Survival Electronics- Part 2, by K.A.

Fire

Fire for heat and cooking can also be very important to survival. Enter the USB-rechargeable cigarette lighter. Note there are two versions of an electronic lighter: one which is an “arc” lighter that generates a small electric current and requires the material to be lit be passed through the beam and is loud like a tazer (definitely try these first before buying) and another which is a resistance-coil version that requires the item to be lit to be pressed into the hot coil. While the author feels a good old-fashioned firesteel is more reliable in the wilderness, sometimes you just don’t have twenty minutes to fumble around with kindling and firebuilding. In non-wilderness situations, you may not have the option to start a full-on fire, and situations where you might want to light something quickly can be easily conceived even by non-smokers. Finally, this source can last far beyond the fuel found in disposable butane lighters, doesn’t get used up as a firesteel does, and is at least as quiet and sometimes even more quiet than the alternatives. They’re available online for prices ranging from a few bucks to what you would expect to pay for deluxe windproof versions of anything. There’s even one that is combined with an electronic shaver. That one might belong more in the hygiene area below, but consider its potential utility as a medical item that can help with sterilization, shaving the area around a wound, and even small cauterizations.

Water

Drinkable water is also important in a crisis situation. The SteriPEN water purifier is a small, light (4.8 oz.) handheld device that uses ultraviolet light to kill all viruses and bacteria in clear water. There are numerous tests and testimonials online, and this author has used his repeatedly with no ill effects at all. There is an important caveat: the water must be relatively clear and sediment-free for the UV light to penetrate. If you filter out the sediment first or allow it to settle and then decant into a different container, it should work well. Alternatively, they sell a water bottle pre-filter with the SteriPEN merchandise or you can use cloth or a coffee filter, whatever is readily available. It is USB chargeable, has its own timer so you know when it has completed the cycle, and is generally a really handy device. It is rated for 50 treatments per charge and 300 cycles for over 15,000 liters of water, and the battery is replaceable if you ever treat that much water. Online complaints were noted as to the durability of the light globe itself in the past. This has allegedly been fixed in the latest USB version, and the author has never had a problem with his. If it is stored correctly, it is hard to see how it could suffer damage.

Food, Drink, and Oddities

There are a number of USB-powered devices shown on various sources online that may (or may not) cook food, refrigerate small items, or even make coffee. Some of these can be perused on the food republic website and in this CBS news report. Yes, they include a George Forman grill, a fondue set, and even an eyelash curler. No, these haven’t been tested by the author as of the date of this article, but they are pointed out just to demonstrate the wide range of items that can be worked from a mobile charging system.

Communications

So far we have covered light, heat, and water (and possibly hot food and drink). What about communications? Well, as long as cell phones and cell towers are up and running, those will probably remain the preferred means of communicating with friends and family despite their lack of security and data mining of your activities. What many people fail to realize is that there are good survival tools such as compasses, ballistic calculators, and navigation guides, such as sextants available on phones. Cell phones also permit access to an enormous amount of survival information on demand, but that is dependent upon as the towers and providers working and the government refraining from any authoritarian actions. A prudent prepper would certainly have already bought all of the information sets and stored them on a micro-SD card like a SanDisk Ultra, because SD cards are shockproof, magnet proof, temperature proof, x-ray proof, and waterproof. They probably have that chip in their phone so that up to 256 gigabytyes of data (depending on phone and chip capacity) can be accessed wherever they were, right? The same is true for maps of the area, firearms manuals for all of your weapons, homesteading information, nutrition information, and a lot more too, because 256 gigabytes is a lot of information. If one has to evacuate away from ones’ home, however, which is the most likely place where such information is normally stored and accessed, or the grid is actually down, then the information could become unavailable or inaccessible. Having that information stored locally on a SD card, on an electronic device or e-reader is important. Old cell phones, meaning ones that worked perfectly fine before you got the next newest best thing and threw the old one into a drawer somewhere, may be ideal for such a survival reader. Knowledge really is power, and in this case power can give you knowledge.

Speaking of knowledge, obtaining information in a crisis can be extremely difficult. Consider adding a small, portable AM/FM/shortwave/NOAA radio to the stack. There are a plethora of them available, some with additional features. C Cranes tend to have nice additional features, like Ham band, air traffic band, and so on, and they have an analog radio too for people who don’t favor digital. Some are rechargeable using USB and NiCad batteries, but read the fine print before buying one, so you can be sure they will continue to be useful with direct or dynamo charging.

If one wanted to go to the extreme and have absolute assurance of communications during a widespread crisis, most satellite phones have prepaid cards that will allow you to communicate and download data even when local cell towers or service is down. It’s a hefty price to pay, but as an absolute fallback something like the Iridium 9555 comes in its own crushproof Peli case with a stack of accessories and a 200-minute prepaid card. The card can be activated at any time by texting Orbital Satcom Corp. whereupon the phone will be activated to handle voice, fax, data, and SMS (text) functions from around the globe in its water-, shock-, and dust-resistant housing. It is easy to see how bypassing a region’s communications and data limitations could be useful; however, it is up to the prepper to determine whether the potential need is worth the hefty price.

If and when cell communication fails, there are also a large number of USB-rechargeable two-way radios available from well-known manufacturers like Motorola or Cobra. The Cobra CXT545 models are particularly interesting because they are waterproof and use Nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries from a USB-charging base. They also have the ability to take standard batteries, if one should so choose, and have “privacy codes” that filter out transmissions from people other than those with the code. The manufacturer claims that this creates 3,124 channel combinations and, in the event that there are a lot of transmissions, which one would expect in a crisis, the user can choose to hear transmissions only from their particular group. Note, this should not be confused with “secure” transmissions. Other people will hear the broadcasts in that channel. The Cobra unit just filters out irrelevant transmissions by non-group members. While I will miss my old TriSquare two-ways with their ten billion combinations of band-skipping encrypted voice and text communications, Trisquare is gone and not coming back, so they won’t be putting USB into their units (although there’s probably a market for that, as Trisquares are still selling for a couple of hundred bucks online). Ah, well, onward and upward!

Personal Grooming

Hygiene was a huge problem historically, and there is no reason to think that a societal breakdown would improve the problem. USB shavers and toothbrushes can be very helpful. The Philips Sonicare DiamondClean, for example, comes with a travel case that has (you guessed it!) a USB charger built into it, thereby providing protection and charging that lasts up to three weeks on one charge. Yes, toothbrush heads will wear and fail eventually, but you could always stock more, and until that point why not enjoy a fresh and clean feeling and avoid primitive dental surgery by non-dentists whose idea of an anesthetic consists of a surprise blow to your head?

Some clever souls have also designed Lithium-ion battery, USB-rechargeable portable bidets that are available on Amazon in a variety of styles and prices. Why a bidet, you may ask? Well, if society has broken down, nobody’s making any more toilet paper, but as long as you have USB power and water, this handy gadget will clean your nether regions over and over again without nearly the discomfort of improvised TP. Good health and energy makes it easier to weather any storm, so consider using USB devices to maintain cleanliness and good personal hygiene.

Morale

Finally, one of the most significant effects mobile power and electronics can have for a small group, in addition to the light, heat, clean water, communications, knowledge, and good hygiene is morale. It may be something as simple as charging a phone so that a depressed member can see a picture of a loved one or play a favorite song, or it may be more important to have information about other groups, relief efforts, or local dangers. Even if the information isn’t terribly positive, concrete information allows planning and action, which is almost always better than fear of the unknown, leading to passivity and inaction. If action is to be taken, confidence levels will be higher if the group has communications, fallback, or support positions and they know they can call for help if they need it, they have good health, clean water, light, and heat. All of these elements combine to increase morale and effectiveness of a group. That’s a pretty big contribution from a set of small devices.

Letter Re: Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Hugh,

If the purpose is having a year’s supply of food in a root cellar for the next 25 years “just in case” that you never intend to eat until doomsday, the Mountain House products are less expensive and a lot less work, since you can just store the cans after you receive them and forget about them.

I got my Harvest Right mainly because I was throwing away too much really good food. I don’t grow my own but buy from local organic growers. There is always more than I can eat before it spoils, and one point Harvest Right brings up is that the cost of food you throw away can pay for the freeze dryer. Then there’s winter coming when there won’t be any local produce, so how do I insure I have a supply of good food until next growing season? So after setting it up, mine has also been running almost continuously.

There’s canning and other preserving techniques, but they are a lot of work, and most take some of the flavor and nutrition out in the process. The only work for the freeze dryer is to slice and arrange the items properly on the trays, packaging them when done, and some basic maintenance.

A few notes – things you don’t see in the ads:

  1. There is a large, heavy vacuum pump that attaches to the side via a hose, and it’s a bit noisier than I might like. I had to remove and reattach the hose to get a good vacuum. (It was tight, but it is picky about alignment to get a metal to metal seal.)
  2. It will consume vacuum oil. It will get contaminated and stop being able to pull enough vacuum every half-dozen or so batches, and although you can recycle it using filters and charcoal (I haven’t tried it yet), it is another item you will have to pay for along with the electricity to run it. [Editor’s note: This is one of the things we have tracked over the last 18 months and will report on in the follow-up.]

    Amazon is the best deal I’ve found so far.

  3. You can go years with just that (I plan to rotate), but if you want the 25 years, you need oxygen absorbers,
  4. There will be a smell left for a while from the vegetables similar to what you get when cooking them up, so I have a fan I can circulate air to clear it. It doesn’t seem to be enough to cross-contaminate different batches, it just smells funny for a while.

Some tips:

Cans or jars are nice, but I’m just using those zipper bags or heat sealers; some long-leaved veggies don’t fit well except in a big bag.

Besides oxygen, light and heat are the enemies, so I just have a black storage totes and keep them in a cool place and put the bags inside. (I try to pull as much air out aas possible and have thought of getting a small nitrogen tank to use for this and my tires.)

Buy an extra set of trays. They don’t cost any extra shipping if you get them with the dryer, and you can prep your next batch and have it ready to go. The problem is the limited size when you have springy vegetables, like spinach, which has thin leaves that aren’t flat. So I use paper towels between layers and flatten them in my regular freezer so they will hold flat, and I can reduce the freezing time. I’ve also used grill toppers. I fold them into a Taco Shell shape, and they will hold the leafy, springy veggies in, but am looking at a better shape or making a basket out of poultry fencing or trays to separate thin layers. The clearance is just under two inches.

My partial failures, which I had to rerun or run longer, were because part of the vegetable was blocked so the water didn’t come out. I’ve found the biggest problem is when the item is freezing it will freeze to the tray hard, forming a seal so it will still be moist inside and this will remoisten the rest of the bag so it won’t be crunchy. Pre-freezing helps, since you can break them away once frozen and with a new paper towel beneath there won’t be any sealed area. It is easier and works well to use Teflon Sheets at least on the bottom. I usually layer paper towels or some teflon grilling grids or other between layers of thin items.

My favorite food so far is raspberries. They keep all their flavor when dry and are a nice tart healthy substitute for candy. There are more berries, but raspberries were the only ones available locally.

The best snack is scrambled eggs (add your favorite salsa, peppers, onions, or whatever you do for an omelet). They’re like cheese puffs but also healthy, especially if you do free-range chicken eggs. Hard-boiled eggs split in half also work, but I don’t think they are as good.

I have crunchy kale, spinach, chard, and lettuce, which is like chips; I do the whole leaves.

– T.Z.

Economics and Investing:

Big Business Has No Community Or Country Loyalty – So Buy Local – RBS

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The Worse Things Get For You, The Better They Get For Wall Street, Sent in by J.Q.

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

Empty Malls in China? A Lesson in Excess Capacity (Zero Hedge)

House Conservative Leaders Say It’s Too Late to Prevent a Debt Ceiling Hike (Reuters)

Economic Outlook Strongest Predictor of Immigration Views (Gallup)

Record Number of Americans Sell Blood Plasma to Make Ends Meet (Zero Hedge)

Debt in China: Deleveraging Delayed (The Economist)

Odds ‘n Sods:

I stumbled upon this interesting video from Latvia that illustrates just how long a well-prepared buried cache can remain intact: WW2 Unbelievable airtight container find.

My favorite item was the explosive lump of fake coal. (Designed to blow up steam locomotives.) Cool. As Slim Pickens would say: “Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas, with all that stuff!” – JWR

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Hobby Lobby dared to push back on Obamacare, and Obama will make them pay: Feds Investigate Hobby Lobby Boss for Illicit Artifacts. Sent in by T.P.

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We normally don’t say much about zombies on this blog, but The Rutherford Institute has a compelling article about the current state of affairs: Fear of the Walking Dead: The American Police State Takes Aim. Sent in by reader B.B.

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B.B. also sent in the link to this NBC News article on getting rid of the ubiquitus plastic bank card: No Bank Card Required: Citigroup Testing Eye-Scanning ATM

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From Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large: Documentary Proves Sword Fights Look Nothing Like Hollywood I’ve seen some of the manuscripts. The European arts were every bit as evolved and complex as the Asian arts. Do you know why they largely went away? Gunpowder. It equalizes all that strength and agility down to reflex and action.

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Frank (of Frank and Fern) sent in this Zero Hedge link on Missing Refugees in Germany. Sound familiar? How many ‘refugees’ or illegal alien criminals are wandering around in our country?

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“If there were just one gift you could choose, but nothing barred, what would it be? We wish you then your own wish; you name it. Ours is liberty, now and forever.” – Isabel Paterson

Notes for Wednesday – October 28, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 61 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, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have 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 pmags 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 from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, 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 FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  6. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  7. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 Lifestraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker 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. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. 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 61 ends on November 30th, 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.

Survival Electronics- Part 1, by K.A.

Many preppers seem to think that a catastrophe would automatically cause society to revert to the 1800’s and that no electronics will survive. This unspoken assumption is not necessarily accurate, since there are a number of ways in which electronics can survive a crisis and play an important role in a survival or SHTF situation, particularly for short- and medium-term or local situations, such as storms, fires, or when forced to evacuate or go mobile. This article explores the advantages of some devices in various categories: physical needs, information, communications, and morale.

Understanding Modern Lithium-ion Batteries

Before we delve into specific devices, a word on modern Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion or LIB) is in order. These batteries run most modern electronics, because they are very powerful and hold their charges extremely well. I have one that is used for jumping cars that loses almost no charge after being stored in a metal cabinet for months. That particular gem, an Antigravity Micro-Start, actually jump started a marine motor on a 32-foot boat once and then, several months later without recharging, jump started a Ram 2500 V-8 hemi. At the end, it still showed half of its power remained. Gone are the days of huge, heavy jump-packs with their own long terminal cables and clamps. The whole Antigravity package is slightly larger than a paperback book, contains adapters for every conceivable connection, and is only a touch heavier at 14.1 ounces, including the case. If you want to have a backup for batteries, to charge laptops, run 12v gear, and more, this 12000mAh beast fills the bill and has a built-in flashlight so you can see what you’re doing at the same time. The Antigravity can itself be recharged from a wall-plug or cigarette lighter socket. This one has a permanent place in both my everyday toolkit and my medium GOOD bag, because you never know when you need that kind of power to move stalled cars or do some of the other things described above.

All of the amazing performance of Lithium-ion batteries is contingent, however, on the proper treatment of the battery. They must, must, be fully charged prior to the first use. Failure to do so will mean that your battery will never reach its full potential. Lithium-ion batteries should also not be stored where the temperature will exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit (50 Celsius) or lower than -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celsius). You don’t want to store them with a 100% charge either. Use the device for a while until it is around 40%, then store it in a cool, dry place. This rules out leaving these devices in your get home bag in the trunk of a car. Don’t do that. Put them into your get-out-of-Dodge bag or your long-term evacuation/retreat bag that sits in some climate-controlled area, like a basement or storage area, and make a note or calendar entry to charge them and use them every six months. There is a lot of information and disinformation online regarding the safety of Lithium-ion batteries. One good source is batteryuniversity.com, which explains why the first generations of the batteries were problematic along with the science of how really low-charge Lithium-ion batteries can form bridges which can be a problem. (Below 2.00 v/ cell charge for more than a week can cause copper shunts in the cells that can cause shorting, heat, or anomalies.) If the batteries do not reach this point, the problems should not occur. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow those instructions. (Yes, read the manual; it is necessary for this technology.) If you’re like me, you’ll store them in an ammo can anyway, so in the highly unlikely event that the battery does become a problem, it cannot harm anything else.

Powering and Protecting the Gear

The following items are all small, compact, light and mobile, powered by Lithium batteries, and rechargeable by USB (computer and android cell phone) charging cables and connections so that the user can be mobile, discreet, or operate as the situation dictates. It is not intended to be a substitute for an extensive compound in a remote location. If you have that kind of setup, you’ve already got generators, solar arrays, or other means of powering normal tools, and you undoubtedly have the tools in place and need read no further, unless you have a proper fallback plan that involves going mobile.

The astute reader will note that many of the items listed are expensive and all are potentially vulnerable to EMP. They should be stored in anti-static bags and then in larger metal containers or Faraday cages to protect against EMP. I use stainless steel Lunchbots available online to enclose small items in a crush-resistant and solid, electrically conductive shell, and I also picked up a .50 caliber ammo can that someone had thoughtfully lined in closed-cell foam slabs, which shield the contents from shocks and keep them from touching the metal can. Most of the devices listed in here fit handily within that single ammo can. A very few others are stored in a steel safe or within their protective bags in a lined metal cabinet. In summary, the devices should be protected so they are able to survive any catastrophe that I can survive because they will contribute substantially to getting me through the following days.

Mobile and Emergency Charging

The heart of a mobile or emergency rechargeable USB system is a hand-crank dynamo charging a battery or, where feasible, a small solar charger with integral battery so that the charge can be stored and used whenever or wherever needed.

Eton makes a basic hand-crank charger in the Eton Boost Turbine 2000 that has a 2000mAh battery. Larger sizes are available for a higher price, but the basic one is less than $20 on Amazon and less expensive as the holidays approach. They are all very compact, measuring only 5″ long, 2.2″ high, and 1″ thick, and weighing between seven and nine ounces, depending on the model. Cranking is not difficult, but it is repetitive. On the upside, however, you can do it while sitting, standing, walking, hiking, or pretty much any normal activity that doesn’t involve your hands. Here’s a nice touch: the turbine battery is itself capable of being charged by a micro-USB, so you can start your journey with a full battery without cranking and when there is sunshine you can also use a solar charger to bring this battery up using the same micro-USB. When the battery is full, the manufacturer says it is capable of charging most cellphones two times from a full charge, and most of the devices in this article take less power than a cell phone. Your mileage may vary, of course, but if you have a larger battery on your phone or device, you may want the larger turbine model.

USB-rechargeable Devices

Once you start exploring, you’ll realize there is an incredible array of USB-rechargeable Li-ion battery-powered devices these days: water purifiers, lighters, tactical lights and lasers, e-readers, phones, radios, and even some shavers and powered toothbrushes. The last ones are luxuries to be sure, but we’ll talk about why they can be important below.

Light

First, let’s start with basics, such as light in the darkness. Headlamps like the Petzl Tikka RXP are USB-chargeable. This particular model has white and red lighting mode, wide light and beam light out to 200+ yards, depending on the power setting, and both the wide and beam light can be used together. At the lowest settings, it is rated to last for 12 hours, while on the most powerful settings it will last up to three hours. Should you choose to run on AAA batteries, there is an adapter that allows that too. It is water-resistant, shock resistant, and designed for gloves-on use. About the only thing I dislike about this light is that the USB cable supplied with it is ridiculously short (about 10″), so a longer charging cable will be handy.

Tactical flashlights are also now being made in USB-rechargeable formats by reputable manufacturers such as Streamlight, Nitecore, and others. Besides the standard light, eye-searing light, and blinding strobes, the devices themselves are nearly indestructible. Other (much) less expensive devices include the USB rechargeable Streamlight ClipMate, which has a flat battery portion designed to clip onto a pocket, strap, harness, or even a hat while the light portion is on a flexible neck to focus red or white light where it is needed, say, on a map or under a car hood.

There are even a handful of USB-rechargeable laser sights available online (disclaimer: author has not used any of those sights and cannot comment on their reliability). For those who are extremely well-heeled, FLIR has a small infrared imaging device and moisture meter that uses USB-rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries, the FLIR MR160 as well as some other thermal imaging devices but so far their top-tier thermal imaging rifle scopes still require CR123 batteries. Other night-vision devices do not appear to have adopted Lithium-ion technology at this point, but it is an area that should be monitored for new developments.

Whatever your choice, any reasonable nighttime, underground, or emergency lighting need can be met through USB-rechargeable devices.

Letter Re: Harvest Right Freeze Dryer

Dear Mr. Latimer,

Having said that you have tried the home freeze dryer personally, I would like your opinion on a dilemma. If you could purchase Mountain House products at 70% off retail or spend the money on the dryer, which would you opt for? Thank you for your response and for all you and JWR do. – T.M.

Hugh responds: Without question, I would choose the freeze dryer, but cost has very little to do with this decision.

Practically all commercial freeze-dried foods have high sodium contents as well as other ingredients that we just don’t add to our own family’s foods. There is also a very limited selection of foods available for purchase. In order to use commercial products, we would have to alter our diets to match what the manufacturer produces. By freeze drying our own, we use the ingredients that we want and the foods that we like.

The Harvest Right Freeze Dryer is the most affordable option at this point for producing your own freeze-dried foods, but it is still a significant expense. If you are satisfied with the ingredients and selection of commercial foods and you can pick them up at significant discounts, there is no reason to purchase the unit, as the break-even point would be hard to achieve. If you want a wider selection or a selection more in tune with your existing diet, then it is just the ticket.

By the way, it’s been over a year since we ran the product review on the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer (about 18 months since I first had my hands on it), and with the exception of about six weeks of travel it has been running non-stop 24/7. I’ve worked that unit pretty hard, and in a few weeks we hope to have an update on our long-term experience as well as some maintenance tips. For those readers who have a unit, we would love to hear from you on what foods you are processing, especially if they are not ordinary. – Hugh

Economics and Investing:

SurvivalBlog reader G.P. sent in this link to Town Hall explaining why central banks are accepting the risks of super-low rates.

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Items from the Economics Team:

5 Minimalist Secrets to Saving Money (Simplicity Relished)

China’s Fix for Falling Profits is Only Making Things Worse (Business Insider)

The Data Isn’t Good: U.S. Companies Warn Recession is Coming (Zero Hedge)

The Fed Can’t Raise Rates…But Must Pretend It Will (Mises Institute)

3M Plans to Cut 1,500 Jobs (Bloomberg Business)

Weatherford International Plans 3,000 More Job Cuts by End of 2015 (Fuel Fix)

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

US New Home Sales Fall Sharply in September (ABC News)

Fed Rate Hike Is a Risk to Stocks and Corporate Bonds, Government Says (Market Watch) – There is so much to say here but have to limit myself. First off, duh, it took a government agency to figure that out? Second, if they did away with any telegraphing of what might happen at this point it may make things a little less volatile, but if they ever raised rates (which is unlikely in my opinion) the preceding crash would be of epic proportions.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Have you noticed the growing potholes in the roads lately? It’s not your imagination. Reader G.P. sent this in: To save money, states give up on repairing some rural roads

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From GJM: Eat ALL Your Dining-Out Meals In Red-State Restaurants, and Let Blue-State Disarmed Communist Serf Restaurants Serve “From Each Cook and Server According To Abilities, To Each Patron According To His Needs”, and bring a gun! Help improve probity and courtesy among those with Blue-State habits! Freedom-embracing Indiana Restaurant Gives 25% Discount To All Gun-Packing CCW Patrons! (Editor’s warning: NSA/DHS Facebook account required to view the original post.)

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After years of over-regulation and draconian gun laws (and a whole generation of people who are terrified of an inanimate object), the Islamic refugee invasion pulls the trigger: Europe is now scrambling for guns. Many now wish they had a 2nd Amendment. Sent in by B.B.

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SurvivalBlog reader P.M. sent in this link to EAG News on how the NEA union is targeting homeschoolers for new government restrictions.

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We will certainly be interested in how this court case plays out: Amish Man Challenges Photo ID Requirement on Firearm Purchase. Sent in by RBS.

Notes for Tuesday – October 27, 2015

October 27th 1858 was the birthday of President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. (He died January 6, 1919.)

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I’m pleased to announce the launch of the web site for my new venture: Liberty Paradigm Publishing. Please take a look. – JWR

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Today, we present another entry for Round 61 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, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have 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 pmags 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 from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, 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 FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  6. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  7. Twenty-five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 Lifestraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knifemaker 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. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. 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 61 ends on November 30th, 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.

Firearm Noise Suppressor Overview, by S.M.

It seems that ownership and use of firearm noise suppressors, also referred to as “silencers” or “cans”, are increasingly popular in the United States. Manufacturers have responded to the increased interest and demand with new, innovative products. For those considering acquiring suppressors, I thought it might be useful if I shared my recent experiences. While there are many legal hurdles to suppressor ownership, they can be addressed fairly easily at a reasonable cost and effort. Since I am not a lawyer, I can only provide a layman’s perspective. Therefore I suggest that you research the applicable legal requirements of the federal, state, and local laws and seek legal advice from a cognizant attorney in your state as required. There are lawyers that specialize in firearms issues in most states.

Why Purchase a Suppressor For a Firearm?

Although I initially thought that a suppressor would allow me to be able to fire a firearm nearly silently, I have learned that all suppressors significantly reduce noise, but extreme quietness is possible only in certain circumstances. I have found that with the reduction in noise and blast that suppressors provide, I can enjoy all forms of shooting much more. In states that allow hunting with suppressors, the hunter is able to listen for game and exercise situational awareness with less concern about hearing damage when firing. Should a firearm need to be used inside the home or in close quarters to protect loved ones, a suppressor will reduce hearing damage to those inside the home. In the end, my interest in suppressors is to preserve my precious hearing while shooting. While traditional hearing protection (plugs and/or muffs) provide some protection from gunfire noise, it is more effective to reduce the noise level. You may wish to continue to use hearing protection, even when shooting with the suppressor.

Applications for Suppressors

In my experience, there are two basic applications for suppressors:

1) The first approach is to add a suppressor to a full-powered weapon. Perhaps you practice, hunt, train, or compete with an M4, AK, SCAR, or centerfire bolt action in common calibers, such as 5.56×45, 7.62×39, 7.62×51, 300 WIN MAG, 338 Lapua, or even 50 BMG. To maximize performance, the ammunition used results in supersonic (greater than speed of sound) projectile flight. For these weapon/ammunition combinations, use of a suppressor significantly reduces muzzle blast, but the supersonic crack and any action noise will remain unchanged. These systems may or may not be “hearing safe” without hearing protection. Although far from “silent”, the suppressor will provide benefits in terms of reduced noise and recoil, which supports improved accuracy and reduced hearing damage.

2) The second approach is to create a noise-minimized weapon system, which will require compromises. This approach requires subsonic (below speed of sound) projectile flight be achieved to avoid the noisy sonic crack, either through special (low velocity) ammunition or the use of a short barrel length that minimizes projectile velocity. Examples of this approach include a suppressor-equipped Smith & Wesson MP 15-22 with a 16-inch barrel firing subsonic 22 LR ammunition, a suppressor-equipped 300 BLK bolt action rifle firing subsonic ammunition, or a 45 ACP pistol (usually already subsonic) with a suppressor. Action cycling noise and noise coming from the action can be eliminated with a locked breech (bolt or lever action) weapon. While suppressors are typically of the thread-on or quick detach (QD) style, a suppressor integrated with the weapon barrel can be impressively quiet. Many of these combinations are more quiet than popular pellet rifles, and they are hearing safe.

Who Can Purchase and Use?

Who can purchase and use suppressors? Civilian ownership of suppressors is not outlawed by federal law, but it is regulated by the federal government under the National Firearms Act (NFA). A one-time tax of $200 applies to the purchase of each suppressor. At the time the NFA was enacted in 1934, the $200 tax was onerous, equivalent to about $3500 in 2015 dollars. Since the tax has not been inflation adjusted, the $200 tax is a much smaller barrier to suppressor ownership than any time before. Unfortunately, nine states (you can probably guess which ones) do not allow private ownership of suppressors. Besides complying with state law, the purchaser and user of suppressors needs to meet residence and age requirements, be legally able to own a firearm (non-felon), and pass a BATFE background check. Per BATFE regulations, physical possession of the suppressor is limited to the person to whom it was transferred. However, possession and use can be expanded to close family and friends when a trust is used to purchase the suppressor. (There is more on this later.)

How To Buy a Suppressor

How do I buy a suppressor? Suppressors must be purchased from an NFA dealer in your state. You may purchase the suppressor from their inventory or ask that they acquire a specific model for you. Some Internet sellers, with greater inventory and potentially lower prices, have programs to conveniently sell their inventory through local dealers. The NFA dealer will submit the necessary BATFE paperwork for you, and then you must wait for the forms to be processed and returned before you can take possession of the suppressor. The wait can typically take four to six months.

Why Use a Trust?

Suppressors can be purchased by Individuals, trusts, or corporations. If you purchase as an individual, you must obtain local Chief Law Enforcement Officer approval and submit fingerprints and photos. These requirements do not apply to a trust or a corporation. A trust is a created legal entity, created by using a local firearm-cognizant lawyer (typically costing $300-600), or by using online trust forms. Some silencer manufacturer websites provide references to trust attorneys and trust forms. Anyone listed as a trustee in the trust can be in possession of the suppressors held by the trust. A trust is recommended for those who are planning to purchase more than one suppressor, and it helps facilitate eventual transfer to heirs. Corporations have ongoing reporting and maintenance requirements, which a trust does not.

Choosing a Suppressor

The key characteristics to consider, when making a selection, are noise reduction, weight, size (length and diameter), and material; when looking for 22 LR suppressors, add clean-ability to the list of characteristic considerations. Manufacturers typically provide noise reduction specifications, but without standardized test equipment and conditions specifications between manufacturers cannot reliably be compared. Comparisons of suppressors within a specific manufacturer’s product line are likely to be reliable. Because the incremental weight of the suppressor is located at the muzzle end of the weapon, the suppressor makes the weapon feel muzzle heavy. Minimizing suppressor weight typically comes from using titanium rather than steel, and this increases the price. Smaller size suppressors are preferred, as long as noise reduction performance is not significantly compromised. Suppressors are ideally made of corrosion-resistant materials. All 22 LR suppressors should be easily disassembled for cleaning.

How Does the Suppressor Affect My Weapon?

Your weapon muzzle must accommodate the suppressor interface. For direct thread suppressors, the barrel thread must match the suppressor thread. For Quick Detach (QD) suppressors (that often use something similar to a course Acme thread), the matching QD muzzle device must be threaded onto the barrel. Multiple muzzle devices can be purchased so that the suppressor can be easily moved between weapons. Because the additional weight of the suppressor makes the weapon feel muzzle heavy and the suppressor adds length to the weapon, a short barrel length is preferred. A popular option is to use a Short Barrel (less than 16 inch) Rifle (SBR) as a suppressor host. Since SBRs are also regulated by the NFA, a similar process and tax stamp applies, but you can (where legal) purchase an SBR using your suppressor trust. Another consideration is that using a suppressor tends to increase the gas pressure that cycles your weapon, which over time could potentially wear or damage your weapon. Some weapons, such as the SCAR, have a reduced gas setting to support suppressor use. The amount of gas that comes out of the action during firing is increased when a suppressor is used, so close fitting eye protection is even more important. Lastly, a pistol with a mounted suppressor requires an appropriate holster to safely carry the assembled combination.

Suggestions for First/Only Suppressor and More

You should consider that a single suppressor can be installed on multiple firearms (not at the same time, of course), as long as the weapon caliber does not exceed the nominal suppressor caliber and the weapon has the necessary interface (thread or QD). Given the inherent differences in weapon, caliber, and suppressor characteristics, certain combinations just seem to make more sense and result in a higher level of satisfaction. I would suggest that a light weight 30 caliber QD suppressor has the most universal appeal, because with the appropriate interfacing muzzle device, it can be installed on a bolt action, M1A, AK47, M4, SCAR 16, SCAR 17, et cetera and support many calibers, such as .223, .243, .308, and 300 BLK. Some 30 caliber suppressors are even rated for higher pressure, higher velocity cartridges, such as 300 WIN MAG. The 30 caliber QD suppressor can be used with both super- and sub-sonic ammo. In my experience, owners are more pleased with lightweight suppressors, even with the associated higher prices (which is forgotten after awhile), so I would recommend that the 30 caliber QD suppressor be of lightweight titanium.

For a second suppressor, I’d suggest a direct thread 22 LR suppressor that is as small and light as possible. Unlike the centerfire suppressors, which are typically sealed assemblies, the 22 LR suppressor must support easy disassembly and cleaning to accommodate the very dirty 22 LR cartridge. While the 30 caliber or other sealed suppressor could be used on a 22 LR, it would result in a buildup of fowling within the suppressor that is not easily removed, so a dedicated 22 LR suppressor is recommended.

For a third suppressor, I’d recommend a 45 ACP pistol suppressor, which can also be used with smaller diameter calibers such as 40 S&W and 9 mm. For maximum noise reduction, subsonic ammunition should be used regardless of caliber.

In all cases, follow all applicable laws and regulations and manufacturer recommendations. Based on my personal experience, I have found that the hassles of acquiring suppressors were straightforward and not insurmountable, and the use of suppressors allows me to more safely and comfortably use and enjoy firearms. I believe there also could be tactical advantages in certain situations. I encourage anyone interested in the potential benefits of suppressors to pursue ownership, ideally via a trust.

(Full disclosure: the author owns firearms suppressors via a trust but has no financial interest in any business or organization that manufactures or sells suppressors.)

Letter Re: Toilet to Tap

Mr. Latimer,

Thanks for bringing to our attention the massive project in LA to turn sewage back into drinking water.

I must say that people should be less concerned about picking up a dangerous infections disease (the treatment of sludge is accompanied by heavy use of chlorine and/or ultraviolet light to disable bacteria and viruses) and more concerned about the fact that many of our treatment facilities lack the ability to remove the massive amount of pharmaceuticals and drugs people are on. A lot of treated water being released into the environment contains high levels of anti-depressants, birth control hormones, diabetes medication, anti-inflammatory medications, blood pressure medication…The list goes on and on.

We need only to look at what these drugs have done to the lowest in the ecosystem, creating frogs and fish that are both male and female and in some cases wiping out populations, as they are unable to reproduce.

Imagine our children drinking this water. – S.R.

HJL adds: Treatment against waterborne diseases is very effective using modern methods, but failures do occur, and given the population density of LA, any failure at any time is intolerable and probably leads to an epidemic. I am also unaware of any modern methods to treat drinking water for the drugs, hormones, and/or medications. This is just a terrible idea from the start.