Year: 2007



Letter Re: Advice on Rifle Stock Pouches

Mr. Rawles: In television news footage and magazine articles about U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, I often see soldiers with nylon pouches attached to their rifle [butt]stocks. They seem to hold extra magazines. That seems pretty handy, so you always have a spare magazine, even if you get separated from your “Deuce” [web] gear. Do you recommend doing this? If so, what sort of pouch do you suggest for my M1A and AR-15? I also have several bolt actions, but only one of mine takes [detachable] magazines, and only four rounders are available for it. What should …


Letter Re: Calculating Bulk Storage Food Quantities

Shalom Jim: I was visiting Geri Guidetti’s Ark Institute web site and she has posted on there that for just one adult male the following is the minimum food storage requirements for one year: 1.) 350 lbs. of wheat (actually for a family of four it is close to 1,200 pounds of wheat alone) 2.) 155 lbs. of various grains 3.) 55 lbs. of beans, etc. My question for you is do you agree with these numbers? And are you storing quantities like this or do you use a different system? I am getting ready to make some large purchases …


Letter Re: Survival Sewing, by “Springmtd”

A sewing machine is a critical item in my household that has saved me thousands of dollars in gear I would otherwise have had to buy. Sewing actually provided me higher performance customized gear that simply wasn’t available unless I made it myself. In normal times it makes more sense economically to buy most clothing since it is readily available inexpensively or second hand. Sewing time is better spent on [making] higher-priced items like outdoor gear. During difficult times even clothing might not be available. It could be necessary to rely on home sewing to provide almost everything that is …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Alphie mentioned that GlobalSecurity.org hosts an online edition of the US Army’s FM 23-10 Sniper Training    o o o I just heard that a new, expanded version of the promotional trailer for the “I Am Legend” feature film is now available. It looks scary and a bit OTT. But hopefully one result of this movie’s release will be that it’ll get some people thinking about the implications of a pandemic and hopefully get a few of them to stock up and get some training.    o o o RBS flagged this one: Foreclosure filings soar in Third Quarter. One …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another article for Round 13 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win a valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificate. (Worth up to $2,000!) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. I will again be sending out a few complimentary copies of my novel “Patriots” as “honorable mention” awards. Round 13 ends on November 30th. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.


Home/Retreat Power Generator Noise Reduction by “Jerry the Generator Guy”

This article describes practical methods to eliminate four of the issues surrounding generators and their use. Relatively common objections to home generators include; (1) They are often very noisy. This noise does/would bother both us and our neighbors. (2) This high level of noise can serve as a “vermin attractor”. The vermin may need to be discouraged via your “biped eradicator”. (3&4) Moving a generator inside a building will create both fire and exhaust hazards. I have read that after Hurricane Katrina there were several attempts to perform what we used to call “five finger discount” of someone’s generator. The …


Two Letters Re: Colville, Washington as a Retreat Locale

JWR: Important consideration on Colville. It is near a very large Indian Reservation (Colville Tribe) and while there is a considerable amount of private property within it’s boundary, you have no hunting rights there. The First People are friendly, but distrustful of outsiders and in a SHTF scenario, would likely view you and yours as fair game. Unless you are a tribal member, buy outside the reservation. I was near to closing a deal on a very nice property [inside the reservation] when another agent took me aside. – EAG Hello Jim, I have been reading your daily letters, comments …


Letter Re: Rolled Oats Versus Steel Cut Oats for Storage

Dear Sir, I love your blog and read it every day. I have a background in chemistry. I believe that the fat content, per unit weight, of rolled oats is essentially the same as cut oats. What is different is the density. I agree with the point that the cut oats store more densely. More importantly, the access of oxygen to the oil/fat is faster in the (thinner) rolled grains relative to cut, and faster in cut oats relative to whole oats. I would bet that the rolled oats will go rancid faster in a warm climate. Other than that, …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Courtesy of KTO: Food crisis looms as climate change, fuel shortages bite    o o o Reader Tim P. found this article interesting from a sociology standpoint: The California Fires: Where were the Looters? Tim’s comment: Of course with a long term situation the results would end up differently, but this is an interesting contrast in any case.    o o o Tim P. also found us this one: The Coming U.S. Drought (Is Here)    o o o China Hikes Fuel Prices Amid Shortages (A hat tip to RBS for sending that link.)



Note from JWR:

Good News! My re-order for copies of my novel “Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse” arrived sooner than I anticipated. I’ve autographed several hundred copies and they are presently being transshipped to our order fulfillment partner up in Montana. Those of you that have been waiting for delivery on “Six Pack” orders from our recent sale can expect delivery no later than November 12th. (They are being sent by Priority Mail.) Thanks for your patience.


The U.S. Economy: A Distinctly Chill Wind

Do you detect a change in the weather, this Fall? You probably noticed that on Friday (November 2nd) the spot price of gold spiked to close at $806 per ounce, and silver at $14.53. (Both were 28 year highs. Yup, I told you so.) You also probably saw this article: Fed pumps [another] $41 Billion into US financial system. It is now obvious that Helicopter Ben and his Federal Reserve Board of Governors are in full scale panic mode. I should also mention that the very next day after the announcement of this huge injection of liquidity, the New York …