The Vortex Micro 3x Magnifier is an exceptional addition to any red dot or holographic sight. The magnifier offers next-level 3X magnification versatility in a compact and optically crisp package. With an integrated quick-release system, the Micro 3x Magnifier allows for fast attach/detach with ease, while the camlock engages/disengages the magnifier with direct pressure. The adjustable flip mount allows for right or left-handed use, adding to the overall versatility of the product. The Micro 3x Magnifier is compatible with any of the Vortex red dots and offers both absolute co-witness and low ..read more

The Vortex Crossfire II red dot is a compact and versatile sight suitable for a wide range of shooting applications. It features a 1x magnification and a 22mm objective lens diameter, which makes it easy to acquire targets quickly, especially at close range. The red dot reticle is 2 MOA in size, which provides a clear and precise aiming point for accurate shots. One of the most impressive features of the Vortex Crossfire II is its battery life, which can last up to 50,000 hours on brightness setting 6. This long battery life ensures that the sight is always ready when you need it, and you don ..read more

The Fenix PD35 v 3.0 is an impressive flashlight that is packed with features that make it a top-performing option in its category. With a maximum output of 1700 lumens, it can produce a beam that can reach up to 1171 feet, which is quite impressive for a flashlight of this size. One of the standout features of the Fenix PD35 v 3.0 is its runtime, which can last up to 230 hours on its lowest brightness setting. This means that it is ideal for extended camping trips or outdoor adventures where you need a reliable source of light. The flashlight also comes with five different brightness levels ..read more

The Ruger American Ranch is a bolt action rifle made in the US by Ruger. In 223, they take STANAG magazines and have a traditional AR-style magazine release. In Canada, they’re around $850 at the time of this writing. I have an older review on the Ruger American here and a lot of the findings there are going to be the same. Specifications Available in 556, 300 Blackout, 450 Bushmaster, 7.62×39, 350 Legend, 6.5 Grendel 16″-ish barrels 3 lug bolt (60 degree throw) Muzzle threaded. Some come with a protector, some come with a muzzle brake Top picatinny rail for mounting a scope or red dot Some h ..read more

The Black Creek Labs (BCL) Bison Scout is a bolt action, magazine fed rifle made in Canada by BCL. It takes STANAG mags as well as a proprietary magazine made just for it. Right now, these retail for around $1000. Note: this specific rifle has had the stock replaced and a different flash hider installed than what comes from the factory. The factory brake on a 12″ barrel is like a slap in the face every time you shoot it so you may want a flash hider instead. Pictured: 12.5″ barrel version in 556Specifications Adjustable Triggertech trigger (2.5-5lbs) 3 lug bolt design (shorter 60 degree throw ..read more

I picked up a tent trailer (called a pop-up trailer or pop-up camper in the US) for hunting, Mapleseed, and family camping. It’s fairly new (2008) but I still found a few things I wanted to upgrade and I’ll include those upgrade ideas below. Use case: I don’t go for weeklong trips, instead I typically do 2-3 days max and so I don’t have big power requirements. I live in Western Canada so AC is not mandatory and I won’t be adding it in. I have used the furnace though. Completed Interior light LED replacement Built-in USB chargers Battery swap to Lithium Iron (LifePo4) Planned Radio Camping m ..read more

The battery pack on my cordless vacuum slowly died. I think it was undersized to begin with: only giving me a maximum of 15 minutes of use (just the vacuum, not the brush), before giving up the ghost. After a while, just turning the brush on when the vacuum was on medium height carpet was too much. So I tore the damn thing open and tried replacing the battery pack rather than contributing to more e-waste in the world. This documentation is in case anyone out there wants to do this themselves. If you do try this yourself, be aware that: Unprotected li-ion batteries love to light on fire if you ..read more

The Nitecore NC10000 is a 10000 mAh USB battery bank that uses 2 5000mAh 21700 batteries instead of pouch cells like their NB10000. Nitecore bills this as a highland appropriate USB power bank, likely because the 21700 battery cells and the enclosure do a better job of keeping the bank from swelling at higher altitudes. I asked Nitecore for this battery bank for review. Packaging & Form Factor Compared with the flat but pokey NB10000, the NC10000 has rounded edges and feels sturdier, so it should be better to just chuck into a backpack. The extra cell and packaging materials add up to 18 ..read more

Note: I wrote this initially in late 2020 but didn’t publish because I didn’t finish. I wanted to publish in case anyone was looking at a SUPER basic retrofit to make a minivan more viable for camping/overnighting. More current updates at the end. 2021 Setup For 2021, I did a lot of range camping for Mapleseeds: I’d drive out to a range and stay overnight so that I could do the Mapleseed the next day and I ran most of 2021 van camping in an old ’03 Dodge Grand Caravan. In that van, I pulled the rear row of seats out and popped in a wood elevated sleeping platform that could fold over the middl ..read more

After the Benelli inertia system patent expired, we’ve seen an explosion in the number of shotguns using their system. It’s easy to see why: they’re simple in number of parts, clean shooting, and very reliable. The Girsan MC312 is an inertia-driven, semi automatic shotgun made in Turkey. It’s budget priced (I got this one on sale for cheap from Cabela’s) and copies a lot from the Benelli M2. In the US, these are imported by EAA and were selling for as low as $300 at one point. Specs 28″ barrel 7 lbs Fiber optic front sight 5 in the tube (2 with the plug), 1 in the chamber 3″ or 3.5″ chamber M ..read more