Month: May 2026

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — May 20, 2026

On May  20, 1875 the International Bureau of Weights & Measures was formed by the signing of the Metre Convention treaty by 17 nations, in Paris. The prototypes of the meter and the kilogram were selected. — May 20, 1916: Codell, Kansas was hit by a tornado. (Quite oddly, it was hit again on the same day in 1917 and then again in 1918.) — May 20th is also the birthday of my lifelong friend Brad C.  I wish him a happy 65th birthday! – JWR — Take Note: Our editorial calendar is now filled for May. Any articles received …


The Prepared Homeowner’s Workshop, by Richard T.

A lot of mundane people have workshops, and a lot of preparedness-minded people have workshops, but not all of those preppers have a workshop that is properly prepared for many of the scenarios that they are concerned about. Perhaps this is because they do not see the role a workshop plays in preparedness. What distinguishes the prepared workshop from others is that the owner has: Learned key skills Acquired apropos tools, and has, Stocked hardware on a “just in case” footing. This approach differs from the ordinary workshop that is inadequately prepared and hopefully will never going to be needed …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our 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. — Chris in Kentucky was the first of several blog readers to send us the link to this anti-gun slanted reporting: Muskets like those from 1776 are mostly exempt from today’s gun laws.  I’m fairly certain if that hoplophobic journalist saw the pre-1899 guns that I sell with no paperwork at Elk Creek …


Editors’ Quote:

“I never could believe that Providence had sent a few men into the world, ready booted and spurred to ride, and millions ready saddled and bridled to be ridden.” – Richard Rumbold (c.1622-85). On the scaffold, as quoted in T. B. Macauley’s ‘Histories of England’ Volume 1 (1849) Chapter 1


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — May 19, 2026

On May 19, 1828 U.S. President John Quincy Adams signed the Tariff of 1828 into law to protect industry in the North. The bill was vehemently denounced in the South and escalated to a threat of civil war in the nullification crisis of 1832–33. The tariff was replaced in 1833, and the crisis ended. The Tariff of 1828 was called the “Tariff of Abominations” by most Southerners because of its drag on the Southern economy. It set a 38% tax on some imported goods and a 45% tax on certain imported raw materials. The South was also harmed indirectly because …


Staying Home For TEOTWAWKI, by Jason H.

Opening caveat: A lot of what I describe below is highly illegal in normal times. It might even be frowned upon during semi-normal times. Only you, as a logical and thinking adult, can make a decision to take actions that could result in potential prison time. But this article is for those bad times, a true WWOTROL (World Without The Rule Of Law) scenario. Like many here, I’m an older gentleman, having retired almost 20 years ago after a 25 year law enforcement career. I’ve also been a faithful Survival Blog reader from almost the beginning. And like many here, …


SurvivalBlog’s American Redoubt Media of the Week

This weekly column features media 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. Redoubt News Links Four crew members eject safely after two Navy jets collide during air show in Idaho. JWR’s Comments: Thankfully, the two pilots and the two GIBs (“Guys in Back”) from VAQ-129 punched out and parachuted to the ground safely. The EA-18G Growler is a particularly expensive F/A-18 variant, and difficult to replace. Figure a replacement cost of about $130 million per plane, with a multi-year lead …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — May 18, 2026

On My 18, 1804, Napoléon Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor of France by the French Senate. — May 18th, 1825 was the birthday of Daniel Baird Wesson (of Smith and Wesson fame). — On May 18th, 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted, causing a massive avalanche and killing 57 people. Ash from the volcanic eruption fell as far away as Minnesota. — Take note that we will be switching to weekly postings, on June 2nd. Thenceforth, you can look for SurvivalBlog “Fresh Every Tuesday.” — The last day! We have been running a two-week-long sale in all of our percussion …


Saiga 223, by Thomas Christianson

The Saiga 223 is a sporterized AK pattern rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO. The advantage of an AK pattern rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO is that it combines the rugged reliability of the AK platform with the wide availability and selection of ammunition in 5.56mm NATO. It was called the Saiga 223 rather than the Saiga 556 in order to try to help it slip past the 1994 “Assault Weapons” ban. Although it was chambered in 5.56 NATO, it was thought that an association with the civilian .223 Remington rather than military 5.56 NATO chambering would make it sound more …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic is a map that shows the white population distribution by percentage throughout the American states and Canadian provinces. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) The lower detail map shows the small northeastern states. The thumbnail images below are click-expandable.           — Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.


Recipe of the Week:

The following recipe for Bakeless Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies is from SurvivalBlog reader E.J..  This recipe requires no baking — just heating a mixture in saucepan. Ingredients 3 TBSP cocoa powder (unsweetened) 1/2 c milk 2 c sugar 1/2 c butter 3 cups of dry rolled oats 1/2 c peanut butter 1 tsp vanilla extract Directions Melt the butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly and bring this mixture to a rolling boil and let it cook for just over one minute. Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract and peanut butter. Stir …


The Editors’ Quote:

“Hypocrisy is the most difficult and nerve-racking vice that any man can pursue; it needs an unceasing vigilance and a rare detachment of spirit. It cannot, like adultery or gluttony, be practised at spare moments; it is a whole-time job.” – W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), from ‘Cakes and Ale’ (1930)


Preparedness Notes for Sunday — May 17, 2026

On May 17, 1792, twenty-four merchants formed the New York Stock Exchange at 70 Wall Street. — May 17, 1877: Edwin T. Holmes installed the first telephone switchboard burglar alarm. — And on May 17, 1920: First flight by Dutch airline KLM (Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij), a joint venture with British Aerial Transport. A de Havilland double-decker plane from London landed at Schiphol in Amsterdam. — Just one day left! We are running a two-week-long sale in all of our percussion revolvers at Elk Creek Company, with deep discounts. This sale will end at midnight on Monday, May 18th, 2026. Please …


Using Commercial Ammunition in Military Rifles, by Tunnel Rabbit

Author’s Introductory Disclaimer:  While I am a long-time reloading enthusiast, my advice and  insights are not substitutes for the information found in reloading manuals. So do confirm any information herein and draw your own conclusions. Introduction I have discovered over the years that many shooters are planning to use incorrect ammunition in their military rifles that with repeated use over time would ruin the rifle’s mechanism, or if the rifle should be used in battlefield conditions, the rifle for many reasons could fail them just when they needed to defend themselves. Few are acquainted with using their rifles in actual …