Letter: Using Military Ammo Cans for Faraday Shielding

Dear JWR: The use of military surplus ammo boxes as Faraday shields was recently mentioned again in SurvivalBlog.  But readers should be reminded that these cans will not work in the configuration where they are normally purchased.  This is because the boxes have a rubber gasket to seal the lid from water and that makes the lid not in [electrical] contact with the body of the can, thereby losing the [EMP] shield effect.  Regards, – Dave X. JWR Replies:  You are correct.  As mentioned previously in SurvivalBlog, the best approach is to remove the rubber gasket,  rough up the metal …


Recipe of the Week: Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs, by M.C.A.

Ingredients 6 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 2.25 pounds) Salt and pepper 1 tbs vegetable oil Directions: Preheat oven to 475°F. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12″ cast-iron or heavy nonstick skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking. Nestle chicken in skillet, skin side down, and cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high; continue cooking skin side down, occasionally rearranging chicken thighs and rotating pan to evenly distribute heat, until fat renders and skin is golden brown, about 12 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and cook 13 more minutes. Flip chicken; continue cooking …


My Personal Journey to Embracing the Second Amendment, by K.F.B.

My great appreciation and understanding for the need of the Second Amendment and the necessity for the right to own guns was a slow and incremental journey. No one in my generation of my family owned guns. I was not raised around guns. I grew up in densely populated suburban areas of California, the Midwest, and New England. I never served in the military or in law enforcement. My maternal grandfather was a highly decorated U.S. Marine in WWI with the Fifty-Fifth Company of the Fifth Regiment. He fought at Champaign, Belleau Wood, the Argonne Forest, Verdun, and Chateau Thierry. …


Letter: Circling Back on My Preps

Dear Editor, My preps are in five areas, per the “group think” of SurvivalBlog. I have worked from area to area starting with what is easiest and cheapest up the ladder in each area. As I circle back I am working my way up but also looking back and questioning myself: Where did I store the extra ammo? Exactly what is in that unmarked box on my closet shelf and how might I better package to grab and go should we have to hastily migrate? Electrical items are on the agenda today. It started up with recharging the AAA-size batteries …


Ten Lessons I’ve Learned For a Preparedness Lifestyle, by The Patriarch

1) Preparedness is a lifestyle not a “kit”. I really didn’t start long-term preparation until after seeing the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina in 2005. On the other hand, I have always had an interest in survival and preparation, whether it was for a disaster or it just meant having some simple comforts during life’s unexpected events. I usually bring extra food and clothing when away from home. This not only saves money, but it also allows more control over one’s life. Packing food allows one to not only eat what they want but also when and where they want, all …


Letter Re: Huge Secondary Disaster

Hurricane Matthew, the category 3 or 4 hurricane likely hitting at or near coastal cities like Miami and Jacksonville, each with greater metropolitan areas approaching a million people, will be a huge disaster. The fact that this hurricane looks to stay very strong as it hits every other coastal Florida city in-between Miami and Jacksonville, then weakening to a category 2 before hitting Savannah and all of the coast of Georgia, then hitting Charleston and all of the coast of South Carolina, then hitting Wilmington and all of the coast of North Carolina, will make this a very huge disaster. …


Beyond Basic Weapon Maintenance, by J.B.

Be it a gun, knife, or a bow, if you are going to own and use these tools for survival, it is in your best interest to have more than a basic understanding of these tools in order to keep them functioning. There is nothing worse than being in the field and having a malfunction right when your life may depend on it. Our U.S. armed forces require their recruits to know and understand the function of their weapons, because their lives literally do depend on this equipment. They are trained how to disassemble and reassemble their weapons, giving them …


Letter Re: Long-Term Food Storage

Hugh, Everything I read says to store food that is prepared and packaged for long-term storage in a cool, dry location. I have not, however, been able to find guidelines for keeping this food in a hot, humid climate if the SHTF. For example, if I have eight months of food stored and the SHFT so I lose air conditioning and refrigeration, will this food still be good eight months down the road? – T.T. HJL Comments: Prepared long term foods will decline in nutritional value, flavor and possibly texture over time. If the food is packaged in water tight …


September in Precious Metals, by Steven Cochran of Gainesville Coins

Welcome to SurvivalBlog’s Precious Metals Month in Review, by Steven Cochran of Gainseville Coins where we take a look at “the month that was” in precious metals. Each month, we cover the price action of gold and examine the “what” and “why” behind those numbers. What Did Gold Do in September? Gold was pulled out of a 2-month low by the non-farm payrolls report that was substantially under predictions. Prices were slowly worn down as the month went on, until the Federal Reserve FOMC meeting on the 22nd. When the Fed did not raise interest rates, gold jumped $20 an …




How To Find Food in Your Own Backyard, by Z.M.

If it ever really comes down to it, you can easily find food in your backyard. I remember reading a survival book when I was younger that mentioned how absolutely ludicrous it is to die of starvation in the wild. The book mentioned the sheer number of times that starved lost hikers’ bodies are found lying in a patch of edible plant life. After reading that, I agreed with the author and set out to educate myself on the edible plants I walk by every day. The end result is that I can now take a hike through the woods …


Letter Re: Moving to Alaska

Good Afternoon Hugh, This is a response to the Letter regarding Alaska as a Survival Location. I am sure you are getting piles of letters from people in Alaska who claim many things. We have owned our property in Alaska for eight years. Here are some pointers for being successful in Alaska, which people down in the States don’t seem to understand. Location – Most people think that the only places to relocate to Alaska are in the “mainland” part. We live in Southeast Alaska, which is a rainforest. Water is plentiful here. Getting here is not difficult and the …


Recipe of the Week: Chicken Sesame, by R.C.

Ingredients: 1 frying chicken, cut up ¼ cup flour 3 tbs sesame seeds ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper ¼ cup salad oil 1 small onion, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped ½ cup dry white wine 1 chicken bouillon cube, crumbled ½ tsp tarragon ¼ cup water ¼ cup cornstarch 1 cup dairy sour cream Directions: Coat chicken with mixture of flour, sesame seeds, salt, and pepper. In a large skillet, brown chicken in oil, then place in a slow cooking pot. Add onion, celery, wine, bouillon cube, and tarragon, then cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 …


Letter Re: Moving to Alaska

Hi Hugh, Regarding the person’s letter on the October 1, 2016 blog; one small correction if I may? I just drove up and back to/from Alaska in Aug-Sept, 2016; and the Alaska Hwy in Canada (mile 0 is Dawson Creek, BC, Canada) and the highway is paved and well maintained the entire way. The Canadians do an excellent job of putting up flagging to let drivers be forewarned of bumps and road damage which is minor. Gasoline ranged from $1.07-$1.39/liter (3.72 liters/gallon). Years ago I drove it in winter too, twice; and both the Canadians and Americans keep it well …