Year: 2024

Learning How To Be a Marksman – Part 4, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 3. This concludes the article.) Precision shooting is the pursuit of the ability to hit small targets at long ranges with one shot. As hits count and misses do not, given the battlefield level of accuracy that most rifles and shooters are capable of, limiting our range to 300 yards is realistic and practical. Training at 400 yards and then shooting at 300 yards will make the shooter work harder and better ensure that they can hit the first time, every time at closer ranges. Do not let the enemy get closer than 300 yards. At 200 …


Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at the continuing bull market in precious metals. (See the Precious Metals section.) Precious Metals: FoxNews: Value of gold bar hits $1 million for first time ever.  (A hat tip to H.L. for the link.) o  o  o Gold Holds Above $2,500 as Powell Signals Rate Cuts Are Coming. o  o  o At …



Preparedness Notes for Thursday — August 29, 2024

On August 29, 1831, Michael Faraday demonstrated the first electric transformer. — In 1862, the Second Battle of Bull Run in Virginia began. The same day marked the founding of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. — August 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina made landfall near New Orleans, Louisiana, as a Category 4 hurricane.  The botched local and FEMA response in the storm’s aftermath turned millions of Americans into preppers. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists …


Learning How To Be a Marksman – Part 3, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 2.) Understanding Ballistic Coefficients As a rule of thumb, projectiles with a ballistic coefficient (BC) of 0.400 or less and velocities of less than 2,750 fps (such as 77 grain .223 bullets out of 20″ AR barrel) will have a much more difficult time striking targets past 600 yards when compared to projectiles with greater ballistic coefficients and the same or higher velocities. The larger diameter projectiles with heavy for caliber bullets used in other cartridges beginning with 6mm ARC, or .243 Winchester can have higher ballistic coefficients and the same or greater velocities. Therefore they are …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, we look at some weather and climate news. It bears mention that several of today’s news links can be credited to the oft-mentioned Whatfinger.com news aggregation site. I recommend …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — August 28, 2024

On this day in 1884, the first known photograph of a tornado was taken by F.N. Robinson, near Howard, South Dakota. — August 28, 1833 is the anniversary of the abolishment of slavery throughout the British Empire. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be …


Learning How To Be a Marksman – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 1.) The Killing Power of Firearms: More is Better The 20 gauge or 12 gauge shotgun and semi-auto handgun is a good combination for close-quarters combat or with home defense distances of 35 yards or less. If using Federal Flight Control buckshot, the maximum effective distance can be 50 yards. A modified to full choke can also extend the range of the shotgun. A shotgun loaded with buckshot shells can stop the fight instantaneously. If you hit somewhere in the torso, it would be lights out and they will drop like a sack of potatoes, dead before …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — A new video from John Lovell (of Warrior Poet Society fame): 11th Hour Checklist. JWR’s Comment:  John is a solid Christian who sounds more and more prepper-oriented, every time I hear him speak. o  o  o Counting the costs: We can now read the lawsuit against the Biden regime’s unfunded mandate on …



Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — August 27, 2024

On August 27, 1883, Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia erupted with a force of 200 megatons of TNT and killed approximately 40,000 people. — August 27, 1715:  The Earl of Mar raised the Jacobite standard at Braemar, Aberdeenshire starting the Jacobite uprising in Scotland. — August 27, 1917 was the birthday of American gun designer Robert Hillberg, best known as the designer of the C.O.P. four-barrel derringer, Winchester’s Liberator shotguns, the graceful Whitney Wolverine, and the Wildey .44 Magnum gas-operated pistol. He died in 2012. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction …


A Farm Field of Dreams: Looking For a Wife For a Consulting Client

I’ve had a consulting client for a couple of years, who I’ve learned to trust who lives on a family farm. The following could be an excellent opportunity to be able to retreat to a family farm in a safe area. In the SurvivalBlog archives, there are many articles on ways to protect your family, through preparedness and skill-building. Perhaps the ultimate is living on a self-sufficient working farm in a safe, lightly-populated region. Instead of having to build and stock a retreat, here is a way for a fortunate family to become friends with a farm family by helping …


Learning How To Be a Marksman – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit

I taught myself to shoot at an early age on my Grandma’s farm. I do not understand how or why, or if it was natural or instinctive. As I look back, I simply cannot imagine how I knew what do to. I did not have a father or older male relative to teach me. The same thing happens when I am engaged in carpentry or similar work today. Often it is better to simply stop thinking and just do it, and it just happens. It is scary to see how this manifests itself as I see the project come together …


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, some news of some criminal trials — both pending and adjudicated — in the American Redoubt region.  But first, some mainstream news coverage on the American Redoubt movement.  (See the Region-Wide secion.) Region-Wide The left-wing Vice News visits a prepper expo in Sandpoint, Idaho, and …