There are many elements to surviving in potentially deadly or hazardous situations. For this video we worked with Randy “Rawhide” Wurst, from Wurst Case scenario survival school. Randy is one of four guys who wrote the classified survival manual for SOCOM.

Part 6: Your personal body/ belt/ clothing: On my neck I always have a (NaNo light) with a small Swiss Army Knife on a chain. I now have on me in any situation a light source and a small knife with useful tools built in the knife.

In my pockets I have a toothbrush, reading glasses, leather gloves, & a Bic lighter. You must keep your teeth & gums stimulated and clean of plaque. If your old like me you need to see close up for detail work. Leather gloves protect my hands, if you damage your hands you can lose up to 50% of your capabilities. A Bic lighter, so I always have a device to light a fire with one hand. If I have a jacket on I have a white or red signaling light attached to an outside pocket. If I can’t yell or call out, or move I can use the small signal light to attract attention to my position.

Personal clothing: I wear what is appropriate for the season and weather conditions. I always wear rip-stop cargo pants, or shorts, and I always wear long sleeve shirts. I can always roll up a long sleeve shirt, but I can’t roll down a short sleeve shirt. If the weather is hot and if I’ll be in and out of water I wear light weight Danner lace boots, but almost every other time I wear Gortex Danner or Rocky boots. If you damage your feet you can’t walk very well. I will always have a hat on for the weather conditions I will encounter, and I will always wear a belt.

Whenever possible I will always carry a walking stick. I will have in a shirt or jacket pocket an energy bar or powder. I always have gum too!

For these videos we worked with Randy “Rawhide” Wurst, from Wurst Case scenario. I will break it down to the layers according to “Randy’s world.” A short explanation is needed here. Primitive skills are great and one needs to know them and get proficient with those skill sets; but just having said that, we live in the 21st century, and if you can’t see the value of 21st tool/ equipment you should be using, you should be eliminated from the gene pool. “Just Saying”.

There are many elements to surviving in potentially deadly or hazardous situations. For this video we worked with Randy “Rawhide” Wurst, from Wurst Case scenario survival school. Randy is one of four guys who wrote the classified survival manual for SOCOM.

Part 4 covers your Jack or Vest: This layer gives you more pockets to carry more medical and survival gear, to include food and water, without carrying a rucksack. You will need a game pouch sewn on the back to enable you to store bigger items to keep your hands free. Tru-Spec’s makes a good vest, but they do not have a game pouch sewn on the back, this you will have to get done at a sewing shop.

In all of these videos one of the important concepts I want to convey is layering of your survival gear. I will break it down to the layers according to “Randy’s world.” A short explanation is needed here. Primitive skills are great and one needs to know them and get proficient with those skill sets; but just having said that, we live in the 21st century, and if you can’t see the value of 21st tool/ equipment you should be using, you should be eliminated from the gene pool. “Just Saying” .

There are many elements to surviving in potentially deadly or hazardous situations. For this video we worked with Randy “Rawhide” Wurst, from Wurst Case scenario survival school. Randy is one of four guys who wrote the classified survival manual for SOCOM.

Part 3 covers your Rucksack or Backpack: This is your final layer for a person without using a dog, horse or your vehicle to carry more substantial equipment. The rucksack will vary in size according to your needs at the time, example day trip, hunting, or hiking in to camp. More detailed medical gear can now be carried, rope & assorted mountain climbing equipment. Extra clothing, fishing poles, rifles, bows, extra food and water just to name a few items.

In the next videos one of the important concepts I want to convey is layering of your survival gear. I will break it down to the layers according to “Randy’s world.” A short explanation is needed here. Primitive skills are great and one needs to know them and get proficient with those skill sets; but just having said that, we live in the 21st century, and if you can’t see the value of 21st tool/ equipment you should be using, you should be eliminated from the gene pool. “Just Saying”

There are many elements to surviving in potentially deadly or hazardous situations. For this video we worked with Randy “Rawhide” Wurst, from Wurst Case scenario survival school. Randy is one of four guys who wrote the classified survival manual for SOCOM.

Part 2 covers your truck bed storage / toolboxes. They are the new Pack horses: Gives you more room for more elaborate and heavier gear. Tents, collapsible wood stoves, full size axes and saws, a lot of food.

In all these videos one of the important concepts I want to convey is layering of your survival gear. I will break it down to the layers according to “Randy’s world.” A short explanation is needed here. Primitive skills are great and one needs to know them and get proficient with those skill sets; but just having said that, we live in the 21st century, and if you can’t see the value of 21st tool/ equipment you should be using, you should be eliminated from the gene pool. “Just Saying”.

We have all seen those Tasty videos that show you how to cook something. We thought it was about time for a gun version, we call it BLASTY. The Blasty series will show you how to take apart and put back together (disassemble and assemble) your favorite weapons. This weeks blaster the AK-47.

There are many elements to surviving in potentially deadly or hazardous situations.

In these next videos one of the important concepts I want to convey is layering of your survival gear. For this video we worked with Randy “Rawhide” Wurst, from Wurst Case scenario survival school. Randy is one of four guys who wrote the classified survival manual for SOCOM. I will break it down to the layers according to “Randy’s world.” A short explanation is needed here. Primitive skills are great and one needs to know them and get proficient with those skill sets; but just having said that, we live in the 21st century, and if you can’t see the value of 21st tool/ equipment you should be using, you should be eliminated from the gene pool. “Just Saying”

Part 1 Vehicles: Here is where survival and emergency gear come together. Your vehicle is the modern day horse, and you can load a lot more equipment in a vehicle then a pack horse. You will find 90% of all your emergencies involve transportation while in a vehicle. In the videos I go into more detail. I’ve purposely not put in writing and in the video’s detailed information or explanations, that will be done when you attend the “Wurst Case Scenario Survival School”.

In this drill, Chad combines a strike/shoot on the first target, makes space and then point shoots the second target, and then acquires his sights and engages the third adversary. This is just one of many drills that Chad includes in these blocks of instruction. You should see his improvised weapons instruction… wow.

We have all seen those Tasty videos that show you how to cook something. We thought it was about time for a gun version, we call it BLASTY. The Blasty series will show you how to take apart and put back together (disassemble and assemble) your favorite weapons. This weeks blaster the Beretta M9.

This week’s video is by Rob French, showing how to shoot around a vehicle. Rob French is a Weapons & Tactics Instructor at Tier-1 Group, down in Memphis. Besides being a world class training facility, T1G has some of the greatest instructors that I have ever worked with. All are combat vets, and all are subject matter experts in their area of expertise. Contrary to what you see in the movies, you don’t want to shoot while your vehicle is moving; you’re just wasting ammo. Fight with your vehicle. Save that ammo for when your vehicle dies. However, once the vehicle has stopped, there are still things to consider when shooting around a vehicle. Armor, egress, angles, wounded, and so forth all come to mind right off the bat. Rob goes into some of the techniques that T1G teaches it’s students. These are battle-proven techniques; not just some “3-gun competition guy” talking about barrel off-set. Take them to heart. Learn them. Knowledge is your best weapon. TR.

We have all seen those Tasty videos that show you how to cook something. We thought it was about time for a gun version, we call it BLASTY. The Blasty series will show you how to take apart and put back together (disassemble and assemble) your favorite weapons. This weeks blaster the GLOCK 17.

Here’s another video on one of my personal favorites… the Barrett M-107 .50cal Sniper Rifle. Now, this isn’t the old M-107 that I used back in the box, before I retired. This is the new M-107A1. Lighter, stronger, and just plain better.

This puppy is 5 pounds lighter. They managed much of that by cutting the barrel length down. I normally wouldn’t go for shortening the barrel on a long-gun, but the M-107A1 still has the knock-down punch, accuracy, and range that the old M-82 had. How? Magic? Nope. Let’s just say that the engineers at Barrett have really mastered this cartridge and weapon design.

Now, the Tripod… Why a tripod? Well, first ask what is a tripod for. The military has used tripods for decades to improve accuracy and control of their medium and heavy machine guns. Accuracy: a tripod handles recoil better than just the bipod. Control: a tripod was designed to have limiting factors of traverse and elevation that would allow commanders (or gunners) to lock weapons to fire with restrictions. These restrictions would include setting it to “final protective fire”,” where a gunner could swing the gun to the limit (set during the day) and lay down a wall of lead that would mow enemy down that tried to cross that marked line. In addition, in support of raids, the tripod (using a T&E) could limit gunners from swinging the guns into friendly troops. On occasions, like infantry basic training, the tripods would also limit depression of the machine guns, allowing us grunts to low-crawl under the wall of lead. These tripods were heavy and bulky; which led to their seldom use by modern SOF forces, who are already carrying too much weight. That said, the need for a tripod still exists. So, the call went out to MSG, to solve the problem. This is the company that cracked the code on making us all the sexy HUMMER parts, brackets, and mounts that every SOF unit needed, but couldn’t agree on. They built the machine gun swing-arms that we were rocking on our HUMMERs in Iraq and now, today, the latest generations of their mounts are even better.

When I was first shown the MSG Tripod, I wasn’t impressed; mainly because I hate tripods, having humped an M-60 machinegun back a hundred years ago (dating myself again). However, once I got the specifics and got my hands on it, this puppy is awesome! It weighs nothing. You can get lower than you can with just the bipod (which puts my head lower in a gun fight, behind cover). It works with not just the Barrett, but also the M-249SAW and the M-240 Medium Machinegun. I like that you can do micro-adjustments to elevation with the large wheel at the base. Once released from the gun, it folds very small. This is great for parachuting, but also for just general humping around on the battlefield. I still remember having to hump the Tripod for the M-60 through the swamps in Ranger School; what a boat anchor. Once you lock your weapon in the MSG Tripod, whether a M-240 or Barrett, it is a much more stable than just using the organic bipod, so accuracy will improve.

I teach all my students that one of the first steps, in planning to be prepared, is assessment of your mission or situation. What are you trying to prepare for? In many cases, you’re just planning to get home. Now, that situation will change (think environment or climate) from different times of the year or different areas where you may travel. In turn, the gear that you should carry will also change. However, certain essentials stay the same (we’ll cover them in another video). One of those essentials, is the need for illumination.

At a minimum, a rugged flashlight is needed. A good headlamp is another fine option, as it allows hands-free use. Both these items, for me personally, can be found in every layer of my gear and are found in all my vehicles (who doesn’t need a flashlight?).

Now, I’m not big on the phrase “Bug Out Bag.” I prefer to think of it more as a “Get Home Bag” or a “What If” bag. No matter what you call it, it should be constantly tailored to the mission at hand. I like to use the stuff in the bag, replacing/updating as needed. This keeps items from expiring, and keeps the knowledge of their use fresh in my head. Remember, knowledge is a great weapon/tool.

I’m a big fan of Night Vision Devices (NVDs). There’s a reason why our SOF forces own the night. Our warfighters not only have the best generations of NVDs that money can buy, but they also train with them constantly. So, it goes without saying, I like to keep good NVDs around.

In my travel bag, you’ll find a monocular NVD, a few batteries, and a small head harness. I like a monocular NVD, for ease of weight/space, and the fact that I don’t lose depth perception or night vision with both eyes. Brands or manufacturers don’t matter to me, though I do tend to lean towards certain companies that I work with. My intent is not to advertise or bad-mouth particular brands. If you really want my input; contact me off-line, and I’ll point you towards a great company that will get you great deals on all NVD types.

I would rather focus on you getting the best NVD that your budget can afford. Buy it, and then train with it. Take it with you… use it… find its limitations. NVDs are fun to play with. Enjoy the fruits of the money you invested. Then, when the time comes, you’ll already be familiar with how to properly employ it. You, too, can own the night.

If you have seen the popular “Tasty” cooking videos, then you’ll recognize the style of this video. Why did we shoot it this way? Well, because the “Tasty” videos are awesome! Even I could cook some of those meals, following those videos. Well, maybe not. That said, we wanted to put together a series of instructional videos for disassembly & reassembly of various weapons, we call them BLASTY! This “tasty” style is easy to follow, direct, and to the point. Enough said. TR.

One of our biggest issues with our current society, is our total lack of basic “survival-skills.” We are so caught up in our smart phones and reality TV, that most people can’t even light a charcoal grill without lighter fluid. You can buy all the sexy gear you want; however, if you don’t know how to use it, you are screwed. Knowledge is power and knowledge can be your best tool in a survival situation. Being stuck, lost in a blizzard, is the wrong time to be trying to learn how to use your new store-bought Firestarter. Get out there, now, and practice those “survival skills” before you really need them.

While food, water, shelter are all high on the list; for me, personally, I think fire is one of the most important skills anyone can learn. Yes, there are hundreds of ways to light a fire. No, just having a match isn’t going to cut it.

So, keeping with the Tactical Rifleman concept of always using Subject Matter Experts, I decided to reach out to Randal “Rawhide” Wurst, to do our first fire video. Randy is an old retired Green Beret buddy of mine, and a great American. Not only does he teach his own survival school (Wurst-case Scenario Survival https://sites.google.com/site/rockcastlelive/training ), but Randy literally helped write the SF Survival Manual back when he was an instructor at the Bragg school house.

Randy’s logic is that you should never be caught without certain tools. Even “Ötzi the Iceman” (the frozen caveman found in Germany) was found with tools, including flint and tinder. He preaches that you should always have at least three ways to do everything. The old adage “two is one, and one is none” is taken to the extreme in Randy’s world. We shot another set of videos, showing Randy’s layers of survival gear. (When you watch them, count how many knives Randy carries!!!)

We use a candle in this video. Watching how easy it worked, will convert you to toss a candle or two in your kit. I know I’ve started carrying the little Tea Candles(I add two extra wicks). Randy likes his to be in a sealable tin, like a Altoids can, to protect the wick. Either way, the main thing is to ensure your candle has a base to catch all the melted wax, so you can keep reusing the same candle.

Again, knowledge is power. Just you being on this website puts you light-years ahead of all the “Xbox360 generals” out there. Now, take the next step and get outside. Try different techniques. If you already have mad “survival Skills,” it wouldn’t hurt to brush off the dust. If you don’t, you’ll at least identify areas where you are weak and need training. You don’t know what you don’t know.

If you are really serious about mastering these skills, you need to get out there and attend some professional training. Remember, when the shimmer hits the fan, your family is going to look up to you to save the day. Either you are ready or you are not.

Where to train? We offer a “Modern Survival” course at Tier-1 Group. We’ll cover everything to get you back home safe with your family. Courses are custom-tailored to your individual needs. Now, if you want to train with the “Best”; I’ll point you directly to Randal “Rawhide” Wurst. Just shoot me a comment below, and I’ll get you in contact with him. I assure you, that when he gets done with you, that you’ll be ready for that “Wurst-case” scenario.

Vanguard Holster:

This video is direct and to the point; if you want a minimalist carry for a Glock, the Raven Vanguard is a great solution.

Yes, there are a hundred Holster companies, making thousands of different holsters. Everyone has their favorites, including me. For tactical work, I swear by the Safariland ALS system. I believe all the Weapons & Tactics instructors at Tier-1 Group prefer to run an ALS holster. For inside the belt concealed carry, Crossbreed is the standard by which all others are trying to play catchup.

However, sometimes you just want to go as minimal as possible. For that, I’ve fallen in love with the Raven Vanguard. Now, I get no kickbacks from Raven Concealment Systems. All I get, is the same as you get; which is a great holster from a company that is turning out lots of great products. Here’s their website: http://raven-concealment-systems1.mybigcommerce.com/ You can explore their other great products there.

At their website, you’ll see lots of different options for the Vanguard. I didn’t cover these in the video because, well, I’m already long winded and we didn’t want these videos to be too long. I showed the Lanyard version, but they also have belt loop versions and new advanced upgrades with a claw for immediate stripping of the clip when leaving your belt. While all versions are cool and functional, I still prefer the Lanyard version.

Why? Several reasons… mainly because it is more “minimal.” (Yeah, my English teacher is turning in her grave) If I wanted a belt-clip holster, I would just run my Crossbreed. When sitting in the vehicle, traveling, I prefer to remove the gun from the holster, and have it located for easy draw within the vehicle. However, that still leaves me wearing a bulky holster to dig into my seatbelt area. However, with the lanyard version, I can just let that string dangle with my beltline.

Another reason I like the lanyard version, is it can be used in other carry methods. For example, let’s say your wife carries a Kimber in her purse (tough girl). She better make sure that thumb safety stays engaged every time she pitches in her car keys or grabs that lip stick. Now can you imagine a chambered Glock bouncing around the bottom of that same purse, mixed in with pens, keys, and all the other hundred items that women pack around daily? Something would work its way into the trigger guard and cause an ND. Now, enter Vanguard with the lanyard option. She can pin the lanyard to the bottom of her purse. Now the trigger is protected from that pesky floating eye-liner. If she needs to draw in a hurry, the lanyard keeps it anchored and the Vanguard clears the weapon before the weapon clears the top of her purse. This would also work with fanny pouches and other concealment bags.

However, don’t take my word for it. Drop the coin and give the Vanguard a try. If you’re like me, and prefer a minimalist approach, you are gonna like the Vanguard. Yes, it takes some practice because it is going to slightly change your draw. However, building this new muscle memory can be done with just dry-firing, and will cost you nothing.

Once you have tried it; I’m looking for comments, both pro and con. I learn every day and am always open to other’s opinions. Also, if you have questions, please just post them below, and we’ll get you an answer. Strength and Honor.

Karl is back with veteran Special Forces sniper instructor Dave Davis, to talk about the M110 Semi-auto Sniper Rifle. Based on the combat-proven SR-25 MK-11, the M110 is providing Army snipers with a suppressed semi-auto precision capability.

When our operators go through that fatal funnel (doorway) and find themselves confronted with targets, they don’t have time to be thinking about lining up sights and trigger-control. They need to be focused on “Is it a Threat?” All the marksmanship skills and manipulations need to be pushed into the subconscious mind. How do we do that? It’s just like driving; it takes lots and lots of practice.

IR Illuminators are a great tool for the modern rifleman looking to conquer night shooting. Karl talks about some of the unique capabilities and techniques used by military snipers to get the most out of these great tools.

So, you have made the conscious decision to carry a firearm. Now, you need to make the conscious decision to Practice with that firearm. Get off the computer and get out to the range. Take combat marksmanship courses trained by professional instructors. There are lots of great courses out there, and I’m sure that you can find one local.

The importance of training with both eyes open cannot be stressed enough. Karl covers the physiological reasons behind this thought process. If you are going to train for combat, train with both eyes open.