Month: February 2014


Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), 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, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift certificate …


Family Prepping Made Fun For Kids

Recently, I became a prepper– a term that is still considered taboo to the general public. It often times draws ridicule and judgment from most people, including friends and family. Television has exacerbated this by airing shows on prepping that make its participants look like backwards hillbilly idiots that are getting ready for a zombie apocalypse. Now before anybody gets all up in arms about the use of the term “hillbilly,” I am one. That means I am allowed to say it. (Chuckle) In all seriousness though, because of this awkwardness, a person can have some serious difficulty in helping …


Letter Re: Keeping Warm in an LP/OP

HJL, Belated welcome, sir. I just got finished reading the post and most recent replies regarding heating in an OP/LP, after a fairly lengthy absence. I find I feel the need to remind all and sundry, including my fellow veterans, of the fact that by its very nature and definition, an OP suffers one major distinction from all the other forms of positions spoken of. That is this: An Observation and Listening Post is an outside-the-wire position. It’s not a “defensive line” or “fortified perimeter” fighting position. That means a proper OP is not fortified or improved, as described. Ever. …


Letter: Buying Gas for Storage

Mr. Rawles, I live where they switch between winter gas (Benzine, short molecule chains) and summer gas (pure, long molecule chains). Which is the best season to buy/rotate my gas supply for storage? Also, under normal circumstances premium octane is a waist of money or even bad for my machines, but is it better for storage? God bless – B. HJL Replies: In the past, JWR recommended buying fuel for long-term storage in winter months, because it had extra butane added (for cold weather starting) and hence it had a longer shelf life. However, since 2010 he has recommended buying …


Economics and Investing:

D.B. sent in this article about exposing the Depression the U.S. is in, rather than “recovery”. o o o My Budget 360 has an interesting article on how the stock market is a sham for the average person. Items from The Economatrix: Economy Takes $50 Billion Winter Weather Hit Gold To Scale New Heights On Strong Technical Picture Extending Unemployment Killing Economy


Odds ‘n Sods:

L.G. sent in a link to The Blaze where the CIA has declassified the original OSS Simple Sabotage manual. You can follow that link through to see the complete (cleaned) manual. Bear in mind it will take you to the CIA servers. o o o Those who live where it actually snows in the winter (which lately includes the deep south) may enjoy this video sent in by SDS about Wheel Powered Tracks that will fit on nearly any 4WD. o o o Eminent domain threatens yet another family, this time in Colorado. Interestingly enough, it is not being used …



Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value), 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, Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value), A $300 gift certificate …


Big Picture Water and Irrigation Considerations, by Terry Wyoming

As background, I am a water rights attorney with multiple engineer degrees who formerly worked as a drinking water treatment plant operator.  Given that water is a preppers most precious resource, there is no lack of advice for preppers about water treatment, storage, and procurement.  Despite this, very few people truly understand where their water comes from and the factors that influence the availability of water in rivers, lakes, and streams. However, this information is crucial for planning water supply and retreat locations. Below are some important considerations regarding water sources and delivery. Some of this is information specific to the …


Letter Re: Rip Ammo Marketing

Dear Editor, This email is in response to the R.I.P. bullet paragraph seen on your blog. It is, as you suspected, limited in performance due to the nature of its design. I imagine the developers of the RIP theorized they could take the principles of bullet fragmentation (effectively demonstrated from 5.56mm ball ammo within certain distances) and apply them to a pistol caliber. The lethal effectiveness of bullet fragmentation relies heavily on its velocity upon impact. Since pistol rounds don’t travel nearly as fast as a rifle round, they depend on the summation of bullet mass, rather than speed, to …


Letter Re: Salt Carton as a lid on Canning Jar

In Thursday’s Odds n Sods, you mention using the top of a salt carton in the top of a canning jar to create a pour spout. This will work, but I do not go through much salt, and the salt pour spouts don’t seem to be in good shape when I am finished with the carton. Also, this does not really seal the jar as tightly as I would like. I saw somewhere to use the top of milk and juice cartons with the screw on lid. I go through a couple of these a week. I cut the top …


Letter Re: Prepper Primer

Hello all! I’ve been a reader for a couple of years now, but really wish I had found this site a lot earlier. The prepper primer posts are, hands down, the best comprehensive posts for beginning preppers. They are not so technical that interest wanes, but they give a great overview of important aspects of survival in a SHTF scenario. I am going to have my teenage son read them. There is one item I would like to address, however, and that is the bit about the backroads of rural America. The true backroads are the unpaved and poorly marked …


Economics and Investing:

We are now training our children to depend on the Government for Savings as well. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is trying to introduce legislation that will create universal savings accounts for children and provide the first $500 for it. Items from The Economatrix: U.S. Currency Weak And About To Crash–Karen Hudes We’re Going To Be Hit With A Tsunami Of Inflation-Peter Schiff US Stock Market-To-GDP Ratio Favored By Warren Buffett Points To Imminent 50% Crash Home Builder Confidence Plunges In February


Odds ‘n Sods:

As expected, weapons manufacturers have created a new AR-15 design that is compliant with New York’s “Safe Act”. – RBS o o o P.S. sent n an article showing that Ohio National Guard Training Envisions Right-Wing Terrorism. Apparently documents show that a training drill last January envisioned a mock disaster where Second Amendment supporters with anti-government opinions were the domestic terrorists. I understand the desire to vary training requirements, but either these people have no common sense or they are deliberately demonizing the most loyal patriots. o o o JBG sent in this link detailing the slow trickle turned surge …