Notes from JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction is now at $1,050. The auction is for a large mixed lot that includes: A.) 15 brand new 30 round M16/M4/AR-15 magazines from JWR‘s personal collection. These include four scarce and desirable brand new HK steel “Maritime Finish” magazines, and 11 new USGI alloy magazines made by Center Industries. (Note that most of these were made during the 1994-2004 Federal ban, so most of them have restriction markings, but those became null and void after the ban sunsetted.) Even if you don’t own an AR-15, these magazines are great to keep on …


On Livestock and Self Sufficiency by TAS

Most of the readers of Survival Blog agree on at least the distinct possibility, if not the absolute certainty, of a collapse. This may come in a variety of forms – flu pandemic, economic depression, or an EMP attack are likely scenarios. Regardless of the form, the result will be very similar and our concerns are as well: How do we protect ourselves and our families and provide a living? While stocking up on beans, bullets, and band-aids is the initial response, further preparation encourages us to find a defensible, as well as productive retreat. But then what? So you …


Two Letters Re: Plastic Food Grade Buckets and Other Storage Food Issues

Hi JWR, About the recent post on HDPE food grade buckets: Please note: Plastic food grade buckets are oxygen and gas permeable and will not store food for a long time by themselves. That is what a mylar liner is for, to greatly slow this process down (it will not stop it entirely). Here is some data for oxygen permeability & plastics: Material…………………………….ml o2/(day*mil*sq. meter*atm) PE (polyethylene)…………………..6000-15000 HDPE…………………………………1500-3000 Saran………………………………….10-350 Mylar…………………………………..50-100 Foil laminate………………………….0 Plastic laminate………………………10-400 Regards, – Malcolm   JWR, Just an add-on for Don in Ohio’s post: I live fairly close to a major soda bottler/distributor. Their flavoring comes in …


Letter Re: Feedback on Foodsaver Vacuum Packers

James, Just a note of thanks. Years ago I purchased a Bosch brand food saver, which has worked well but died about a year ago,. Since it cost over $300 years ago I had not gotten another. When you mentioned the special sale on the FoodSaver v2830, I ordered one (Dec 1) which I just received. I strongly recommend these units, I just received mine yesterday, and it is every bit worth the $59. Thank you James! I love your novel, have read it 4.75 times now, (taking notes) and can see the truth of the story line being fulfilled …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Scott D. suggested this piece on commentary: Constitutional Convention Sleight of Hand?    o o o Courtesy of Hawaiian K.: How a Zero-Electricity Fridge Will Bring Medicine to the Developing World    o o o From Sean M.: Money is not the only thing you can lose in a failing bank    o o o Ann M. sent this “must read” piece from Fortune magazine: Eight really, really scary predictions; Dow 4,000. Food shortages. A bubble in Treasury notes. Fortune spoke to eight of the market’s sharpest thinkers and what they had to say about the future is frightening. …



Note from JWR:

I often get e-mails from students and retirees on fixed incomes that mention that they enjoy reading the blog, but that they can’t afford a voluntary Ten Cent Challenge subscription. This is perfectly understandable. One thing that they can do to help that costs nothing but a bit of time, is to spread the word about SurvivalBlog. For example, please mention SurvivalBlog in your annual Christmas letter. Hopefully, this will result in some of your relatives and friends getting “squared away”. (Which, BTW, is in your own best interest. Every individual that prepares represents one less that will have to …


Letter Re: Plastic Food Grade Buckets and Other Storage Food Issues

Dear Editor: Food grade plastic buckets can be found for free or fairly cheap ($1-$2 each) by checking with Dunkin’ Donuts, grocery store bakeries and restaurants. Some throw them away and will be happy to sell them. The fillings and glaze coverings for donuts all come in buckets. Fast food restaurants get their pickle slices in buckets (the strong pickle flavor/odor will be hard if not impossible to remove from the bucket-watch what you store in these, it will absorb that pickle odor). When you get used buckets (make sure you ask for lids!!!) you will need to clean them …


Letter Re: Is a .22 Rimfire Better than Nothing for Home Defense?

Mr. Rawles, I am a junior college student on a quite limited budget. Right now, my only guns are a Daisy Model 881 pellet [.177 caliber air] rifle and a Ruger 10/22 [.22 Long Rifle semi-auto rifle.] I hope to buy an [M1] Garand [semi-auto rifle] that belongs to my uncle, but for now my “battery” is limited. (LOL!) Here’s my question: Will a .22 [LR rimfire] actually be sufficient, if I put enough rounds into a bad guy, to stop him? Thanks, – G.H. JWR Replies: If circumstances dictate that you must use a .22 for self defense, then …


Odds ‘n Sods:

M. in the Dakotas sent us a link to an article on solar storms and possible damage to power grids.    o o o A reminder that Foodsaver vacuum packers are being offered at a special sale price, just during the month of December. You can buy a FoodSaver v2830 for $59.99 (originally $169.99) with free Standard Shipping for orders over $100, directly from FoodSaver.com.Use code L8FAV28 at checkout. This offer is valid during the month of December, or while supplies last.    o o o I just got an e-mail from our old friend “Trasel” (who will soon return …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds… [we will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers… And this is the tendency …



A 1911 Dinosaur Turns Over a New Leaf — Switching to XD Polymer Frame Pistols

I have been shooting M1911 steel-framed Colt .45 ACPs for more than 35 years, and up until now, I’ve always considered myself a M1911 die-hard. But through those years, I’ve seen the price of Colt pistols and spare parts radically escalate. My first M1911-series pistol was a slightly-used Colt Commander that I bought in 1981 at a San Jose, California gun show, for $160. (In those days, you could pay cash for a pistol from a fellow private party, and walk out the door with it, sans any paperwork. Sadly, things have changed in California–and that was one of the …


Letter Re: Dress for Survival Success

Jim; That was a great article by George Haystack in Tuesday’s blog! I thought I was the only one [that carried so much survival gear around on a daily basis.] Mr. Haystack takes it further than I do. First, I could not carry [a concealed firearm] at my workplace being within the secure area of an airport. I generally carried a sturdy day pack, with the following: (1) Lockback knife (2) LED flashlights (9 LED’s / 3 AA batteries) (16) spare AAA batteries (1) regular AA flashlight (4) spare AA batteries The following are all OTC medications, of course (1) …