OAUSA Net 12-19-13 - Christmas gifts for the outdoor Enthusi

[toms]

Last minute Best Christmas gifts for the outdoor enthusiasts

Our plan is to open it up for everyone to throw out suggestions on gifts for the outdoors.

If you have a ball park price or where to get it that is good too – Just remember no commercial business on the ham radio.

Maybe you will hear one or 2 ideas that will fit perfectly for a gift for someone you know. Maybe that is you!

This can encompasses any outdoor topic. The net topic list for the past 12 months is a great way to start thinking about gifts.

Let me refresh your memory with some of the topics that come up on the OAUSA nets.
1. Ham Radio
2. 4-Wheeling
3. Dutch Oven cooking
4. Navigation (map, compass, GPS)
5. Astronomy
6. Camping (tents, sleeping bags)
7. Photography
8. Recovery gear
9. Firearms
10. Survival gear
11. Computers stuff
12. Tires
13. Wine
14. Books & maps
15. Other communication ( sat phone, cell PLB, spot)
16. Solar, wind, batteries
17. Fire extinguishers
18. First Aid kits, wilderness medicine, first aid courses

[toms]

Product spotlight

It is quite likely you will be able to find many of the gifts suggested tonight at one of these web sites.

Cabelas http://www.cabelas.com/
Bass Pro Shops http://www.basspro.com/
Gander Mtn http://www.gandermountain.com/
Kirkhams' Outdoor products http://www.kirkhams.com/
Zarges http://www.zargescases.com/
Partner Steel http://www.partnersteel.com/
Extreme Outback http://www.extremeoutback.com/
Coleman http://www.coleman.com/
Zodi http://www.zodi.com/
Campmor http://www.campmor.com/
Deutsche Optic http://deutscheoptik.com/

[DaveK]

UPDATE

Due to technical difficulties on Keller Peak, the internet is down. Unfortunately IRLP and Echolink will both be affected. With a little luck, and good weather, we will be back in action for the next net.

[kk6dxd]

Bummer on the IRLP.

[DaveK]

Bummer on the IRLP.

Nick

It sure is. Too much snow, dang it!!!

[lrsrngr]

Hoppes Bore Snake

Hoppes Boresnake.jpg (161.07 KiB) Viewed 3599 times

Hoppes Bore Snake when carrying a cleaning rod and all the attachments just isn't needed. Priced around $15.00.

Wheeler Torque Driver

Wheeler Torque Driver.jpg (65.61 KiB) Viewed 3599 times

Wheeler Torque Driver to take the guess work out of scope and stock screw tightness as low as $35 up to the $45 range. Driving bits are always a nice addition to any driving tool even without the driving tool.

[lrsrngr]

For the new or up and coming hiker/outdoor person:

Class One Survival Kit (build it for them, cost effective depending on what you put into the kit):
1. Quart size water storage (use to store the rest of the items listed below like a Nalgene big mouth water bottle)
2. Water purification tabs, purification straw/pump or steripen.
3. Paracord (At least 12 foot).
4. Multi-tool
5. Pocket Knife
6. Fire starter (lighter, magnesium bar, WP matches, "steel" or combination)
7. Whistle
8. Quality flashlight (AA)
9. Pepper spray
10. First aid kit

You can find these already made but usually they are kind of gimmicky and not necessarily made out of quality items. I have found the Nite Ize "DoohiKey" key tool and general product line a good place to find add-on accessories.

Nite Ize DoohicKey

KMT-11-R3_l.jpg (71.9 KiB) Viewed 3592 times

http://www.niteize.com/product/DoohicKey-Multi-Tool.asp

[DaveK]

lrsrngr

1. I have not used the bore snake products yet, but they look like a good field cleaning tool. I assume that they accumulate fouling and after a while require cleaning. How's that work and how many cleanings are they good for?

2. I've been looking for a decent inch-pound wrench for a while but all of the units I have seen are not capable of reaching the limits that are required for some rifles. What are the limits for the Wheeler product?

[lrsrngr]

The Hoppes bore snake can be washed. I've read that they can be machine washed but because it has the brush and the brush can be a little damaging to other items, I think a good hand wash should be fine. Soak in regular laundry detergent of your liking, hand wash, rinse well and you are back in business. In a pinch, we used to knot up 550 cord and use it as a field expedient bore swab and that was probably 27 years ago. A little knot for 5.56mm and a little bit bigger knot on top of a knot in some cases for 7.62mm. These snakes are easy to store and aren't necessarily a replacement for regular brushes and rods but it is a good alternative. For black gun it goes nice in the butt stock and remains quiet.

The Wheeler driver has a 10-65 inch/lbs. capability +/- 2# variance. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/718023 ... cm_vc=U112 I do not have this model but I swear by the use of a good torque tool to make sure, as we all do, that all things are as equal as possible for repeatable accuracy. As I get older the need to be properly torqued versus "cranked down" unnecessarily has become more important on just about everything I work on. I really dislike the guessing game and coming up short when it comes to proper torque. Some actions are finicky (improperly fitted stocks) and sometimes torqueing the screws can make a difference.

The Weaver model claims to be 10-80 in/pounds http://www.midwayusa.com/product/998374 ... crewdriver