Day: December 15, 2006

Letter Re: Access to SurvivalBlog Archives?

Jim, I stumbled across your Survival Blog today. Wonderful service you provide! Read some of archives…excellent! Question: It looks like the SurvivalBlog archives start in August of 2005 but cut off in April of 2006. Are there any more recent posts that I can access? Thank you. – J.U., COL, US Army (Ret.) JWR Replies: Welcome! Yes, all of the posts that are more recent are now fully searchable by key word, or can be browsed by categories, or can be browsed in monthly Archives. (See the categories, monthly archive links, and Search window, down under the ads, in the …


Letter Re: Recommendations on Springfield Armory TRP Series M1911 Pistols?

Dear Jim: What do you think of the [Springfield Armory] TRP Pro [clone of the Colt M1911 .45 ACP pistol]? I want a .45 pistol as reliable as a Glock but with a more comfortable grip. Thanks, – Frank in Hawaii JWR Replies: I have only test fired a Springfield Armory TRP Operator 1911, and Springfield’s XD 9mm. (But not yet the .45 version) Both had their merits. I’m biased in favor of 1911s, but I must admit that the XD pointed and functioned very well. I like the feel of the grip better then a Glock 20 or 21. …


Letter Re: Antenna Options For MURS and Other Hand-Held Transceivers

James: For the folks using the Kenwood MURS radios [such as those sold by our advertiser MURS Radios] or Ham gear, upgrading the stock antenna can make a world of difference in performance. I highly recommend the extended rubber duck and especially the large 1/2 wave telescoping antennas from Smiley Antennas in San Diego. They cost $20-25, and can dramatically improve their useful range. My little Yaesu walkie-talkie can hit maybe two repeaters with the stock antenna from my house. Using the large telescoping Smiley, I can get at least six more. Folded up, these aren’t that much larger than …


Letter Re: Pepper Spray Trip Wire Alarms

Dear Jim: Nothing beats living at your retreat, but there is one burglar repelling device that can actually stops a burglary in process (without an alarm or monitoring): Pepper Spray Alarms – either trip wired or set off by electronic sensor. These can fill a room with pepper spray in seconds. You can even get one that can fire up to four times in sequence! I have used them (and tripped them accidentally). They really work – and it only takes about an hour of ventilation to get back in the room comfortably. As an added bonus you get to …