Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader C.T.H. wrote to ask me if I thought that the Springfield Armory XD pistol offered in Front Sight’s Front Sight’s “Get a Gun” training and gear package offer was worth adding to a family gun collection. The answer is an enthusiastic yes, and I’m not the only one that is enthusiastic about these pistols. But I must add one proviso: Spare parts are currently hard to come by. Ironically, this is because of Springfield Armory’s exceptional lifetime warranty program. (Because of the lifetime repair warranty, there is little impetus for gunsmiths in the US to do XD repairs.) So, …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“One day you will need people like him, and you will forget that you once thought he was worse than a criminal.” – Rabbi Irving Chinn, explaining to some of his congregation why he gave his blessing to as student who chose to pursue a career in gunsmithing rather than rabbinic ordination. (As quoted at Musings of a Geek with a .45, originally posted at The High Road)


Two Letters Re: Food Shortages at COSTCO and Sam’s Club Stores

Sir, Yesterday I went to COSTCO to check out the rice situation (and grab a cheap lunch). Today, a friend said he wanted to go, so being that he doesn’t have a [membership] card I went with him. Not only was all the rice gone except for a few very small bags of some long grain nasty stuff, but where there had been pallets of rice 24 hours earlier, now there was other items (macaroni and cheese and something else). I overheard about a dozen people complaining about the rice situation, and all of them just wanted “a few bags …


The Value of Coupon Clipping in Stocking Up

Our family has always maintained a substantial pantry in addition to our “deep storage” items. One way we keep our pantry stocked is by taking advantage of grocery store sales and using coupons. This does take a bit of time on my part, but definitely pays off in the long run. I utilize www.coupons.com, www.smartsource.com, www.couponbug.com (these sites allow you to print each coupon two times. We have two computers so that = 4 times each) as my mainstays. But recently I have become a reader of MoneySavingMom.com. She posts deals that I would have normally not found on my …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Several readers sent me this: Unpaid utility bills soar as economy sags    o o o Reader Al C. sent this: Economist: Housing slump may exceed [The Great] Depression    o o o Inyokern found this article: The Peak Oil Crisis: The Case for 2008    o o o Reader “Redclay” forwarded us an excerpt from the latest bulletin from the US CMP (formerly–and more familiarly to some of us dinosaurs–called the DCM Program), which included this: “During the past 60 days we have experienced a ten-fold increase in orders for [Greek military surplus] HXP .30-06 ammunition. This activity has …



Notes from JWR:

FOX News has now posted the video clip of the rollicking tag team interview that they did with me and Brett Arends, yesterday. Look for the video titled: “Load Up the Pantry?” Today we present another article for Round 16 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The writer of the best non-fiction article will win two valuable four day “gray” transferable Front Sight course certificates. (Worth up to $4,000!) Second prize is a copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, generously donated by Jake Stafford of Arbogast Publishing. Round 16 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing …


Ammunition Reloading for Survival, by NC Bluedog

Ammunition storage is one of the survival planning trinity: (“Beans, Bullets and Band-Aids”). But what happens when you run out? You can’t plant a garden for 7.62mm NATO or cut up old sheets to make .45 ACP. In this case you need to at least consider the practice (some would say art) of ammunition reloading. Speaking from a perspective of more than 10 years experience, I can honestly say that reloading is no more difficult than repairing a leaking faucet and baking a loaf of bread. It is very similar to making up a recipe with a few mechanical interventions. …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Two readers e-mailed me to ask me if the recent drops in the prices of gold and silver were “disconcerting” or if I planned to change my predictions on the metals market. My answer: NO, I consider the recent price drops as evidence of market manipulation in what is otherwise a long term bull market for the metals. Look at this drop as a buying opportunity. I have warned SurvivalBlog readers numerous times that there would be some scary pullbacks in the market. Market manipulation by The Power That Be works in the short term, but it cannot change the …



Note From JWR:

I’ll be interviewed tonight on Fox News (their “Business Happy Hour”) at 5:15 PM eastern time, along with Brett Arends of The Wall Street Journal. Brent wrote the Load Up the Pantry piece that I recently mentioned in the blog.) The subject will be: food shortages and stocking up.


Letter Re: Fuel Rationing as a Deciding Factor in Activating a Remote Retreat

Hi Jim, Something that has come to mind as someone with a bug out location and bug out vehicle is that specter of fuel rationing. Now, my Bug Out Vehicle has a ~60 gallon diesel capacity which gives me approximately a 1,000 mile cruising capacity – depending on load. I keep my tanks full at all times and stabilized. As someone with a remote “country home”–that requires fuel to get to–I’m very concerned about having enough fuel to make it to my location. Fuel rationing is a new “breakpoint” that I’m adding to my bug out SOPs, as a trigger …


Letter Re: The British Perspective on Food Storage and Preparedness

Dear Sir The two articles linked below detail issues surrounding world food shortages (and possible solutions) from a UK perspective. I thought that they might be of interest to you. Certainly there is increasing concern here about rising food and drink prices and its increasingly becoming part of the national conversation. It seems there are now almost daily broadsheet newspaper articles on the subject and I can categorically state that the UK is now experiencing similar trends to the US, as identified by your readers. Although rationing has not made the news yet, my father – who is a restaurateur …


Two Letters Re: Recommendations on a Reliable AK and a Competent AK Trainer

James, I just finished a two day AK Rifle Gunfighting class with Suarez International, using my AK that I got from Mark Graham at Arizona Response Systems. I fired over 700 rounds in a two day period, and had no hiccups or issues. Mark is a first class gunsmith, and was great to work with. For a quality AK build at a very reasonable price, call Mark. For the best training on how to fight with the AK rifle, not just shoot it, call Gabe Suarez at Suarez International. Regards, – SJC JWR Replies: Gabe Suarez has a fine reputation …


Survival Real Estate Market Update

Shopping for Retreat Property in Rural Western Maine – From Richard Frost in Maine I’m a survivalist Realtor in Western Maine. I will work with buyers on the many retreat-type properties in the foothills of the northern Appalachians generally within 100 miles or so of the 100 year old agency I’m associated with. However, there are many, many properties that I have access to which are further away from me – at least 3/4 of the state has retreat-type properties – so can travel further, or refer buyers to another broker. Maine is loaded with reasonably priced (and going lower …