{"id":1104,"date":"2018-11-09T22:13:51","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T22:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/?p=1104"},"modified":"2018-11-09T22:25:39","modified_gmt":"2018-11-09T22:25:39","slug":"insanely-cheap-chamber-flags","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/?p=1104","title":{"rendered":"Insanely Cheap Chamber Flags"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This is a quick one from me, but hopefully it helps you save money if you run any firearm-related events.\u00a0 In addition to the <a href=\"http:\/\/deviating.net\/firearms\/defcon_shoot\/\">DEFCON Shoot<\/a>, I help run other regional shooting events &#8212; sometimes at hacker cons, sometimes elsewhere &#8212; and one of the things that I feel organizers should try to do is always have a kit of &#8220;range essentials&#8221; that can help fill in any gaps of amenities and supplies that may be lacking at a venue you&#8217;re using.<\/p>\n<p>Just in case you want to build such a kit, here are some bare-bones essentials that just about anyone can put together:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Complimentary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B071F92DGD\">eye protection<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Complimentary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0007XJOLG\">ear protection<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Complimentary chamber flags<\/li>\n<li>RSO-identifying gear, either <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00L2NHG8I\">orange hats<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Visibility-Adjustable-Lightweight-Wholesale-Reflective\/dp\/B079J4CS1C\">orange vests<\/a><\/li>\n<li>an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Masking-Special-Project-Painters-Painting\/dp\/B07CG2TT47\">easy way of clarifying the firing line<\/a>, if the venue is ad hoc<\/li>\n<li>a comprehensive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Monoki-Survival-Upgraded-Outdoor-Emergency\/dp\/B078PHQC2Z\">trauma kit<\/a>&#8230; including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B003VSORKC\">chest seals<\/a>, a couple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00JCPDNPS\/\">tourniquets<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Twin-Pack-Combat-Emergency-Bandage\/dp\/B07659NPNC\">Israeli-style bandages<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll notice that almost everything in the above list has links.\u00a0 They are links to the particular items that I have liked and trusted and opt to bring with me whenever I&#8217;m running an event.\u00a0 (Other gear shows up at most of my events, too, like service and cleaning supplies, free water, free snacks, etc.\u00a0 But the above list are the safety essentials.)<\/p>\n<p>One item in the list does <em>not<\/em> have an amazon link, however.\u00a0 That&#8217;s because chamber flags, bought retail, are very expensive.\u00a0 At between $2 and $8 apiece, they are not an item that lends itself to cheap and easy purchase en masse if you&#8217;re going to set them out in a bin for give-away.\u00a0 That&#8217;s why I opt to make my own homebrew chamber flags for my Gun Range Running kit.<\/p>\n<p>Want to make your own nearly-infinite supply of chamber flags for almost no cost?\u00a0 Here&#8217;s what you acquire:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005LTJG5U\">orange zip ties<\/a> (this is a 100-pack)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00Z9U1XIY\">orange rubber tubing<\/a> (this will yield a little over 30 flags.\u00a0 so buy three tubes)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Take the orange tube and cut it into segments roughly 1\u00bc&#8221; long (just over 3cm)&#8230; the above-linked tube should hopefully produce just over 30 pieces.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-15.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1105 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-15-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-15-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-15-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-15-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-15.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The next steps should be rather self-evident.\u00a0 Slip one of these bits of rubber tube over a zip tie&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-37.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1106\" src=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-37-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-37-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-37-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-37-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-37.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Then affix the zip tie to itself.\u00a0 Be careful to try to not pull it <em>ridiculously<\/em> tight.\u00a0 Just enough to make a little &#8220;flag&#8221; stick out to the side&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-53.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1107\" src=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-53-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-53-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-53-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-53-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-35-53.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There you are!\u00a0 Buying one pack of the above zip ties and three of the orange rubber tubes should yield close to 100 of these for a little over $25.\u00a0 That&#8217;s effectively a quarter apiece.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-47-58.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1108\" src=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-47-58-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-47-58-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-47-58-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-47-58-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-47-58.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>They work perfectly well in most sizes and actions of firearm&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-30.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1109\" src=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-30-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-30-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-30-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-30-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-30.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-48.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1110\" src=\"http:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-48-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-48-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-48-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-48-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/2017-05-18_16-48-48.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And while they may not be as robust and perfect as factory-made chamber flags, these should be more than sufficient for your event attendees to grab a few and utilize them as needed.\u00a0 If they return them to you, great.\u00a0 If they walk off with them, meh.\u00a0 It&#8217;s not a huge cost to you, but it can be a <em>major<\/em> time-saver as your RSOs walk the firing line and visually inspect all the guns on the tables before declaring a range cold.<\/p>\n<p>Making cease-fires easier and faster means the sooner that people get to check and reset targets and therefore the sooner that everyone can go hot again and keep plinking away.<\/p>\n<p>Enjoy!\u00a0 Stay safe out there!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This is a quick one from me, but hopefully it helps you save money if you run any firearm-related events.\u00a0 In addition to the DEFCON Shoot, I help run other regional shooting events &#8212; sometimes at hacker cons, sometimes elsewhere &#8212; and one of the things that I feel organizers should try to do is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1104"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1114,"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1104\/revisions\/1114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/words.deviating.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}