Letter Re: Switching to AR-10 Rifles

James: I happened to notice that in a recent posting you’d mentioned transitioning at your ranch from a FAL platform to a Stoner-designed AR-10. I imagine that a number of your readers would be interested in how this decision came about. I’ll I bet a number of other readers would be interested to hear why. – P. Z. in Arizona JWR Replies: The decision to switch to AR-10s was based upon the following factors: 1.) Training compatibility. Since my kids all did their transitional training to high power shooting using M4geries, and some of them might end up serving in …


Letter Re: Hidden Entrances, and Secret Rooms

If you do a web search for “hidden entrances” or “secret room” you’ll see some photos and video of various novelties like bookcases on hinges and stairways that open up to reveal hidden rooms behind/under them. While these can be a lot of fun before SHTF, especially for kids, I just wanted to put out a warning that these types of entrances aren’t really concealed at all in a TEOTWAWKI situation. For starters, if you found these solutions on the Internet, then bad guys can find them too. Even if they didn’t do their online research beforehand, you can bet …


Economics and Investing:

Several SurvivalBlog readers sent this: Euro zone finance ministers agreed a 130-billion-euro ($172 billion) rescue for Greece on Tuesday to avert an imminent chaotic default after forcing Athens to commit to unpopular cuts and private bondholders to take bigger losses. G.G. flagged this: Congrats, US Government: You’re Scaring Web Businesses Into Moving Out Of The US. (SurvivalBlog’s recent server migration to Sweden is just one small example.) Over at Whiskey & Gunpowder: Gather ye nickels while ye may… Steve in Georgia sent this: Iranians desperate as dark economic clouds gather Items from The Economatrix: Editorial:  A Sand-Castle Recovery Preparing For …


Odds ‘n Sods:

JRH Enterprises is celebrating their 20th year in business with a big sale on Third Generation Pinnacle Autogated night vision devices. New true mil-spec AN/PVS-14 monocular/weapon sights with a 5-year warranty available as low as $2,695, and upgraded Gen 3+ versions available as low as $2,995. JRH also has the AN/PVS-7B Goggle sets new and available in third generation Pinnacle autogated on sale for $3,095. The sale ends soon, so don’t dawdle.    o o o My recent interviews on The Alex Jones Show have now been archived. I was the guest in the second hour on Wednesday, February 15th, and …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“We’re on the threshold of disaster. We need to increase food production by 50 to 70 percent on less land with less resources, less water and, frankly, not enough technology.”- Dr. Nancy Irlbec, Associate Dean of academic affairs for Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, describing global food production and the demographics of the 21st Century.


Note From JWR:

Today we present another two entries for Round 39 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a …


All You Need to G.O.O.D. You Can Carry on Your Back, by Charles M.

In 2000 my wife and I decided we would do a through hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.  The distance traveled would be 2,168.5 miles of foot trails through the wildernesses of the eastern United States.   We climbed more than 250 mountains.  Our elevation change was equal to climbing Mount Everest from sea level to the summit and back nineteen (19) times. The trail is very challenging and can be dangerous (two people died on the trail the year we hiked).  The trail follows the crest of the Appalachian Mountain through fourteen states.  Although this was a …


Firearms Training/Exercise #1, by Sparky

I have been a “gun nut” for some time now and I think that everyone should own a firearm of some sort whether it for personal carry or just home protection.  With everything that has been going on in today’s world, I can see no better time to own a firearm. There comes a big responsibility with owning a weapon of any kind and you must make sure that you are up to taking on that task. I believe that good shooting skills are going to be needed very soon to come.  We are set in the front seat to …


Letter Re: .22 Handguns and Other Options For Self Defense

James, I’m writing to follow up on the recent SurvivalBlog article “.22 Handguns and Other Options For Self Defense”. Another consideration to keep in mind when discussing the .22 rimfire: In a TEOTWAWKI situation the need for stealth will be paramount. The .22 LR cartridge lends itself to silencing better than any other caliber. [JWR Adds: Most of the “Target”-designated .22 LR loads are subsonic.] I think the legal purchase of a suppressor in the U.S. (“All NFA rules apply”) should be very high on the “to do” list of every “prepper”. The ability to silently eliminate pests, and to …


Economics and Investing:

Michael W. sent: Alan Simpson: Financial markets will turn on U.S. – Freeland File (This is Part 4 of a longer interview–all worth watching.) Does the Fed Print Money? Of Course! Jim Bianco Calls It “Fraud, Counterfeiting” Items from The Economatrix: Oil Set For Biggest 2012 Weekly Gain Credit Suisse The Sequel:  “Probability Of The Largest Disorderly Default Loss In History On March 20 Has Increased Gold Demand Hits New Records As Europeans Stockpile Harvey Organ: MF Global Customers will not receive their money


Odds ‘n Sods:

Don’t Just Survive, Thrive. (In a recent podcast, Lew Rockwell talks with Tess Pennington about how to make the most of your survival resources.)    o o o Rick B. sent the link to this very useful set of charts, over at The How Do Gardener: Freeze and Frost Dates    o o o Russ S. sent this: Lehmann Aviation’s LFPV UAV . (Apparently the cool Landrover 109 is not included.)    o o o Commentary from JohnGaltFla: I am a Patrioterrorist    o o o Keith K. mentioned some lessons from a Mexican vehicle ambush: A Standard Feature Is …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

The entire TSA paradigm is flawed. It requires an impossibility for it to succeed. For the TSA model to work, every single possible means of causing danger to an aircraft or its passengers must be eliminated. This is an impossibility. While passengers are being frisked and digitally strip-searched a few dozen yards away [inside the ostensibly ‘secure’ area], cooks and dish washers at the local concourse “Chili’s” [restaurant] are using and cleaning butcher knives.” – Former FBI Agent Steve Moore, writing in his G-Man’s Cafe blog


Note From JWR:

My #1 Daughter has launched The M16 Rock ‘n Roll Store at Cafe Press, to raise money for her “college and ammo fund.” Her T-shirts, mouse pads, mugs, phone covers, iPad covers, and other products all include the slogan: “Long Live Rock n’ Roll” and a photo of an M16 / M4 lower receiver with the customized selector switch markings: “Silence”, “Classical”, and “Rock n’ Roll”. This design was inspired by a description in my novel “Patriots”.


Could America’s Farmers and Ranchers Face a Rhodesian Future?

I envision one possible future for America that is fairly bleak, at least in the short term. If the economy deteriorates the way that I anticipate, and if the power grids ever collapse, then it could trigger that dreaded “worst case” situation. Such a socioeconomic collapse could precipitate a large population die-off in metropolitan regions, a bit less in the suburbs, and even less in the countryside. But an extended period of lawlessness would still cause considerable loss of life and property in rural areas. There will surely be a lot of refugees from urban areas, and some of them …


Pat’s Product Review: Century Arms R1A1 (Inch Pattern FAL Clone)

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I’ve been a huge fan of the FN/FAL style of battle rifle for many years. I first carried one when I was in Rhodesia, back in 1976. I’ve owned a few FAL-style rifles over the years, and I reviewed the Springfield Armory version on SurvivalBlog last year. Too bad, Springfield Armory doesn’t make their version any longer, it was an outstanding rifle in all respects.   About 10 tears ago, I purchased a used Century Arms (L1A1-model “inch pattern” FAL style rifle from a gun shop in Boise, Idaho – it was an outstanding shooter. However in a moment of …