February 23rd is the birthday of Captain Isaac Davis (February 23, 1745 – April 19, 1775), a militia officer and gunsmith who commanded a Minute Company in Acton, Massachusetts during the Battle of Concord.
Today is also the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836).
When considering what one needs during a TEOTWAWKI scenario, clothing is always on the list. We often choose our clothing based on the features of either looks or functionality. However, when preparing for TEOTWAWKI, we need to take both types of features into consideration, especially with camouflage!
Almost every person I know plans on using some type of camouflage, whether its a military or tactical pattern that is their choice for everyday use. This is perfectly acceptable, but I constantly tell them that they should not limit themselves to just one pattern. Let’s look at two scenarios that may affect what one might wear or carry.
Scenario 1:
You are at home when you learn that a TEOTWAWKI event has taken place. It is just you and your significant other. You expect other members of your family/party/clan to arrive within days.
Scenario 2:
Your car stops on the highway (due to EMP or other TEOTWAWKI event). You now have to beat feet to your home, which is miles away.
The first scenario is one that most of my friends are prepared for. “What do I need to store and keep at my location?” is typically the question they ask. In a catastrophic event, our clothing can keep us hid as well as play an important role in identification. Most families/groups that prep together, plan together. These groups generally plan to store and keep some type of camouflage/military clothing around for use (hunting, guard force, working, and so forth). It is important to consider who will wear what and when they will wear it. If you don’t already know your group’s answers to the following questions, you should develop some:
These are just a few of the questions that groups should identify and brainstorm when conducting their planning. Also, the most practical camo patterns are the most expensive. Groups need to ask themselves if all members can afford the more expensive multi-cam or digital patterns. In addition, groups need to make sure all members have that camo on them in their bug out bags/G.O.O.D bags. Those camo/military patterns have a whole different use when you’re confronted with scenario #2.
The second scenario is one that most of us fear– being away from our “safe haven” when the manure hits the fan. Let’s say that the individual in the second scenario is trying to get back to those in the first scenario (their group/family at home). Camouflage is also something to think about in this scenario. Once again, all of my friends tend to think they will just get camo’d up and head out. However, there are lots of things to consider in this scenario.
Just like the first scenario, these questions need to be addressed during your family/group meetings. These questions need to be applied to your gear as well. For example; having a woodland digital patterned backpack can draw unwanted attention to yourself. However, a bright backpack could single you out, if you’re trying to conceal yourself.
The purpose of this article isn’t to tell you what to do or what not to do. It is here to get your minds thinking. This will provide a guideline for those getting ready. Neither is wrong or right, but hopefully a person can use what’s above to make an educated purchase and prepare the best they can for their situation.
Recently, you were treated to my diatribe on the wonders of the U.S. Semiautomatic Rifle, Caliber .30, M1, better known as the Garand after its designer, John C. Garand https://survivalblog.com/scots-product-review-the-m1-garand/. The brief synopsis is that I really like the thing. It fires the hard hitting .30-06 cartridge, which is fully capable of handling any game on the American continents (though I might like something bigger for the large bears), and it can deliver match grade long-range accuracy when tuned. In service grade with a fresh barrel, Garands often shoot just as well as a modern sporting bolt action rifle.
The Garand isn’t perfect and does have a few drawbacks. Weight is one; we like things to be svelte these days, though the Garand’s heft ensures it can take and give abuse freely. Another shortcoming is the lack of a detachable magazine and the requirement to use proprietary eight round enbloc clips to load it. If you run out of clips, you have a single shot. The design makes it very difficult for most of us to top off the magazine. It is usually easier to eject a partial clip and replace it. Some of us have been trained to top off whenever possible, and the Garand frustrates us.
The final and perhaps most important drawback (and what this article is all about) is that it is hard to put optics on. Optics makes it easier for anyone to get hits. They can extend the range we can use a rifle as well as gather light in the twilight so we can see better. Many optical sights even provide illuminated reticles, so we can hit in the dark. In short, optics are good.
The typical spot to mount an optic, however, is directly over the rifle’s receiver. If we do that with the Garand, it gets in the way of feeding in those enbloc clips. When the military decided to issue the Garand to snipers, they mounted the scope offset to the left side of the rifle. This is okay if you are right handed, buts it’s extremely awkward if you are a lefty, like me. If you are right handed, S&K Scope Mounts offers a mount for the Garand, though it requires removal of the iron sight. S&K makes good stuff, and I’ve reviewed one of their mounts before. However, I like to keep the iron sights as backups, but since it is offset to the left it won’t work for me.
There have been, from time to time, replicas of the mounts used on the M1C and M1D sniper rifle available. Originals are scarce collector’s items, hard to find, and even harder to afford. They allow you to keep the iron sights, but the ones I’ve seen use a 7/8 inch diameter scope, which isn’t a very common size for center fire rifle optics. That size is most often used for budget .22 rimfire scopes that probably won’t hold up to the beating the .30-06 would provide. There are some replica scopes made for these mounts, but I suspect that design compromises were made to get them to fit into the 7/8 inch mounts. I haven’t actually used any though, so I could be wrong.
So, woe, what is one to do with their Garand crying out for optical sights, if giving up the iron sights is not an option and we aren’t right handed? Well, one solution does pop up; it’s the UltiMAK Garand mount, which is a U.S.-made product from Moscow, Idaho.
The UltiMAK places the optic ahead of the receiver in the Scout position, which was defined and popularized by Lt. Colonel Jeff Cooper– a Marine and the founder of what is now called the Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona. Since the scope or other optical sight is well ahead of the receiver, there is no issue with loading the rifle, and it can be placed directly over the bore. I’ve written about Scout scopes before and will reiterate a bit here.
To many, a scope mounted this far forward looks odd, but it affords advantages to the shooter. The biggest advantage is that the scope does not block your vision, and it is easy to use it with both eyes open. Your situational awareness is much better with this sort of mount than one that places the scope close to the eye.
There are also disadvantages. The main one is that if you go to much more that a 3-power scope, you will start having to concentrate your vision through the optic and lose your broader awareness. This varies from person to person, and some folks can handle more magnification than others. It isn’t as much of a drawback as it seems, though, from most practical shooting positions. While higher magnification makes it easier to shoot tighter groups from the bench, where most of us do the majority of our rifle shooting, in other positions too much magnification can be a problem. Things start bouncing about, and we have trouble staying on the target. A fair limit for me is about 3-4 power, so the Scout type scope works well for me. You may be able to do better, or you may do worse. You do need to try shooting in more positions than the bench to know for sure. If you hunt and expect to defend yourself, a bench may not be available.
Another problem I have had with this type of scope mount has been when the sun is low and coming from behind me. Sometimes it will cause flare on the rear element, which makes it hard to see through the scope. It doesn’t work as well in low light for me, either. It seems that in low light I need to exclude everything except what is in the scope, which is the opposite of what I want in better light. Other shooters I have talked to say this isn’t a problem for them, so it is probably a personal matter.
The final issue I have encountered is with semiautomatic rifles when the rear element of the scope is close to the ejection port. Nasty stuff, like combustion products and vaporized lubricants, come out, and can obscure my view when they get on the rear element. This was enough of a problem using a Scout Scope with a mount on an M1A that I gave up the idea.
The UltiMAK offers the possibility to mount the scope further forward than the mount I tried on the M1A, so I was intrigued with it. Most often, an intermediate relief scope is used for Scout rifles. This is a scope with seven to nine inches of eye relief, and it usually puts the rear element just ahead of the ejection port. Some mounts, like the UltiMAK, allow us to put the scope further forward and to use a pistol scope, which can have over 20 inches of eye. I chose to use a Burris 2x pistol scope that I will eventually get around to reviewing. It has moved from project to project and been quite satisfactory on everything I’ve used it on. This one gives a very generous 10-24 inches of eye relief, which means I was able to put it well forward of the ejection port. I have had no problems with anything dirtying the rear element.
Another benefit from getting the scope further forward is that I think I can create a sunshade to help with the problem of low angle sunlight. On the M1A, using a shorter eye relief scope, a sunshade would have interfered with ejection. That mount, a factory version from Springfield Armory, also limited how far forward the scope could go, so the pistol scope was not an option with it.
Installing the mount was relatively easy, if one is able to disassemble their Garand for a detailed cleaning. The instructions provided by UltiMAK were quite good, though I was unable to remove the operating rod without also removing the gas cylinder, which was something I did not see in the instructions. Other than that, they were quite clear and included good text and a sufficient number of clear, sharp photos of adequate size. They were in color, which helped.
I had no issues with the installation, but I am pretty comfortable with this sort of thing. If you aren’t, a decent gunsmith should have no problems with it. I spent about an hour, and that included futzing with the scope rings. The only sad part is that you have to remove the rear handguard, and that was the only sort of pretty piece of wood on my battered old Garand from the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Getting the handguard off was the toughest part of the installation for me. It is held to the barrel with a stiff clamp. If you have a large enough pair of snap ring pliers, it should be easy. I used a punch and levered it off on one side and then the other. UltiMAK suggests removing the gas cylinder, front handguard, and the lower band if you can’t get the clip off, but getting the clip off is a lot less trouble in my view.
The mount attaches to the barrel with two clamps and four screws. The screws are accessible after reassembly of the rifle and UltiMAK suggests checking them after firing 50-200 rounds. Mine have not loosened.
One thing I wish UltiMAK provided was a recommended torque setting for the screws. They say to tighten them as tight as most people can tighten the screws with the provided wrench. I’m not happy with that. They correctly note that most people don’t have torque wrenches, but what about those of us who do? They give you an extra screw in case you break one from over tightening, but I was more worried about stripping the threads in the mount, as it is aluminum while the screws are steel.
I used Weaver medium height rings to mount the scope on the 1913 Picatinny rail https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_rail UltiMAK machines into their mounts. While there are specific scope mounts for Picatinny rails, they also work with Weaver scope rings. The cross bolt is slightly undersize on Weaver mounts, but it has never been a problem in my experience. I found the Weaver medium rings to be slightly higher than necessary, and I suspect that Warne or Leupold low quick detachable rings (QD) would work and position the scope as low as one can go. I’ll try to report back on this once I can afford some more scope rings. I really like the idea of rings that can easily be removed without tools in the event of scope failure, since the Weaver rings require a tool. The Warne and Leupold QD ones have a lever that can be turned by hand.
One of the popular modifications to the Garand is shortening the barrel to the so called Tanker length. In World War II, a common calling was for a shorter rifle, so a requirement was issued for an 18-inch barreled version. A few were made up in the Pacific, and some might have been used in combat. The war ended before more was done. It is an appealing concept, and gunsmiths have been turning them out for years. UltiMAK warns, however, that some versions will not work with their mount. They say that it is quite possible to accommodate their mount with a Tanker, but it has to be allowed for in the conversion. If you have a Tanker, beware that the UltiMAK mount may not work with it.
I purchased the mount I tested at a good price from a friend who had never gotten around to using it and needed to clear out some space. They go for $185 new from UltiMAK. Mine appears identical to the one currently on the website. They are nicely crafted from a light weight alloy and anodized with a smooth and even matte black finish.
I have had no issues with the mount and scope. The 2 power scope allowed me to shoot better groups with the Garand than I got with iron sights, which wasn’t much of a surprise. I had gotten four inch groups at 100 yards with the excellent iron sights; however, they shrank to three inches with the scope. Remember, I am not the best shot, and these weren’t match grade loads tuned to the rifle. Further, the gunsmith who did the tech inspection before I shot the rifle called the barrel “shot out” and recommended replacing it.
I really like the mount and the Scout scope on the Garand. While the rifle is capable of serious long-range accuracy, I see it as a 300-400 yard weapon in my hands. That distance is, however, beginning to push the limits of a 2 power scope. I would like to try it with a bit more magnification and am considering trying to acquire the Burris 2-7x handgun scope. If I do, I’ll report back. In the meantime, the UltiMAK mount and the Burris pistol scope is a huge improvement for me over the iron sights. I particularly like how low the mount places the scope, which means you can get by without raising the height of the comb.
The mount would be equally suitable for a red dot sight. UltiMAK warns that if you choose that route, you need to get a quality sight that can handle the recoil of the .30-06. It is possible to position this type of sight so you can use the iron sights without removing the optic.
The UltiMAK website offers some useful information as well as a selection of similar mounts for other rifles.
– SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor, Scot Frank Erie
Combine all ingredients and chill. Serve cold.
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Hugh,
I keep forgetting how powerful the heritage foundation is when it comes to the war of ideas. This article rocked!
I’ve been having the usual sorts of discussions with (I hate to say it) family, friends, and coworkers about Islam and how we should react, given the rise of jihad inside of formerly Christian nations like Denmark and France. Most of them take these as isolated incidents to be handled by cops. Some take them to mean it’s time for more social programs. One older gentleman went so far as to say we should pay them off, just like we have been doing with our own underclass (though he used terms no longer considered polite when referring to minorities with dark skin color).
My point to them is that Islam, by its very nature, is a threat to all of our collective western heritage, let alone freedoms and peace. They just don’t get it without the historical context provided in this article. To find we have been fighting this same group of murderous bastards from before any of the usual apologists’ excuses is a shocker to them. (I first found this article in 2009 and have been using it since then.) There was no oil, no colonialism, and in fact zero history between us at the founding, and yet war was thrust upon us just for being Christians and white. – H.D.
Americans are having more trouble paying off their student debt than their houses. – G.G.
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Is the EU Finally Breaking Free of Russia’s Energy Grip?
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Obama wants to tax your retirement accounts. – RBS
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DANGER AHEAD FOR U.S. & WEST: Shown In These Gold Charts
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Investors Have No Choice But To Own Gold After This Latest McKinsey Chart
From Patrice Lewis: The simple secret to surviving any crisis
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You Had One Job, Lenovo. – G.G.
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Bombshell Interview: Cop Reveals That “Planting Evidence And Lying” Are Just “Part Of The Game”. – T.P.
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Bosnia war survivor warns of things to come in collapse of America. – B.B.
“You should never be proud of doing what’s right. You should just do what’s right.” – Dean Smith (1931 – 2015), American basketball coach
Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:
First Prize:
Second Prize:
Third Prize:
Round 57 ends on March 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.
Growing up, I never put too much thought into “the future”– that long distant and magical place always just beyond the horizon. Born and raised in Queens, New York, I was immersed in the leftist mindset of self-entitlement and self-superiority. Never once did I consider how unremarkable and fragile my existence truly was.
I was smart, strong, good in a fight, and clever enough to not get caught when I was up to no good…at least until I wasn’t. Enter a good soul with a badge, who spoke on my behalf, and a kind man with a gavel. The long story short is that I was given the opportunity to redeem myself with public service, provided it was documented and I reported directly to the judge. I don’t, to this day, know what these two good men saw in me, but I am so very thankful. As part of my community service, I was enrolled in The Explorers– a program for teens designed to introduce them to various opportunities in law enforcement. That’s when I began to change.
Years of conformist programming were destroyed in months, as I learned what it was like to be a part of something greater than myself. I took part in community service, learned how to lead a team, and found purpose in an otherwise unsupervised life. I also got my very first lessons in what would be my preparedness journey; it was called first aid.
I can’t tell you enough about how important learning first aid is. To this day (and after years of formal training), I always have a med kit nearby. Items in my kit include:
It seems like a lot, but it all fits in the toolkit. I also have a small over-the-counter kit that I keep in my glove compartment, which contains the standard variety of this and that for day-to-day scrapes.
My recommendation for beginners is to build their kit as they become capable of using an item. Let us say for instance that you take a course on basic first aid. If you learn how to apply dressings and can do it repeatedly with a high degree of skill (in relative terms), then add dressings to your kit. It makes no sense to add the weight of items you will not or cannot use. I have completed my EMT 99 training (intermediate), and I plan on starting my EMT P (paramedic) this year, if finances allow. I have done this at great personal expense, as I believe it is important.
Another “habit” I formed while with the Explorers was the learning of wood lore. Camping, while not entirely in the domain of the Explorers (at least from what I remember), was something we did regularly. It was believed that camping was great for team building. Our leaders, Vietnam Veterans as well as Law Enforcement, found willing students for the knowledge they passed. They were ardent outdoorsmen who taught us about the various edible, medicinal, and poisonous plants that grow in the northeast.
In my car, as well as in my G.O.O.D. bag, I carry a deck of regionally-specific cards that show these plants. As I get older, I like to have the color pictures as a backup to my memory. I use these when I take my son hiking; they’re an invaluable teaching tool.
So, as the years passed, I met my a girl, got married, and became a family man, a home owner and a member of my community, which is a community of sheep. However, I am not one of them. No, I’m quite the opposite. I have taken the lessons of my youth and applied them to the rest of my life. When I chose my home, I made certain it was in a predominately rural area where my lifestyle choices wouldn’t be questioned. I keep chickens and pigs, collect rainwater, hunt, fish, and maintain two large gardens.
My primary garden is for food. It is 40’x30′, and while incapable of solely sustaining my family, it is a great addition to my fresh eggs and ham. Add to that the venison, turkey, and fish I take seasonally and you will find that we spend very little on food. I make certain to grow large amounts of “storable” vegetables in my garden, all of which are canned or jarred for the winter (and then some).
Tomatoes are put up using the hot water bath method, as are pickles and relishes. Beans are stored in mason jars, using oxygen absorbers, and my meat overflow is turned into jerky, if it isn’t frozen. I’ve also been experimenting with pressure canning squash with some decent results.
My other garden is medicinal. At 5’x20′, it is easy to manage. Some herbs are double duty, as they are for cooking and possess medicinal properties. In addition to your standard herbs, like rosemary, thyme, and basil, the garden contains plants like: Calendula (marigolds) for skin issues, Colts foot, and Purple Coneflower for colds. As well, many plants with medicinal value are very pretty, and I have planted them for “curb appeal”. I love things that do double duty.
Around the perimeter of my property, I have planted Elderberry bushes (great for fighting colds and making jam), Burdock (for blood detox), and Witch Hazel (which is great for various skin conditions). As well, I have planted Arnica (also a great anti-inflammatory) just outside my property on state land, and it now grows wild.
There are so many different plants you can use for medicinal purposes. I recommend getting several books on the topic, so that you can cross-reference which do what. Some books give great images while others provide great explanations. Do your own research and talk to your doctor about herbs you can use.
I will, however, talk about how to make herbal tinctures. I’m a big fan of tinctures, and I have used them for many years to treat things ranging from the common cold and stomach bugs to rashes, cuts, and recurrent conditions like gout. The following is a simplified way of creating a tincture that I use. Some people will find fault in it because I don’t use exact measurements, but this technique works for me. Feel free to find a way that works for you.
To make a tincture, take a mason jar and clean it thoroughly. It is important to use a jar that will be completely filled by the end mixture, as “dead air” space will cause spoilage.
Select the parts of your herb that are most appropriate and prepare it. (For instance, the part of the Burdock plant I use for treating my family member’s gout is the root.) Flowers and leaves can be chopped; roots can be dried and cut into chunks.
Fill the jar loosely to the top with one part of your chosen herb, say four ounces, then top-off the jar with 100-proof vodka. You should have a mix of about 2 to 1 liquid to herb, so in this example you will need eight ounces of vodka. I use 100-proof vodka because it’s clear and because it’s 50/50 water and alcohol. Some people use grain alcohol, which may very well be what’s available in a post-SHTF scenario. However, since it’s inexpensive, until the “S” actually hits the “F”, I’ll keep using the vodka.
Label your jar with the ingredients, your ratio of ingredients, and the date you manufactured it. Find a cool, dry, and dark place, and let it sit there for a minimum of six weeks. It is not necessary to transfer the mixture into a glass dropper bottle after a month and a half passes. You can leave it there if you like, but when you need to use it, you must decant it.
When I decant it, I strain the mixture through cheesecloth into a glass funnel. The tincture goes into a dark-colored jar. I’ve had many issues finding these and have had to pull them from various locations over the years. I re-use them but only for tinctures of the same ingredient.
Since learning to do this, I have not had to see a physician for myself. I do bring my son to the doctor for things that are beyond my comfort level, pharmaceutically, but I can take care of nearly everything that comes my way.
The last piece of my puzzle is security. As I’ve said, I live in a community of sheep, and they tend to bleat when a person’s property looks less then what they define as appealing. Rather then suffer with nosy-bodies butting into my choices, I have found that a few strategically-placed thorny bushes can go a long way towards securing windows.
I paid a king’s ransom to have a stone wall laid across the front of my property as a barrier to vehicles coming from the street, and I have dug ”drainage” ditches around the remainder of my property. The water tables are high and this has created a mote. This mote can be secured with sharpened sticks, which are already made and stored under my deck, placed beneath the water level, and it has been hidden from view by ferns that love the environment I’ve created.
I have also, upon reading this advice in a rather good book written by J.W. Rawles (perhaps you’ve heard of him?), zeroed in landmarks on my property from various windows and placed range cards near each. You never know when I may need to aggressively insist that intruders reconsider any lawless behavior during any kind of long-term emergency situation.
Every room in my house has, hidden in plain sight, at least one firearm that all members of my household are familiar with and trained in. (We don’t have much company, so I’m not too worried about prying eyes.) Home invasions are a likely scenario in a spiraling economy, and I would hate to get surprised and not have the ability to respond quickly.
It was hard, but after several years in my area I got to know a few like-minded people through a hunting club. We’ve formed a “team” and have included our families in our activities to the extent that they are interested. One of the team members is a Combat Veteran; as the few of us became a team and learned to work together, he has become our armed combat instructor and coordinator.
Community, a like-minded one, is key to survival on so many levels. I am fortunate to have made these friends and to be working with them with the understanding that we will look after each other and our families. Whether it is car trouble at 3a.m. or a natural disaster, we will band together for our mutual good.
As well, we and our children study various forms of martial arts. The variety was accidental, but the decision to train together in an effort to combine knowledge is intentional. We regularly meet to show techniques and watch various security reels for study (and for response training). We also spend time at the range and have dry fire squad combat drills.
Another form of preparedness we practice is practical. We make sure that everyone can perform basic tasks, like changing a tire or oil, siphoning and filling a gas tank, using a pocket (p-38) can opener, repairing a fishing reel, carrying buckets of water, and building a fire. To our children, this is camping; to us, it’s training.
A note on operational security: Try to blend in. I do not wear any paramilitary clothing. Neither do I have any stickers on my truck that show my affinity for firearms or my political views. I try to avoid groups of people discussing politics or current events at gatherings, simply because I have a strong opinion and a stubborn streak. Remove yourself from any situation where you might inadvertently tip your hand.
With my lifestyle, my medical training, and my on-going tactical instruction, I am becoming so much more than the sheeple plaguing our nation. I am not “better” than them; I am simply more prepared and better equipped. I am a wolf in sheeples clothing. If you’ve read this, I know you are too.
In an anti-gun, nanny state, like New York, this has been extremely difficult, and operational security is perchance the greatest aspect of what we do. I am proud of how far we have come, and I encourage you to be proud of your efforts as well. (Just don’t be too proud… or loud.) With the grace of God, we will weather the storms that may yet come.
Hugh,
I am in full agreement with R.S. As a backpacker, the thought of a 60lb bug out bag for even a three-day hike is pretty laughable. Also, no matter what your ability to carry a load, you’ll be limited by the suspension system of the bag. Some of the better packs out there have beefed-up suspension pads that better distribute the weight to your hips and off your shoulders. With relatively lightweight compressible gear, I can get down to about 3500ci for a pack size and 35 lbs for a 3-day pack, not including food, water, or ammunition. I agree with R.S. that most of the cheap military type bags have poor stitching and often poor suspension. Molle straps are worthless if your bag rips or you can’t carry it.
If you’re not wearing body armor, I think a muted color REI Crestrail, REI XT85, Gregory Baltoro, Kelty Redwing 50, Kelty Coyote, or Arcteryx Altra are great relatively new internal frame packs that could support a 40 to 50lb load with good weight distribution. If you are wearing body armor, the Mystery Ranch mystery cinch allows you to wear a regular pack comfortably. Also, don’t forget the hiking poles. Your knees will thank you, and you can use them for a makeshift shelter in a pinch.
My current get home bag/weekend backpack is a Mystery Ranch SATL. It has great suspension that adjusts to your body through the futura yoke, and unlike other military packs such as the ILBE, it’s lightweight at just under 5lbs. It also has removable “bolsters” that allow you to wear armor comfortably. It has a relatively high price point, but as they say “spend once, cry once”. – G.G.
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HJL,
BRAVO! It’s good to see common sense applied to B.O.B. thinking. From the demo’s I’ve seen at B.O.B. “show & tells” I’ve often wondered where the Bug-out Wheel barrow was hiding.
Pioneer wagon train routes often had piles of “unnecessary cargo” at the base of the first mountain. Everything from furniture to bath tubs were packed into wagons headed west, but only essentials arrived at the destination. When getting to the destination is imperative, only what’s needed to get you there is important.
Thanks for a well-written article. – T. in Texas
Dear Hugh, I had to attend a LEO meeting at the county courthouse. Waiting around between sessions, some local inner-city police there were showing me “another goofy idea” that their higher-ups were considering implementing to make locals “feel good”. Ta-Da! Enter “Alternative Ballistics”. I asked these officers: “If you ran up against an armed criminal with speed the likes of Ed McGivern or Jerry Miculek, can you mount this device in, say 1/2 second, before your adversary gets off his first shot?” (They called this thing “another ‘widow-maker'”.) Another inquiry as to: “Would you use this at your own home for your family’s defense?” THAT ONE brought twisted facial smirks, scowls, raised eyebrows, and a “get real!”
How it Works – Alternative Ballistics. – K.W.
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ATF and EPA quietly working on gun control with ammunition bans. – B.B.
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ID thieves target kids in the wake of huge hack. – D.S.
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DHS: You right wingnuts are worse than ISIS. – G.P.
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“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” – Mark 4:37-39 (KJV)
February 21st is the birthday of Zimbabwe’s President For Life, Comrade Robert Mugabe (born 1924). Despite the 2011 revelations of the apparent murder of at least 640 political opponents, Mugabe was elected again in 2013 to a five year term in office. Mugabe and his ZANU-PF henchmen must be driven out office and sent to prison, where they belong!
February 21st is also the birthday of Group Captain Douglas Bader (born 1910, died 5 September 1982). He was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter ace during the Second World War. He lost his legs in a pre-war flying accident, but that didn’t stop him from re-entering the RAF when war broke out. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable, and 11 enemy aircraft damaged. Bader was eventually shot down and became a POW in Germany. Since the Luftwaffe ran its own POW camps, he became a celebrity with his captors. The Germans would lock up his hollow metal prosthetic legs each night to prevent him from escaping. Bader’s autobiography Reach for the Sky is a must for those studying aviation in World War II.
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Don’t forget to finish that article you’ve been working on and submit it to us for the contest!
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Today, we present another entry for Round 57 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:
First Prize:
Second Prize:
Third Prize:
Round 57 ends on March 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.