Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I want to make it clear that if you are just wanting to bolt on a bunch of stuff to a rifle because of the perceived ‘cool’ factor, or you are wanting to collect all the likes on the latest social media app–cool, rock on. If tactical dress up is you game-dude go play to your heart’s content. However, you cannot do that, and at the same time trick yourself into believing that you are preparing for serious self-defense. In my experience, and mine only, I have been much more satisfied shooting a basic gun properly, after going to learn …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: Photovoltaic Design and Installation For Dummies How to Be Invisible: Protect Your Home, Your Children, Your Assets, and Your Life, by J.J. Luna Movies: The Reckoning: Remembering the Dutch Resistance The Marx Brothers Collection (Includes: A Night at The Opera/A Day at The Races/A Night in Casablanca/Room Service/At the Circus/Go West/The Big Store) Television: Hunted (CBS Network.) The network’s publicists proclaim it: “The World’s most elaborate game of Hide and Seek.” This justifiably popular series includes some useful tradecraft and was recommended by J.J.S. of Radio Free Redoubt. It airs on Wednesday evenings. Best of American Pickers: Mike And …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: What to Expect When You’re Expecting The Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook: Easy Recipes for Fast & Healthy Meals Movies: God’s Not Dead Galaxy Quest Music: Lau: Lightweights & Gentlemen Leo Kottke: Six And Twelve String Guitar Instructional Videos: DIY How to add Paracord to your MFT Battlelink Stock Podcasts: Radio Free Redoubt: Episode 17-06: Do Not Oppress the Sojourner – and – HUNTED: Analysis and Review. (Also available via iTunes.) The Survival Podcast: Episode-799- Greenhouse Thoughts, Construction, Usage and Considerations Blogs: Total Survivalist Blog Brushbeater Gear: Rothco Flyers Helmet Shoulder Bag, Olive Drab (These are great for …


News From The American Redoubt:

Idaho: Dozens of dead owls showing up along I-84: ‘It’s like they fell from the sky’ o o o A 51st state, called Liberty, would have political clout and an ag-based economy o o o An acquaintance who lives near Sandpoint, Idaho is selling an amazingly versatile Bug Out vehicle, based on a U.S. Army 5-Ton M934A1 6×6 multi-fuel truck with an expanding shop van on the back. It even has a snowplow blade. It has been painted charcoal gray. Description of the truck: Extended Cab-Seats (2) 2 Upgraded Air Ride Seats Cab Entry to Expandable Box Expanded Range Dual …


Enjoying (and Surviving) Solar Eclipse 2017

On August 21, 2017, residents of a narrow swath through the United States will have a rare treat: The chance to observe a total eclipse of the sun. The path of totality will transit several major cities, including Greenville, South Carolina and parts of St. Louis, Kansas City, and Nashville. In the west, most of the viewing will be in smaller towns, since major cities, like Denver and Portland, are well outside of the path of totality. Because this eclipse is occurring in mid-summer (with a lower chance of cloud cover), there should be good opportunities for viewing, if you …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Self defense is moral clarity itself, a fundamental and honorable imperative. Political violence is not, it’s an attractive luxury for well fed malcontents. Beware, aggression often poses as preemptive self defense. Notice our serial warettes started in 1947 when the War Department became the Defense Department. No President has asked Congress to declare defense.” – Ol’ Remus, writing on his Yer Ol’ Woodpile Report blog


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: Survival Hacks: Over 200 Ways to Use Everyday Items for Wilderness Survival, by Creek Stewart Desperate Sons: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and the Secret Bands of Radicals Who Led the Colonies to War The Seventh Plague: A Sigma Force Novel, by James Rollins Movies: Last of the Dogmen The African Queen Television: Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles Band Of Brothers Music: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Movie Soundtrack Marty Robbins: All-Time Greatest Hits Instructional Videos: Bushcraft Dump Pouch (Make Your Own) Canadian Prepper: After the Collapse: Surviving in Canada- (SHTF Canada- West Coast/BC)–Part of a video series …


News From The American Redoubt:

Many folks living in North Idaho and Northwestern Montana are probably already familiar with a great old-fashioned military surplus store in Sandpoint, Idaho called Army Surplus 1. It was probably the inspiration for the fictional “Grogan’s War Surplus”, in the humorous books written by Patrick McManus. Their motto is: “We probably have it.” And in my experience, that is true. A great store with a 40 year history of fine customer service and a great selection. Stop by and check it out. – JWR o o o We note with interest that Primary Weapons Systems (of Boise, Idaho) has greatly …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: All Wrapped Up In Paracord: Knife and Tool Wraps, Survival Bracelets, And More Projects With Parachute Cord The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II Movies: Braveheart Akira Kurosawa: Four Samurai Classics (Seven Samurai / The Hidden Fortress / Yojimbo / Sanjuro) (The Criterion Collection) Television: The Pacific The Civil War (Ken Burns Documentary) Music: The Very Best of Ralph Stanley Jonas Kaufmann: Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven & Wagner Instructional Videos: Build Your Own Copper Coil Alcohol Burner Stove Wall Tent Platform Build JWR’s Comment: Be sure …


News From The American Redoubt:

Montana AG strikes Missoula’s expanded background check ordinance o o o I noticed that Tactical Innovations (in Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho) has expanded their product line, particularly suppressors. Hopefully, the Hearing Protection Act will pass and you’ll be able to mail order them like any other unrestricted gun part soon. (Call your congressman!) o o o Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines has taken over as chairman of the Senate Western Caucus. o o o Wyoming News: Gun bills win House approval; go to Senate o o o Idaho governor says Christian refugees deserve priority o o o It is noteworthy that …


JWR’s Recommendations of the Week:

Books: The Black Arrow: A Tale of the Resistance by Vin Suprynowicz All New Square Foot Gardening, by Mel Bartholomew Movies: Duck Soup The Maltese Falcon Television: Jericho Firefly Music: The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music Rags to Riches the Essential Hits [of Scott Joplin] Instructional Videos: AR-15 Upgrades Overview (from IV8888) Art Of The Tactical Carbine by Chris Costa Podcasts: The Adventure Sports Podcast Wranglerstar: AMAZING Room Transformation Gear: SOG Traction EDC Pocketknife (Under $15!) Harris Bipod Model 1A2 (Adjustable 6” to 9”) Midland Model 75-822 40 Channel CB Handheld Radio


News From The American Redoubt:

I just found a great little home-based business in Post Falls, Idaho that makes top-quality Paracord rifle slings: 2nd Amendment Slings, LLC. o o o This small company in Stevensville, Montana is well worth mentioning: Cooper Firearms. If a long range precision AR-15 or AR-10 is more to your liking, then check out Wyoming Arms. (In Cody, Wyoming.) o o o Widow of slain Oregon standoff leader carries on ‘liberty’ mission o o o The latest from fellow Redoubt blogger Patrice Lewis: The sword of Damocles, North Idaho-style. o o o Freedom Munitions and Seekins Precision (both located in Lewiston, …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“There are, in fact and practice, two divisions of BATFE: they are Arbitrary, and Capricious. Everything they do has to have approval from one, and ideally both, divisions, before it gets handed down from on high as verbum dei. For some decades, that hurdle has not been too cumbersome on their limited intellects to allow passage of all manner of nonsense, being a speed bump the height of which is measured in layers of paint on a flat surface. Give their explosives lab to FBI, shift alcohol and tobacco revenue collection (sans any law enforcement capability whatsoever) over to Commerce, …


Food Storage: The Calories Count! by JWR

Many newbie preppers make the mistake of buying a packaged long-term food storage system withoƒstarut looking at the details, and they just assume that they are now magically “prepared”. But anyone who is shopping for packaged food storage systems should look with a discerning eye at any claims such as: “a six month supply for four adults.” Often these estimates are based on the manufacturers’ absurd assumption that a daily ration is around 1,500 calories per day. But that is actually a starvation ration that would not maintain the body mass index for anyone with an average body stature. In …