Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week the focus is on BedBunker Gun Vaults. (See the Gear & Grub section.)
Books:
Blog reader Phil J. suggested this best-selling book: The Case for Trump [1].
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Reader C.G. recommended this book on the controversial “Q” material: QAnon: An Invitation to The Great Awakening [2]
Movies & Television:
Polycarp [3]. Available on DVD or for free streaming to those with Amazon Prime.
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Sahara [4]. The classic Humphrey Bogart movie, made in 1943. Available on DVD or for free streaming to those with Amazon Prime.
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The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams [5]. Although it was produced on a modest budget, this film is well worth watching. It is even fairly family-friendly. (There are some battlefield scenes, but not much gore.) Interestingly, the film was written and produced by descendants of the protagonist. I wish that were more films like this! Available on DVD or for free streaming to those with Amazon Prime.
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A long-running television series recommended by blog reader Charles K.: NCIS [6]. Available on DVD or Blu-Ray. Charles describes the show: “NCIS is a great show (CBS Tuesday at 8:00 PM), one of the very few on television. The Gibbs character, played by Mark Harmon, is a Marine Gunnery Sergeant, now team leader for NCIS home office in DC. Gibbs (Leroy Jethro Gibbs) has 51 rules, so far, we don’t yet know what all the rules are. Oh, and the character oozes masculinity. No wonder it usually ranks #1 in the ratings every week.”
Instructional Videos:
What’s the Difference? No-Go Versus Field Gauge 7.62×39 [7]
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Reader Rob L. mentioned a 7-minute video (with a little humor): BETTER THAN A YETI COOLER? INSULATE YOUR COOLER CHEAP! [8] His comments: “If you’re an outdoorsman (or woman), here’s a simple hack that I am most definitely going to do, and if you’ve ever lived out of an ice chest for several days or longer, then you know how much ice you go through. But for the price of a YETI, I can get a great used .22 or even a .30-06 with a good scope on it… jus’ sayin’.”
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Over at Ful30.com, a review of a “gimmicky” shotgun with a few possibilities for preppers: Chiappa Triple Threat [9]. The barrels seem to be quite well regulated for point of aim. Too bad that it isn’t an ejector gun–since extractor shotguns are much faster to reload. But one advantage of extractor guns is that they are usually more compatible with using subcaliber inserts. (You probably don’t want to eject a $50 insert into the brush!)
Gear & Grub:
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Alfie wrote to mention:
“Here is another hidden safe that was not mentioned in your recent article: The BedBuker gun vault [11]. I’m happy with mine. Several of my friends and relatives have slept on it for up to a week each without ever being aware of it. It comes in halves and when they are bolted together you’d have to cut a wall out to move it. The primary defense is a simple bed skirt. It will take time [for a burglar] to find a BedBunker, and even more time to cut his way in. It also doesn’t take up any floor space as I’m not using the area under the bed anyway. You don’t use a box spring and the foam mattress we use is both comfortable, consistently getting compliments, and easy to move for access.”
I agree! We’ve had one of the king size double vaults at the Rawles Ranch for about six years, and it has been trouble free. There is a lot of room at the ends for stowing magazines and optics. The pair of locks on each vault are a special high security pick-resistant design, made in Israel by Mul-T-Lock [12]. I highly recommend BedBunker vaults!
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Our family’s preferred candy bar for summer backpacking trips: Big Hunk [13]. (In hot weather, other candy bars usually melt.) These also store fairly well. If they eventually get too brittle, just warm them slightly.
Comments Disabled To "JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:"
#1 Comment By Jerry On March 13, 2019 @ 7:56 am
NCIS? Please don’t make me gag.
Every series on CBS now is pro U.S. Gov’t. propaganda.
And Mark Harmon’s character (and what is with the Okie-sounding name?) must give him the easiest job in Hollywood, a character without any lines.
#2 Comment By Charles K. On March 14, 2019 @ 3:09 am
You can’t just relax and watch a show without letting politics interfere?
The name, well, you’d have to watch the show, it’s explained.
Character without any lines, really? Obviously you don’t watch the show.
“Every series on CBS now is pro U.S. Gov’t. propaganda.” Really you should watch the show. It’s highly critical of the CIA, FBI, NSA, BATFE, the State Department, and all the serious overreach and incompetence of these agencies and other parts of the USG. The other NCIS shows (LA and New Orleans) are also just a critical.
By the way, the only TV dramas I watch, on any network, are the NCIS’s. The rest really suck. I take that back, “Project Blue Book” on History channel is actually very well made.
#3 Comment By JOHN FOLEY On March 13, 2019 @ 9:36 am
why would you reccommed a show where the lead actor makes a living pretending to be a marine sniper and carry a gun but the actor wants to take away our gun rights
#4 Comment By James Wesley Rawles On March 13, 2019 @ 1:42 pm
That NCIS show (which I haven’t seen) was a reader recommendation.
#5 Comment By Charles K. On March 14, 2019 @ 2:55 am
Haven’t seen it, can’t find it. The most I could find is this:
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#6 Comment By Rucksack Rob On March 13, 2019 @ 11:04 am
Last time I had a Big Hunk was 52+ years ago when I was around 8 or 9. It broke a tooth. Haven’t had one since…lol
My candy bar of choice in my pack is always a PayDay (or a bag of the halloween size). I think I’ll go have one right now with my coffee.
#7 Comment By Ma G On March 13, 2019 @ 12:56 pm
Here’s a link to an alternative method of insulating a cooler. The video also has information on adding salt to bottles of water before freezing them to increase their effectiveness.
[17]
This is a good channel for anyone who’s contemplating living off-grid or looking to decrease their monthly expenses.
#8 Comment By Once a Marine… On March 13, 2019 @ 10:27 pm
I like this dude’s style. Also, the paper towel roll on a tree branch in the background.
Carry on
#9 Comment By Clark On March 13, 2019 @ 1:03 pm
Early in the series NCIS had some potential. Quirky characters, devastating backstory for the lead (Harmon/Gibbs). I just couldn’t take the “do you have a license for that gun?” Not to mention Gibbs’ character constantly dismissive stance on the need for the 4th Amendment and warrants.
There was another show that I gave less than one episode of time to. I don’t recall the name but it starred David Boreanaz (Buffy/Angel) as an FBI agent. One of the other characters wanted to get a pistol for self defense. He handed her a form which she filled out and gave back to him. He stamped it and said denied. When she said “but I have a right to own a gun,” his character stated “No, you have a right to APPLY for a PERMIT to own a gun.”
Stuff like this is why I don’t watch much in the way of crime dramas.
#10 Comment By SAM On March 13, 2019 @ 5:57 pm
It was Bones.
#11 Comment By Clark On March 13, 2019 @ 9:19 pm
That’s it.
No big deal.
As a prepper, American, and a Christian (even though I’m not a very good one), I can always watch less TV.
#12 Comment By Retired cop On March 13, 2019 @ 2:00 pm
I just looked on Amazon for the Bed Bunker gun safe. Including shipping it’s $16,000. That is an awful lot of preps not made to have a gun safe. Way out of my reach.
#13 Comment By DD On March 14, 2019 @ 12:18 am
I thought the same thing. Looks really well made but id have to sell all my guns to afford one lol.
#14 Comment By Anonymous On March 13, 2019 @ 2:58 pm
The Big Hunk recommendation reminded me of the military chocolate ration.
Tropical Bar/”Congo Bar”/Desert Bar, does anyone know of a recipe or current manufacturer? Has anyone ever made such a ration at home?
United States military chocolate, [18]
Scientists Concoct Chocolate That Won’t Melt, Ker Than, July 14, 2006, [19]
Hershey’s Desert and Tropical Bars – In Honor of Memorial Day, Jason Liebig, May 28, 2012, [20]
A Guide to Every Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Included in American MREs, Lucy S., May 11, 2016, THE SITREP, [21]
#15 Comment By Joe On March 13, 2019 @ 3:44 pm
Another hint on keeping ice in your cooler is if it is any color than white it absorbs a lot of heat. Camo might look neat but it will shorten your ice life dramatically. Krylon makes a good white paint for plastics that dries in 12 minutes and sticks well, I occasionally touch up the coolers nicks and scratches. I have Yeti next to Levi’s on my do not buy list due to their anti second amendment stance. Normally coolers for marine use are white from the get go and better insulated.
#16 Comment By manimal On March 13, 2019 @ 7:56 pm
Same here for Levi’s. I’m currently trying the Vertx and 5.11 tactical jeans. Vertx discount code GarandThumb. I like both but I’ll have to see how long they last. 5.11 jeans flex making it very easy to bend or kneel or whatever. But i wonder if that flexing denim will wear out faster.
#17 Comment By Rascon Jon On March 14, 2019 @ 5:15 pm
Check out tactical distributors as well. I have quite a few of their pants and I love them. They can be a little light for heavy use tho.
#18 Comment By GotUR6 On March 14, 2019 @ 7:29 pm
Hope you have Dick’s Sporting Goods on your list as well!
#19 Comment By Once a Marine… On March 13, 2019 @ 10:44 pm
In looking at A Case For Trump, I found another book by the same author. Mexifornia: a State of Becoming. He posits that a primary reason that the immigration issue has gotten to where it is has to do with mega-corporations seeking cheap and controllable labor.
Has anyone read this book?
Carry on
#20 Comment By WV Joe On March 14, 2019 @ 1:55 am
Hello Marine. Hope you are well. Mr Hanson is my favorite speaker on just about any subject regarding todays world. Just ordered Case for Trump. Im sure it will be good.