We’ve announced the winners of Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest [1].
Note to the top three prize winners: Please contact me and let me know your UPS and USPS address(es), for your prizes. Thanks. – JWR
The top three prize winners will each receive some great prize packages. The winners for Round 120 are…
First Prize Winner:
First Prize goes to AppComms, for Memoirs of a Disaster Survivor. (See: Part 1 [2] and Part 2 [3].) It was posted August 1-2, 2025. He will receive as prizes:
- A Gunsite Academy [4]Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course [5] (a $1,095 value),
- A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” [6] variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources [7] (a $350 value),
- American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) [8] is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses [9]. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course [10].
- HSM Ammunition [11] in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
- Preparedness author Jennifer Rader [12] is offering a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the
Second Prize Winner:
Second Prize goes to goes to J.M. for Text Comms in a Post-Disaster World. (See: Part 1 [13], Part 2 [14], Part 3 [15], Part 4 [16], and Part 5 [17].) It was posted September 22-26, 2025. He will receive:
- A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training [18], that has a combined retail value of $679
- A $269 retail value survival-ready power package from Solar Power Lifestyle [19]. This includes two Solar Power Lifestyle 25W Portable Solar Panels [20], plus a $150 gift card to use for any purchase at solarpowerlifestyle.com [21].
- Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord [22] (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com [23] (a $287 value).
- A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company [24], toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!
Third Prize Winner:
Third Prize goes to Iowa Dave, for Maximizing Prepping Storage Space. (See Part 1 [25] and Part 2 [26].) It was posted September 9-10, 2025. He will receive:
- A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters [27] (a $305 value),
- Two sets of [28]The Civil Defense Manual, [29] (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
- A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC [30] that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
- A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company [24], toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.
Honorable Mention Prizes
The writers of the Round 120 Honorable Mention articles will each receive a transferable $100 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company [24], toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun, or any knife or bayonet. (Even though Elk Creek Company will be going on hiatus starting October 10, 20205, you can still use your purchase credits. Just e-mail me and let me know what merchandise you’d like to apply your credit to. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns in most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!
There were 12 Honorable Mention prize-winning articles in Round 120. They are:
- Improvised Shower Fixtures and Pumps [31], by A.F.
- Goldilocks Fire-Starting Kits [32], by C.S.
- Fully Practicing Your Preps [33], by A.C.
- My Concerns With Artificial Intelligence, by St. Funogas. (See: Part 1 [34], Part 2 [35], and Part 3 [36].)
- An Everyday Pellet Gun [37], by Lodge Pole
- FNIRSI GC-03 Radiation Detector: An Evaluation [38], by Mike in Alaska
- Sanitation for Preppers [39], by A.C.
- My Most Recent Lesson in Logistics [40], by Reltney McFee
- Secure Local Comms With POTS Equipment [41], by Tractorguy
- JIT Training for Trusted Friends, Family, and Neighbors [42], by Dr. Bob
- Soft Cheeses Made Without Rennet [43], by M.J.E.
- The Art and Science of Tool Making [44], by Grandpappy
Get Busy Writing!
Round 121 begins today and runs for two months, so please get busy writing and e-mail [45] us your entry soon. More than $970,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics [46]. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. Thanks, – JWR