Year: 2013

Odds ‘n Sods:

Orange Jeep Dad has made his move to Oklahoma! He wrote me to mention: “I have to go chop down some overgrowth and explore the farm.” (The family farm had been left vacant for more than 20 years.) He plans to be blogging regularly, as he gets the place back into shape. This should prove to be both instructive and entertaining. Please post a comment, to encourage him and his “Wifey.” Tell him that Jim of SurvivalBlog sent you.    o o o Reader Ellen E. recommended the resources at the Utah State Ag Extension Web Site. The site has …



Notes from JWR:

Another reminder to Coloradans: You have some paperwork to do, muy pronto. The state’s new magazine ban will go into effect on July 1, 2013. Of particular note is the fact that the new law’s grandfather clause is not multigenerational. It will be limited to only then-current owners of magazines, as of midnight on June 30th. (When the owner dies, the magazines must be destroyed or taken out of the state.) Therefore I again urge Coloradans to be sure to properly document the gift of your magazines to your children and grandchildren (preferably via a multigenerational trust–which creates a fictitious …


Michael Z. Williamson’s Book Review: Destroy the Enemy in Hand-to-Hand Combat: An Authentic Field Manual of the Red Army

Destroy the Enemy in Hand-to-Hand Combat: An Authentic Field Manual of the Red Army. (Also available as a Kindle edition.) Gen A. A. Tarasov (Author), Boris Karpa (Translator) Translated from the Soviet WWII original.  Boris Karpa has done an excellent job of maintaining the flavor of the Soviet manual, keeping the read interesting, and making it reasonably clear. Some sections are a bit awkward, but it seems to be from the original writing, not a translation difficulty.  Those areas that don’t translate well are covered more than adequately by the original illustrations. The first half of the book covers moving …


Pat’s Product Review: VitalGrill Stove

Back when I was in the military I would have loved to have had a way to heat-up my C Rations – yeah, I’m “that” old – that we were issued C Rations in the military, when out in the field. MREs (Meals, Read to Eat) were still only just a concept in the mid to late 1960s. Nothing beats a hot meal in the field, even if it was just C Rats – a cold meal just doesn’t seem nearly as comforting or filling, as opposed to a hot meal. My late friend, Chris Janowsky, who ran the World Survival …


Letter Re: Mass Versus Bullets (and Hail Stones and Gamma Radiation)

James, I appreciate seeing some folks trying to build some sort of fallout shelter, as these may, unfortunately come in handy someday soon.   Since I build these for a living, I thought I’d throw some basic suggestions out there for the readers. For simple fallout shelters, assuming that blast will not be a factor, above ground concrete walls should be 24 inches thick (or better if you can afford it!).  Walls below grade can be a mere 10 inches thick.   Ceilings:  24 inches will provide fair protection, assuming “rainout” does not occur in your locale. [The Swiss shelter building code …


Recipe of the Week:

Jamie’s Toasted Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars 1 Tbsp unsalted butter 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 large egg 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips   Glaze 2 Tbsp cookie butter 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1-2 Tbsp water   Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add oats and cook, stirring occasionally, until …


Economics and Investing:

Some cogent observations by Bob Owens: Where is all the rimfire ammo? The new modest-budget indie movie “Alongside Night” is now in early release. The film is based on Agorist-Libertarian activist J. Neil Schulman’s novel of the same name. It seems that some gold and silver coins deserve “best supporting” awards. G.E.C. suggested: All the Gold in Fort What’s-Its-Name Michael Pento: Market Calls Fed’s Bluff Jim W. liked this piece by Alasdair MacLeod: Gold is being supplied by western governments. Here is a key quote: “From the point of view of the western central banks, as well as the bullion …


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this from over at KK Cool Tools: Amish Hackers. Mike’s comment: “A very interesting article. By the way, my wife has always said if she were colonizing a planet, she’d take a contingent of Amish.”    o o o Senator Rand Paul has introduced S. 744, a bill that would prohibit a National ID card or biometric ID. Please contact your senators, and ask them to co-sponsor it.    o o o Michael Bane had some great commentary on ammunition “hoarding”: Michael’s Rant de Jour…    o o o Reader Stan T. …



Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 47 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) 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 C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 …


Air Guns as Long Term Survival Weapons, by M.D.W.

The term Air Gun brings to mind the classic Red Ryder BB gun to many. It is often met with the question “You mean Airsoft and BB guns?” Those are not what are being discussed here. We are talking about weapons that are capable of taking deer, bear, buffalo, and two legged predators. We are talking about weapons that can take squirrels from 50 yards with Hollywood like quite. We are talking about weapons that can make ammo from a tire weights, previously fired bullets, or any other source of lead. We are talking about weapons that you can shoot …


Letter Re: Media Misrepresentation of Guns and Gun Laws

Mr. Rawles,  I read with interest the bit you wrote on the television show “Longmire.”  I, too, have found the show somewhat entertaining so have been following it the past few weeks.  Doing so recently I watched a bit that I thought you might find interesting.   During a recent episode Longmire is inspecting the body of a murder victim while talking about the victim with the owner of the property upon which the corpse was found.  Longmire notes that the property owner is wearing a holstered firearm, probably a 1911 or other semi-auto pistol, with some “angst.”  I use that word for a reason.  The look …


Economics and Investing:

PTR Industries (the HK clone maker) Votes With Their Feet: Gun-maker expected to move into Horry County. South Carolina was a good choice. (Thanks to Howard S. for the link.) And on a similar note: Ruger Looking Into Rockingham County North Carolina. (Our thanks to F.G. for that link.) These chaotic gas lines give us a preview of collapse: Egyptians Denounce Fuel Shortage Reader P.P. sent: World economic group calls for global exchange of tax information to fight evasion. A key quote is that the OECD wants data from all corporations and individuals “flowing freely from banks, investment houses and …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Vance in Delaware sent us some humorous video links of some stupid crook tricks, like falling through ceilings, having problems with doors that only open one way, losing control of their guns or failing to unplug cash registers before grabbing them, robbing a store in front of a police office, and even shooting themselves.    o o o Some good news: House Unanimously Adopts Kelly Amendment to Ban Funding For UN Arms Trade Treaty.    o o o Brandon Smith: Building Your SHTF Combat Overwatch Rifle    o o o Reader B.B. suggested this collection of self-sufficiency and disaster …