Month: March 2016

Letter: AR-15 Improvements

Hugh, When the M16A2 was introduced, many of us felt it was not an improvement. The heavy match barrel made the rifle feel about the same weight loaded as the old M1 Garand. Additionally, it offered no real improvement in accuracy. I could argue that many shot worse, due to the additional weight. The need for a heavy barrel is non existent unless you are doing about 10 or so full auto mag dumps. The heavy barrel came to be when somebody, most likely the USMC, wanted to use a heavier grained bullet for further range and accuracy. Combat effectiveness …


Economics and Investing:

AEP: US inflation rears its ugly head as global cycle nears danger zone – G.G. o o o What Happens When Walmart Dumps You – RBS o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News US Tornadoes, Storms in February May Cost More than $1B (Bloomberg) Excerpt: “The U.S. suffered the most February tornadoes since 2008, with storms hitting the Plains, Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, the London-based insurance broker said Tuesday in a report. Heavy snow, ice and hail also caused wreckage across the country.” Our Dangerous Reality (US News & World Report) Excerpt: “In terms of potentially large-to-catastrophic …


Odds ‘n Sods:

SurvivalBlog reader A.D. sent in this online web search of short-wave radio stations. Now would be a good time to get hard copy printouts of stations you might be interested in. o o o Clinton IT specialist revealing server details to FBI, ‘devastating witness’. It’s a sad state of affairs when the vast majority recognizes Hillary as a liar but she can still cinch the votes. o o o The Oregonian has released this: Slow-motion video of gunshot FBI allegedly lied about in LaVoy Finicum confrontation. As you can see, Finicum had emerged with his hands up when the “highly …



Notes for Thursday – March 17, 2016

March 17th is the birthday of Józef Franczak (born 1917, died 21 October 1963), who was a Polish Army Corporal fighting in the World War II resistance against the invading Germans. He then carried on after the war, fighting against the occupying Soviets and their Polish communist stooges. Eventually, he was one of the last of the Cursed Soldiers resistance in Poland. His nom de guerre was Lalek. o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 63 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained …


Friction Fire- Part 2, by N.E.

Some people like to carve this ember notch before the hearth and drill have mated. I do not. The reason I do not carve this ember notch earlier in the process is that you can ruin the ember notch before the drill and hearth have mated. This can happen from applying too much pressure too soon, causing the drill to kick out of the mate and then splitting the hearth or ruining the ember notch. Also, where the mate actually takes place may not be aligned perfectly with the ember notch, which means more carving. If you ruin the ember …


Letter Re: Why I Started Prepping, by KB

Sirs, We, as a country, have run our financial cycle; reference KB’s timely article. I have one addition: the reference to $19 plus trillion is for funded U.S. debt. In addition, folks, there is over $200 trillion in unfunded debt, which the current POTUS has added almost 50% to that portion since his time on the golf course. We are led to believe that $19 trillion is the true bottom line total debt number. Like Mark Twain once said, “Politicians like diapers should be changed often…and for the same reason”. I have only heard Trump and Carson address the true …


Economics and Investing:

12 Frugal Lessons From the Great Depression – D.S. o o o What The Smart Money Is Most Worried About o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News We are Headed Toward a Cashless Society? (Mises) House GOP Conference Chair Unveils Bill to Fight Government “Zombies” (Washington Free Beacon) Excerpt: “The legislation would pressure Congress to reexamine government programs whose authorizations have expired by subjecting such programs to a rolling sequester, which would take place over three years and end with a complete elimination of funding if lawmakers have not acted to reauthorize the program. Currently, the federal government …


Odds ‘n Sods:

New Gov’t Operation Denies Citizens Access to Guns & Gold – Not exactly new to SurvivalBlog readers but an interesting read nonetheless. – D.S. o o o From SurvivalBlog reader J.N.: A bit of reading required here, but well worth it. Much of it can be considered “Problem Two”– what to do AFTER your physical preps are in place. Okay, you’ve already got the nine B’s– Berkey (i.e. water), beans, bullets, bandaids, batteries, bullion, books, barter, beliefs. Then it’s time to think about the tenth B– “buddies”. Lone wolves, no matter how well equipped, will get picked off early in …



Notes for Wednesday – March 16, 2016

Today is the anniversary of the Battle at Pound Gap Kentucky (1862). o o o MobileSec is offering a $5 discount (good until 3/20/16) exclusively for SurvivalBlog readers for purchases of the Cell Phone Blocker through their website. Just email them using the online form and state that you saw the offer on SurvivalBlog. (Note: The Laptop EMP shield is not available at this time though.) o o o Today, we present another entry for Round 63 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar …


Friction Fire- Part 1, by N.E.

I believe fire by friction is one of the most valuable skills we can have in our bag of tricks. Beyond “simply” making fire, the process provides a sense of freedom that people interested in prepping, survival, and outdoor skills no doubt highly value. It also provides important insight into human ingenuity. It can enhance appreciation for those who came before us and exposes how dependent we have become on the modern, consumer-based system. In this post I will demonstrate how to successfully create a bow drill set. To demonstrate fire by friction, I have made a bow drill set …


Letter Re: The Survival Battery

Sir: ‘The Survival Battery’ is an entertaining read, but the writer has overlooked several vital concerns. For one thing, even the budget plan requires stocking nine different calibers. I also don’t agree with the mix of operating systems. It includes a mix of single-action and double-action revolvers, DAO and/or single-action semi-auto pistols, pump shotguns, bolt-action rifles, air guns, and modern semi-auto rifles. Maintaining proficiency with all these systems will be very difficult. In a SHTF situation, every-day and “social” firearms should be the same. Just don’t expect a handgun to do a long-gun’s job. Shoot the bear with your rifle/shotgun. …


Economics and Investing:

Zika, ZIRP, and NIRP Viruses “What if we think of ZIRP as a financial virus, created and distributed by the central banks, that infects pools of savings?” o o o Global Liquidity Collapses To 2008 Crisis Levels o o o Items from Professor Preponomics: US News EPA Spends $295,507 to Track Energy and Water Use of Office Workers (Washington Free Beacon) Hillary’s Federal Education Jackboot Squad (National Review) Obama’s Transportation Budget is DOA (Government Waste Fraud and Abuse) Taxpayers Can’t Afford to Keep Paying for Lost Gas (Taxpayers for Common Sense) International News Time to Ditch Retirement? Global Leaders Confront …


Readers’ Recommendations of the Week:

Recommended movies by SurvivalBlog reader DMS: Faith Like Potatoes (true story) No Greater Love Rust (and watch the extra For Father) Not Easily Broken Woodlawn (amazing true story) God’s Not Dead Mom’s Night Out (too funny) Reader E.R. suggested A Prepper’s Cookbook: 20 Years of Cooking in the Woods by Deborah Moore. It’s disaster cooking made fun.