Year: 2011

How I Test and Evaluate Firearms and Knives, by Pat Cascio

Over the years, I’ve had a lot of folks ask me how I got into writing about guns and knives – I also wrote for American Survival Guide magazine for quite a few years, on survival-related topics. I also have folks ask me what my methods are for testing knives, guns, gear, etc. So, I thought I’d take this opportunity to give you all the skinny on this. I’m no expert on anything – I only consider myself a serious student in many things, guns, knives and the martial arts come to mind. Remember, you are getting an opinion from …


Economics and Investing:

I couldn’t help but notice that the spot price of gold jumped $30 per ounce at the opening bell in Asia on Monday morning. (Which was Sunday evening, Rawles Ranch time.) Get ready for a very scary ride in all of the markets this week! Reader J.D.D. sent this: World Financial Officials Hold Emergency Call to Discuss U.S. Credit Downgrade[JWR’s Comment: “Call in the tailors for an emergency meeting!” cries Les Empereur Sans Culottes.] Four links from G.G.: Two bank closures on August 5th bring total for 2011 to 63 banks. (One of them was inside the American Redoubt.) Marc …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Over at Off The Grid News: One Man Living His Off-Grid Dream. (He relocated from New York to Montana.)    o o o F.J. spotted this over at LifeHacker: Make an Emergency Candle Out of a Tub of Crisco. (Don’t miss the humorous comments with a description of a bacon grease candle.)    o o o For just one day, Monday August 8, 2011 Backyard Food Production is offering a 38% discount for SurvivalBlog readers on their DVD Food Production Systems for a Backyard or Small Farm. (Amazon.com has notified them that they have to reduce my inventory – so …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 36 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and B.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $300 value.) C.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $275 value), D.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo, and E.) …


An Unconventional Training Opportunity: Short-Term Missions, by Nate C.

When it comes to training, there are many good avenues. Some choose (or are drafted) to serve in the military and take advantage of the training there, ranging from basic to advanced. Others get involved in Scouts. Some piece together opportunities like firearms training, wilderness survival and emergency medical courses. Still others learn through travel. There are many types of travel, and each teaches in a different way, if we choose to learn. A cruise with touristy ports-of-call probably isn’t much of an education, except in the gustatory sense, but foreign military service clearly can be. Not all of us …


Guest Post: Five Back-to-Basics Guidelines for Gun Safety, by Madison Parker

Whether you’re using a gun for home security, hunting, or whether you just enjoy shooting, there are some basic guidelines for gun safety you need to follow. You’ll hear these guidelines in every gun safety course, and you’ll see them printed on the instructions of almost any new firearm you purchase. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of negligent discharges happen because people fail to follow these basic guidelines. It’s always worth taking a few minutes and refreshing them in your mind, just to make sure you’re following them at all times. Here are five of …


Letter Re: Storing Calcium Hypochlorite

JWR: Recently, a SurvivalBlog reader suggested storing Calcium Hypochlorite in ground glass-stoppered bottles that are inside of padded 6 gallon buckets. But would using a 1/2 gallon Ball [“Mason style”] jar and Tattler plastic lid be a workable alternative?    Thanks, – Stephanie   JWR Replies: Yes, that should work, since the Tattler lids are non-reactive. But keep in mind that if there is even a slight vapor leak, the metal retaining rings (“bands”) will eventually rust out.


Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent this: Average Length Of Unemployment Surges To New All Time Record 40.4 Weeks Also from G.G.: Food stamp use rises to record 45.8 million Sam Kirtley: US Yield Curve Flattening to Prompt Fed Easing and $1,800 Gold Items from The Economatrix: Can’t Get No Relief:  Economic News Sours Investors Services Firms Expand At Slowest Pace in 17 Months Unemployment Rose In Nearly All US Cities Going Nowhere:  Economy Struggles To Find Footing Oil Below $92 On Concern About Economy, Demand Two Year Treasury Yield Drops To Record Low EU Urges Bailout Changes As Stocks, Euro Tumble Euro Faces …


Odds ‘n Sods:

F.J. spotted this over at the Makezine site: Drain Pipe Hotel.    o o o Kevin S. suggested a product that will be released later this year: DeLorme inReach—two-way satellite communication. (Pair this $250 device to your Android phone via Bluetooth and send/receive texts using the Iridium satellite network.)    o o o James K. flagged this: Harvesting Energy From Radio Signals: Two New Devices From Japan (Video)    o o o Check out this interesting bucket gardening site: Global Buckets. (Thanks to John S. for the link.)    o o o A newly-orbited Amateur Radio Satellite (AMSAT): ARISSat/KEDR. (Thanks …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown …


Notes from JWR:

Flash Traffic: S&P downgrades U.S. Treasury paper! Excerpts: “United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered To ‘AA+’ On Political Risks And Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Negative Overview · We have lowered our long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America to ‘AA+’ from ‘AAA’ and affirmed the ‘A-1+’ short-term rating.” and “The outlook on the long-term rating is negative. We could lower the long-term rating to ‘AA’ within the next two years if we see that less reduction in spending than agreed to, higher interest rates, or new fiscal pressures during the period result in a higher general government debt trajectory than we currently assume in …


A Frightening Experience Leads to a Plan, by V.A.S.

Part One:  Why I Started to Prepare Speaking from the perspective of someone who has spent the last several years researching, reading about and trying to sort through multitudes of information on the subject, I can say that learning the art of preparedness is not a simple task. Given the huge amount of resources, information and even misinformation available on the internet and within the many books written on the subject, determining the right path towards being more prepared can be a difficult one to say the least. Here is my story, and my tips for finding your own path …


Letter Re: Lessons from the Road

JWR, I’d like to add just a couple points to the excellent “Lessons from the Road” article by R.W.. One key item that I feel is important is to involve everyone in the planning of your escape route. If you are the primary driver, and end up incapacitated, it is essential one of your other fellow travelers be able to take up the mantle and get the BOV to the BOL. In families, route planning can be a great way to get everyone involved and on-board with the preparations process. It also allows everyone to contribute and point out things …


Economics and Investing:

Glenn Beck puts the Federal debt cap deal in prepper terms. An American Suicide US borrowing tops 100% of GDP: Treasury tom in Buffalo spotted this: Royal Bank of Scotland posts £794m loss after Greece hit Avoid Disaster, Get Out of U.S. Assets: Peter Schiff (Thanks to G.G. for the link.) Open letter to the London G20 Summit: Last chance before global geopolitical dislocation Items from The Economatrix: Debt Ceiling Agreement To Trigger Hyperinflation Credit-rating Agencies Still Threaten US Debt Recovery US Manufacturing Woes May Be Just Beginning 10 Signs The Double-dip Recession Has Begun