Odds ‘n Sods:

You know the sound of two hands clapping. What is the sound of one hand clenching into a fist? – Nervous Baltics on war footing as NATO tries to deter Russia

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Some Thoughts on What to Do in an Active Shooting situation – Link sent in by D.L.

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Gunman shot dead after taking hostages inside Texas Walmart store – A.S.

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Libertarian Party Calls for End of ‘Government-Mandated Gun-Free Zones’ in Wake of Orlando Attack – DSV

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When you have all of your preps ready and have already stocked up on PM’s, here is your perfect bug-out vehicle. If you have to ask, you can’t afford it. I still want one though. – DMS

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“Is that one of those new hundreds? You know, where they changed the picture of Ben Franklin? Look at him, yeah. He looks like the love child of-of, uh, Fred Mertz and Rosie O’Donnell! Yeah, that’s him, yeah. Get rid of it as soon as you can, lady. Look at it up in the light. You see that metal strip? That’s a tracking device!” – Mel Gibson as Jerry Fletcher, in Conspiracy Theory. (Screenplay by Brian Helgeland.)

Notes for Tuesday – June 14, 2016

During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress adopted a resolution on June 14th, 1777, stating that “the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate stripes red and white” and that “the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” The national flag, which became known as the “Stars and Stripes,” was based on the “Grand Union” flag– a banner carried by the Continental Army in 1776 that also consisted of 13 red and white stripes.

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The Obama Administration of course wasted no time calling for restrictions on the tool, rather than blaming the motivation of the Islamic terrorist in Orlando. Ditto for Hitlery Clinton. Laughably, Obama described the terrorist’s faith as “a perversion of Islam”. And the media is scrambling, doing their best to characterize the killer as a “lone wolf” and “self-radicalized”. But the truth is that he was the epitome of devout faith in Islam, and he was “radicalized” by the Koran itself, not by any sort of perversion of Islam! Islam is not a “religion of peace”! – JWR

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CBS News cited the Orlando shootings as the Deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. SurvivalBlog would like to point out that while the Orlando shootings are certainly a tragedy, the government’s policy of ignoring (and even protecting/promoting) Islam is partially to blame. However, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history was actually perpetuated by the Federal Government itself in 1890 on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. While unconstitutionally disarming the people, the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment opened fire on men, women, and children, killing over 150 Indians, nearly half of which were women and children. Another 50 or so were wounded, some dying later from those wounds. The officers lost control of their men and some were recorded as fanning out and finishing off the wounded. Wounded Knee stands as a prime example of why the Second Amendment exists. – HJL

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Today, we present another entry for Round 65 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating an AquaBrick water filtration kit with a retail value of $250, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  3. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  4. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  5. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  8. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 65 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Dealing with Troubled Teens in a Post-Collapse World- Part 1, by Credo in Deum

The collapse has happened. You thought you were prepared for just about any challenging circumstance. Do you have enough food? Check. Enough water? Check. Enough guns and ammo? Check. Are you ready to deal with unexpected guests, including lazy, rebellious, criminal, troubled teenagers? You better check!

Why do I bring up this issue, you may ask? Maybe it’s because in my own line of work as a substitute teacher, I come into contact with quite a few teenagers. Before I retired, I taught in elementary school, middle school, and even adult school. After retirement, I’ve had the unique opportunity to substitute teach, not only in most public school grades but also several different charter schools, continuation schools, and even at court schools, or schools that operate inside juvenile hall, right next to the cells where teen criminals are locked up.

I have taught the best and the worst. I have taught in a classroom full of teenagers who have been convicted of murder and will, when they reach 18 years of age, most probably be sent to the local jail or state prison to finish serving their sentences. Many of them are looking at a life sentence with no possibility of parole. After all this contact with some of the toughest, most manipulative, and violent teen criminals in society, I’ve been pondering lately how well these young people will deal with a post-collapse world. In short, most will not do too well.

Let’s go back to the scenario I described at the start of this story. Suppose you think you’re well prepared for a grid-down situation, with plenty of food, water, weapons, and other supplies. Suppose your teen children are responsible and reasonably well-behaved. But what if a good friend or relative shows up at your bug-in or bug-out location, hungry and desperate? What if his or her family includes a teen-aged boy and girl, one or both of whom are going through horrible withdrawals from a lack of methamphetamines? What if the girl is a habitual runaway who has repeatedly done time in juvenile hall for armed robbery to support her drug habit? What if she has a screaming baby born with fetal alcohol or drug syndrome? What if the teen-aged boy is a gang member who has participated in multiple drive-by shootings?

Let Them In or Not?

The first thing you will need to decide is, do I even let them in or not? If the safety of your own family or group is in danger of being compromised by including known troublemakers or criminals, you may need to be strong enough to tell them they’ll have to find somewhere else to go. Or, you may decide to let them in but under strict conditions. Any violation of these conditions should have consequences; I have more on that later. On the other hand, suppose you let a family into your group, but the rebellious and/or criminal behavior doesn’t show up until later? In either case, you will need to have clear and strict guidelines, and you will absolutely need to enforce them.

When I first started subbing at juvenile hall, the student inmates tested me repeatedly to see what they could get away with. For example, at the end of each class, every court school teacher is required to collect and count all pencils, because they could be hidden and later used as a “shank” or homemade knife. So, when a pencil is missing, I immediately call the probation officer stationed outside the classroom. If the pencil doesn’t materialize, each inmate is searched until it is found. A few times, the students also have tried playing con games, such as passing pencils to the front, in which case it would be difficult to determine who was hiding the missing pencil or pencils. So, I was forced to post a rule on the board, stating: “Hold onto all pencils and papers until I collect them.” So, at the end of each class now, I collect each pencil, one by one. Sometimes, a student will lie to my face and claim, “I already turned it in.” I will immediately respond, “all right, I’ll have to call the officer.” Usually, they immediately produce the pencil. If they don’t, they are searched and punishment is administered.

So, what is the point here? The point is that with criminals and habitually defiant teens, your rules need to be very specific. You need to be sure they understand the rules, and if they are broken the consequences need to be swift and severe. I’ve sometimes had to call an officer to remove a student who is refusing to do his or her work, bullying others, or attempting to steal school property. The teen is immediately taken to a special “lock-up room,” and/or there is a loss of privileges. Once the word got around that I take immediate action due to violation of rules, most of the students quickly sobered up. Now that the inmates know me as a tough but fair teacher, they rarely try to flaunt the rules.

Rules Will Be Important

In a post-collapse world, your rules need to be announced to everyone in your group, posted, and enforced. If necessary, additional rules may need to be added or changes made to existing rules. If a rebellious teen or anyone else protests, you can always tell them, “if you don’t like it, you’re free to leave.” However, this also may require some re-thinking. If a troublesome member leaves your group and joins another group, especially a violent, criminal group, he or she will be able to share valuable intelligence about your group, its habits, armament, members, movements, and weak points. I can’t tell you what to do, but this certainly is a potential concern.

One example of a necessary grid-down rule would be: “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” Long-gone will be the days of lazy teens lounging around and stuffing their faces from the fridge as they blissfully indulge in video game marathons and cruise the Internet. Now, everyone, including those potentially defiant kids, will have to pull their weight by doing whatever duty is asked of them. It may be planting seeds, watering, weeding, or caring for animals. When mealtime comes, if they haven’t worked, they don’t eat, period. Anyone who shares their food with a slacker loses their next meal or whatever consequence you deem appropriate.

In addition, when mealtime arrives, someone will need to keep close track of who gets fed and make sure an equal share is doled out to all. One thing I have learned about teen criminals is that they are always trying to get something extra and will use whatever wiles they can to do it. Don’t be surprised if one of these kids gobbles down his full meal around the corner of the shed, trashes his plate, then returns and swears that he didn’t get fed yet. You may need to keep a notepad with the names of all group members and place a tally mark next to their name after they are issued a meal. You will also need to keep all food stores securely locked up and/or strictly limit access to food storage areas. There should be consequences for violations of this policy.

Absolutely No Favoritism

Another thing I have learned from dealing with troubled teens is that you absolutely cannot play favorites. For example, at the end of each class in juvenile hall, I announce that if they all follow the rules and do their work, they’ll all get a piece of candy. Yes, I know it’s bribery, but so what? It works, and when you’re a sub, you need all the help you can get! I have tried giving extra candy to one or two students doing an especially good job. In a normal, non-criminal classroom, the students accept this and try especially hard to get “bonus rewards” for good work or excellent behavior. However, at juvenile hall, when I have tried to give out bonus candy, several young inmates have immediately and loudly complained, “What about me? I’m doing good work! That’s not fair!” So I now rarely use this technique.

So, how does this translate to the members of your post-collapse location? When people are deprived of something, especially as attractive as food or candy, they will sometimes commit what most of us may consider totally irrational acts to obtain such goodies. This is why so many teens who have grown up in a poverty-deprived atmosphere have learned to rob at an early age. For them, it’s a survival mechanism. Growing up, they quickly learned that if they don’t steal, whether from their own family or someone else and sometimes violently, they won’t eat or get those material things they so desperately desire. The truth is, many so-called “normal” people, when thrust into a food-deprived post-collapse world, will turn into criminals and rob, maim, and kill to get food, weapons, and other stuff they want. So, you will need to treat everyone equitably and fairly, or run the risk of resentment building not only inside those with criminal backgrounds, but even the so-called “socially well-adjusted” people who could be driven past the boundary of civility and into criminality.

Letter Re: GP100

Hugh,

I always enjoy Pat Cascio’s reviews, even if they’re for items I don’t intend to buy. His regular Joe language and honest reviews are appreciated. I was particularly happy to read the review of the Ruger GP 100, my personal EDC firearm for the last one year+. I have always preferred revolvers and have always shot them better than a semi-auto. I know Pat said he doesn’t carry this gun as a concealed firearm, but it can be done. I started out with a standard IWB holster and have also, on occasion, ankle carried mine. (It’s the 3” barrel model and with fixed sights.)

I wear cargo pants at work, so although ankle carry is my least favorite type (one of my old bosses on the PD used to say of ankle carry“You’d better make an appointment with that thing to get it out”) I have to wear my shirt tucked in, so I didn’t think I had much choice as the warm weather rolled around. I ended up finding a belly band style holster on Amazon, and it is awesome. It is now my favorite way to carry this gun. Although I sacrifice a bit of speed vs. IWB, I can carry it easily concealed under my slightly bloused polo shirt, and no one is any the wiser. As for reloads, I always carry speed strips with a revolver and in a future SurvivalBlog “how to” article, I will hopefully detail how I can comfortably (really!) carry as many as 66 rounds total on my person with my gun! Thanks for the review, Pat. The GP 100 is a formidable self-defense gun for us “dinosaurs”! – Spotlight

News From The American Redoubt:

In Montana, neighbor vs neighbor over welcoming refugees

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Forest Service Demolishes Access to Private Property – B.L.

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I just heard that Riverman Gun Works has just moved its storefront and gunsmithing facilities from Coeur d’Alene to nearby Dalton Gardens, Idaho. Their new address is

Riverman Gun Works
6040 N Government Way, Unit 101
Dalton Gardens, ID 83815
Phone: (208) 772-3700

Be sure to take a look at their website and see their products. One of the most fascinating is a bolt action AR with quick change barrels in multiple calibers. These would be of particular interest to folks who live in localities with either restrictions on semi-auto rifle rifles or restrictions on military calibers. – JWR

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Somebody has a sense of humor: Oregon Citizen Is A Genius

Economics and Investing:

Man With Full-Time Job in U.S. Earned Less in 2014 than 1973 – B.B.

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OPEC Estimates Oil Output Will Fall Among Non-Member States “OPEC, in its latest monthly report, projects that oil production will decline in non-OPEC states, with estimates remaining unchanged from May”

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Venezuela: It’s starting to look like scenes from the movie Soylent Green down there. How A Venezuela Food Protest Turned Into A Deadly Police Gunfight – J.E.

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Say Goodbye to America

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

An article from Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large: It’s Time To Eliminate The Gun Control Laws: Yes, All Of Them

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Some call him _resident Obama- ( ‘cuz they don’t give a ‘P,’ he just ‘lives’ in our White House?) I call him Pres__ent Obama (‘cuz he has no real ID). This writer takes him to task over his televised comment yesterday. Mr. President, You Disgust Me – D.S.

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Orlando police are facing questions over why it took three hours for a SWAT team to storm the nightclub where ISIS fanatic Omar Mateen slaughtered 49 people. Police Chief John Mina has also admitted that some of the victims may have been hit by officers’ gun fire. – T.P.

HJL’s Note: To be fair, there was apparently some discussion of explosives (or the threat of…) at the scene contributing to the delay of SWAT and EMT’s. However, SWAT shooting the victims is inexcusable.

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Reader G.G. sent in this link to A tour of the Svalbard Seed Vault

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Facebook Deletes Pamela Geller’s ‘Stop Islamization Of America’ Page After Orlando Attack – W.C.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“When a people lose the courage to resist encroachment on their rights, then they can’t be saved by an outside force. Our belief is that people always have the kind of government they want and that individuals must bear the risks of freedom, even to the extent of giving their lives.” – A.E. Van Vogt, The Weapons Shops of Isher

Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Ruger GP100

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Ancient. Obsolete. Dinosaur. Older than dirt. Old fashioned. These are a few of the terms, which have been used to describe…me! While I don’t believe they all apply, especially about being older than dirt, and just because I had a pet dinosaur when I was growing up doesn’t mean that I’m “that” old. I will readily admit though that I love the music from the mid to late 1960s, and when I do have the radio on in my pickup truck it is tuned to an oldies station. My favorite group from the 1960s was Peppermint Rainbow. Their song, “Will You be Staying After Sunday” is still my favorite song from that time period. (This is a poor quality video, but it’s the only known video of this group from the 1960s; they weren’t squat and fat.) I have a number of pictures on my office wall of many famous people that I know/knew, including the late Col. Rex Applegate, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans, and many more. However, my autographed picture of Peppermint Rainbow sits on my desk, not on my wall. It is signed by Bonnie Lamdin, the lead singer of Peppermint Rainbow, and her sister, Pat Lamdin. Bonnie and I stay in touch with each other several times per year via e-mails. Without a doubt, I’m Peppermint Rainbow’s biggest fan. I even hear from the lead guitarist, Doug Lewis, now and then. He is still in the music game with his group, The New Monopoly.

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If I could go back in a time machine and was allowed to take a pill that would make me 18 years old again, I would jump on it and never look back (forward?) to the future. I admit to being somewhat old-fashioned in many things, and change comes hard for me, real hard. Yep, I miss the “old days”.

Now, while I might resemble some of the comments about my age, though I certainly hope that I’m not obsolete, I hope I still have a few years left in me, where I can make some contributions to society and to my life. All of this leads to the purpose of this article, and that is reviewing a revolver– the Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum revolver, to be exact. Many SurvivalBlog.com readers have contacted me and asked me to do some reviews on revolvers. I’m guessing these folks are my age or maybe older. Sadly, I turn 65 later this year. These readers may be like myself, in that they cut their teeth on revolvers back in the 1960s when it was “the” gun to have. The few semiauto handguns around, like the 1911 and the Browning Hi-Power, were some of the most reliable semi’s out there, but choices in ammo were mainly in FMJ, which were not the best for self defense. So, everyone gravitated to revolvers, with JHP ammo.

I carried revolvers while working as a private investigator and doing private security work back in Chicago, IL. Most of the time I carried a 4” Bbl S&W Model 586 or a Ruger Service six, both .357 Mag chambered. At times, I also carried a S&W Model 10 with a heavy barrel, and on my ankle was a backup revolver– either a S&W Model 36 or a Cold Detective Special. So, I’m well aware of the use and deployment of revolvers. Even during some time as a police officer, I still carried a revolver as a backup, again, in an ankle holster. To this day, I can still be “caught” carrying a little snubby revolver in an ankle holster from time-to-time!

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Many younger readers might poo-poo the use of revolvers in today’s busy world of semiauto handguns, thinking that the revolver is ancient, old fashioned, or even obsolete. If you believe that then your thinking might be obsolete, if you ask me. Sure, in some cases and perhaps many, a revolver isn’t the best choice for self defense. Then again, it depends on where you’re standing at the time. Working police officers are often outgunned on the mean streets of American these days, even when armed with a GLOCK that can carry 17-rds of JHP 9mm ammo. Fortunately, many police officers have access to backup by other officers, but some don’t! For them, I say carry a semiauto handgun with two to four spare magazines.

Enter the revolver today! I’ve often said that the best (if there is such a thing) handgun for survival, on the street or in the wilderness, is some kind of stainless steel, 4” Bbl .357 Magnum revolver, loaded with good JHP ammo. One of the benefits of having a revolver in .357 Mag is that you can also shoot lower-powered .38 Spl ammo and use it for plinking and target practice, instead of always burning up the most expensive .357 Mag ammo.

The Ruger GP100 is a .357 Mag revolver that perfectly fits my criteria for the above handgun for survival. We have a 4.20-inch barrel, lugged with a fully adjustable rear sight, elevation and windage, in stainless steel finish with a brushed satin for a low-glare to it, but it still will fight off the elements. The gun is heavy. It weighs in at 40 oz. Compared to many semiauto handguns made with polymer frames, many will think the GP100 is too heavy. It’s not, especially when shooting full-power .357 Mag loads. .38 Spl loads are a real pussycat to fire in this massive gun. The current GP100 comes with a Hogue Monogrip; earlier models had a combination of wood and rubber grips that many didn’t like. I love the Hogue Monogrip with the finger grooves. The front sight on the GP100 is all black; however, it is easily changed out to one of several different colors. I’m awaiting a front sight with a red insert in it that is easier for my aged eyes to pick up.

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The GP100 has a triple locking cylinder that is locked to the frame at the front, rear, and bottom. We are talking super-strong lock-up, for more reliable functioning, shot after shot. Like previous double-action revolvers from Ruger, the takedown is integrated into several sub-assemblies and requires no special tools to completely disassemble the gun for major cleaning and/or parts repair.

Quite often, when I’m haunting my local FFL, Fast Cash in Lebanon, OR, they get swamped with customers, and I step behind the counter to help them out. Many customers, especially “ancient” ones like myself, ask me about the “best” .357 Mag revolver that they can own. I always steer them to a Ruger GP100, if there is one in the display case. I get the same thing from many who reply, “Oh, you’re only saying that, because you work here.” I inform them that I do not work there and am just helping out. I have no vested interest in Ruger firearms, nor do I make a commission on the guns I help sell at the shop.

Yes, there are many other great 4” Bbl .357 Mag revolvers out there, and I have no problem with someone choosing a S&W or a Dan Wesson, or any other quality revolver. However, in my humble opinion, the GP100 just might be the strongest .357 Mag revolver being made; if it’s not the strongest, then it is in the top two or three. And, the sheer simplicity of the sub-assemblies, which consists of the inner workings of the GP100, well, there just isn’t much to go wrong with this gun. Spare parts? I don’t keep any on hand for this gun, other than the different front sight I ordered for my gun.

One of the nice advantages of a good double/single action revolver is the fact that you can fire it double-action for self-defense, or you can cock the hammer and fire it single-action, if need be, when attempting to take game with it. I previous reported, in another article, where I took a good-sized black bear with a 4” Bbl .357 Mag revolver. I also took a badger with the same gun, and he was hard to kill,even with 125-JHP loads. It took six shots to finally anchor him. They are tough for their size. However, taking game like deer, at reasonable distances with good shot placement, isn’t a problem. The deer in my area are rather small black tail and go down with one to the boiler room. Again, I’d use a JHP, probably a heavier 158-gr load or even go with a 180-gr Hard Cast load.

I had an outstanding assortment of .38 Spl and .357 Mag ammo to run through my GP100. From my friends at Black Hills Ammunition, I had their .38 Spl. 125-gr JHP +P and their 148-gr Match HBWC and .357 Mag. I had their 125-gr JHP, 158-gr JHP and their Cowboy load that is a sedate 158-gr CNL load moving at 800-FPS. From the nice folks at Buffalo Bore Ammunition, I had their .38 Spl 158-gr Hard Cast +P Outdoorsman load, 125-gr LV JHP +P, 110-gr Barnes, all-copper hollow point standard pressure load, and the same in +P, in .357 Mag. I had their 180-gr Hard Cast Outdoorsman load, 158-gr JHC, 125-gr JHC, 125-gr Barnes XPB all-copper hollow point, and lastly their 140 Barnes XPB all-copper hollow point. From the folks at Double Tap, I had .38 Spl 148-gr full wadcutter Match load, 110-gr DT Lead Free, and 110-gr Controlled Expansion load, and in .357-Mag I had their 110-gr DR. Lead Free, and 180-gr Hard Cast solid load.

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I don’t know when I’ve had such a variety of different brands and types of ammo to run through a gun for an article. The Ruger GP100 was up to the task though. I did have a box of 158-gr SWC .357 Mag ammo that was given to me by the gun shop I haunt, and they don’t know who loaded it or anything, but I knew that no matter what, the GP100 could handle it. Needless to say, my shooting session with the GP100 covered many days, over several weeks, and I did have some volunteers helping me. There is never a lack of volunteers when the ammo is free and gun is provided!

The GP100 sample I received from Ruger had the rear sight completely as high as it would go, when I first fired it. All rounds were close to a foot above the target at 25 yards. It took some cranking to get the rear sight down for a 25-yard zero, with 158-gr loads. The windage was dead-on though, so that was the good news. I don’t like to shoot a lot of .38 Spl ammo through a revolver chambered in .357 Mag, for the simple reason that if you fire a lot of the shorter .38 Spl ammo in a .357 Mag gun, it tends to make extraction of the longer .357 Mag brass a little harder. It doesn’t matter how much you scrub the chambers; if you fire a lot of the shorter .38 Spl brass in the gun, this happens, so I limit any .38 Spl ammo in any .357 Mag I shoot. As a rule, this isn’t a problem. However, it can be, so be advised.

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The 158-gr lead SWC reloads that were given to me were pretty hot, and they simply wouldn’t group. No matter how hard I tried, they just were making holes all over the target, and it did lead-up the barrel. It took a lot of scrubbing to get the lead out of the barrel, but the GP100 handled this hot load just the same. As mentioned, the GP100 is a super-stout .357 Mag revolver, perhaps the strongest on the market.

At 25 yards, there isn’t a lot of difference in the point of aim or point of impact between the 125-gr bullets and the 158-gr bullets from any of the makers. The impact point with the heavier 180-gr Hard Cast loads was shooting about an inch or so higher than the rest of the loads, and the 110-gr loads were easily an inch lower than the 125 and 158 grain bullets. Still, that’s not that big of a deal. In all my years using a handgun for hunting, any kind of hunting– small or big game– I’ve never taken a shot beyond 50 yards, and most were closer than that. The sights on a revolver determines how well you can hit a target at longer distances; smaller bead front sights allow for a much better sight picture for longer ranger shooting. The sights on the GP100 are pretty much standard in size, and at 100 yards it pretty much covers the entire body of a small deer, so you don’t have a precise aiming point.

Now, with the above said, I used to vacation in Colorado Springs, CO many years ago when I would hike and camp out in the mountains of the area. I usually packed either a .357 Mag revolver or a .44 Mag revolver during these treks. I could take either of the above guns, sit on one mountain, shoot across to a big boulder on another mountain that was roughly 600 yards away, and consistently hit the rock, once I got on my game. However, shooting at any game at that kind of distance is stupid!

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My accuracy testing was all conducted at 25 yards with me resting the GP100 on a sleeping bag across the hood of my pickup, and all shots were in the single-action mode to wring out the most accuracy possible. Every thing I shot, outside of those unknown reloads, gave me groups around two inches, if I did my part. Some groups were a little bigger, some a little smaller. The winner in the accuracy department was the Black Hills Cowboy load. Those conical lead 158-gr bullets moving along at 800-FPS would give me groups of about an inch and a half, if I did my part. I was surprised! I thought one of the other loads would have done better. I like the 125-gr JHP loads for self defense against critters with two legs. For 4-legged critters, the 158-gr or 180-gr Hard Cast loads are the way to go. Still, I wasn’t disappointed in the performance of the GP100 and any of the loads. I liked the Black Hills 148-gr HBWC and the Double Tap 148 WC loads; they were both hot on the heels of the Black Hills 158-gr Cowboy load.

Now, picking one load for hunting or on the hiking trail is a tough one! I think it is a toss-up between the Buffalo Bore 180-gr Hard Cast load and the Double Tap Hardcast Solid. Both give the penetration you will need on dangerous game. I know some hunters who have used the Buffalo Bore 180-gr Hard Cast load on elk. Yes, elk! And, they reported that it shot completely through an elk standing broadside, and I have no reason to doubt their claims. There is an over abundance of black bears in Oregon, so that is the load I’d use on them if I were hunting them with a .357 Mag revolver. For thin-skinned game, any of the .357 Mag JHP loads in the 158-gr bullet weight would do the job on the likes of mountain lions.

I don’t carry the GP100 concealed, nor do I currently have a holster that will conceal this gun. It is large, but it is concealable with the right clothing and holster. I simply use an Uncle Mike’s size 2 ballistic Nylon holster for open carry in the boonies, and I have two speed loaders in a double speed loader case for fast reloads, not that I’ve ever had to speed load any revolver, ever!

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BTW, the double-action trigger pull is super, super smooth. There’s not a hitch of glitch anywhere along the entire trigger pull. It broke at about 11 lbs and is smooth, smooth, smooth.

Is the revolver design “old”? You bet. Is it “ancient”? Maybe just a little bit. Is it “old fashioned”? Well, that depends on who you talk to. Is it a “dinosaur”? Well, I don’t think so, and some of the bigger calibers we have today could probably bring down some of the smaller dinosaurs. Now, the big question is, is the revolver “obsolete”? I don’t think so; not in the least. If forced into some kind of survival situation, be it city or wilderness, the GP100 in .357 Mag would do quite nicely for self defense against two-legged and four-legged threats, with the right ammo. It will also bring home something for the pot for your dinner, again with the right loads.

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I don’t believe that I’m quite “obsolete” just yet. I think I have a few more years left, and I can contribute something to society in some way, shape, or form, and I don’t believe for one second that a good .357 Mag revolver with a 4” Bbl is obsolete. It still has a lot to offer a person. Especially if they can only own one handgun, this may be the way to go, in my humble opinion.

– Senior Product Review Editor, Pat Cascio

Recipe of the Week: Taco Pizza, by L.H.

The garden is doing well so far this year, and we are right now awash in romaine lettuce. Ten little lettuce seeds at planting time doesn’t seem like much, until the stuff is ready to harvest all at once. There are only so many salads a person can consume. Anyway, taco pizza is one of our favorite ways to use up our fresh lettuce when we tire of salads. It’s terrific!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 packet (1.0/1.25 oz.) taco seasoning
  • 1 pizza crust of choice (I prefer the box of Jiffy or packet of Great Value; they are both thrifty and quick and easy to prepare.)
  • ½ of 1 (14.5 oz.) can refried beans
  • 1 c. (4 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2-3 c. shredded lettuce
  • 1 c. (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tomatoes, diced (optional, we only use fresh tomatoes when they are in season out of our garden)
  • A handful of chopped red onions, optional
  • Your favorite salsa

Directions:

  1. In a skillet, brown and crumble ground beef until done.
  2. Drain grease, stir in taco seasoning, remove from heat, and set aside.
  3. Prepare pizza crust on a standard pizza pan according to package directions and prick all over with a fork to reduce air pockets.
  4. Bake crust in preheated 450 degree oven 5 minutes.
  5. Remove crust from oven and spread the half-can of refried beans over it. (You can season up the other half for a bowl of bean dip, or just freeze it to use for your next taco pizza.)
  6. Sprinkle the taco meat over the beans and then the mozzarella.
  7. Return to oven for 10 minutes, or until crust is done. When done, go ahead and cut the pizza into slices.
  8. Sprinkle all over with the lettuce and then the cheddar, and the tomatoes and onions, if using.
  9. Serve immediately with salsa for topping the slices. Makes 8 slices of pizza.

Helpful Hint:

The best way to preserve fresh lettuce in the fridge is to:

  1. Wash it well.
  2. Dry it very well. Get it as dry as you possibly can.
  3. Stuff it in a gallon ziploc bag along with a paper towel.
  4. Squeeze out the excess air, seal, and store in the fridge crisper.
  5. Replace the damp paper towel with a fresh dry one every time you get into the lettuce.

I have been able to keep lettuce crisp and usable for 8-10 days using this method.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Letter Re: Sanitation Considerations

HJL:

It’s an interesting topic. I have designed a solution (bad pun), acquired most of the materials but have not gotten to the installation. My plan includes collecting from the gutter down spout barrels that have a tap about two thirds of the way down and on the bottom. A tiny pinch of alum goes in before you drain to the holding tank. Crud goes out the bottom tap. The holding tank from NORESCO has roughly the dimensions of a cabinet, so you can hide it under a work bench. A cap full of bleach goes in the holding tank. I have a 12-volt pump intended for an RV and a pressure tank intended to save your battery. All this works fine on a 20-watt panel with your battery. The innovative part of the plan is to drill a second 7/8ths hole in the water closet tank bottom and install a second fill valve that is hooked to the line from the pump. My intention is to just turn off the city water and use the rain water instead with obvious advantages if there is no city water. My idea pivots on the notion that the fill valve is an acceptable separation between potable water and the waste system. The health department gets touchy when you hook an auxiliary system to their system directly. My contention would be that this would not constitute a direct connection, as there is no pressure in the water closet tank. Additionally elevation to between six and eight feet above your use point barely gets you any water pressure to run the fill valve. Lastly, removal of the connection and the capping of the fill valve inlet would never be noticed. – RV

Economics and Investing:

This video explains the characteristics of gold’s baby bull and how the adolescent phase just beginning will likely be different, for gold, miners, and also for silver.

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Economic Collapse Will Serve One Purpose: “Global Governance And The Enslavement Of Mankind” – B.B.

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Fed’S Rate Normalization Will Be Far From Normal

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There Is A Deepening Shortage Of Physical Gold

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.