The Packing Rat

I recently came across one of Andrew’s older blog posts at Vuurwapen Blog; it’s a well written piece imparting his knowledge and experience when it comes to carrying a concealed firearm and dating.  Your mileage my vary, but I identify with his experience — even as a Californian resident. Four years of dating following a [...]

Derek takes the Marlin 25MN on a range trip.

The weekend before SHOT Show 2012, I visited my Dad in Arizona.  Met new family, and went shooting at Caswells in Mesa, AZ.  Turned out to be a good facility, so be sure to check them out if you’re in the area. Aside from a shotgun, Dad never shot a pistol.  Though his wife shot [...]

Just created a new page, “TPR Sightings,” with links and photos of folks with their The Packing Rat gear; we’re all “packing rats” of guns, gear and grub.  Check it out at the tab located above!  Are you a TPR fan?  Get your patch (via PayPal)!  Folks can send MO, or personal checks, but should [...]

Derek cooks and takes photos.

Derek likes the Beltman’s belt. You will, too.

Derek found an excellent video demonstrating why carrying a firearm with an empty chamber is not favorable.

If my count is correct, I’ve distributed 26 Packing Rats.  If you don’t know what they are, they’re a souvenir rifle rear rest bag made out of 1000D Cordura, with 1.5″ loop on each side, filled with California Calrose rice, and equipped with a miniature GLOCK 17.  They look like these: I know a few [...]

Have a defensive plan against violence and the tools necessary to carry them out, including, but not limited, to firearms.  Details here, and here.

Just finished reading Hiroo Onoda’s account of his 30 year war as a Japanese intelligence officer through WWII.  An excellent read! The hardship, determination and will of this Japanese solider is outstanding.  Throughout his account, I often found my palm against my forehead concerning his reason and logic for staying on the Philippine islands for [...]

The sleek new Leatherman Skeletool CX gets you back to basics… very cool basics. The Skeletool CX has only the most necessary of multi-tool features, because sometimes that’s all you need. With a 154CM stainless steel blade, pliers, bit driver, pocket clip and carabiner/bottle opener, you’re set. Lightweight, low volume, perfect size. The Skeletool CX: [...]

Bouncing some ideas around with CS Tactical, I thought it would be cool to run an event called, Silent Night, Hole-ly Dynamite©.  It’d be the Christmas party any gunnie wouldn’t mind being dragged to!

My impromptu camera narrative could use some work; however, the message is to know your gun and how it operates in all conditions — especially malfunctions.  For this drill, I was left with a blunt object or a throwing weapon.  Plan accordingly for catastrophic failures. Bullet was removed.  Upon inspection, gun wasn’t damaged.  It could [...]

Derek visits Triple Aught Design Headquarters in San Francisco, CA for the Dogpatch Third St. Sale. He didn’t buy anything on sale, but he’s OK with that.

I was thinking about this all day long.

Derek misses dead animal hide, but the Flowfold Billfold is an acceptable replacement.

Our gun club, Folsom Shooting Club, got some fair airtime regarding the application increase in licenses to carry and increase of people interested in firearms.

Read this guest post, written by Beth Crumley, looking back how the United States Marine Corps celebrated Thanksgiving during war and conflict. The island was declared secure on the morning of 24 November. The next day  was Thanksgiving Day.  For many families there would be little to be thankful for.  Some 3,407 Marines were casualties of the [...]

Forgotten Weapons Friggin’ cool blog about “firearm design, manufacture, and history.”  They even provide as much relevant information as possible for these vintage machines.  Check out their Vault…  Wow! ht: StoryDude.

I need more GLOCK key chains to make this work.  Or 1:6 scale firearms I can buy in bulk.