John Moses Browning's Venerable M1911 Pistol

It is in service with militaries, special forces, law enforcement agencies, and special teams across the world. It continues to dominate shooting competitions today. It is steeped in over 100 years of military service. It is an icon of the American fighting man. It is John Moses Browning's venerable M1911 pistol.

It chambers the legendary .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) cartridge, developed through testing on live cattle and human cadavers. It is a heavy pistol, made out of steel with the heft that any serious fighting gun should have. It's accuracy and combat capabilities are renowned, and the pistol has served with distinction in every war, climate, and environment since the year 1911.

I was first drawn to the M1911 through my family's deep military history. My father carried one in the jungles of Vietnam, and both my grandfathers carried M1911s in the pacific theater of WWII and Korea.

I purchased a Springfield Armory Government Issue replica M1911 shortly after returning from my first tour in Iraq.

My GI has a smooth parkerized finish which resists rust and scratches well. It rattles like a can of marbles much like John Moses Browning intended, but it shoots like a dream. Even with the low-profile military sights, it still gets adequate groupings for a fighting pistol.

After a break-in period of approximately 500 rounds, during which I encountered a few failures to feed, the pistol is reliable. This is one of my favorite pistols to take into the bush, and it often rides in a replica M7 tanker holster from Pacific Canvas & Leather.

I intend to leave the pistol completely stock. I replaced the factory "U.S." wood grips with plastic panels from Auto Ordnance, which are the more correct grips to have on a GI pistol.

I bought my second M1911 after my second tour in Iraq, a Springfield Armory Marine Corps (MC) Operator. It features a light rail, tritium night sights, and a two-tone OD green and black finish. I put a Surefire X300 weaponlight on the pistol immediately.

I wanted to turn my MC Operator into an ideal fighting M1911. I sent the pistol back to Springfield Armory to their Custom Shop. I had a lanyard loop added to the mainspring housing and had the frame finished in black to match the slide.

Once I received the pistol back from the Custom Shop, I installed Simonich Gunners Grips, made out of G10 material. G10 is very coarse and offers grip even if your hands are sweaty, bloody, oily, wet, etc. The pistol rides in a Safariland 6004 holster with a Gemtech pistol lanyard. Here is how my MC Operator looks today:

The Surefire X300 is an excellent weaponlight and I've since added one to all of my fighting rifles as well. It is compact, lightweight, uses common Surefire CR123 batteries. The MC Operator and X300 combination is a mean pairing, and performs admirably.

Beretta M9 Pistol, 9x19mm NATO

The Beretta M9 service pistol chambered in 9x19mm NATO, is the pistol I was issued during my service in the Marine Corps. I carried the M9 during both of my tours in Iraq. Contrary to popular belief, the pistol served me well.

In the modern United States Military, the issuing of pistols is not widespread by any means. At the grunt level, military leadership believes pistols are excessive, unnecessary, and logistically demanding. As of late, the issuing of pistols has been limited to aircrew, armor crewman, and higher ranking officers and non-commissioned officers. Apparently the brass has trouble considering the benefits of a pistol to the individual Marine on the ground.

The demands and operational requirements for my Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) required me to carry an M9 pistol in addition to my M16 service rifle, and later M4 carbine. Being required to carry the M9, I accumulated quite a bit of trigger time with this pistol over the years. The pistol served me so well that I decided to purchase one of my own. Beretta manufactures the 92FS (civilian equivalent) and also the M9 military reproduction. The 92FS has a slightly slanted dust cover which prevents the pistol from using some holsters and accessories designed for the military M9. Beretta's military reproduction matches the exact military specifications, even down to the markings on the pistol.

The M9 is semi-automatic, magazine fed, and can be fired in single and double action. The M9 is a very accurate pistol and I am able to consistently put 15 rounds into one ragged hole. I qualified Pistol Expert every year with this pistol, even when shooting pistols and magazines that were easily ten years old.

With the pistols I was issued in the Marine Corps and also the one that I personally purchased, I have never had a stoppage or malfunction of any kind. Even in the sandy desert environment in Iraq, I've never had the M9 fail to fire.

The M9 has an ill-deserved reputation in my opinion. Firstly, the M9 replaced the legendary M1911 which is enough to cause a riot in old-timer circles. In the 1970s and 1980s, the military was pursuing a new pistol in order to establish a common pistol round with participating NATO countries. Here is my M9 alongside my replica government M1911A1.

Secondly, the M9 had a host of negative reviews coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan during the early years of the war. Most of the unsatisfactory performance was due to the Checkmate brand magazines that performed poorly in sandy environments. Old pistols with high round counts and lackluster armory level maintenance were also a contributing factor. The military has since started to use the Beretta factory magazines almost exclusively, and this has largely solved these issues.

Yes, the U.S. military is the finest in the world, but you WILL see service members carrying weapons that are older than they are. Case in point: M16A2 service rifles that are still in circulation. My issued pistol was almost chrome in appearance due to the finish being worn off from many years in the field. Even still, the pistol was accurate and reliable.

The M9 is not my go-to pistol; my Glocks fulfill that role for me. However, I would not hesitate at all to buy the pistol again, or even to stake my life on the performance of this pistol. It is accurate, reliable, and has been in service for over a quarter of a century.

Pistol Marksmanship Correction Target

I highly recommend this target for new pistol shooters. Shooting a pistol consistently and accurately is much more difficult than doing so with a rifle. When shooting a rifle, you have four points of contact with the weapon: your shoulder, firing hand, non-firing hand, and cheek weld.

When shooting a pistol, you only have two points of contact: your firing hand and your non-firing hand. Thus, marksmanship fundamentals (breathing control, trigger control, sight alignment, sight picture) become even more important.

A similar target like the one shown above has been on display at every Marine Corps pistol range I've ever trained on. The target is intended for right-handed shooters, so left-handers need to keep in mind that their results are the exact opposite.

Protective Respiratory Equipment

Firstly, I'm not a Nuclear/Biological/Chemical Warfare (NBC) specialist. Aside from standard military training I have no advanced training of any kind. Last year, I purchased two never-issued Israeli M15 military gas masks. Each mask came with one sealed filter and one universal drinking tube.

My intention for these masks is for protection from smoke, human waste, industrial chemical waste, and primarily protection from non-lethal tear gas or riot gas. Living in an urban environment, it does not take a stretch of the imagination to believe that law enforcement or military forces would deploy non-lethal gas against populated areas as a riot control method.

I've been monitoring a thread on a forum discussing gas masks. Almost immediately, a few members stated that surplus gas masks, even new ones, are worthless and obsolete. They even go so far as to say that surplus filters contain asbestos, and you should dispose of them immediately! Once disposed of, you should visit this website and spend $400+ on a new mask and full Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) gear! And you know what? PEOPLE BOUGHT IT!

These guys are touting brand-new masks, $400+ MOPP suits, gloves, boots, and a few are even discussing Geiger counters! They claim to have served in the 82nd Airborne and know what they're talking about.

Yes, a MOPP suit and gas mask can protect you against chemical and biological attacks, yet far from indefinitely. Once your suits are exposed to a chemical or biological agent, you only have 8-10 hours to evacuate the contaminated area, decontaminate yourself, and replace your suit. In the military, the decontamination process occurs at the BATTALION level!

As a private citizen, you will not have the decontamination support nor the resources to continually replace filters and suits. Dropping hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on NBC equipment is only prolonging your life about 8 hours longer than mine. Enjoy the view.

Something else that I've added to my kits are P-100 Particulate masks. These offer respiratory protection from solid and liquid particles in the air, including those containing oils.

Living in the American Southwest, wildfires are a frequent and urgent concern. I've been evacuated twice due to wildfires, and I will tell you that the air will be a grayish-orange with a lot of dust and ash in the air. You would attract a lot of attention to yourself by walking around with a gas mask on, which is why I've included these common looking P-100 masks in my home.

Solar Stills

In a desert environment finding a water source is an obvious priority. One example of a sustainable source of water is the solar still.

A solar still is simple to construct and requires minimal materials:

a section of plastic sheeting
a container of some kind to catch water (cup, bowl, etc)
a small weight

A trash bag has thousands of uses but being part of a solar still is one of the primary reasons why I carry at least one trash bag in my kit. A solar still is essentially a hole in the ground with a water container at the bottom and a piece of plastic sheeting as a ceiling. As evaporation naturally occurs inside this hole, the rising moisture is trapped by the sheeting, creating condensation. A rock or other weight is placed on top of the sheet, creating a low point for the condensation to travel down to, placing drops of pure water directly into your container below.

To start, simply dig a hole in the ground about 12" deep. Place your container at the bottom of the hole in the center. This hole will be your "evaporation chamber."

It's not required to put anything in the hole, but putting green plants or even urinating inside the hole adds moisture to the environment, increasing your production of water. Rest assured, the toxins in your urine evaporate completely, leaving only the water. This I can attest to from personal experience, and taste and smell are not effected at all.

Cover the hole completely with the plastic and secure the sides with sand and rocks. Place your small rock or weight directly above your container, and simply wait.

Do not expect to get gallons or even full cups of water from doing this. Expect half a day to produce perhaps a decent sized gulp of water. Create multiple solar stills and remove water daily for best results. Solar stills need only time and sun.

In the desert any amount of water, large or small, is vital to survival. I use solar stills only to supplement the water I already have or if I absolutely have no other options at my disposal.

Garmin eTrex Vista GPS Receiver

Land navigation is a vital skill and can be intimidating to learn.

Before I get into one of the GPS units I use, I want to make it clear that one should know how to navigate using a map and compass BEFORE investing money in a GPS receiver. In my opinion, a GPS is a supplement to the map and compass. The map and compass do not require batteries, are EMP-proof, do not require satellite reception, and are not susceptible to electronic jamming.

That being said, the GPS is faster and easier to use on the fly and gives you the advantage of speed, accuracy, and all of your navigational needs in the palm of your hand. I use the Garmin eTrex Vista.

It's the same GPS I was issued in the Marine Corps, the same GPS I used during both of my tours in Iraq, and it's the GPS I am most familiar with. The unit comes with a pre-loaded basic map of North America. More detailed maps (streets, buildings, land marks, etc) and maps of other countries are available for purchase.

Some key specifications my particular model:

Waterproof
Uses common AA batteries
Battery life of at least 12 hours
Allows up to 1000 waypoints and 20 routes
Electronic compass
Barometric altimeter
Hunt/Fish calendar
Sun/Moon information
Area calculations

On my GPS, I like to mark waypoints where I can find water or shelter, or danger areas/choke points that pose a tactical disadvantage in my particular area. I also mark each of my preferred bivouac/camp sites.

One of the features of the GPS that you will use more often is the electronic compass. The advantage of an electronic compass is that it is not susceptible to interference from power lines or metal equipment, like the rifle that's probably in your hands.

The GPS coordinates can be displayed in lat/long or Military Grid Reference System (MGRS). Accurate coordinates can assist in your effectively relaying your exact location to rescuing forces or coordinating friendly units.

Keep your operating environment in mind when planning. If you will be operating in dense jungle/woods or even a dense urban area, know that these sort of environments can and will limit your satellite reception, which will adversely effect your GPS accuracy. The Garmin eTrex is cost effective, has ample features, and is simple to use. Even for those that are "navigationally impaired" it is easy to figure out how to use one of these units. 

Magnesium Fire Starters

A magnesium fire starter is a simple, effective, and lasting tool to have your kit. Matches and lighters are obviously great to have, but a magnesium block is waterproof and lasts a long time.

Most magnesium fire starters consist of a simple block of magnesium with a flint attached on one side. I have used both Coghlan's and Coleman magnesium blocks; both work well and are available anywhere. To make a fire using this method, all you need is:

Magnesium fire starter
Knife
Tinder

To use, simply drag the blade of your knife on the block at a 90 degree angle, and create a small pile of magnesium shavings. Have your tinder ready to add to the flame as the magnesium burns up quickly.

With tinder and wood ready to burn, scrape your knife along the flint on the side, igniting the magnesium. Add your tinder and there you have it...FIRE.

In the example shown below, I brought along some dryer lint in my kit which burns quickly. In the desert there is a seemingly endless supply of tinder. My problem is finding wood that burns for a while. The wood found in the desert is dead and extremely dried out. Desert wood burns quickly, almost like paper. You should gather plenty of desert wood before nightfall in order to have enough to make it through a cold desert night.