Two Letters Re: Improving Your Shooting Skills Without Spending a Fortune on Ammo

Mr. Rawles, Recently a reader responded to a recent post titled ‘Improving Your Shooting Skills Without Spending a Fortune on Ammo’ and inquired whether or not it would be a good idea to shoot without eye and hearing protection in order to get a feel for ‘real world’ shooting conditions if subjected to such. You wisely responded that doing so is ill-advised. I would like to make note that in a real world shooting experience a phenomenon known as ‘Auditory Exclusion’ often occurs. Auditory Exclusion is the lack of awareness of the loud report of firearms one would normally hear …


Economics and Investing:

Eric Sprott: Silver to Go Supernova, Paper Markets are a Joke! (Thanks to Jim W. for the link.) SGT Report: Watching the Clock: Will a Total Economic Collapse Occur in September-October? AmEx spotted this: Is Gold on the Edge of a Violent Downturn? B.B. suggested this news item: Gun stocks shoot through the roof. Items from The Economatrix: Roubini:  We are Heading for a Global Perfect Storm Slowdown Concern Ebbs on Durable Goods, US Home Sales Rio+20 Economic Reality Check Stockton Teeters on Bankruptcy Edge, But City’s Not Alone


Odds ‘n Sods:

A sign of the times: Amazon opens canning store. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.)    o o o Pierre M. sent this: Pedestrian thrown in jail for 12 hours for holding up sign warning drivers about police speed trap.    o o o Also from Pierre: The New Crop Resource Online Program    o o o An Idaho newspaper asks: Can you text at a stoplight?   o o o Timothy J. suggested this: Minnesota action park lets you drive a tank


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 41 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 $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any …


Your Local Museum: A Key Non-Internet Knowledge Resource, by Prairie

One of my favorite places to find information on just about everything I may need at TEOTWAWKI is at my local museum.  As a genealogist and museum professional I also have an inside track and know that 90% of all hard copy information about individuals or local communities is not now and probably will never be on the internet.  I am one of four part-time employees at our local county museum and am responsible for all nine computers, printers, our server and web site.  Technology is a tool that may not always work when I need it and I recognize …


Letter Re: Improving Your Shooting Skills Without Spending a Fortune on Ammo

I read this post in SurvivalBlog with interest. Shooting can get expensive. Thanks W. for those tips and tricks. I have a question for Mr. Rawles and others: Do you recommend practicing shooting without eye and ear protection, even for a little while? In a real world situation I doubt if a person would be wearing these during an incident involving live fire in a SHTF scenario. Maybe glasses or sunglasses but probably not shooting glasses. Wearing hearing protection while on a small unit patrol or just around the retreat does not seem practical, either. Should we get used to …


Economics and Investing:

Why A Debt Based Financial System Will Always Fail In The Long Run Paulette recommended a “must read” piece by Jim Willie that relates to derivatives and monetization (a.k.a. “quantitative easing”): Outline on Collapse End Game Tom K. spotted this: Massive Celtic coins hoard found on Jersey. The story disingenuously ends with this statement: “The finders and the landowner have said that they want the hoard to go to the island and be put on display for the people of Jersey to enjoy.” They sound oh-so philanthropic and egalitarian. What the article doesn’t mention is that they don’t have any …


Odds ‘n Sods:

Ttabs has posted another one of his great flying videos. In this one he tries out some new wide angle lenses. The flight is from Elk River, Idaho to Orofino, Idaho, and back. What fun. (I’d be smiling, too.)    o o o West Nile Virus keeps spreading. (Thanks to InyoKern for the link.)    o o o What a deal! I just heard that Keep Shooting has HK91/G3 Alloy magazines on sale for just 95 cents each! Stock up, even if you don’t yet have an HK91 (or clone). These military surplus magazines range from very good condition to …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see. O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence [are] before me: and there are [that] raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for [I] will work a work in …


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 41 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 $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any …


Improving Your Shooting Skills Without Spending a Fortune on Ammo, by W. in Wisconsin

I am a retired IPSC, IDPA, Three Gun, Bowling pins, Trap, and Skeet competitive shooter. I have spent countless hours practicing in both dry fire and live fire sessions. I’ve competed at local, regional, and national levels. One of the most effective and the least costly methods I used for practice was dry firing [, also known as dry practice.]  Dry firing is an excellent way to improve your marksmanship without expending expensive ammo. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing like live fire practice however dry fire drills can make live fire practice much more effective. The other benefit …


Letter Re: Lessons From The Colorado Wildfires

Jim, I was two miles from where the Waldo Canyon fire when it started last Saturday. We saw the fire just minutes after it began. Within five hours, 2,500 acres were consumed. Four hours after we left Garden Of The Gods, they evacuated the park. Then they evacuated the town of Manitou Springs where we were staying. We had to leave because of this. 32,000 people have had to abandon their homes. Some 6,000 acres have burned so far. Keep the people of Colorado in your prayers. – Shrike


Letter Re: Preparing Your Retreat For a Forest Fire or Brush Fire, by F.A.

In the article “Preparing Your Retreat For a Forest Fire or Brush Fire” by F.A., the author states “In reality though, the gap exists because the Forest Service policy was to fight every fire. I’m not meaning to offend anyone, but I believe they got caught up in the same ‘spend it or lose it’ budget planning that has helped bury this country in debt. Their policy was to extinguish any reported fire by 10:00 AM the following morning. Imagine the resources necessary to accomplish this goal. Even in the primitive areas, then designated wilderness areas after the passage of …


Economics and Investing:

Those pesky derivatives: U.S. Stocks Fall as JPMorgan Tumbles on Trading Report. (A tip of the hat to veteran content contributor Sue C. for the link.) Economy: We Are Living In The Greatest Debt Bubble In The History Of The World Mark T. sent this sad news: Nearly 3 in 10 have no savings for an emergency Study: More Than Half a Trillion Dollars Spent on Welfare – But Poverty Levels Unaffected. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.) Items from The Economatrix: Consumer Confidence in US Declines to a Five-month Low Business Bracing For Bad Summer? Home Prices Rise:  …