OAUSA Net - December 14, 2023 - Christmas Gifts for the Outdoorsman

[DaveK]

Christmas Gifts for the Outdoorsman

We find that we are never lacking for things we need for our outdoor travels. Let us know what you think would be nice gifts to receive.

[DaveK]

There are so many new (and old) toys on the market that it would be tough to mention them all, but we shall give it our best.

1. PACTOR P4 CONTROLLER

We've waited for 10 years for the FCC to finally change the rules so that it would be possible to "legally" use the P4 Pactor Controllers. If you are interested in using your HF radio to send and receive regular emails, and pictures, almost as fast as you have come to expect at home, the P4 Controllers are the ticket.

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2. GARMIN C1 PRO CHRONOGRAPH

A chronograph is not for all shooters, but if you make your own ammo, it should be an integral part of your handloading gear. Once you have actually created your own ammo, there is one last step to confirm just how effectively it performs. That last step, of course, is testing the round at the range!!!

Range testing should consist of two parts - consistency (or uniformity) and accuracy. Both are important. Consistency will be measured by a chronograph and accuracy will be measured by your paper target. The question of whether or not to chronograph your ammo is a legitimate one, and answered on the net.

A good chronograph will measure the velocity of your bullets. A great chronograph will do this and calculate the vital statistics of your shots, including:
1. the velocity of every shot
2. the average velocity of all shots
3. the extreme velocity spread
4. high and low velocities
6. standard deviation for all shots

With one exception, chronographs use two screens to capture the travel of our projectiles, viz. a start screen and a stop screen. The computer inside the chronograph measures the time it takes for the bullet to register between the two screens, and then generates an FPS reading, along with other vital information. The only other chronograph on the market today that does not use these screens is sold under the name of "Lab Radar" and it uses Doppler radar to chronograph bullet data.

Garmin, famous for its line of GPS units, just entered the chronograph market, and its first offering also uses Doppler radar to generate ballistic information on bullet performance, but with some significant differences from the standard screen chronographs and the Lab Radar Doppler chronograph. Notable among it's differences are it's comparative ease of use, its very small size, and its ruggedness. Price wise, it is in the same ball park as the Oehler 35P and the Lab Radar Doppler unit.

The Garmin Xero C1 Chronograph (from the Garmin website - https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/771164#specs)

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Features of the Garmin Xero C1, from the Garmin Website (https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/771164#specs):

5.1" x 4.5" x 5.5" with tripod
Tracks Rifles up to 5000 Fps
Tracks Bows and Crossbows up to 600 Fps
Track Pistols up to 2000 Fps
Tracks Air Rifles up to 2000 Fps
Tracks Airsoft up to 1000 Fps
Track Other Projectiles up to 5000 Fps
Calculates Kinetic Energy at Muzzle
Calculates Power Factor
Calculates Extreme Spread
Calculates Standard Deviation
Calculates String Average
Delete Shots in String (Device or App)
Decimal Precision
Add Individual Shot Note (On Shotview App)
Add Session Notes (On Shotview™ App)
Mark Shots with Clean/cold Bore (On Shotview™ App)
Exclude Shot from Average and Standard Dev Calculations (On Shotview™ App)
Tripod Compatibility
Bluetooth capable

MUST SEE Garmin Xero C1 Review: https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/garmin ... ro-review/



3. GARMIN TREAD XL - OVERLAND EDITION - ALL TERRAIN NAVIGATOR

Trail navigation is a multi-faceted task. Fundamentally, It needs to be able to safely get you to your destination and back, but there is so much more. To be honest, a navigation program needs to enable travelers to plan trips, discover new areas, share trails with all the members of the group, all while displaying your position relative to the trail you have planned. And, of course, it includes the ability to hand draw your routes to best utilize your trip time.

The inevitable improvement of electronic devices has created a wealth of navigation tools with features that we never dreamed of years ago. Garmin has been at the leading edge of wilderness navigation GPS devices for many years, and continues to offer more capable features with their various navigators. Their latest is the Tread Xl - Overland Edition - All Terrain Navigator. This GPS device offers a lot of features, including:

• Large 10 inch high resolution screen

• The ability to hand draw route

s

• Buletooth connectivity

• Multiple maps, including sat imagery

The following images are from the Garmin Website, where more details are available

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Source: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/732617/pn/010-02509-00

[DaveK]

4. CAMANO COFFEE MILL

Just about everybody enjoys (needs) that first cup of Joe in the morning. On all of our remote back country adventures, the first thing we do as we roll out of the tent in the AM, is to get the hot water going for that first pot of coffee. One of the many things that we learned last week in Jack's coffee net is, freshness is best. And, one of the best ways to keep things as fresh as possible is to grind the freshest coffee beans just before making the coffee. When camp is a hundred or more miles from the nearest electrical outlet, having a good manual coffee mill (grinder) is a must.

In my quest to buy American whenever I can, it wasn't' easy to find any grinders, let alone manual ones, that wore the "made in USA" label. Persistence however paid off, but not after spending a lot of time searching. The one that stood out above all the others was a burr grinder, made from steel and iron in the USA, with nary a spec of plastic, from a little business located in Baring, MO, known as Red Rooster Trading Company. Their motto is, "Specializing in hand built, made in the USA goods." They hand build these grinders which they named the Camano.

With at least one cup a day, I have used my grinder well over 600 times since it was delivered, and not a single problem. It is adjustable for any grind by a simple adjustment and is made right here. If you enjoy a good "cuppa" joe in the morning, this grinder will serve you well, and deliver a great brew (as long as the beans are fresh and the coffee is made correctly.) See: https://www.redroostertradingcompany.co ... ffee-mill/.

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5. MEDICINE FOR THE OUTDOORS

This book is entitled, "Medicine for the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to Emergency Medical Procedures and First Aid" by Dr. Paul S. Auerbach MD.

Regardless of the amount of training you have received, you will not be able to retain everything. Even health care professionals cannot possess the entirety of medical information necessary to perform their job. This is precisely why there are a multitude of reference materials available for almost every level of medical knowledge. For wilderness travel, I have spotlighted two publications, which are described below and which can be a very useful addition to your first aid kit.

I know this is coming, so I'll address it now. The reference materials in this book are not meant as a substitute for proper training and education. They will, however, serve as a supplement, for those who wish to be well prepared for the contingencies of wilderness travel. Wisdom should dictate that one accept the limitations of both his memory and training, and therefore be willing to carry as much information as possible on how to treat the conditions likely to occur in the wilderness. If you travel in areas that are far from medical help, or you have a family member who does, this book can be a valuable asset in the event of an emergency.

At a little over 400 pages, it will be worth every penny of the $40.00 cost, if you need it.

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6. HYGENALL LEADOFF SOAP

Every shooter, hunter, and handloader should keep a supply of Hygenall Leadoff in the garage, hunting bag, or range bag. While the need to remove heavy metals, especially lead, is most needed for those who cast their own lead bullets, shooters and handloaders are not exempt from the need for this protection. The use of lead core jacketed bullets present exposure to lead. Hand loaders who use lead bullets or lead core jacketed bullets are also exposed to lead. And, in addition to all this, those who hand load and who handle primers are likewise exposed to lead. Hygenall has been making soaps and wipes for many years that help to remove this lead, and proper use will significantly reduce your exposure. This is what they say (https://hygenall.com/shooting-sports/):

Hygenall LeadOff™ Tactical Hygiene™ Series products do everything that regular soap does, plus one more thing that regular soaps are not very good at: remove lead and other heavy metals. Hygenall LeadOff Tactical Hygiene products are designed to replace regular soap and wipes in your home and vehicle, on your workbench, or bathroom sink at home.

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[lrsrngr]

Shootin' Shack
KK6CTT, Rick

New firearm laws taking effect in 2024:

SB 2: "Guidelines & Restrictions on CCW Permit Holders"

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/face ... ends=false
Due to take effect 01 JAN 2024

This bill further restricts where firearms may/may not be carried. Read to understand substantial changes to the current CCW carry restrictions. Arguments outline how this law expands the "sensitive places" threshold.

AB 28 Firearms and Ammunition: Excise Tax

"Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act"
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/face ... ends=false
Due to take effect 01 JUL 2024

This bill, the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act, would, commencing July 1, 2024, impose an excise tax in the amount of 11% of the gross receipts from the retail sale in this state of a firearm, firearm precursor part, and ammunition, as specified. The tax would be collected by the state pursuant to the Fee Collection Procedures Law. The bill would require that the revenues collected be deposited in the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Fund, which the bill would establish in the State Treasury. The bill would require the moneys received in the fund to be used to fund various gun violence prevention, education, research, response, and investigation programs, as specified. The bill would require the Director of Finance to transfer, as a loan, $2,400,000 from the General Fund to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to implement these provisions, as specified. The bill would require each licensed firearms dealer, firearms manufacturer, and ammunition vendor to register with the department for a certificate, as specified. The bill would also provide procedures for the issuance, revocation, and reinstatement of a permit.

Special Note (something to be proud of): The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act (PR)) became law in 1937. The revenue generated from the excise tax is apportioned to state wildlife agencies for conservation efforts, hunter’s education and shooting projects and programs. Read more here: https://www.nssf.org/wp-content/uploads ... tsheet.pdf you can even see the NPR expose citing what will happen as fewer and fewer hunters take to the field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOvCpxjr0h0

[Diesel4x]

Please check in Randy KF6KOC and Becky KF6RGR

Thanks

[lrsrngr]

Gifts for the Outdoorsman
KK6CTT, Rick

01 Buck Classics with automatic opening in the 110 and 112 models:
https://www.buckknives.com/product/110- ... 0110BRSA-B

One of America’s best-selling knives is now available as an automatic! The 110 Auto is easily deployed with the push of a button, readying the 420HC blade quickly and efficiently. Now standard on this model, the handle features genuine ebony hardwood. This ethically sourced Crelicam™ genuine ebony supports replanting efforts in the Congo Basin rainforest, while providing Buck Knives with a genuine hardwood handle that is nearly indestructible. Includes a made in the USA, genuine leather sheath. Closed length: 4 7/8" (12.4 cm).

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Buck Knives will not ship automatic knives to Canada and the following states...CA, CT, DE, HI, MA, MD, MN, NM, NJ, VT, or WA, with the exception of the 839 Mini Deploy knife which can ship to California.

02 Any of the Ed Fong antennas would be a score but the Ed Fong Roll Up J-Pole kit is very useful for backwoods exploring to squeeze the most out of your favorite HT!
https://edsantennas.weebly.com/

DBJ-2 (ham) dual band roll up antenna kit - (144-148 MHz and 440-450 MHz) Includes adapters for BNC, SMA and SMA - female. Also includes a 6 ft extension cable. Maximum power input 50 watts. - $50

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03 Connectors, Tools & Crimpers
The right tools (especially the crimpers) can make all the difference in the world when putting Power Poles together!

A good set of Power Pole Connectors and wire pliers can be appreciated by any amateur radio operator. Put together a small tackle box with Anderson Power Poles, heat shrink, solder, 15-45 amp connectors, heat shrink and some fuses and you have the makings for a field repair electrical kit.

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04 No radio enthusiast would turn down the chance to field a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery to do some sort of remote radio transmission or to run lights and electronic devices in camp. Help push them into the 21st century with this battery technology by providing a battery and the proper charging device to keep it charged up (these batteries need the correct charging supply to realize the best performance).

An older Bioenno 12-volt, 10 Ah battery that is lighter by almost half as much as a similarly rated SLA battery. A noticeable difference in storage capacity and useable power.

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05 A Solar System!

I expanded a kit like this from pieces to 3x 100-watt panels into two 50 Ah LiFePO4 batteries in my ham shack. I run three radios (24/7/365) and several LED light solutions in my ham shack with USB charging ports for most of my HTs and other systems. This is definitely scalable! I added a blue tooth monitor and battery temperature gauge to monitor the condition of the system via Renogy's slightly clunky phone APP (it works with over 750 days log on this "work in progress").

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A solar system in conjunction with a LiFePO4 battery is the natural progression. Make sure the charge controller is lithium battery compliant and will handle the amp/watt rating necessary to keep the system up and running. For a smallish battery system (with light use, a 100-watt panel and a 10-amp charge controller will work. An example of size and charge controller sizes: Small (25-amp BATT/10-amp controller, less than 150-watt solar) < Medium (50-amp BATT/20-amp controller, less than 240-watt solar) > Large (100-amp BATT/30-amp controller, 400-600 watt solar). Efficiency and quality of equipment will vary and so will the "limits" provided above with respect to size of battery, charge controller and the amount of solar panel input. Also part of this equation is how far the panels are from the battery, charge controller and batteries.

DIY with Will Prowse is a rabbit hole you should enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/@WillProwse

06 The Heil HT Headset

Heil quality with the advantage of a better operating experience when using an HT in a noisy environment. The boom mic works very well and the transmitted audio is great.

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07 FRS/GMRS Radios

For those of you who have family members who want to explore with you but won't get their ham ticket, there is an affordable solution! FRS/GMRS radios are scalable in cost and use potential. At $35/10-years for the FCC GMRS license, the capability of the GMRS radios very closely mimic our amateur radio 70cm band.

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08 Any quality trauma/stop the bleed medical gear and training

• North American Rescue Tourniquet (highly, highly rated)

• "Israeli Bandage" a compression bandage that was the standard issue in the Ground Pounder IFAK during my stint and, unfortunately, I did get the opportunity to use this on a forearm 7.62x39 gunshot wound and it worked great!

• Quality medical shears to cut away clothing and expose wounds (see above incident where cutting away clothing to properly emplace a bandage is crucial

• Chest seals for a open pneumothorax or "sucking chest wound"

• Wound packing gauze to stop the bleed

• Nasopharyngeal airway tube to restore the airway (note, there are several sizes to consider)

• Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (civilian level) or Tactical Combat Casualty Care (military level) based on National Association of Emergency medical Technicians (NAEMT) is one proponent of this high-level trauma training with respect to the use of the above equipment

To name a few:

• NAEMT: https://naemt.org/

• National Stop the Bleed: https://www.stopthebleed.org/

• CPR (rescue breathing) and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training. For your first class, take a "hands on" course that provides torso training aids so that you get the full effect. Later, renewal or subsequent classes can be taken online.

[JackM-KK6WXQ]

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I found this and just loved the idea of circumventing the compelled or forced adjustment to how I operate my Jeep.

The Autostop Eliminator changes your vehicle’s autostop function to have “a memory”. That means it stays in the position you leave it regardless of how many times you start or turn your vehicle off. In my Jeep, I have to remember to turn off the annoying auto stop each time I start the engine.

Well, not anymore! This device plugs in-line to the autostop switch and gives it a memory so that if it was disabled when you turn off your vehicle, it will stay disabled even after you restart.

Here is a link to their website.

[AK6DH]

Please check in David -AK6DH

[Geoff]

Please check me in tonight. Thanks.

[JackM-KK6WXQ]

Another option for a coffee grinder when on the trail...

It is a Portable Electric Coffee Grinder, Adjustable with 14 Grinding Degrees with USB Charging. It is an Electric Burr Grinder for Cold Brew, Drip Coffee & All. I tried several and this one actually works very well!

Here is a link to the grinder on Amazon

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