Month: December 2024

Should We Get Ready For a NFA Amnesty?

For the past several weeks, President Trump has been very busy naming his cabinet appointments.  One that is still uncertain is his choice to become the new BATFE Director. The current director, Steven Dettelbach, is a clueless anti-gun buffoon who can’t give congressmen a straight answer.  Many American gun owners are hopeful that DJT will appoint 07/02 FFL holder, gun designer, and pro-gun pundit Brandon Herrera as the new Director.  If that happens, it will surely inspire some boisterous celebration. In addition to his vows to slash the ATF’s budget and operations, Herrera has also promised to begin a series …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, more Greater Idaho movement news.  (See the Region-Wide section.) Region-Wide Greater Idaho Asks for Support from Incoming Trump Administration. o  o  o Wyoming and Montana Republicans vow to challenge Biden decision to block coal mining in area. Idaho Idaho abortion trafficking law partly revived by US …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — December 9, 2024

December 9, 1775: At Fort Ticonderoga, New York, Henry Knox began his historic transport of abandoned British artillery to Boston, Massachusetts, that later forced the British to evacuate Boston. — December 9, 1914 was the birthday of Maximo Guillermo “Max” Manus. He was one of the few Norwegians who fought the Nazi occupiers. Max Manus passed away in 1996. His exploits are fairly accurately shown in the movie Max Manus: Man of War. — Today’s feature article was penned by Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are seeking entries for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More …


Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed in 6.5 Creedmoor, by Thomas Christianson

Light. Accurate. Well-balanced. Excellent trigger. Versatile adjustable stock. Attractive appearance. Outstanding fit and finish. Butter-smooth bolt. Weather resistant. There are a lot of excellent features to commend the new Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed rifle. With a manufacturer-suggested retail price of $1,469.99 at the time of this writing, the X-Bolt 2 Speed falls into the medium price range for full-power rifles. A wide range of premium features justify the elevation of the X-Bolt 2 out of the sub-$1,000-price-range. The rifle is manufactured for Browning in Japan by Miroku. If you would like to invest in a better-than-budget-class rifle, the X-Bolt 2 …


Recipe of the Week: Mrs. Alaska’s Split Pea Soup

The following recipe for Split Pea Soup is from SurvivalBlog reader and fellow blogger Mrs. Alaska. She writes: “Split pea soup is a tasty winter treat, easy to cook on a wood stove or on a tripod over a fire as well as on an electric or gas stove. The peas degrade to a nice, creamy texture with little attention other than an occasional stir over several hours. This is always my planned meal when I enter my stone-cold cabin or camping site. I light the wood stove or campfire, set a pot on top, pour water or snow into …




Preparedness Notes for Sunday — December 8, 2024

On December 8, 1864, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was finally opened in Bristol, England, five years after his death. The deck and cables that we see today are replacements, but the footings and towers are original. — Today’s feature article is an open letter by SurvivalBlog Senior Editor, James Wesley, Rawles (JWR). — We are seeking entries for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to …


A “Stay Behind” Strategy for Ukraine and Moldova

This article serves as an open letter, primarily to Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Trump’s Director of National Intelligence (DNI) designee. It would also be of interest to planners in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations (DO). Take note that rather than re-hashing some well-documented historical subjects, I will be relying heavily on quoting the InfoGalactic Wiki. Also, note that this is an article about strategy rather than tactics. – Carborundum With casualties mounting after more than two years of intense fighting in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Army is quite simply losing its war of attrition against the combined Russian ground and air forces. …


JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme created by JWR: Meme Text: Project Camel Smoke: Step 1: Joe Biden Pardons Hunter Biden. Step 2: Joe Resigns and Kackling Kamala Becomes “The First Female President” Step 3: President Harris Conveniently Pardons Joe Biden News Links: ‘It’s a Sad Statement About Where We Are’: A Pardon Expert Explains Biden’s Decision to Pardon His Son. Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter spurs broader discussion on who else should be granted clemency. Biden weighs pre-emptive pardons for potential targets of Trump’s retribution. Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll …



Preparedness Notes for Saturday — December 7, 2024

On December 7, 1909, inventor Leo Baekeland patented the first thermosetting plastic, Bakelite. This sparked the birth of the plastics industry.  By the 1930s, the majority of tabletop radios had Bakelite cabinets. — On this day in 43 B.C., Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero was assassinated in Formiae by soldiers under the command of Mark Antony. — December 7, 1703: The Great Storm of 1703 hit Southern England – thousands were killed, Royal Navy losses included 13 ships and around 1,500 seamen. — On a Sunday morning in 1941, America was caught sleeping. Then there was that September …


The Amazing Vetterli

The title of this article might sound like the marquee sign for a magic act.  But this piece is more like a segment of Ian McCollum’s Forgotten Weapons video series. In the late 1860s, the Swiss inventor and gunmaker Johann-Friedrich Vetterli designed a bolt-action repeating rifle (“Repetiergewehr“) that was a true innovation. With its very large magazine capacity, I consider the Vetterli an 1870s Sturmgewehr predecessor.


Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds …