Notes for Friday – June 19, 2015

June 19, 1834 was the birthday of Charles Haddon (C.H.) Spurgeon, who died 31 January 1892. He was a British Particular Baptist preacher.

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Infidel Body Armor is having their “Infidel Friday” sale today. You get $40 off of body armor packages, a patch, and decal, and they throw in the shipping with the purchase (a $75 value). This sale runs for 24 hours only!

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Today, we present another entry for Round 59 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ 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, 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),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 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 pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. 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,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. 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. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  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 $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. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

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

Planning Your Preps Using the Rule of 3s, by Last NJ Conservative

I have been an avid reader and novice practitioner of prepping for some time now and, like many, I have been bewildered by the vast amount of information and details available on the subject matter. One area in particular that I have found utterly confusing has been tying it all together to develop a start up, or a beginning plan, to guide us in a prioritized and scaled approach. Using some basic doctrine that is already available on the Internet and modifying some common sense tenets into it, I believe a generic footprint follows to assist you in your efforts. It has assisted me greatly.

The United States Rescue & Special Operations Group (www.usrsog.org) has in their “Six Ways In & Twelve Ways Out” manual a “Rule of 3’s” strategy that states: “A man/woman can go 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.” This is also their building block for their “Survival and Evasion” course. I have paraphrased and added to their published concept, as the basis for this article.

The Rules of 3’s directly contribute to many parts of our lives, but most importantly they also shape how we should prepare for the worst. Before doing so, while doing so, and after doing so (in itself another Rule of 3), we must have religion and have already cultivated your relationship with God. Once established and continually nurtured, your spiritual foundation will provide the bedrock footing which we can build upon for our prepping.

Rephrasing and adding a few concepts brings us to our Rules of Three’s for your consideration:

Without individual or group security, you can be killed in three seconds by not having means to adequately protect yourself or defend your home. Without air, your life will expire in three minutes from suffocation. Without clothing or shelter, your life can be lost to exposure in three hours. Without water, your body will die from dehydration in three days. Without food, your body will die from starvation in three weeks. Without family or friendly mutual support, you could easily die within three months. Without community or government, instability and lack of communal protection against larger bands of marauders could easily enslave or kill you within three years.

Weapons for Defense and Hunting

You simply can’t go at it alone indefinitely so let’s start from the top with individual or group security. Humans can be horrific to each other under the best of circumstances. Put them in a survival situation in which the end of the world as we knew it has occurred and they will be even more cut throat, no pun intended. Additionally, they will be looking to take the things you prepared with for this eventuality. Sooner or later, you will need force to repel an assault and protect your loved ones; never mind your stores.

You need an individual firearms battery to meet this threat. Four simple firearms should see you through most sticky situations, if employed properly and you utilize basic tactics. They also can provide the “working” end for hunting to continue to put meat on the table. A center fire rifle is needed first. It should be bolt action with a fixed power telescopic sight. It should have an integral magazine that can hold a hand full of rounds in its reservoir. It should have a sling. The rifle’s barrel length is typically 20 to 24 inches in length. The recommended caliber is .308 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield, whichever is more prevalent in your area. This rifle, in the hands of a practiced rifleman owner, should allow you to deliver first round strikes on a human torso at 1,000 yards. The rifle should be used to engage targets at long range before the threat gets close to you and also to harvest medium and large game.

A 12-gauge pump action shotgun is needed next. It should have an 18-inch barrel for anti-personnel use and a 28-inch barrel, both with bead sights, for medium and small game, which includes waterfowl and the like. It should have an integral tubular magazine underneath the barrel assembly. It should have a sling. The shorter 18-inch barrel should have a “weaponlight” forend or attachment. It should be chambered for 3-inch magnum length shells and it should also accept 2¾ inch standard shot shells. A good mix of buck shot, bird shot, slugs, and other specialty rounds should be available for use. Generally, #4 buck is a “crowd pleaser” in riot situations for multiple pellet dispersion, while OOO buck has the largest and fewest pellets for medium game hunting up close. OO buck is the standard police round although #1 buck is the exact middle of the buck shot spectrum and finds its general purpose tactical usage increasing. BB size is a bird shot that could double in a .177 caliber air or BB gun. Then there are door breaching rounds, flare rounds, gas rounds, flechette rounds, and others that are available for designated situations that may or may not aid in your use or applications. Without a doubt the 12-gauge shotgun is an awesome close in defensive weapon, which is also capable of providing excellent varied hunting abilities.

Third should be a handgun for those most inopportune times when you placed your rifle or shotgun down and you have to fight your way back to it. It should also be on you person (typically a belt holster, although shoulder and chest and ankle carry is increasingly popular) at most all times thus available for employment. A revolver chambered for .357 Remington Magnum also allows .38 Special rounds to be utilized. The .357 Magnum is still the most popular handgun man stopping round in its 125 grain semi-jacketed hollow point version. The revolver should have a 4- to 6-inch barrel length, although a 3- or 8-inch barrel will suffice. It should have at least a 5-round integral rotary magazine. XS sights work unbelievably well. A rail or attached weapon light works wonders, as does an integral or attached laser designator. A handful of speed loaders should be available as well as a secure and sturdy holster. A military style lanyard is recommended for rugged outdoor use.

The fourth and last firearm rounding out your individual survival battery is the “Gator or Croc Gun”– a rim fire rifle. It too should be bolt action, with a barrel length of 16 to 20 inches, a fixed power telescopic sight, a sling, and an integral tubular magazine. This usually lends itself toward our survival situation. It can be used on small game and vermin as well as target practice and training. Thousands of rounds of .22 Long Rifle caliber are inexpensive and also can provide a source of “ballistic wampum” for barter and trade. If you every watched the cable channel show “Swamp People” you can see how effective a .22 rim fire round when properly employed with accuracy can make one shot kills to alligators and crocodiles weighing in over 1,000 pounds and being well over 10 feet long.

The rifle should dispatch threats around 100 yards distant and more. The shotgun should dispatch threats around 100 yards and closer, with buckshot out to 50 yards and slugs 50 to 100 yards. The handgun could be used as backup or actually employed with magnum loads out to 100 yards with skilled operators. The rim fire rifle, believe it or not, could be employed out to 100 yards with an experienced operator who is very accurate. Never discount this diminutive round as totally ineffective; see the above note on its stopping power. The key here is training and planning. Obviously a gang of two dozen could not be engaged at very close range with all four of the individual survival battery fully loaded. That is where your tactical training and emergency planning comes in. Here is the classic example of safety in numbers. One person with a survival battery should not expect a winning outcome against two dozen, armed, gang members. However, two or three or four similarly equipped people with basic tactical knowledge would make quick order against the same marauders under the same circumstances. Your mileage may vary. Nonetheless, this recommendation is a start in the right direction and should provide security and ample game harvesting when properly employed.

Others take a more militaristic approach, and in many cases it most certainly warrants your serious consideration. A semi-automatic “main battle rifle” with detachable box magazines are the standard for many Patriots throughout the country. An auto-loading “defensive pistol” with detachable box magazines similarly adorn the holsters of the military, police, and serious shooters everywhere, and a semi-automatic “combat shotgun” also works well with trained and experienced shooters. When expecting or preparing for fights against the two-legged upright walking creatures, that is what my personal survival battery resembles as well. Know what you are planning for, and be guided accordingly. The same gang of armed marauders noted above could be engaged with this battery and have a much better outcome than if going at it alone. The same group of two or three or four like-equipped allies would dispatch the entire gang in short order, provided basic tactics are properly employed. Be guided accordingly.

Clean Air

The second thing I want to address is air. The air you breathe is actually a gas comprised of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% combinations of a half dozen or so other gases. The human body needs 19.5% oxygen to sustain life through respiration. Emergency services personnel trained in pre-hospital care can usually administer 100% oxygen to persons experiencing illness or injury. Some fellow first responders have been known to breathe pure (100%) oxygen after a long night out of bar hopping to recover faster. Fire fighters bring compressed air, not oxygen, in their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) in fire situations due to the immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) atmospheres encountered. Oxygen in and of itself does not burn, but it is one-quarter of the fire tetrahedron that must be present for anything to burn, (the other three being: heat, fuel, and the chain reaction between all the afore noted); this means that oxygen supports combustion and accelerates it in most eventualities. We cannot run around forever with an SCBA on, because it runs out quickly (very generally figured at one minute of breathing air for each 100 pounds per square inch of compressed air with typical bottles having 4,500 pounds of compressed air inside, although there are other variants) and perhaps only a handful, if any, of us have an air cascade or compressor system suitable for refilling. Both the military and police, as well as the chemical industry, utilize air purifying respirators (APR) of one variety or another. Sometimes referred to as field protective masks or gas masks, they all generally do the same thing– filter out contaminated particles before it reaches your respiratory tract. There are also multiple “do it yourself” videos and instructions on the Internet to make your own improvised APR with charcoal and other items. The APR generally can be used for hours as opposed to the SCBA, which is typically used up within minutes. Regardless of what or how you plan, some sort of “clean” air could be needed, so either bring it with you or purify it there.

Clothing and Shelter

Both clothing and shelter are huge factors in your survival considerations. Exposure to the elements, even just rain on a windy 40 degree day without protection, can lead to your expiration in a matter of minutes or hours. Falling through the ice into freezing water or getting caught in the middle of a wildland fire are examples on the shorter end of the spectrum which reduces your survivability to mere minutes. Planning is the key. Know your climate at home and your bug out location. Have appropriate clothes for the season, and be prepared to make a shelter to aid in your travels to and from your bug out location. Have repair equipment and tools at both home and your bug out location. Have backup clothing at both places as well. Fire starting gear should be included in your bug out bag for your Get Out Of Dodge contingencies, because you can use heat to dry your wet clothes and provide warmth to keep from freezing.

Water and Fluids

After just a few hours of even slow or measured activity, you will need fluids to replenish your body and quench thirst. Some sort of water purification is needed. You can go the military tablet route, or use commercial filters, or you can also use good old fashioned boiling and sunlight. Whichever method(s) you choose, you should be knowledgeable in its use and application and have backups. Water is heavy. Know your area and bug out routes. Have stored water both home and at your bug out location. Carry two canteens, but anything more becomes very heavy, very quickly, so have purification means. Be flexible for when you run out of tablets or your filter breaks. Know traditional means, such as using sunlight and boiling. A bandana or towel can make a better-than-nothing strainer when on the run. Again, pre-planning is everything.

Food

While you could go days, and possibly weeks, without food before dying, you will be reduced to a pile of skin and bones without nutrients, especially during increased physical activity times. You can carry MREs (meals ready to eat, in military-style), but they also are bulky and heavy. Stores should be kept at both home and your bug out location. To lessen the load, have enroute caches pre-positioned for all your evacuation routes. Can, jar, smoke, or otherwise preserve foods for long-term storage. There are entire manuals and books on various food storage methods, so pick something applicable to your situation and liking and use it long before the time it’s needed. The Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ, also known as the Mormons, have an excellent manual that is referred to as the gold standard in this endeavor. That, coupled with their practices of every household stocking a year’s supply of food for their family’s use, makes a solid prepared community. JWR’s ”Rawles Gets You Ready“ plan is also another excellent resource to assist you.

Allied Support

While there is safety and strength in numbers, you will need some sort of assistance from family and/or friends and/or perhaps your community “inner circle”. Like-minded people who are similarly prepared would be the obvious choice, as this group can benefit from all uniting together. Unfortunately, that is the exception rather than the rule. Even getting some of my family and neighbors on board with prepping is a difficult task under the best of circumstances. You will be fighting for your lives with these people in your group, so if they aren’t on board with you now you can figure that into your plans. Realistically assess your status, and plan accordingly. Plan for when the manure hits the oscillator and your nuclear family members or neighbors aren’t prepared as they should have been. If you plan on keeping them away from your stores, then plan that, and discuss that with them to show how serious you are. Perhaps not telling them of your bug out location would be prudent if they don’t get on board. Plainly state you will use whatever means necessary to protect your family and your provisions from those who chose to ignore your warnings. Tell them not to come to your home, and don’t tell them where your bug out location is, so they don’t show up anyway. At least they will have been put on notice so your conscience can be clear.

Protection

I’m referring here to protection on a community or area scale. Eventually, bigger and “badder” groups will try to impose themselves upon you and your family and neighbors to enslave you; if you don’t comply, they will torture and kill you. You will need to have a robust community and perhaps a local government to meet these challenges. If there is a total government failure, some totalitarian or dictatorial jokers will try to impress their will upon you and enslave you by making you comply, with force if necessary. Be prepared. Don’t allow them the opportunity to subjugate you in any manner. If you try the pacifist conscientious objector mentality, it will lead to your torture and dying a slow and painful death, with family and friends ordered to watch so they can make an example of you. Stick to your convictions, and ally yourself and family and neighbors to like-minded community members who will resist encroachment upon your way of life. Rebuild a local government with constitutional republican roots and democratic voting principles. Rebuild your local government upon our Constitution and Bill of Rights and free market capitalism and those likes. We have the greatest government known to man, even though there are many shortcomings and problems. Build upon it in core libertarian principles. Liberty and freedom should be the hallmarks with as little government encroachment as possible. Have safeguards for runaway political pundits, so they don’t destroy everything you work hard for. Have the means to fight tyranny and preserve your way of life at all costs.

This primer is just a very generic blueprint touching upon the “Rules of 3’s”, which we all would benefit from taking into consideration. For those new or looking for organization in their venture, I have found this road map guides me to be organized and systematic in a prioritized approach.

Letter Re: Does the Number of the Beast Have an Area Code?

Hugh,

The worst part of ditching your tether is seeing how far gone the average person has become. I only write to point out something from the last paragraph. The author said, “The smart phone is a source of knowledge, and knowledge is power. Is it really empowering? Is it really making us more knowledgeable?” Knowledge is not the same as information. Your phone and the Internet, at large, have the power to put a mind-boggling amount of information in front of you. The average person who I encounter doesn’t know why you change the rotation on a ceiling fan with the seasons and is dumbfounded by the explanation. The information overload and decrease in the perceived need to actually know anything is, in my opinion, the most insidious result of society’s addiction to convenience. Thanks for posting the article, and I hope more people get inspired to actually make plans and be punctual. Those two items have completely gone out the window since the advent of instant communication. – J.A.

Economics and Investing:

ECB not sure if Greek banks would open on Monday. – G.P.

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The Economic Depression In Greece Deepens As Tsipras Prepares To Deliver ‘The Great No’. – H.L.

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

Game Over For Greek Banks: Depositors Yank €2 Billion In Past Three Days

Bank of Greece Issues Grave Warning of Grexit as British Government Prepares for Fallout

Greece Could be Forced to Lock Down Savers’ Cash as Debt Crisis Worsens

U.S. Mortgage Applications Fall as Rates Highest Since October 2014

Odds ‘n Sods:

Divisive Obama Exploits Charleston Church Murders To Push Gun Control. – D.S.

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Nigerian Restaurant Shut Down for Serving Human Flesh Why our politicians keep America’s borders open and import so many of these brutal cultures into our cities makes you wonder whose side they are on. – C.T.

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Facebook’s facial recognition means privacy loss in social media age. – B.B.

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Nato shows its teeth to Russia with elaborate Baltic training exercise. – H.L.

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Horribleness Beyond Measure. – MTH

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“I would remind you that extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice!
And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!” – Barry Goldwater, Speech accepting the presidential nomination, 16 July 1964

Notes for Thursday – June 18, 2015

June 18th is birthday of Pastor Douglas Wilson. Born in 1953, he is the pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho and a prodigious author on Reformed theology.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 59 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ 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, 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),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 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 pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. 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,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. 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. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  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 $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. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

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

KEL-TEC SU-16C: The Ultimate Prepper Rifle?, by R.S.

Calling the Kel-Tec SU-16C the ultimate prepper rifle is like calling a Leatherman the ultimate hand tool; I suppose you could drive a nail with a Leatherman, but it is certainly not the right tool for the job. In the same way there are tasks that are less well-suited to the SU-16C. If I was hunting squirrels for dinner, I would much prefer a .22 rifle and scope. If someone was breaking through my front door, they would be more likely to face a 12-gauge pump shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot. If I had to take down a zombie at 300 yards, it would be better accomplished with a good bolt action .308. Even certain combinations of tasks could be better accomplished with a different firearm; if I needed a semi-automatic battle rifle that was also able to take that zombie at long range, I would likely choose an AR-10, like the Smith and Wesson M&P 10.

However, if we approach the question in a different manner by asking “if I could only have one long gun…”, the answers begin to change. I would want an effective defensive caliber that is capable both up close and at a distance. I would want a long gun that is highly portable– light-weight and compact. I would want the accompanying ammunition to have a good ratio of size/weight to stopping power. As I am not rich, I would want a gun that is not prohibitively expensive, yet it must also be durable and reliable.

Some may question the premise, because we plan and expect to have multiple firearms at our disposal so that we can choose the best “tool” for the job. Nevertheless, we also plan for the eventuality that we must “bug out”, “get home”, or otherwise travel to or from our weapons stash, including the possibility that we must travel on foot or, at least, with no more than we can personally carry. Much as I would like to have a .22 rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun and a bolt-action .308 and/or an M&P 10 along with an abundant supply of ammunition for each, this may not be feasible, which brings me back to the original premise: if I could only have one long gun, a strong argument can be made that it should be a Kel Tec SU-16C. Consider some of the qualifications of this particular firearm:

Caliber

While there are many who swear by their Ruger 10/22 (or similarly reliable .22 semi-automatic rifle) and while these firearms have some very clear advantages, they have one serious, disqualifying disadvantage: the .22 long rifle cartridge is not a reliable man-stopper. That is not to suggest that they cannot be lethal (I certainly would not want to be shot by one), particularly when the shot is carefully placed and followed up by many more. However, the .22 long rifle cartridge simply does not have the range or the penetrating power of a center-fire cartridge.

Meanwhile, there are those who are devoted to their shotguns. While they are an awesome and effective up close weapon, they are not designed to project beyond 50 yards.

The 5.56/.223 caliber is an effective defensive caliber with considerably more power than a .22 and considerably more range than a shotgun. Numerous battle rifles exist in these calibers because they work; they have the range and the penetrating power to effectively engage an enemy up close or at a distance.

Weight

Of course, if we are concerned with stopping power, why limit ourselves to 5.56/.223? Why not choose a .308 battle rifle? The .308 has considerably more range, penetration, and stopping power. Fortunately for us the U.S. military has already addressed this question. The .308 round is nearly twice the size/weight of the 5.56/.223 round. In other words, we can carry twice the number of 5.56/.223 rounds for the same weight/size. If it becomes necessary to take only what we can carry (possibly on foot), this becomes a huge consideration. I would rather have 300 rounds of 5.56/.223 than 150 rounds of .308.

This consideration becomes even more significant when considering the rifle itself. You would be hard-pressed to find a center-fire, semi-automatic rifle to match the sub-five-pound weight of the SU-16C. I very much like my Ruger Mini-14, but it is several pounds heavier. Apart from the extra weight of the steel magazines; the SU-16C is entirely comfortable with polymer AR-15 magazines. If I was required to travel on foot, those extra pounds would become a serious issue. The same may be said of virtually any other long gun, including anything remotely resembling a battle rifle– AR-15, AR-10, AK-47 (not to mention the wonderful but extremely heavy classic battle rifles and their modern variants like the SOCOM). If there is a semi-automatic center-fire rifle and 300 rounds of ammunition that weighs less than the SU-16C while retaining (at least) the range and power of the 5.56/.223 cartridge, I am not aware of it.

Size

While AR-15-style rifles commonly have collapsible stocks to reduce their overall length, the mechanism of the AR-15 makes a folding stock impossible. The SU-16C has a true folding stock that reduces to a total length of approximately 26 inches, which is small enough to conceal in many backpacks. This could become a decided advantage if circumstances dictate stealth. While most of the SU-16 models have a folding stock, the C model folds to the smallest overall package and is the only model that may be fired while folded.

Durability/Reliability

While initially having the appearance of a somewhat cheaply-made gun, numerous reviews and YouTube videos bear testament to the durability and reliability of the SU-16C. I purchased a used SU-16C with 1500 rounds of ammunition through it already, yet it has functioned flawlessly after another several hundred rounds. Owners quickly discover that, while not an elegant firearm, it has been designed and manufactured for reliable utility.

Cost

A new SU-16C retails for $779, however, your street price may vary. Regardless, it is likely to be comparable to an entry level AR-15, a typical AK-47, or a used Mini-14. My used SU-16C set me back $500. As the previous owner had secretly longed for an AR-15 for some time before actually getting one, he had attempted to convert the SU-16 to a pseudo AR-15 with a replacement stock/adaptor and fore end. I immediately re-installed the original stock but kept the AR-style fore end (although the stock fore end adds some utility, as it can be deployed as a bipod). Add a few inexpensive 30 round PMags and I have a reliable, effective semi-automatic rifle for $550.

So what is wrong with the SU-16C? There is just one thing as far as I can tell; they are difficult to obtain, due to very limited supply. Kel Tec does not have dealers. Instead, virtually any dealer can order one through a distributor who, invariably, does not have one in stock. I was on a waiting list at my favorite gun shop for a month before finding one on the used market. Apart from this, I would be hard-pressed to think of one thing about which I am dissatisfied.

There is typically only one additional decision to be made with respect to an SU-16C, and that is sights/optics. I have found the stock iron sights (rear peep and front AR-style post) to be surprisingly effective despite my aging eyes. I am deadly at 50 yards and dangerous to 100 yards. However, the sight rail molded into the frame of the SU-16C allows easy attachment of optics such as the inexpensive but highly regarded TRS-25 red-dot or my personal favorite– a low-power variable scope with illuminated reticle. I am confident suitable optics would make me deadly to 100 yards and dangerous to 200.

Let the debate begin. A strong case may be made for a Ruger 10/22, an AK-47, a Mini-14, or a short-barreled shotgun. (Any of these may be equipped with a folding stock to reduce size when needed.) Others will swear by their AR-15, AR-10, M1A, et cetera. However, if I could only take what I can carry, I would add a handgun (either a substantial center fire caliber like 9 mm or .40 S&W for concealed personal protection, or an accurate .22 for use in hunting small game) to my SU-16C and stack that configuration against any other combination for weight, size, versatility, reliability, and firepower at a modest cost.

Letter: Robert Prechter

Greetings Hugh,

I used to follow [Robert] Prechter somewhat closely back in the dotcom and housing bubble days because my Dad was a huge fan and I’ve read most of his books (in that regard I concur Conquer the Crash is a worthwhile read that, unlike most of his writing, is accessible to the layman).

While I find his unconventional “Socionomics” theories relating social mood and human behavior generally reasonable and I still analyze world events in light of them, I long ago decided they may be useful to the average person for explaining history and generally anticipating future macro trends but are ineffective at predicting economic or political events with any useful accuracy. (In short, my Dad lost plenty of money betting against TPTB.) I concluded that Elliot Wave analysis may have worked back when humans ran the markets and made buy/sell decisions based on value and anticipated returns but ceased to be an accurate guage/predictor once stock prices detached from all traditional measures of value, bank and hedge fund manipulation grew rampant, and computer trading took over nearly half the volume. Nowadays I think it mainly analyzes the effects of social, financial, and software engineering.

Like J.L., thanks to Prechter, I have avoided traditional investments, haven’t lost a cent in the dotcom, housing, or current debt bubbles, and sleep like a baby as yet again the markets reach to the heavens. But I recommend anyone reading him do so knowing his work has been predicting an epic crash for decades and “Markets can remain irrational a lot longer than you and I can remain solvent“. – K.W.

Economics and Investing:

Greek crisis: Protesters demand end to austerity, with EU future in doubt – as it happened. – JBG

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China Dumps Record $120 Billion In U.S. Treasurys In Two Months Via Belgium

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

Bank of Greece Warns of ‘Uncontrollable Crisis” Without a Deal

Greeks Stashing Bundles of Cash in Homes in Fear of ‘Grexit’…

The Next Great European Financial Crisis Has Begun – Not certain a “deal” wont be reached to kick the can a little further, but a “grexit” or default is possible.

Video: Gordon Long-Cashless Society Idea Will Accelerate in Next 6 Months – This is 30 minutes long but a good interview.

Odds ‘n Sods:

U.S. cities running out of water. – G.P. [Contains a video that autostarts]

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From Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlog Editor At Large: Free mag offer for Springfield XD-s

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Federal court says police can stop open carriers. – B.B.

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Knife Regulation Arrives: This Is The US Government, Hard At Work. – B.B.

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The Greater Fairmont Council of Churches is presenting their annual Preparedness Expo. Preparedness Expo 2015 will be held at the Middletown Mall in Whitehall, WV, on September 19, 2015 between 10AM – 3PM. Admission is free! Please join them for a variety of activities for the entire family. Children are welcome! This year’s Expo is bigger and better than ever with over 50 exhibits. There will be prize drawings! This year, 100 fully-equipped 72-hour survival kits will be given away as prizes.

Notes for Wednesday – June 17, 2015

June 17th is the birthday of musician Red Foley (born, 1910, died September 19, 1968). His patriotic song Smoke on the Water topped the music charts for 13 weeks in late 1944 and early 1945, and charted for 24 weeks. This song, which describes the doom of tyrants, would be considered quite politically incorrect these days.

June 17th is also the birthday of novelist John Ross, who was born in 1957.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 59 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ 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, 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),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul pmags 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 pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. 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,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. 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. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  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 $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. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

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

Paleo Food Storage Plus Ideas for Celiac/Gluten Intolerances and Dairy-Free Diets – Part 2, by Utah Suburban Prepping Gal

Carbohydrates

White rice is considered to be a less harmful grain to those eating Paleo. Therefore, I have continued to store white rice because it keeps so well, up to 30 years, and will make a nice source of carbohydrates, especially when physical activity is high. It does not disrupt my gut like wheat and beans do and therefore will not cause another source of difficulty for me in the middle of a crisis. Also, cooked white rice can be fed to my chickens, if their food supply is disrupted.

Starchy tubers, like sweet potatoes, provide carbohydrates and keep well in a cool room. You can also stock up on freeze-dried potatoes and sweet potatoes to add variety and long-lasting carbohydrates to your food storage.

If you have beans and grains already stored, don’t toss them. Get a copy of Sally Fallon’s Nourishing Traditions, which has instructions on how to prepare and cook beans and grains in the traditional manner. Soaking and fermenting beans and grains helps reduce the harmful phytates, lectins, and so on that students of Paleo are trying to avoid. So in a survival situation, the long-keeping grains and beans can still be a part of your strategy. You will just have to invest the time to prepare them in the traditional manner so that nutrition is maximized and harmful effects are minimized. Also of course it gives you something to trade or charitably share that you won’t miss much. Just keep the wheat if you have chickens, because you can feed it to them without cooking or cracking it first, and it has a good nutritional profile for them. One source indicated that wheat alone can be used to feed chickens without any other source of feed, if they also have access to a large yard to supplement with greens and bugs. (calebwarnock.blogspot.com) Another reason to keep the wheat is because you can sprout it. The nutritional profile of wheat grass is fantastic. One ounce has an excess of the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance for vitamins A, E, K, and most of the B’s except B12. It also has 93% of the RDA of vitamin C.

Sugar still plays a minor role in my diet. I prefer honey and maple syrup for a treat now and then, but I would have no problem eating a bit of white sugar in a crisis situation. In modern life, sugar is our bane, but in a crisis we may be struggling to find enough calories. Sugar does one thing really well; it imparts lots of calories in a small package. White sugar of course has a marvelous shelf life, and so a few #10 cans of it are an appropriate part of food storage. However, honey and maple syrup also keep for incredibly long times; so, if cost is not an issue, store honey and maple syrup to get the other health benefits. Honey will crystallize over time, but just warm it up to use it.

Dairy, Supplement, Flavoring, Baking, and Other

Dairy is a borderline food in the Paleo community, some of whom avoid it entirely and others will eat it if they have an individual tolerance for it. You can buy canned cheese as well as canned butter. Ballantyne Red Feather canned butter has an indefinite shelf life. Bega brand canned cheese is packaged in Australia and also has an indefinite shelf life. I have heard that dipping hard cheeses in paraffin will help them keep a long time, but I have not looked into it. Dairy is not part of my diet; therefore, other than butter, it’s not part of my storage strategy. However, I wanted to mention those resources so that you will have a chance to look at them if you are interested. I still have a few cans of dry milk on the shelf. My intention is to use it for trade or to keep my dog alive, but I don’t have any plans to consume it myself.

For supplements, this subject could cover a whole article. Mark’s Daily Apple website has a couple of good articles discussing deficiencies that can occur even when faithfully eating Paleo. You can end up deficient because the soil your food grows in is deficient, such as with selenium and magnesium. Also, a lot of nutrients are found in the offal (liver, heart, kidneys, et cetera) of animals, and many people did not grow up eating the offal (or they did and their mothers cooked the liver into shoe leather). I don’t know how to prepare it and/or think it’s icky. You can also cause deficiencies of a particular nutrient because you have over-consumed some other nutrient that hampers absorption of other nutrients. Another common deficiency is iodine, because of switching over to sea salt without also switching over to pastured eggs and/or seaweed. Read up on this subject and stock up on what meets your needs.

Spices and herbs can be purchased dried. Just rotate them to keep them fresh. Growing as many perrenial herbs as possible is another strategy. If you don’t get around to drying them, they’ll come back next year and the year after, until you do need them. In my area (USDA zone 5) sage, rosemary, thyme, and mint have all proven to come back yearly with very little care, other than water. Apple cider vinegar is a good staple to stock up on. The Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar that is on my shelf has an expiration date five years from now. So I can keep five years worth stored without worry. You can also make your own apple cider vinegar. This website has an easy recipe. (This is another good use for honey or sugar.) Another staple is salt, which keeps well and can be purchased already packed in #10 cans to keep it dry. Commercial baking powder has corn starch in it and doesn’t keep well. Baking soda keeps indefinitely, if kept dry as does cream of tartar. You can make your own baking powder; just mix one part baking soda with two parts cream of tartar. Be sure to stock up on the spices you cannot grow yourself, such as black pepper. (Whole peppercorns keep better than already crushed). Other spices that you can’t grow yourself and that store best whole or in purest form includ cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and chocolate. Coconut flour is a common Paleo baking substitute and keeps for two years. Almond flour is also common but does not keep well at all, so for me it is a treat, not part of the supply.

Canned olives are a good source of fat and flavor, which I cannot easily can myself. Other commercially-canned options include full fat coconut milk, which is a dairy substitute. Canned pumpkin is so thick it is dangerous to can yourself, so I stock up on it when it’s on sale. The last can of pumpkin I bought had an expiration date three years out. Asian stores sell sweet potato noodles, which are quick and easy to prepare and keep at least for a couple of years.

Here’s a side note on mayonnaise: You can of course buy commercial mayonnaise and it will keep for some months on the shelf, however, if you are eating Paleo, you likely will not want to use the commercial mayonnaise due to the poor choice of oil that commercial companies use. You can make your own with oil and eggs in a mixer, and you can do it by hand if you’ve got the patience for it. There are many handmade mayonnaise recipes available in many Paleo cookbooks, which I’m assuming you have already tried, but if not take the trouble to look at the recipe and try it a few times. I prefer the one found in Dana Carpender’s 500 Paleo Recipes, which has never failed me. Avocado oil tastes best, though it is too expensive to be a regular base oil. Familiar foods like mayonnaise can be really helpful under stressful circumstances to help your family thrive in difficult times. Homemade mayonnaise keeps only about a week in the fridge, so don’t make too much at one time.

Guidelines

All of this leads to the question of “how much”. The advantage of using an established metric, like the LDS guidelines, is that someone else did the math for you, but so far as I know there is no Paleo-adapted food storage metric. So, starting from the 2000 calories a day baseline, I looked to established Paleo experts for guidance as to what percentage of your calories should come from the three big macro nutrients: fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Dave Asprey says 30% protein, 30% carbohydrates, and 40% fat. Mark Sisson says 20% protein, 30% carbs, and 50% fat. I went ahead and used the metric of 30% protein, 30% carbohydrates and 40% fat.

  • For fats/oils: tallow, lard, butter, and olive oil range from 112 to 119 calories per tablespoon.
  • For protein: beef, pork, chicken are harder to calculate because it depends on the cut. A fatty cut will have more calories but not from protein. Six ounces of naturally lean grass-fed beef has 324 calories. Eggs are about 74 calories each.
  • For carbohydrates: white rice is 158 calories per ¼ cup (dry, which yields about ¾ cup cooked). A medium sweet potato has about 103 calories.

It is worth noting that most foods have crossover. Eggs have about five grams of fat and a touch of carbohydrates in addition to six grams of protein. For a typical day, using a 2000 calorie diet, obtaining 600 calories of protein would be, for example, about:

  • 6 oz beef,
  • 3 eggs, and
  • half a can of tuna.

To obtain 800 calories from fat would be, for example:

  • 5 Tablespoons of clarified butter and
  • 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil.

To obtain 600 calories from carbs would be, for example:

  • ½ cup (dry) rice plus
  • 3 sweet potatoes.

Adjust this to fit your tastes and multiply it out by the number of persons and length of time to find your goals for storage.

You may ask about the vegetables. The current LDS guidelines don’t include vegetables either. That startled me when I first realized it. Upon reflection, vegetables are good for vitamins, color, flavor, and fiber, but as far as calories go, they are weak. A cup of chopped broccoli has only 30 calories. Therefore, to get the basic fat, protein, and carbohydrates that you need to stay alive and functioning, with the minimal calorie count of 2000 per day, you can ignore vegetables, at least for a time. Hopefully, you have a garden and to the extent the garden can supplement the basics, you will be much happier and healthier. In the meantime, you can forage. Pick up a book or two on foraging, and start opening your eyes when you go for walks to see what is out there in your neighborhood.

Still the basic three macronutrients (fat/protein/carbohydrates) of food storage will keep you going during winter or while the garden is not producing yet. In addition, see above for the nutritional breakdown of wheat grass. Sprout some wheat, and you will have a good dose of the basic vitamins. A couple of bottles of multi-vitamins may also a good idea, but get the ones without iron because the meat will supply plenty, and too much iron is dangerous. If you want to plan for vegetables too, you could simply stock a can a day or a pint per two days per person so that you will have some variety and flavor added to your base. Mix it up. Don’t get 365 cans of peas. Think color variety– beets, green beans, carrots, tomatoes, et cetera. The more variety, the more your taste buds will appreciate it, and the more likely you are to hit all of the micronutrients you need. However,start with the protein, fat, and carb base because you will literally starve to death on just vegetables.

Also, the basic protein/fat/carbohydrate macronutrients above do have some vitamins and minerals. For instance, just 3 oz. of lean beef will exceed the RDA for iron and selenium and hit 71% of B12, 39% of copper, and 24% of niacin. Eggs supply vitamins D, A, and some of the B’s also. They are also a good source of selenium, iron, phosphorus, and have some calcium, among other minerals. As you can see, even without vegetables, sprouted wheat, and supplements, you will last a long time on just the meat/fat/starch list above.

Conclusion

I hope this article will give all the folks eating Paleo/Primal/Ancestral style good ideas for adjusting their food storage to meet their actual diet. For those not eating this way, pay attention to the section on fats/oils because most seed oils won’t keep long on the shelf and you need to have some long-term storage strategies to avoid running out a few months later. Those suffering from Celiac or gluten intolerance as well as dairy intolerance may also find this article helpful because the Paleo way of eating is naturally free of gluten and dairy. The information in this article also would be a way to mix things up, since grains and beans can be pretty boring.

Letter: Book and Video Shelf

Hello HJL,

I just finished reading Lewis Dartnell’s most excellent book, The Change. It has been highlighted in the blog previously, Basically the book answers this question: After teotwawki, how would one, in his terms, reboot society, from a scientific and technological viewpoint. He does an excellent job at it. I thought you and JWR might want to add this one to the book and video shelf.

As a followup, I was wondering if Dartnell or anyone else already or will be putting out a “companion book” giving detailed plans by which a layman with basic skills could jury rig, scrounge, or repurpose what will be required to make the basic machines Dartnell refers to in his book. I know some of this can be found on the net as of now; I have found some designs by myself, but preppers as a whole I am certain would benefit from access to all of this knowledge in one format, especially on paper and bound for a rainy day. This endeavor would certainly be successful from an economic standpoint also. Wood gas generation for engines comes to mind as a really useful section, as there will be a need to go beyond the outdated FEMA design that is out there.

For the economic section I would also like to suggest Robert Prechter’s most excellent Conquer the Crash. You can find out more on the book and the author on his firm’s website.

Prechter is a died in the wool Austrian school type. He is a market technician and uses RN Elliott’s wave patterns to predict market behavior. Most of the theory is beyond my understanding. I majored in political science, but this theory portends market movements are fractal by nature, and that fibonacci ratios govern how the patterns develop. I first got interested in his work after the 2008 bust, when I remembered a book I had previously read by one of his followers which had forecasted the disaster. If anything I will always be grateful to him for opening my eyes to many mainstream economic myths commonly held and endlessly relayed by the media. Thanks to him I did NOT invest in real estate, and I did not invest in the stock market (directly or indirectly via our equivalent of 401Ks). I live in an undisclosed country north of the U.S. ;o)

Prechter suggests the markets are a leading indicator of social mood, a theory he has developed and calls “Socionomics”. According to this theory, mood drives events and not the other way around. According to this view one can so to speak predict social change by reading the leading indicators one of which is the stock market.

Best regards to JWR and may God bless you both – J.L.