Gun Show Tips and Tricks, by Prepper Ray

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By now, many of you reading this should have attended a few gun shows. If not, you should go to one. All across the country these shows are meccas for shooting enthusiasts, survivalists, and gun collectors. Gun shows are great places to pick up items that you just can’t find anywhere else. But be warned, you won’t always get the best deal at a gun show unless you have the right tools and information before arriving at the show.

Here are a few tips and hints along with a little insider information so that you can get the most out of your next show. I have worked the gun show circuits in the Southeast for six years as a dealer and I have learned that the customers that are best prepared usually get the best deals. Of course you should already know that being prepared always has a better outcome, right?

Gun Show Arrival

Get to the show early on the first day, so that you will have the most inventory to choose from. If you decide on going to the show on the second day you will find that everything has been picked over, so don’t waste your time. If you can’t make it the first day, then you might not find what you need, and last minute end of the day deals are few and far between.

Remember to be respectful of the dealer’s products, ask before you touch, be polite and courteous. Remember they have spent hundreds of dollars for the tables, driven many miles and worked long hours setting up usually with a poor night’s sleep in a cheap hotel. The last thing they want to deal with is a “know it all” customer with an attitude that only finger fondles their stuff and then walks away.

Be Prepared

Wear clothing with lots of pockets and that is comfortable. Wear a good pair of comfortable shoes as there will be lots of walking. Have a pen and paper just in case you need to make a note about a deal or a trade. Bring money, cash is king and credit cards are not always accepted. If they are accepted you can expect at least 3 or 4 percent “upcharge” fee to use your card, since that’s what it costs the dealer and you will pay for the convenience of using your card–whether it is a debit card or credit doesn’t matter. The ability for a dealer to accept plastic at a show is expensive and they will pass that expense along to you. If necessary stop by an ATM away from the show, since often the ATM at the show (if there is one) has high fees and limited funds.

Always carry a backpack; lugging plastic bags around can be uncomfortable a couple of empty gun rugs (zippered soft pistol cases) just in case and always have a good flashlight or bore inspection light and small magnifying glass, as most gun shows have poor lighting. Most of all use your smart phone for looking up prices, trends and information. Nothing is more disappointing than finding out that your deal wasn’t such a deal after you get home and look it up online.

Prepare to haggle over prices. Don’t be bashful, prices are often slightly inflated and the worst thing a dealer can say is “no”. Haggling is expected, so ask: “Is that the best you can do?” or “Do you have any wiggle room on that?” There is no harm in asking if it will save you a few dollars. Bundling multiple items is a great way to make a lower offer and get a great deal. It’s best to always know what you are looking at, so be informed and do your homework or look it up on your phone.

Be very careful as dealers will in fact lie to you. They will tell you a gun is new, when it is actually previously owned, they will take a factory refurbished guns and remove labels, selling them as new or they might tell you how only a few rounds were fired through a used gun when they really have no idea–and it could have been ten thousand rounds. Don’t just take their word for it–inspect guns closely. Most importantly be prepared to walk away if the price or condition is not right or you think they are being dishonest, there will always be another show and another deal.

Don’t bring distractions with you to the show, especially your kids or spouse. Even your know-nothing friends can keep you from being focused on your mission. [JWR Adds: Plan on making an extra gun show trip or two each year, dedicated to the education of your children. Don’t expect to buy much on these educational trips. But these forays will give your kids a wealth of knowledge. Dealers are often happy to share their knowledge, especially at quiet times, such as on Sunday afternoons.] Once inside the show, plan and navigate the show carefully and methodically, don’t wander around aimlessly or without focus. Make a quick sweep of the show and keep a sharp eye out for the items you came for. Be sure and take note of signs and landmarks so as not to get lost–believe me it happens. On your second go-around talk to the dealers, make conversation, sometimes they can provide you with valuable information and occasionally have items that are not out on the table or know of another dealer that might have just what you need. If a dealer asks, “Can I help you?” don’t say “I’m just looking” and saunter away. Tell him what you are interested in finding, and talk with them. They might actually be able to help you. I can’t tell you how many times customers tell me “I’m just looking” or even worse “I have to ask my wife” or “my wife will kill me.” How pathetic. If you honestly can’t walk into a gun show and spend money without asking your wife, then stay home and wash a load of clothes or do the dishes. Your wife will appreciate that.

Don’t buy things you can easily get somewhere else, unless of course the price is right. It is easy to be sucked into all the frenzy and spend your money on stuff you can get at any store. But you might then find a real gem at a bargain price but you will have already blown your budget on beef jerky and junk that you can get anywhere. Do not spend any money until you have closely examined everything at the show.

It is often thought that the best deals are made just before the close of the show on the last day; dealers are packing up and just want to make that last minute deal, right? Wrong. That’s an old school train of thought and it might have been the case back in the day, not necessarily true anymore. It can happen but many dealers have brick and mortar shops or sell their products online, so gun shows have become just supplemental to their business, not a primary source of income. Most dealers don’t really “need” to make that last minute sale. They have other more profitable means to sell their goods,they are ready to go home and don’t want to put up with your low ball offer in the last few minutes of the show.

Don’t Get in Trouble

Know the law and obey it. Remember crossing state lines to buy or sellany [post-1898] firearm is a felony [under Federal law] for private party sales. Any transactions of modern guns across states lines must be “to or through” a FFL dealer. Gun shows are known for having undercover law enforcement officers in the crowd. If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Don’t buy anything that is questionable from anyone. I have seen fully automatic parts kits and those oil filter gun cleaning debris catcher “solvent traps” (suppressors) that are at least in my ind not something I even want my fingerprints on. If you are not fully informed of the law or licensed to possess an item, just keep walking. You don’t want to get that tap on the shoulder and a badge flashed. That just messes up your whole day.

The Dealers

Remember this: Dealers are not always in competition with each other, in some cases dealers are actually working in collusion. Dealers sometimes know each other can easily communicate by phone or text during the show. Many times I have had a call from a dealer a few tables down, the call goes something like this: “Hey there’s a guy trying to sell a Model 1911 .45 coming your way, I offered him $300.” This happens all the time. So don’t think that every dealer is completely independent of each other, they are not. They will work together to profit at your expense. I have had to buy quite a few beers at dinner for other dealers that provided me with a whisper call about a gun trade or sale.

After the Show

If there is something you like or don’t like about a gun show, maybe the fact that there are too many tables that are selling items not related to guns.If so, be sure to tell the show promoter about your concerns. Your comments and suggestions can make a difference in the quality of the dealers at your next gun show. You can usually find the promoter or manager at the entrance or just ask. They are glad hear what you have to say, positive or negative, let them know how you liked the show. – Prepper Ray in Lexington, SC

JWR Adds: I strongly agree with Ray about doing your homework. If you are considering buying a particular model of gun at an upcoming gun show, then spend a few evenings studying up on all of the details on model variations, production numbers, prices, and key inspection points before attending the show. If need be, print out hard copies of references and bring them with you. These references used as leverage, in price negotiations. I have authored and co-authored several can also be used as leverage, in price negotiations. BTW, I have authored and co-authored several FAQs on guns and ammunition that you might find useful to print out as references.

Preparedness-minded individuals are strongly encouraged to gain experience on both sides of the gun show table. Even if you don’t need any extra income, I recommend gathering up some extra items and renting a table at a local gun show for a weekend. By acting as the seller rather than the buyer, you’ll gain some very important skills and insights that could be crucial to a future barter-based economy. Haggling skills take time to develop. It also takes time to develop a smoothly-paced spielabout your merchandise. (There is a fine line between extolling the virtues of your merchandise, and being too pushy.) And you will learn to be observant for shoplifters. Most importantly, you will also soon develop a discerning eye about your customers–their backgrounds, their personalities, their motivations, their income levels, their intelligence, and their level of knowledge about guns. These are crucial “people skills” that might prove to be worth their weight in gold, in a post-collapse society.

Letter: What You “Learn” Can Kill You

HJL,

My name is Mark and I’m a Prepper. Sounds faintly like how you’d introduce yourself at an AA meeting, but even though I’m afflicted by the Prepping bug it’s not a disease like most of America would want you to think. Most of my family years ago were farmers and poor backwoods people. So prepping was the only way to survive the harsh winters after the short growing seasons. I fell into it easily being raised to hunt and raise a garden. When the last administration was installed in 2009 I saw what was happening. And being former military, I recognized it for what it was, after I had seen what had previously happened overseas. Even though I was well past my prime it drove me to harden my body and bring my skill sets up to par again. I began by jogging and eventually settled on bicycling as a way to renewed fitness. It took several years to finally get into shape again (which really surprised me.) At 63 years old I’m probably as fit as a man can be, at least one who is this gray and wrinkly. I also joined USPSA 4-½ years ago and began competitively practical shooting. At 63 I have just entered A class which puts me in the top 10% internationally which is no easy feat for and old fellow like me. I also noticed that even though this is a “sport” and a “game” that Navy SEALs, cops and civilian contractors were showing up to shoot too. The Army Marksmanship Unit is also heavily into this training format and attends major matches. I strongly recommend trying this “sport”.

I fully retired in June of this year and began living in a small tent in the high country here in Arizona. I do mountain biking for exercise. I found that a 29″er [mountain bike] is probably the best way to get around in the field and to move fairly heavy loads of equipment. A high quality mountain bike is most certainly a great prepping tool. The one thing I did find from my experiences so far is that we’ve been poorly trained for survival by our doctors and our government. Seems even I was unfit to survive from how I had “learned” to eat lately. The high animal fat and high protein diet I had consumed as a young man had been replaced by the faddish “new” healthy low fat diet for modern man. In an attempt “eat healthy”, I was gathering things like thistles and dandelions. I lost 25 pounds in two months, even while I was eating double servings. I have gone back to fatty foods and have stayed away from anything that is “healthy” and my weight has stabilized. I include a can of lard in my survival food now and cook with it and add a bit of it to my meals. I repeat: Be careful about what you “learn.”

Being fit enough to survive won’t happen overnight. It takes a long time to harden especially if you are older. Most “tactical” courses are money that is wasted. The way you have been trained to eat will kill you. Prepare for war. Pray for peace. God bless, – Mark X.

Economics and Investing:

Why US Rates Can Never Rise: In 1 Awkward Chart

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The Mises Institute Podcast interviews Bill Bonner

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At The Blaze: You Might Have Gotten a New Credit Card With a New Chip Embedded in the Front — Here’s What You Need to Know About It

Items from The Economics Team:

UBS Is About To Blow The Cover On A Massive Gold-Rigging Scandal

Swiss Regulator Names Seven Banks in Precious Metals Probe

Understand and Prevent Identity Theft

Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Jon C. spotted this news story from Omaha, Nebraska: Judge rules in lawsuit by neighbor: No chickens; owner will continue fight to keep them. JWR’s Comment: This underscores the importance of avoiding buying property inside a community with a HOA and onerous CC&Rs.

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The creeping Nanny State: Court ruling makes Minnesota latest state to call BB gun ‘firearm’ (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.)

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B.B. recommended this video: The ISIS apocalypse: The history, strategy, and doomsday vision of the Islamic State.

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Tim J. Sent us this: Woman is hysterical while begging bear to stop breaking her kayak. JWR’s Comment: I’m often asked if I carry Pepper Spray when I’m hiking. My reply: “No, I carry Lead Spray.” (Actually, I often carry both.) It is noteworthy that a 230-grain .45 caliber bullet travelling at around 1,050 feet per second certainly beats harsh language, in deterring an attack by either two-legged or four legged predators.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“If those who wrote and ratified the 14th Amendment had imagined laws restricting immigration – and had anticipated huge waves of illegal immigration – is it reasonable to presume they would have wanted to provide the reward of citizenship to the children of the violators of those laws? Surely not.” – George Will

Notes for Thursday – October 01, 2015

On this day in 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Model T–the world’s first truly mass-produced automobile. The Model T had an initial pricetag of $825 (and was only available in black.) But by 1925, with the economies of scale, the price was reduced to just $260.

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Today, we present the first 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, good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  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 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 30rd 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. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 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. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, 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,
    5. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
    6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
    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 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skillsfor survival have an advantage in the judging.

    Judging for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog Writing Contest — Winners Announced!

    Our staff has completed the judging for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes are awarded as follows:

    First Prize goes to Iowa Farm Boy for Traversing the Hinterlands – (Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3.)

    Second Prize goes to A.J. for Learning How to Grow Food in the American Redoubt.

    Third Prize goes to Redoubting Thomas for The 20% Solution.

    And Honorable Mention prizes ($30 Amazon.com gift cards) go to these nine fine articles:

    The Aging Prepper, by R.H.

    MultipleFamilies on Your Retreat, by Farmer Brown

    Buildinga Simple Multiband Antenna That Works, by The Consultant

    Low-Budget TEOTWAWKI Preps – Parts 1 & 2, By E.J.H.

    Ten Non-Power Tools That Will Help Long-Term After An EMP, by Z.T.

    Hidden Groundwater Sources in Urban/Suburban Settings, by ALP

    Sources of Vitamin C in a Post-SHTF World, by Okie Ranch Wife

    A SHTF Guide to Mass Casualty Incidents, by W.G. Curry, NRP, TP-C

    Renters Can Prepare Too, by FLSnappyTurtle

    Note to the top three prize winners: Please let us know your current e-mail address, as well as your USPS and UPS addresses, for your prizes. Thanks!

    New Prizes For Round 61 And Beyond

    We are pleased to announce that three new prizes have been added to the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest prize packages, starting with Round 61. (Which begins
    today, October 1st, 2015..) These prizes are:

    1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case–a $1,700 value. (Added to the First Prize package.) Note that this prize is just their “starter”-size mobile off-grid power system. They build them all the way up to 3,000 watts!
    2. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training. (A $400 value, added to the Second Prize package.) They also offer a wide range of firearms courses, including a highly-recommended Team Tactics course.
    3. A $245 gift certificate toward the purchase of any in-stock knife from custom knifemaker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana. He makes fabulous knives that really hold an edge, and are quite reasonably priced. (Added to the Third Prize package.)

    Be sure to visit these three web sites and check out their great products and services.

    These new prizes bring the combined value of the top three prize packages to nearly $12,000. Even more prizes may be added shortly. By our estimate, a whopping $400,000 worth of prizes have been awarded by our very generous sponsors since the contest began in October of 2005.

    Wilderness Fire: An Unexpected Retreat From Our Retreat, by L.F.P.

    We have a boat-in only glamorous camping (“glamping”) retreat on a large lake in the West on the very edge of Wilderness-designated public forest land. The nearest road is more than three miles away. We were there in early August on summer vacation from the city. Several small lightning-caused wilderness fires had been burning for more than a month during the ongoing drought conditions. These fires flared up in very rugged terrain due to a rare severe August windstorm with gusts above 60 mph. The smoke had started to get noticeable on the lake and light ash was raining down from the fires which were over fifteen miles away and on the other side of the lake. Firefighters were quickly overwhelmed by the wind-driven flames with dry conditions and retreated. Containment of the fires was suddenly near 0%. Air assets were deployed mostly elsewhere in the state and region. These normally available but now missing air assets contributed to our prolonged calm since large growing or threatening wildfires usually are accompanied by lots of helicopter and airplane noise. We only witnessed spotter planes twice per day. We felt safe both in distance from the fire and being on the other side of the lake. There were lots of natural rocky firebreaks due to the mountainous terrain. We planned a late day excursion up the lake to view the fires as it got darker. We had also seen the fires in previous weeks. Anybody who has not seen an actual wildfire is in for some grim excitement. This was a very fine stretch of inaccessible roadless wilderness that unfortunately was on fire. The wind had kept the lake free of heavy smoke.

    When we were halfway to our planned view of the fire, the smoke quickly and suddenly got heavier down at the lake, and the falling ash became bad enough that we were getting ash-blasted at 35 mph in the 25 foot boat. It was difficult to see without protective glasses at that speed. We changed plans and headed back to the retreat. Once there it was obvious that the smoke on the entire lake was getting far worse due to wind shift and increasing fire. By now the kids were joking that we should enjoy the ash because it was the best snow we would likely get this year! The previous winter had been a bust at most ski areas. Suddenly we noticed a steady film of grey wet ash all over the top of the very large lake. Mother nature and wild fires can be amazing. By now you could look directly at the lowering sun with bare eyes. The other side of the lake was now invisible. Visibility became one half mile or less on a sunny cloudless day. A few people were still tubing and skiing on the lake.

    As adults we were getting more worried. Two of the eight kids had slight asthma. Steady, heavy smoke isn’t healthy for anyone. We were not convinced that it would not become worse. Days later the air quality would be retroactively classified as “hazardous.” The nearest hospital, if needed, was a thirty minute high speed boat ride away or a twenty minute high speed boat ride and a 40 minute car ride. There was a real possibility that the ash would become heavier and maybe spread the fire closer upon us. It would be dark soon.We were wilderness fire veterans and had been through this before in past years. The news reports weren’t good and tourists and some locals were fleeing the area in haste due to the conditions. Then we heard news of a new rapidly growing fire that was causing the evacuation of the nearest town and it’s hospital. The town was in real potential trouble. Roads were closing,evacuations were becoming mandatory in areas 10 miles away and also in several new large areas further North and one area only six miles away over several major ridges. Fire officials were calling for backup that wasn’t available. A few days later authorities made the unusual call for previously-trained citizen volunteers to assist. The fire and smoke and ash situation had deteriorated badly in just a few hours of unseasonable weather change, drought conditions,and high winds. We made the cautious decision to bug out from this local disaster while it was mostly still daylight out. We quickly packed one bag each, left everything else, and headed across the lake in the boat as it was getting dark. We made it to the Suburbans and then headed toward the nearest mid-sized city that news reports said was mostly unaffected. The kids were livid that we were leaving the cabin and thought it totally unnecessary. What was some smoke and a little ash?

    We planned on getting a motel room in the un-named mid-sized city but had a friend in the area and family in the area as backup. We were also only three hours from home. Roads were still staying open in the area we were. As it turns out it took over a half hour with four people each on the phone to find an available hotel room. The only one left was an expensive 2 bedroom suite but we took it with our group. The kids were soon enjoying themselves. The adults were a little stressed.

    Our backup plan? For various reasons family and friends were unavailable,unable, or unwilling to take us on short notice. We didn’t push it but we learned a lesson! We ended up leaving our vacation a few days earlier than planned. The area where we obtained the hotel suite was “smoked-out” toward the late morning and we left for home. This was in effect areverse bugout!

    In the end, we learned that our retreat was fine. But others in the area weren’t so lucky. A friend couldn’t retrieve his trailer for weeks when he left it in a hurry. Roads remained closed for three weeks and dangerous due to downed power lines, tumbled-down large rocks and rock slides, and downed trees and fences and guard rails with burned posts. Hundreds of homes and some businesses in town burned including waterfront homes that had obvious water sources nearby. Boats and docks even went up in flames fueled by fiberglass and fuel tanks. Trees,rocks, and power lines covered some roads. Fences burned. Both domestic and wild animals were all on the move, some injured by fire.

    I am glad that we did not take chances by staying or even just staying any longer. We did several things wrong: We left our camping gear and sleeping bags at the retreat. We didn’t take enough of the food and water that we left at the retreat. At one point I was worried that was going to be a real regret. We took longer than we should have to bail out because we were still enjoying ourselves and entertaining ourselves with the situation. We also misjudged the situation because the lack of government response (no large amount of helicopter noise as there had been on past large wildfires) but that was due to their being overwhelmed. That is something to keep in mind: the government response was fairly quickly overwhelmed for over a week due to other regional uses on other wildfires including international wildfires and therefore the response was not as expected for the situation. By the time we left the direction we needed to go was open and safe, but it could have been different. In a larger regional or national disaster I would have been far more worried about security and refueling. There was some theft and looting but LEOs acted within days by publicly posting patrols. A couple of locals also needed to make their shotguns visible to turn unknowns away from where they shouldn’t have been.

    We did several things right: We could have gone back to the retreat and wisely left that option open. Our vehicles and boat had plenty of fuel in them as is my habit even on vacation. That was crucial because businesses including gas stations and marinas were all evacuating or in closed areas. We left the retreat with several options available: Public services, family and friends, or going all the way home. The entire time we stayed in touch with several current local news sources and official web sites and knowledgeable friends. This would have been more difficult or impossible if cellular, internet, or power grids were down. Even on vacation, carry a radio communication device that is independent of the electrical grid, the cellular system, and the internet, such as a CB radio as a minimum. We had enough fuel to get home, but that may have been different if the disaster was larger geographically, more people were on the move clogging up roads, or if we weren’t able to get directly where we were going.

    I was the only real “prepper” in the group, and much of this was not obvious to the ones who had never thought this type of situation through or at least read about it. Interestingly, the kids who had seen survival shows were much more aware than even some of the adults. Fire and smoke is a real threat in many retreat locations. In our case the fire had not even reached within six miles of us on our side of the lake. – L.F.P.

    Letter: A First-Hand Perspective on Europe’s Immigration Crisis

    Hugh,

    My wife and I have just returned from a two week vacation that I had planned long ago to Hungary, Austria, and a bit of Germany. I’m not sure how great the coverage of this was in the U.S., but I would like to give the readers a briefing.

    Upon arriving in Vienna, we discovered that our train to Budapest had been cancelled. One look around the Westbahnhof train station revealed literally thousands of immigrants. Rail officials could do little to offer suggestions as to what to do. It was up to us to find our way out. We finally located a private bus to get us to Budapest. Upon crossing the Austro-Hungarian border, we passed a tent camp put up by Austria. Again, thousands visible as the bus rolled by. Budapest’s Keleti railway station had become a immigrant camp. That was closed to rail traffic. After almost a week in Budapest, the rail line to Austria was opened on a limited scale. We were able to arrive into the Salzburg rail station. We were met by several hundred police and military.

    By the third week of September, law and order was kicking in. Migrants were being escorted through rail stations by groups of police, to older coach train cars bound for Germany. Trains leaving for other cities had police walk-throughs, and so forth. By then, Germany had cancelled any inter-country rail service. Bus, cars, or flights were only way in. A great thing to remember is that bus transportation is cheap, air is not cheap, and renting a car or a driver in a foreign country has a lot of challenges!

    Three points that I want to cover:

    1. The Europeans: Europeans all refers to this as the “situation”. While the “situation” was surging north towards Germany, Hungary closed its Serbian border. Clashes with police were always on the news. Then Croatia said: “We’ll open our border to help”, and within a day they were so overwhelmed with people and they again closed their border! The prevailing attitude by most countries was to get them to Germany and then that’s their problem. Europe has a good heart, but they were both so overwhelmed and unprepared at the sheer numbers. So they shut themselves off essentially from their E.U. responsibilities. As an aside, nationalism seems alive and well, although they are wary of being too open. The Hungarian leader, Viktor Orban, certainly wasn’t going to be quiet!

    2. The “Immigrants”: Before we left in early September, the American news was full of the Syrians leaving. Let me tell you, our media is lying on this one. Of the hundreds of thousands already in Europe, there are (yes) Syrians, Iraqis, Afghans, Libyans, North Africans, and Kurds and more. Also our news, BBC, SkyNews etc., always seem to show kids, families, old and handicapped, etc. But the vast majority of people we encountered were men. Young men. Mostly ages 15 to 30. A few families, but near 90% were young, single men. Always in clusters, keeping among themselves. Yet at the borders that were closed, they were all but quiet. Rock and bottles thrown, yelling “Allah Akbar!” Clashing with police and being tear-gassed. Both television reports and newspapers quote them as only wanting a better life, not wanting to be a burden or unlawful. Willing to go anywhere. After a week some news reports stated that the immigrants who made it to Finland were bored! No bars, no cars, cold, and nothing to do–so they left! Early on, entitlement was already rearing its head!

    3. Us. Here is what I can share for a potential travelers. Be prepared! Have trust in God and use the talents he bestowed upon you! Cash is king, carry some snacks, learn a bit of the local language and culture. BE SITUATIONALLY AWARE of your surroundings. Stay together. Most countries all sell “souvenir” blades of some sort. If you didn’t pack a discreet one, then buy one. Have a flashlight. We carried what would be a bug-out backpack. Leave the luggage, but always have you key stuff together. We all read about a SHTF scenario, well for a while, it was as close as I want to be to one! My wife and I love traveling to Europe, but we will think long and hard about going again anytime soon.

    So for Europe, this “open borders” thing sounded good until it happened. Then they wrung their hands, razor wire went up and then the “hunker down” mentality set in. The same can happen here in the States. But it won’t be just agricultural workers and dishwashers from Mexico coming. It will be the Golden Horde.

    God Bless the USA! – J.J. in Wisconsin

    Letter: Fall Season Prepping

    Dear Mr. Rawles and Mr. Latimer:

    Since the Autumnal Equinox has passed us by, may I offer a link to a relevant string of articles? I have been contemplating seasonal adjustments to my preps, and Cheaper Than Dirt has a series of blogposts that I found useful in provoking thought. I hope folks find this useful, as we tune our plans for the changing seasons. Thank you for your blog, and all you do. – Skyrat

    Economics and Investing:

    Preparing For Collapse: Record Eight-Year Silver Buying Intensity Continues

    o o o

    Chris Martenson: Buy Gold While You Still Can! — An important update on the supply of physical gold

    o o o

    BofA Issues Dramatic Junk Bond Meltdown Warning: This “Train Wreck Is Accelerating”

    Items from The Economics Team:

    The Hard Landing Has Arrived: Chinese Coal Company Lays Off 100,000 (Zero Hedge)

    Wallstreet Braces for Grim 3rd Quarter Earnings Results (Reuters)

    Clark Howard: Don’t Fall for Scams!

    Odds ‘n Sods:

    Why I Chose the Self Sufficient Life

    o o o

    Everyday
    Kitchen Chemistry: Understanding Baking Soda and Baking Powder     (Articles like this one teach us the mechanics of kitchen chemistry and help us to become more independent and resourceful and prepared.)

    o o o

    ISIS Planning ‘Nuclear Tsunami’

    o o o

    The XM42 Flamethrower-What Freedom Looks Like. The flames are projected up to 30 feet. You can buy one direct from the factory, in the powder-coated color of your choice at XM42.com. I suppose that one of these would be great for clearing brush in the springtime or for igniting slash piles. At least that’s how I’ll explain the purchase to Avalanche Lily.

    Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

    “Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom.” – John F. Kennedy

    Notes for Wednesday – September 30, 2015

    On this day in 1787, the Columbia left Boston harbor to began the first ever around-the-world trip by an American-flagged vessel.

    o o o

    Today, we present the final entry for Round 60 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $10,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

    First Prize:

    1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
    2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
    3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and 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),
    4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 MagPul PMAG 30rd 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.),
    5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
    6. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
    7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
    8. 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,
    9. TexasGIBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, 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. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, 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,
    4. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
    5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
    6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
    7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
    8. TexasGIBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
    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 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,
    3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
    4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
    5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
    6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
    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 60 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. Note that if we don’t have space for some of the most-recently received entries, then they will be posted and judged in Round 61.