TacticalStore - Advice on Riflescopes, Tactical Flashlights, Prism Binoculars, Night Vision, Safety Goggles, & more!

There are a number of options for gun storage. At home a good gun safe or gun cabinet is a great choice. Many safes today are nearly impregnable, and can come with additional security features such as electronic key codes or fingerprint identification systems so you don't need to worry about someone else accessing your firearm. Though these gun safes keep your weapon secure at home, they're not practical for travel.

Take a look at the Pelican 1750 Waterproof Rifle Case. Designed to last, the Pelican 1750 is almost indestructible. The gun case can be dropped (be honest, it happens to everyone) or tossed into a vehicle with no scratches to the case or damage to the gun. Since it is designed for travel, the 1750 is also airtight and waterproof. You don't want to lug a gun case through airports and out into the forest only to open it and find your weapon soaked.

The Pelican 1750 can be purchased to meet your needs. Some shooters prefer to have the low density foam, while others are looking for a durable hard case that they can fill with their own shock absorbers. Some choose to store a soft gun carrying case within the hard case so that once they're through the airport they can take out the light bag and leave the heavier hard case behind at the car or hotel room. Those that prefer the foam like that it can be shaped to accommodate accessories in addition to your rifle.

Don't trust your expensive weapon to a cheap case. The Pelican 1750 won the 2010 Brilliance Award for Best Gun Case because it will keep your gun safe and secure.

You can find the Pelican 1750 and other great gun storage options at TacticalStore.com.

It is with this in mind that I consider what survival equipment I want with me when camping or hiking. The first thing I'd pack is a communications device such as a cell phone or radio. The ability to call for help, even if you don't know your location, is fundamental to survival if you get lost. Of course, knowing where you are would greatly improve your situation whether you can call for help or not. For this, I'd suggest a GPS unit or compass. Since compasses and maps take training to use correctly, a GPS is best for the average camper. The Bushnell BackTrack Personal Locator GPS is a great tool for hiking and camping, as it will not only tell you where you are, but it also has a marking function that allows a position to be saved and recalled later, so as long as you mark the location of your car at the beginning of the trip you can find your way back. Having a GPS navigation device in your pack or pocket will reduce the chances of you getting lost, but if you do end up lost, hurt or trapped you'll know exactly where you are when you radio for help. And every minute saved when you're hurt in the wild could be the difference between life and death.

Next on my list of survival gear is a hydration system. Hauling a number of water bottles will work, although they are not optimal for saving space and carrying the most water with the least bulk. The BlackHawk Titan Hydration Pack carries 100 oz. of water while also providing additional cargo room for other equipment such as your GPS unit or first aid equipment.

Now that I have extra storage room from my hydration pack, I'll think about first aid. Injuries occur more often than hikers and campers would like. First aid equipment is a definite requirement for any hiker or camper. While you won't be able to bring equipment for every possible injury and ailment, it is important to bring essentials for the most common injuries such as cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites, sprains, fractures, and heart attacks. Antibiotic creams and bandages of various sizes will handle many of these injuries, but you should also pack aspirin for pain relief and in case of a heart attack. Splinters are common and can slow you down so a pair of tweezers is also good to have with you. For more serious wounds a QuikClot 1st Response TraumaPak First Aid Kit Hemostatic Agent Z-Medica can be a life saver. A deep or large cut can be treated with the pack, and the hemostatic agents will work to stop bleeding.

A good tactical knife is also fundamental to survival in the wild. The Victorinox Huntsman Lite 91mm Swiss Army Knife features two blades, a wood saw, tweezers (so you won't need to pack an extra pair with your first aid equipment), scissors, a screwdriver and a LED light. A knife with so many features in a compact space should be in every hiker and camper's pack.

Finally, you should always have the right clothing with you when you travel into the wild. Comfortable, durable and protective should describe everything you're wearing. Flip flops are not going to provide the kind of support and warmth you'll need if you get lost. Hiking shoes and combat boots are designed for performance in varying conditions. Whether you're out for a short hike or stuck in the woods for days, good footwear will protect your feet so you can keep moving. The BlackHawk Warrior Wear Desert Ops Boots won a Brilliance Award as the best combat boots in 2010. They're fast, light and comfortable, and they stand up to harsh conditions well.

In addition to a good pair of boots, I'd suggest bringing a warm coat, even if it is sunny summer day. Another BlackHawk option is their Thermo-Fur Jacket. It has a great warmth to weight ratio, so even if it sits in your pack for the duration of the trip, you won't notice much extra weight on your back.

Good survival equipment can be the difference between a safe and a disastrous camping experience. Remember that while these tools will help, it is your wits that keep you alive when all else fails. Don't think about what you might have done different. Equip yourself with the best tools and banish shame from your mind. Find these survival tools and more at TacticalStore.com.

Though the death of Osama Bin Laden was a successful operation for the U.S. military, the threat of terrorists and the Taliban remains. This is especially clear to U.S. Troops, who deal with the dangers of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) everyday. Special bomb squads called Explosive Ordnance Disposal units use metal detectors to find IEDs buried beneath the ground. Similar methods are used here in the U.S. by law enforcement agencies, so that when a suspicious looking package is found near a school, hospital or State building the police are able to handle the threat with minimal risk to the police officers in the field.

Metal Detectors contain an oscillator that creates an alternating current through a coil, producing a magnetic field. When an electrically conductive metal is close to the detector, eddy currents will be induced in the metal, creating another magnetic field that is measurable, so that the detector can accurately ascertain that a metal is nearby. The closer and larger the metallic object is to the detector, the stronger the signal.

I don't suggest going out hunting for bombs, but using a metal detector to search for hidden treasures or lost items can be both great fun and potentially time saving. High quality brands such as Sportslock, Garrett, and Bounty Hunter Metal Detectors can be found at TacticalStore.com.