Category: Retreat Security

Two Letters Re: The K9 Question

Jim, The ‘information’ provided to you by Jennifer is false.  Please consider these:   The Pit Bull (a combination of four breeds: American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American bulldog and any other pure bred or mixed breed dog that is a combination of these dogs) has it’s reputation as a dangerous breed for a reason.  Since 1851 there has not been any decade in which pit bulls did not account for at least 50% of dog related human fatalities.  For the past 30 years pit bulls have account for 65% of human maulings and deaths, fairly consistently, even though pit …


Pat’s Product Review: Cannon Safe EMP Locking System

I’m a chronic worrier. However, over the years, I’ve learned (at least I think I have) to put my worries in some sort of priority. Like most Americans, I worry about making ends meet each month – there usually is more month, than there is money – we try our best to work around it, with our limited funds. Whenever I hear a noise under the hood of my car, I start to worry, and make an appointment with my mechanic to check it out – more often than not, it’s nothing that needs immediate attention. The “Check Engine” light …


Letter Re: The K9 Question

Hello. As an American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) owner, I felt compelled to address the inaccurate information in the post titled, The K9 Question. Since the reputation of the ‘pit bull’ type dog has been shredded by the media and various myths, I ask that the information be corrected.   The post states; “On the other hand, if children are not necessarily a consideration and your needs are for a one purpose guard dog you might decide on one of the BULL TERRIER breeds commonly referred to as Pit Bulls.  They are easy to find.  Every dog shelter is overflowing …


The K-9 Question, by L.D.

We won’t be talking about the family dog here. The family dog, to most households is quite often an undisputed, full-fledged member of the family.  In some cases “Fufu” or “Spot” is treated better than some family members. Those privileged pooches will, of course, figure into these family’s doomsday scenarios and allowances will, undoubtedly, be provided for the little darlings.                                                                                    In this article we will be discussing working dogs.  It is some Preppers’ misguided belief that acquiring a big, mean, muscle-bound ball of fur with flashing yellow teeth, straining at the end of a chain, could be an advantage …


Letter Re: Relocating and Transport of Firearms and Ammo

Jim, I have a question that maybe you or the readers and contributors of Survivalblog can help on: Relocation of residence from one State to another (for example in my case – from New Hampshire to South Carolina) – and transport of ammunition and smokeless reloading powder and primers. The commercial Moving Companies, or using the “PODS” self-packed units all seem to prohibit their transporting any “Hazardous” materials such as reloading powder and primers, and Ammunition. My Question is in regards to the best way to get a somewhat substantial collection and accumulation  of Ammunition moved InterState ?  We’re probably …


Letter Re: Mass Versus Bullets (and Hail Stones and Gamma Radiation)

Hello James, I read your blog every day and enjoy finding information that is useful. Recently a posting discussed the use of the 5.56 mm NATO bullet and its poor performance in penetrating automobiles.   I took notice of this information about the penetrating power or lack of penetrating power of the 5.56 in relation to single and double barriers. We moved onto our five acres of land nine years ago. One of the first building projects was to have a contractor installed tornado shelter set in the ground. Then over the next two years I added a 16’x20’x50” high …


Secure Storage Facilities Planned in The American Redoubt

Todd Savage of Survival Retreat Consulting is developing two secure storage projects in the American Redoubt–one in north Idaho and one in Northwestern Montana. The facilities will give private members access to several storage options to store their preparedness gear until they can relocate. The undisclosed locations will feature various sizes of climate controlled vaults and safe rooms, featuring underground bunker construction and redundant security features. These facility can eliminate a prepper’s quandary: having all their crucial preps stored in one location with no ability to move it to their safe haven quickly. A retrofitted facility should be available for …


Letter Re: Re: Studying Guerilla Warfare Tactics

Sir, I recently ordered and read the book Resistance to Tyranny: A Primer. This book was published in the last few years, and therefore is quite modern and an excellent companion to Total Resistance by Major H. Von Dach. As a primer, it provides a general overview of the topic, with listed resources for further research. It has many lessons that I believe would be applicable to a TEOTWAWAKI situation. God Bless, – Andrew M.


Planning to Bug Out With a Military Mindset, Part 1, by C.W.D.

I will be writing a series of articles for SurvivalBlog that focus on prepping aspects, but with a military mindset. I will say first and foremost that I am not the definitive expert on these subjects, though I do have a wealth of experience that I would like to share. First, I am an Infantryman by trade. I have served in Iraq during the surge and also Afghanistan. I have been a Rifle Team Leader and Squad Leader in combat. . Additionally, I spent 3 years as the opposing force applying guerilla tactics against units who were deploying overseas to …


Letter Re: Re: Studying Guerilla Warfare Tactics

Hi Jim, To follow up on this discussion, another good publication to study guerilla and counter-guerilla warfare is the book Total Resistance by Major H. Von Dach. Although the publication was written in the 1960s and concerns Swiss plans for dealing with a Soviet invasion, I believe it has quite a bit of information that is directly useful, or which could be easily updated, for use in today’s world. I’m not sure that the English-language version is still in print, but used copies can be found. – J.B. and Co.


Letter Re: Loose Lips: No Need to Pump Some Folks for Information

James Wesley, A few days ago I called a local businessman about doing some work on our water well pump.  I also asked him his advice about the possibility of later installing a manual water pump along with the electric pump.  He then began to tell me that he was at that very moment installing a manual pump for another person.  His words though were “for one of these preppers.”  He said, “I guess he’s worried about a zombie attack or something.”  This short interaction made me think about a few things that I would like to pass on. 1.  …


Three Letters Re: Studying Guerilla Warfare Tactics

CPT Rawles, To follow up on the recent letter son Guerilla warfare: 1.   The most important thing to the success of the insurgent is the support of the people (the fish swims in the sea). The insurgent must maintain support/legitimacy.  Discipline when dealing with the people is paramount.   2.   The insurgent always chooses the location of the fight. 3.   The insurgent never fights when he knows he will lose.  The insurgent wins by surviving. 4.   Advance/retreat; rest/harass; retreat/advance – read Mao. 5.   The insurgent seeks to make the enemy overreact against the people. 6.   In the early phases of …


Three Letters Re: Studying Guerilla Warfare Tactics

Dear Captain Rawles, I would like to thank Al H. for his letter on the importance of studying Guerrilla Warfare tactics and also for his mention of one of my book, Contact!: A Tactical Manual for Post Collapse Survival There were two purposes in writing ‘Contact’: firstly, to pass on tactical self-defense information to aid the survival of law abiding prepper folks in a post-SHTF situation. The second was to give information on how to tactically fight a resistance campaign, although at the time I left some of the reasons for the tactics a little unsaid. Its all in there, …


Letter Re: Studying Guerilla Warfare Tactics

Dear Mr. Rawles, So few understand insurgency and its intricacies that if the SHTF there would be no leaders in the towns and cities to teach the people who would become the auxiliary, the underground, and the guerilla units what they need to know to be successful that we would have an “epic fail” from the very start.  Insurgency is more than picking up a weapon and shooting, in fact that is a small part of insurgency.   Most people can’t even define insurgency, and that includes the so called experts in survival.  The fault doesn’t lie with the people, …


My Prepping Perspective, by Jenny O.

Waking up to the sudden realization that my safe, comfortable world as I have always known it to be was not the result of watching any “end of the world” movies or documentaries, or from reading something about it or from a friend convincing me.  I feel it was a gift, a freebie wake-up call from the heavenly powers that be.   I can’t help but think that I am supposed to be a survivor…..at least long enough to keep my children alive and healthy until they are grown and can then survive without my assistance.  My husband on the other …