The Civilian Rifleman Handbook: Skills Every Man Should Know

The Civilian Rifleman Handbook is a practical guide for everyday citizens seeking to master defensive and survival skills in uncertain times. Written by an avid outdoorsman, ex-wildland firefighter, competitive shooter, military strategy and history lover, this 300-page manual distills complex tactical principles into accessible strategies for non-professionals, emphasizing preparation, evasion, and ethical conduct. It covers guerrilla tactics like recon, surveillance, sabotage, and deception maneuvers to counter stronger forces, alongside intelligence gathering, protracted harassment, and avoiding direct confrontation. Readers learn to exploit terrain, enhance mobility, conduct small group raids, and engage in petty warfare, while fostering community resilience through propaganda dissemination and local support. Resource theft, encirclement, flanking attacks, and diversions provide offensive options. Small unit movement includes formations like squad wedge, file, echelon, diamond, and V formations, paired with techniques like bounding overwatch, fire-and-movement, and react-to-contact drills. Retreats use peel-back and leapfrogging, with cover and concealment guiding hasty and deliberate attacks, defensive positioning, and stealthy route selection. Communication relies on hand signals, verbal brevity codes, whistle and light signals, radio procedures with frequency hopping, message authentication, and silent challenge-and-password protocols. Surveillance teaches observation post setup, camouflaged hides, target sketching, and night vision use, while counter-surveillance covers detection, anti-tracking, and false trails. Reconnaissance includes area, zone, and route types, with target acquisition, reporting, and evasion after detection. Essential tools include ammunition conservation, compass and GPS navigation, map reading aids, an entrenching tool, first aid pouch, night vision goggles, and encrypted radio. Illustrated with diagrams and historical examples adapted for civilian use, the handbook stresses legal compliance and de-escalation, making it an essential resource for personal and community defense. Read more