If you shoot one of the guns that Laser Ammo makes trainers for, then this product is definitely for you because of the feedback and the identical manual of arms. 10/10

Do you want more realism in your dry fire practice? This will give you that, but perhaps it's not the best use of your funds, especially if you don't have a lot of money to throw around. On the other hand, it's cheaper than ammunition, range fees, and gas to the shooting range and back. I'll say 8/10, because it's not for everyone, mainly due to the initial cost. That said, once you get it set up you're liable to really like it, so I don't think there will be much buyer's remorse. 

Are you just really annoyed by having to rack the side while dry firing and want a better way to do it? Don't get this. Instead, get a LaserLyte emitter and the LaserPET target. This will give you all the benefits of dry fire practice for half the price (about $211 total). 

Do you teach people how to safely operate firearms? 10/10 due to its functionality and its ability to teach at someone's home rather than going to a range. 

Dear FTC: I bought these products. Go away.

Product Review: Mantis X3

On this bog we've talked about the importance of shooting practice, particularly dry fire practice for improving skills, accuracy, and confidence. Erin has reviewed several dry fire systems on her blog. Such as the LaserLyte targets and emitters.

(As an aside, the product I'm reviewing here is another fruit from the Gun Owners of America GOALS event I attended earlier this year. I highly recommend it to any of our readers who can attend next year.)

Overview

The Mantis X3 is a small rechargeable unit that can be attached to any handgun or rifle that has a Picatinny accessory rail. For firearms without a Picatinny rail, Mantis also makes adaptors that attach to the bottom of a pistol magazine. 

The X3 works by detecting the amount and direction of movement during trigger pull. In conjunction with a downloadable app, it enables dry and live fire practice whenever and wherever the owner desires. The Mantis X app is available from the Apple, Samsung, and Google play stores and will work on any mobile device that has Bluetooth capability.

What You Get

The Mantis X3 comes well-packaged in a foam lined zippered hard pouch, and includes the unit, a charging cable (USB A to Micro-B), and a printed quick start guide. More detailed instructions and information are available through the app or downloadable from the website.

Mantis X3 Package Contents

 

Weighing in at just under half an ounce (or 13 grams), and measuring 1.3 inches long, one inch wide, and 0.75 inches high, the Mantis X3 is unlikely to affect the handling characteristics of any firearm (with a possible exception being if the user wants to use it in conjunction with holster draw drills).

The Mantis X3 unit

Setup of the Mantis X3 is extremely simple.

1. Download the App
2. Attach the unit to the firearm
3. Connect the device to the app via Bluetooth
4. Start practicing

The unit I received is occasionally a little finicky synching to my phone. I don't know which side of the connection string is causing this, but I haven't run into that issue with other Bluetooth items or when connecting the Mantis to my tablet.

Mantis X App Settings Screen

Once the app is installed and connected, a variety of options for firearm type, shooting hand, mount location, unit orientation, and even live or dry fire modes can be selected.

Mantis X App User Options

There are a number of Training Drills built into the app, including a rotating series of Daily Challenges. Some of these options are timed, while others are not.

Mantis X App Drills

The Mantis X app also has a weekly shot goal. When reached, it will play a fanfare and display confetti drifting down the screen to mark the shooter's achievement. I found this to be a nice, fun feature.

Dry Fire

To use the Mantis X for dry fire practice:

1. Go through the setup steps I mentioned earlier
2. Select a convenient target, or prop the tablet or smartphone up at an appropriate distance.* 
3. Double check to make sure the firearm is unloaded
4. Start the selected drill.

* Since the Mantis doesn't rely on a laser or something similar, any aiming point will do, but I like using the provided on-screen target for dry fire drills. 

Mantis X App Drill Screen

I installed the app on both my smartphone and a tablet. I use the former when practicing at shorter ranges, and the latter when I have more space to work with. There are plenty of stands available through retail sources to hold either the phone or tablet in good positions for practice, and all sorts of phone stand 3D print files can be found on sites such as Thingiverse. In a pinch, a plate stand works as well.

Once the practice session is done, the Mantis X app provides the user with a variety of feedback details to review. Accuracy is obviously measured, but also elapsed time between trigger pulls, overall time, muzzle movement, and even firearm cant. In addition, it has the ability to compare multiple sessions over time, giving a clear metric of improvement and noting any areas which need attention.

Mantis X App Results Screen

Live Fire

I've utilized the live fire drills less frequently, mostly the Shot Timer. When activated, there will be a two to five second delay then a buzzer will sound. At this point, I can fire any number of shots at any pace. Settings can be changed to fit the shooter's preference for delay and number of shots per string.

Mantis X App Live Fire Drill Results

 

I've run this drill with both slow, considered fire, as well as rapid fire. It's certainly more fun than dry fire drills, but it's limited to when I have time and access for live fire. It also consumes ammunition, which can get expensive quickly.

Mantis X3 During Live Fire Drill

 

My Experience

As already mentioned, there are a bunch of practice options included with the app. I've mainly focused on the basic marksmanship Open Training drill. This is untimed accuracy practice, with any number of shots at any pace. Unfortunately, the only pistols in my collection with rails are both striker fired, which currently makes the timed dry fire drills less useful for me.

I've also found if I rack the slide too sharply to reset the pistol, the Mantis unit occasionally registers the slide returning to battery as another shot. This obviously doesn't do my accuracy scores any favors.

Yet even with all that, I've found after only a few training sessions, my sight picture was steadier and my trigger pull was smoother. I just need to make sure I put aside regular blocks of time for additional practice.

Pros and Cons

As far as dry fire training systems go, the Mantis X3 has a number of major benefits. It's small, lightweight, and rechargeable. Installation and use are very simple, and the app is quite versatile and user friendly. Even better, it allows us to practice with our own firearms, so there's no need to adapt to new weight, balance, or trigger pull.

The primary negative element is one common to nearly all dry fire training solutions, and it is not the fault of the unit: since the Mantis X3 reacts to a hammer or striker releasing, it requires re-cocking the action after each shot. Unless you are shooting a double action firearm, this will slow down practice and add some amount of frustration. Even a single action pistol with an exposed hammer will add extra steps to the training process. Again, this isn't the fault of the Mantis unit, but simply a technological reality. Fortunately, there are products on the market to help address this issue, such as those offered by DryFireMag, and I hope to get one of these for testing and evaluation in the future.

Another aspect of the product some people may object to is the necessity for a smartphone or tablet. Considering the vast majority of people are likely to already own one or both, this is probably not a deal breaker for most potential users.

My Rating: 9/10

The Mantis X3 is an excellent unit for improving sight alignment, trigger control, and confidence. It could be especially useful for anyone who travels frequently, as they would be able to practice in their hotel room.

I give the Mantis X3 an easy rating of nine out of ten.

Practice safely, and practice often.

FTC disclaimer: I received this product from Mantis for Test and Evaluation (T&E) purposes. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own.

The Ryobi 3716 Chainsaw: a 5+ Year Review

There are big names in the Chainsaw product line, like Stihl and Husqvarna for the professional loggers, with Echo and Poulan targeting the home user market segment. And there are not-so-big names such as Craftsman (which used to be the Sears brand, and is now available at Lowe’s), Ryobi (available at Home Depot), and a whole bunch of “Me Too” Chinese brands that you can find online.

For context, I’ve used my  Ryobi 3716 chainsaw to fell trees, cut firewood, and remove debris preventing access. My Trail Life troop has a few “work days” where we assist other organizations by cutting firewood, and my Ryobi has held up alongside the Stihl, Husqvarna, Poulan, Crafstman, Homelite, and Echo saws the other dads bring. This isn’t saying the Ryobi is better, only that it isn’t any worse than other established brands. My neighbor has a BlueMax (available at Lowes) brand saw, and it too worked just fine when we were clearing his backyard.

With all this comparative experience over the years, I wouldn’t say that the Ryobi 3716 is a “must buy,” as there are plenty of reasonable alternatives in the same price bracket. For example if you have a Lowe’s near you but not a Home Depot, a Craftsman or BlueMax chainsaw might make a lot more sense in your situation. But if you do have a Home Depot as your nearest major home improvement store, perhaps it’s the right option for your situation.

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The Ryobi 3716 is aptly named. The 37 is for 37 cubic centimeters of displacement, and the 16 is for the 16” bar size. It comes in at 12 pounds, which isn’t ultra-light for a chainsaw, but is much handier than the 20+ pound McCulloch chainsaw my dad let me use to cut firewood. In the 16” bar range, the 37CC engine on the Ryobi 3716 is completely adequate, and I would not recommend getting a smaller saw unless you are also stepping down to a 14” bar. A more powerful saw will cut faster (given equal blade sharpness), but not noticeably so over the course of a homeowner response to a few trees falling. If you were going to be in a job where time is money, then the chainsaw would become a time sink, and you should get  a “top tier” chainsaw.

The Good 

The initial price is cheap for a chainsaw, and is a very good value.

Consumable costs are also very good, as Ryobi is able to use the “Powercare” line of blades and bars, as well as Oregon blades and bars. My buddy with a Husqvarna pays nearly 37 dollars a blade, and I can buy a two pack for just over half that.

Other consumable parts, such as spark plugs and air filters, are cheap and available due to Home Depot carrying them, and after 5+ years of use, I should probably get a tune up kit for it. 

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The Bad

After Hurricane Helene, I found myself needing to do two cuts to get through the trunk of large trees. If you have a lot of work to do, with two foot diameter trees, a more powerful saw with a longer blade is probably a better option. This was never really a problem before, as all of my chainsaw work up to that point had been pre-planned on my schedule. But in a disaster response, sometimes I wished for a 20” bar as that extra 4 inches of cutting length would have come in handy quite a bit, and a Craftsman 20 inch chainsaw with 46cc engine is only about 50 to 60 dollars more. However, the blades and bars get more expensive as well (to get more, one must pay more).

The Interesting

If you want a real German or Swedish chainsaw, you’ll pay top dollar for one. Pretty much all of the affordable chainsaws, regardless of brand, are made in China, and brands that want to build on brand recognition and brand equity keep a tight reign on their original equipment manufacturer (OEM) quality control. Ryobi is no different in this regard; the Ryobi name is Japanese, but Ryobi power tools in North America is owned by a Hong Kong conglomerate. 

If you find a brand you know nothing about, look up a YouTube review or two before purchasing. It doesn’t save you any money in the long run if the saw needs the expensive brand blades or parts.

Prepping Thoughts

To be prepared with a chainsaw you also need to stock fuel, bar oil, spare blades, and at least one spare bar. I recommend spending the money on a pre-mix fuel (I use TrueFuel 50:1 92 octane, no ethanol) as it lasts a long time, and bar oil lasts indefinitely. If find yourself without bar oil, you can substitute normal car engine oil, but as it is thinner you’ll need refill more often.

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If you don’t have a chainsaw at all, and live where windstorms can knock trees down and lock you in (like what happened recently in the Pacific Northwest), or live where hurricanes are a known risk (pretty much all of the South), or even where Nor’easters can hit and drop trees, you probably should have a chainsaw in your resiliency preps, and it probably should be a two cycle gas chainsaw unless you have a robust power generation setup where you could recharge a bunch of 40 volt lithium battery packs. After Helene, no one was using electric chainsaws after day two, as there were more pressing needs for electricity, like refrigeration.