Guest Post: Is This the End of 80% Receivers? by Timothy Priebe

While the rest of us were enjoying our own post New Year’s Day activities, BATFE Director B. Todd Jones was approving his department’s latest ruling. On January 2, 2015, ATF Ruling 2015-1 was approved.

The ruling was a clarification of ATF Ruling 2010-10. That ruling advised licensed dealer-gunsmiths that they may legally perform certain firearm manufacturing activities on completed firearms if certain conditions were met. However, since that ruling in December of 2010, it appears that issues surrounding “incomplete” or “80% receivers” have moved to the forefront of the ATF’s purview.

For those not familiar with “80% receivers”, “blanks”, or “paperweights”, let me explain. These items are castings or molded blocks of aluminum or polymer that have not been manufactured to the point of being legally recognized as a “firearm”. Hence, they are “80%” done. They are not quite a “firearm” that would otherwise require the seller to provide and the purchaser to complete ATF paperwork to purchase them.

After purchasing the 80% receiver, one then has to complete the rest of the machining so that it can be used in conjunction with other parts to make a complete firearm. This usually requires some sort of machining in the fire control area of the receiver and then some minor drilling of holes so that other parts may be fitted in and through the receiver. Both of these actions can be completed in a garage using some basic electric hand tools. However, this ruling does not apply to your average handyman/youtube-trained amateur gunsmiths.

It is important to note that such 80% receivers are legal, as agreed to by the ATF in this ruling, and can be bought and sold without any type of ATF paperwork/documentation. It is also legal to complete the machining on the items yourself without the need to fill out the paperwork/documentation as you would if you purchased a completed receiver. However, it is illegal for you to sell or distribute that same firearm after it is completed.

So who does this ruling apply to?

This ruling applies to those who were assisting the owners of such 80% receivers in the completion of their firearms. If a person/company is a “manufacturer” of firearms, they needed to be appropriately licensed as such by the ATF. Persons/businesses have been, according to the ATF’s ruling and opinion, illegally manufacturing firearms when they complete the 80% receivers for others because they do not hold a license to do so.

Previous case law states, “the plain and ordinary meaning of the word “manufacture” is to “make into a product suitable for use”. See Broughman v. Craver, 624 F.3d 676 (4th Cir 2010). So according to this Ruling and the ATF’s interpretation of Broughman, “machining or other manufacturing process includes making a frame or receiver, or taking any of the steps to make an existing frame or receiver functional…” and therefore requires a manufacture license.

What has become popular over the past few years is for businesses, such as machine shops, to make its machinery available for a temporary loan in exchange for a small fee. Some of these shops have the 80% receiver owner “operate” the machinery by showing them how to set it up and having them turn the machine on. The equipment then machines the receiver so that it can be used by the owner to complete the firearm assembly.

With this ruling, the ATF has now clarified that, in its opinion, any person (including incorporations or other legal entity) engaged in the business of performing machining or other similar type processes to create a firearm frame or receiver suitable for use as part of a firearm must be licensed as a manufacturer under the Gun Control Act, must mark such firearm, and maintain the required manufacturer’s records.

Further, the ruling holds that a business may not avoid the manufacturing license, marking, and record keeping requirements of the Gun Control Act by allowing a person to perform manufacturing processes on blanks or incomplete firearms using machinery, tools, or equipment under its dominion and control where that business controls access to, and use of, such machinery, tools, or equipment.

Now this ATF ruling is not considered case law or a binding statute. It is the opinion of the ATF of what the law, in this area, holds. For that brave person or business that wants to challenge this ruling, he/she/it will have to bring the matter to court to have a Judge make a legal ruling on this matter. Given that most of the machine shops previously providing such services probably do not consider this much more than a way to make a little extra side money, I do not see someone taking the time and effort to fight this.

This does raise some issues for businesses that rent out their equipment to others while not providing them instruction or supervision. What projects are their renters working on? I foresee the need for such businesses to have waivers drafted to cover themselves legally. The same holds true for places such as Makerspaces, which rent out space and use of their equipment, both machinery for metal working and 3d printers. Speaking of 3d printing, could this ruling apply to a business that provides schematics and/or other related tools for 3d-printed lower receivers? In March of 2013, Defense Distributed– a Texas non-profit organization– claims to have “printed” a lower receiver that, when completed, shot over 600 rounds. Defense Distributed claims to have had the printing schematics downloaded over 10,000 times.

The next step in this journey will be with the quickly advancing technology surrounding 3d printers and when it is considered manufacturing. Also, up for evaluation is whether the materials used to make the 3d-printed firearms are considered undetectable to x-ray machines and walk-through metal detectors and therefore illegal. I foresee that this will keep the ATF attorneys and agents busy for years to come. Visit Legal-Tactics.com and leave me your questions.

– Timothy J. Priebe, Attorney and Counselor at Law

Scot’s Product Review: Mauser 98 Rifle

As part of my continuing investigation of old military rifles for prepping, I have come to the products of the Mauser boys– Paul and Wilhelm– who are best known for their bolt action rifles. While they didn’t invent bolt actions or the box magazines that came to be one of their signature features of the bolt gun, their rifles, particularly the Model 98 (that’s for 1898) pattern, are still considered to be in the top tier of the type. Versions are made to this day.

As best as I can research, the first bolt action rifle was the Dryese needle gun– a single shot breech loader adopted by the Prussian Army in 1841 and used with great effect by Prussia over the next 30 years in the wars that created the German nation from a hodgepodge of small states. It also revolutionized infantry tactics by dramatically increasing the rate of fire of the individual soldier, who could now reload even when in the prone position.

The next big steps were the self-contained brass cartridge, which enabled repeating weapons. The Dreyse and other competing designs retained paper cartridges, which wouldn’t work so well for repeaters. The first repeaters had tubular magazines, but an American, James Paris Lee, had the idea for a box magazine that was first used on a Remington rifle in 1885. In case Lee sounds familiar, it is because of his most noted design, the Lee-Metford and Lee-Enfield rifles. These adopted the Lee magazine and a Lee designed bolt action. These rifles fought the wars of the British Commonwealth from 1888 through the 1950’s, with some soldiering on even today.

The box magazine offered at least three advantages over the tubular one. First, pointed bullets aren’t safe in tubular magazines. The bullet tips rest on the primer in a tubular magazine, and when they get whacked by recoil ugly things can happen. Pointy bullets offer a number of ballistic advantages, so something else was needed. Next, although this was not taken advantage of in the Mauser bolt rifles, box magazines could be removable, so you could easily reload by swapping magazines. The Lee rifles did take advantage of this, though the British generals feared the soldiers would lose them, so they typically only gave out one per rifle. Finally, you can build your rifles to use chargers, or stripper clips, to quickly reload. You could still top off with single rounds. All in all, Mr. Lee came up with something that is pretty universal in today’s firearms.

The Mauser brothers came from a gun family. Their father was a gunsmith at a royal arsenal. Paul also became a gunsmith and during military service began tinkering with improving the Dreyse. His tinkering led to the Mauser Model 1871– a single shot bolt action rifle which was further developed into a tubular magazine fed repeater that held eight shots in 1884.

The next big leap for the Mausers came with the Model 1893 bolt action adopted by Spain. It had the box magazine, which was quickly reloaded with stripper clips, and the new 7x57mm Mauser cartridge was filled with the newfangled smokeless powder. This Mauser had a profound effect on the U.S. troops who faced it in Cuba in 1898 and on most armies of the world. Not only did the ability to load faster than U.S. troops could with their Krag rifles, the Spanish could out-range them with the superior 7x57mm Mauser cartridge. This model Mauser led to many variants used around the world in an assortment of calibers.

At this point, Germany had also adopted a smokeless powder cartridge– the 8x57mm– and were using it in their non-Mauser 1888 rifle. They wanted a Mauser rifle, though, to use it in. The Mausers came up with what many, regard as one of the best bolt actions ever made– the Model 98– also known as the G98 with the G standing for Gewehr, which is German for the word “rifle”. The G98, in a number of variants, was the standard military rifle for countless armies and served the Germans through two world wars. The Mausers improved the strength of the rifle to handle higher pressures and developed a way to safely divert gas from a ruptured cartridge. They also added an additional lug to the bolt to further strengthen the action.

The Mauser design was so influential that the United States essentially copied it for the Springfield. We wound up losing a lawsuit and had to pay royalties to the Mausers. A fracas we entered in 1917 got us out of that agreement. The British came up with the Pattern 1914 Enfield, which bore some majors resemblances to the Mauser, but it had better sights and smoother bolt operation. The exigencies of wartime production kept it from becoming the standard British battle rifle.

The various Mausers have inspired numerous other rifles, including the Winchester Model 70 and most other bolt action rifles seen since the end of the 19th century. In short, the design is as viable today as it was 116 years ago. Personally, I prefer a Mauser 98 to most modern sporting rifles. The workmanship is usually better, and the bolts run more smoothly (though they don’t match the Lee-Enfield). The stripper clip guide, built into the receiver, provides the ability to reload quickly.

One of the biggest positives of the Mauser is the controlled feed system. As the round pops up from the magazine, it slides under the extractor and is under control of the bolt as it chambers rather than just being pushed into the chamber and having the extractor pop it over the rim. There are certainly rifles that work well that don’t have controlled feed, but I like the concept myself, as it means you can operate the rifle in an awkward position and the next round won’t fall out as you run the bolt.

The Mauser 98 pattern is probably the most often encountered Mauser and the one you should look for. The earlier variants are nice rifles, but the 98 is more robust. You can find them pretty much anywhere. They are all over GunBroker, in many gun shops, Shotgun News, pawn shops, want ads, and estate sales. Conditions will range wildly. Many have seen hard service, and others, as you will read shortly, have been modified by their prior owners, for better or worse. There are still some that saw light use or were refurbished to almost new condition and then stored. Some of these turn up from time to time, and I hope to snag one someday.

Mausers were chambered for a number of cartridges, which doesn’t help, either. They are often not marked, which can be frustrating and dangerous. When in doubt, it is wise to consult a gunsmith before shoving rounds in and pulling the trigger. The most common two cartridges are probably the 8x57mm and 7x57mm. Both are excellent cartridges and generally comparable to our .308 Winchester or .30-06. I prefer the 7x57mm, as there seems to be more choice in bullets for reloading these days since it shares bore diameter with more rounds than the 8mm does. It also kicks a bit less, which makes it more fun to shoot. I haven’t been able to find surplus 7×57 for quite a while, though. The 8×57 is, however, available if you look hard. Commercial companies make rounds suitable for hunting in both calibers. Many of the other cartridges, that Mausers are chambered in, are obscure and hard to find ammo for, so beware.

The most commonly seen models in the used market at the moment seem to be the Yugoslavian Zastava M-48’s chambered in 8x57mm. You can sometimes find them in near-new condition for $400 or so. These were made after WW II and are basically copies of the Wehrmacht’s WWII service rifle, though with enough differences that most parts won’t interchange. Most of them were placed in storage after little service. As they manufactured them, the Yugoslavs made changes to simplify production with more and more stamped parts, so the earlier ones may be more pleasing aesthetically. I hope to snag one of these at some point, when funds allow.

The Mauser I acquired from an estate sale is a Mexican made version in 7x57mm. I have seen references to this model rifle as the Model of 1910 and the Model of 1902, but I have not been able to determine which is definitively correct. One thing I like about this model is the straight bolt handle. My son and I are left-handed, and the straight handle makes it a lot easier to reach over and run the bolt with our left hands.

Mexican Mausers, in good original condition, are getting scarce, as so many of them were used by custom gunsmiths because they were of excellent quality for making fine sporters. Mine appears to have had an interesting life since leaving the arsenal. According to the date on the receiver, it was made in 1931– a period of relative calm in Mexico, which boded well for quality. It obviously saw hard use, based on the appearance of its straight stock that is badly dinged.

Mine, however, was obviously not in original condition. The first giveaway is that the fore end has been cut off. The next is that this model rifle had a 29-inch barrel, while mine has one that is close to 20 inches. Some research led me to the Model 1936 that indeed had a barrel of almost 20 inches, so I am guessing that my rifle was rebarreled with a 1936 barrel obtained somehow by a prior owner who then lopped off the fore end. While this destroys any collector’s value to the rifle, the fact that the bore looks good, and I wanted a shooter, made up for that. Losing nine inches of barrel also make it a lot handier, plus I can do whatever I want to it without fretting over the destruction of history.

My goal was to come up with a handy, reasonably accurate (two- or three-inch groups at 100 yards) rifle that I can keep in my car. It will be politically correct but highly effective out to 250 or even 300 yards, and it’s an ideal supplement to my pistol. I want to be able to use it for hunting or self-defense. I paid $200 for it and hope to keep it under $500 when done, not counting optics. At nine pounds, it is heavier than I would like but not horribly so. I may drill out the stock a bit to see if that will trim a few ounces. I won’t have so much money in that it would be a tragedy if something happened to it.

My first step, after inventorying it and doing a bunch of research, was to clean it thoroughly. The bore, though possessed of crisp rifling and a bright appearance, still yielded a lot of fouling. Next, I acquired a No Go headspace gauge and was disappointed when the bolt closed on it. I ordered a Field gauge, which is the indicator of doom. If the bolt closes on a Field gauge, you shouldn’t shoot it, short of an apocalypse. To my joy, the bolt would not consider closing on the Field gauge, so I had a shooter, though not with as tight a chamber as I had hoped.

The rifle had an S&K Scout scope mount http://www.scopemounts.com/ , which I wrote about recently along with an NC Star scope. The mount is nice, and I like the Scout scope concept, but the NC Star isn’t my idea of a great scope, so I hope to replace it at some point. One thing I noticed was that the scope had not been properly mounted. One of the rings was not seated, leaving things rather cockeyed; so I took the whole mess apart and reassembled it correctly.

I didn’t get the original rear sight, so I tracked down a Lyman 57 aperture sight on eBay for $75 and will have it added later, after which time I will provide a report. Mounting it will require two holes to be drilled and tapped for about $50.

In a final insult to history, a prior owner discarded the original sear and trigger and replaced it with a Timney trigger. Timney makes good stuff, but this one does not appear to be quite correct for the rifle. It wobbles, and some of the stock was gouged out to make it fit. I don’t like things that wobble. Just to test its safety, I tried bouncing the rifle hard on the floor and it didn’t release the firing pin; it was safe. Luckily for me, however, the Dow Arms Room in Dade City, FL, has a reputation for doing good deeds to military rifles, despite not having a website I can link to. I took a trip there with the rifle. They managed to find a suitable sear, trigger, and spring, so I wound up with a solidly-fitted trigger that breaks fairly cleanly at 5 pounds, which I find a very workable weight.

The next step was to trek to the local indoor range, only 15 yards away, alas, and run a few rounds to get it on paper. With this done, I hauled it down to the outdoor range where I volunteer as a safety officer and got it on paper at 100 yards. At that point, I ran out of time and energy and headed home.

A few days later, a chance to hit an indoor range with 100 yard lanes came up, so I ran some more rounds through it, trying to find the best load and confirming the zero. I tried it with some antique 1936 FN made ammo, some PMC 175 grain soft points, and some reloads with 175 grain Hornady soft points using IMR 4350 powder. The rifle appears to have potential, but it throws one or two shots out of any group two to three inches away from the center of the rest of the group, which is frustrating. Otherwise, some of the groups were less than two inches. One produced three touching shots with two fliers. I strongly suspect bedding issues. The profile of the barrel does not match the stock, and I am betting that, as the barrel heats and expands, it is being pressured by the stock. All of the hacking done to fit the trigger probably isn’t helping either.

I talked to Bruce Dow at the Dow Arms Room about it, and he spotted some places where the barrel is, indeed, contacting the stock. Funds are short at the moment, but I plan to have Dow redo the bedding of the rifle in a month or two. Again, this will get a report in the future. This looks like a $75-100 job.

Another suggestion Dow made was to bed the S&K scope mount. There are a lot of variations in dimensions on old military rifles, and Dow has used epoxy to bed the scope mount to the rifle. He uses mold release on the rifle but not on the mount, which allows the mount to be removed as needed. The bedding fills in any gaps and locks the mount into a solid position on the rifle. I am expecting to spend about $50 for this.

Before I get the scope mount bedded, though, I plan to replace it with the S&K Weaver style mount. The one on it uses the proprietary S&K rings, which work extremely well, but I want a quick detachable option; I can get that with Weaver style rings. That would allow me to swap scopes or switch to iron sights with less work than the mount with the S&K rings.

The biggest issue appears to be the NC Star scope. It would be okay on a hobby rifle, but I plan on this being a serious rifle, so I think it needs a better scope. I am not counting the scope as part of the $400 target price on the rifle when complete. I expect to use either a Leupold or Burris Scout scope on it in the end but will have to motor along with the NC Star until funds happen.

I plan to save money by keeping the original stock, but some like aftermarket synthetic or wood stocks. To each his own. I like the honest appearance of a military rifle and have no need to make it into an elegant sporter. The stock, however, was really a mess with peeling layers of varnish and enough dings for a bell ensemble. I applied some citrus-based paint stripper to it and then spent a couple of hours with an iron and wet towel steaming the dents up as much as I could, which also got some dirt and grime out of the wood. With a bit of light sanding, it is ready for an oil-based, military style finish. I intend to try a product new to me and will also try a dye to darken it, since the wood turned out to be quite light in color. I had thoughts about how useful a trap door butt plate would be, but I can’t find one I can adapt easily. I will provide some updates on how the stock comes out.

I am pretty sure I can make my target price of under $500 for the rifle, not counting optics. While I could find a modern sporter for about the same price, it wouldn’t have the slick action this one possesses. I also doubt it would be as rugged or reliable, and it would certainly lack the ability to rapidly charge it with stripper clips.

If you decide to take this plunge, make sure that whoever you buy your rifle from will agree to it passing a technical inspection. The biggest issue is probably headspace, but you can pick up your own Field gauge for about $25 and do that check on the spot. You have to make sure it slips under the extractor before it chambers, which is fussy but doable. If the bolt closes on the Field gauge, you can’t shoot it, so look for another rifle. My next check is bore condition. Sometimes they are filled with dirt and grime but look pretty good after cleaning. Other times, they are dark and ugly. However, I have seen rifles with ugly bores that shoot well. If the rifling is badly eroded, though, it is a bad sign. I would also make sure it fits into the stock reasonably well and that all of the parts work smoothly. I don’t like it if the bolt rattles when closed or has severe pitting on the bolt face. A trustworthy gunsmith is a good person to know, but plenty of people can buy a good, used gun without help. You probably can, too.

Scopes can be mounted in the conventional position, which does prevent loading with stripper clips. However, most folks prefer that location for their scope. I like the forward Scout mount, as it makes it easier to load quickly and also for a southpaw in that it allows my left hand to reach over the action to run the bolt. If you choose to use a conventional mount, you will probably spend at least $50 to get the holes drilled and tapped. The S&K Scout mounts can be user installed without much hassle, but you give up the rear sight.

Do consider whether you have acquired a collector’s item before making any permanent modifications. If you have one, I would still shoot it, but I would keep it in original condition (or at least able to be returned to its original condition with ease). That is one reason I was okay with buying a hacked up one, as it allows me to modify it as I see fit.

As to the questions of why not just get another AR-15, I have more than one. You can get one of these set up for a lot less less money than an AR. They hit far harder than any .223. Also, they don’t look as scary to the unknowing, so they are acceptable in places that panic over an AR. No, they don’t have the magazine capacity, but if you do your job and get hits, you probably won’t need that many rounds. If you are in the sort of fire fight that does, you are in a world of hurt, even with an AR. I see mine as a good rifle to keep in the car and one that would also serve well for hunting other than in the wide open expanses of the West.

I found a number of web pages useful, both for researching the article as well as learning about my rifle. A good search engine can help too. I like DuckDuckGo because it promises not to track me. However, in these times, you can’t know for sure.

You can try these sites for information and research. Some are forums where you can ask questions, if you register. Wikipedia is also very helpful, and I used it for research as well.

http://www.gunbroker.com/ auction site to find rifles.
http://surplusrifleforum.com/
http://www.k98kforum.com/forum.php
http://www.milsurps.com/forumdisplay.php?f=119
http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?5-The-Military-Mauser-Forum
http://www.mausershooters.org/k98k/SC_tips.html
http://www.mausershooters.org/
http://www.mausershooters.org/k98k/k98kframe.html
http://www.mausershooters.org/k98k/k98kframe.html 7.92
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauser_98
http://www.surplusfirearm.com/

– SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor, Scot Frank Erie

Recipe of the Week: Tuna Pie, by G.B.

For those who enjoy canned tuna sandwiches but despise tuna casseroles, here is the answer to your prayer for canned tuna, extraordinaire. Try it, you’ll like it.

Ingredients:

  • 1 unbaked pie shell
  • 1 (7 1/2 ounce) can of tuna in olive oil, drained and flaked
  • 3 stalks green onion, diced (or use equivalent of any onion on hand )
  • 1 cup finely chopped celery
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped bell pepper, any color (or use jalapeno from your garden)
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup toasted bread crumbs, reserve 2 tablespoons for topping
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, reserve 1/4 cup for topping

Directions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F
  2. Mix 2 tablespoons of reserved bread crumbs with 1/4 cup of reserved cheese.
  3. Stir together other filling ingredients.
  4. Pour into unbaked pie shell.
  5. Top with reserved bread crumb/cheese mixture.
  6. Bake @400 F for 30 minutes, or until center of pie is firm and top of pie is lightly browned.

Serve with salad of your choice.

o o o

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

Letter Re: Mushrooms

Hey Hugh.

I would like to add some personal information to the interesting article on mushrooms. A few years ago my wife was diagnosed with asthma. We quickly learned that the standard medical treatment was not going to work for her.

Our friend at a natural foods store suggested she try a commercially available product called “Breathe”. The capsules contain a combination of mushrooms that apparently help to better or more completely utilize the available oxygen. What sold me was that high altitude climbers use these mushrooms when training for their climb in the thin air.

My wife began to experience dramatic relief from her asthmatic condition, and it was a true blessing to use the Creation for healing. I have never experienced respiratory problems but decided to try the product myself, looking for an edge. At the time I was in my mid 50’s and running a construction project, converting an historic three-story walk-up hotel into condos (really tiny condos). Carrying a load of tools up every day was a real chore, from the start. We all had to pitch in, as these tools included large saws, compressors, et cetera. We were all winded after the first ascent. Once I began my mushroom regimen, I experienced immediate respiratory improvement. After a few days I was passing my crew on the way down catching their breath on the first landing. They were guys half my age. I knew I could DIY with these capsules, so I began search out the best prices I could find. Turns out they were right here in Ohio. They have since moved to Oregon but other than location, nothing has changed re: service and efficiency and still organic. I have no interest in this company other than promoting a small business with a good product. I would suggest trying the “Breathe” product to make your own assessment and then take it where you will.

I order 1# bags of powder and cap them myself.
Reishi
Cordyceps
Maitake
Shiatake
Also, you might want to study up on Suhirotake mushrooms for mitigation of the effects of radiation.
Mushroom Harvest has a good web site. Here is their ph#: 360-452-4258

Yours in Christ, Chris

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“The test of character is not ‘hanging in’ when you expect light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty and persistence of example when you know no light is coming” – former U.S. Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale

Notes for Sunday – January 18, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 56 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 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 then 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 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448.95) 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 $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  7. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 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 Instituteis 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. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  9. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate, and
  10. 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,
  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 Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value).

Round 56 ends on January 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.

Tyranny 101, by M.T. – Part 1

This article is a fairly long read, but given the topic, it’s an extremely valuable endeavor. Tyranny is not to be taken lightly; it is as serious as a heart attack or, more aptly, a nuclear strike on our nation. Everything is on the line these days, whether it’s about you and your family or the entire free world. We must all have the courage to stand firm in the truth and the wisdom to prepare for the inevitable. You need strength to get through the truth of our reality, which is exposed in this article.

Tyranny, can you define it? I can, yet the guilty have already done so by their words and their actions. What is to follow are factual, documented pieces to a picture puzzle that spells out tyranny, in no uncertain terms. In fact, there are no gaps between all the dots; it’s clearly been filled in and spelled out. The following truth must be understood, or freedom everywhere will cease to exist, on our watch.

The following information is true and verifiable; the conclusion is devastating to everyone, let alone anyone who has blinders on. Normalcy bias is a tough jump to reality. It’s as tough as if the woman of your dreams– your virgin bride of two years– was exposed as having been a teenage prostitute. (Furthermore, she liked it and the movies prove it. Or was it your daughter?) Some things are extremely difficult to accept, especially for those who dedicated their very lives, as Americans, to a mission that may have taken a family member’s life, or the life of a fellow soldier or a friend. It’s very difficult and painful to believe that your trusted leaders are actually lying to your face, likely laughing behind your back, and have been for decades.

Patriotism is often used as a tool to keep people in line, under control. Wars fulfill this role quite well; hence the concern that world war three appears be on the near horizon, as the truth and the economy is backing the tyrants into the corner. Those telling the lies, stating that the economy is recovering and that Obama’s economic actions are working, will need a scapegoat when it all comes crashing down. Creating or promoting a war will allow the powers that be, around the world, to blame the war rather than the existing Ponzi scheme that is running its course. All the while, the uninformed sheeple will rally around the government via the dynamics of patriotism. It’s quite possible that our enemies will attack us when we are at our weakest point. Be aware, and prepare for the future; it is not going to go well, no matter the course it takes.

To fully understand the depth of the tyranny as well as to comprehend the picture being painted, one should research the links provided, as that is where the meat of the story lies. Be sure to read the follow up comments, as there is much wisdom to be found from your fellow citizens. The sleeping giant is no longer sleeping.

The evidence presented here is concrete, easily researched, and conclusive. A bullet between the eyes leaves little doubt as to the cause of death, and neither will the evidence presented here need any additional support. It alone is enough to define the tyranny of our government, yet it is but the tip of the tip of the iceberg. If in doubt, research each topic deeply. Beware; the communist trolls are pushing the truth further back on the search pages. Believe it or not, they are paid to do so.

This tyranny began a long time ago.

This link is invaluable to understanding the attempt to create a global market of slavery based on carbon taxation, rooted in an environmental lie (Global Cooling, Global Warming, Climate Change), as well as the fallacy of modern fiat banking and exactly where that is leading (economic collapse). Read this link in its entirety. Hint: the Federal Reserve is privately-owned by the wealthiest families on the planet, and they control our money and destiny for their own enrichment. Imagine owning all of the world’s natural resources, including the land in its entirety, and having a slave base measured in the billions. (It’s pure evil at the end of the day.)

Consider our government’s role in creating the United Nations in 1945. A committee of approximately twenty legislators was responsible. Most were later exposed as communists or communist sympathizers with the Venona Release, Alger Hiss being the most well-known traitor. He led the committee!

Consider the following paragraphs found in this informative link.

The first Secretary General of the U.N., at its founding conference in San Francisco, June 26, 1945, was Soviet espionage agent Alger Hiss. His appointment had been approved by Stalin at the Yalta Conference. Hiss had served as “international organization specialist”. Many Communists were among the American delegation. They drew excellent salaries from the U.S. taxpayers, as is the case today.

Harry Dexter White was the assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Laughlin Currie was the Special Assistant to President Franklin Roosevelt. Lawrence Duggan, Noel Field, Harold Glasser, Irving Kaplan, Nathan Gregory Silvermaster, Victor Perlo, and Julian Wadleigh were pro-Communist operatives, who played major roles in planning the U.N. structure, along with Solomon Adler, Frank Coe, Abraham G. Silverman, William H. Taylor, William L. Ullman, John Carter Vincent, and David Weintraub.

It was agreed that the Undersecretary-General for Political and Security Council Affairs, with direct control over military operations, would always be a Soviet. The U.N. was virtually overrun by Communists, according to Senator James O. Eastland’s testimony to a Senate Committee in 1952.

“I am appalled at the extensive evidence indicating that there is today in the U.N. among the American employees there, the greatest concentration of Communists that this committee has ever encountered,” Senator Eastwood told the committee. “These people occupy high positions. They have very high salaries, and almost all of these people have, in the past, been employees in the U.S. government in high and sensitive positions.”

The U.N. has been described as a “Trojan horse” for Left wing ideology. In 1915, Lenin proposed a “United States of the World”. In 1936, the Communist International proclaimed:

“Dictatorship can be established only by a victory of socialism in different countries after which the proletariat Republics would unite on federal lines with those already in existence, and this system of federal unions would expand…at length forming the World Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.” Today, they (Bush Sr., Bush Jr., the Clinton’s, Obama, Biden, Soros, Bill Gates, Ted Turner, the Pope, and numerous other politicians and world leaders) refer to this in a wanting manner as the “new world order”.

The Venona release vindicated Joe McCarthy. When he was exposing the Soviets subversion of our government, Hollywood, and others, he was humiliated, marginalized, and removed. This is now well known as a Saul Alinsky tactic. With the fall of the Soviet Union, it was established that Joe was right. As a critical thinker, one must realize those Soviet sympathizers remained in their positions of power and influence. In fact, they rose up the ladder of power and position, and they recruited more and more comrades in their endeavor to bring America to its knees via the infamous “fifth column”. Just as Kruschev and Stalin stated, they would defeat America without firing a shot. He knew what McCarthy knew. The Soviets had infiltrated our government, the military, the media, Hollywood, education, the courts, the church, labor, defense corporations, et cetera. This is why our presidents mention this new world order so fondly. This is why we are exactly where we are this day– on the verge of collapse and chaos. Our plight is not due to an inept bureaucracy; it’s intentional. It’s treason.

Let’s go back to the United Nations, which was created by Communist infiltraitors within our government who to take control of the world, simultaneously conquering America. In 1961 our state department (think entrenched communists) wrote the plan called “Freedom from War” for the UN to implement. It was designed to disarm the world’s peoples and militaries, establish a police state in every nation state, and transition all nations to international law that is established and enforced by an ever-growing UN. America would become but one of the many regions that the UN would fully control, losing all sovereignty. The Constitution would be extinct along with those unalienable rights. We, the people, would no longer be free, as our Republic would be destroyed. A new world order would supplant every nation’s sovereignty. Instead of a world based on individual freedom, we would have a world based on collectivist slavery, a world of two classes– the elite and their slaves.

Is this not tyranny? Is this a government of, by, and for the people? I think not. (Feeling queasy yet?) The leaders of this nation have thrown the people under the bus. That’s .0000000666 + or – percent of the population we call leaders/politicians/fascists and communists that are responsible for intentionally destroying this country. Will we stand by and allow them to succeed? I will reiterate that this plan, as outlined in “Freedom From War” (FFW), is true and is easily researched. THIS WAS AND IS TYRANNY TO THE MAX!

Notice this very important statement in FFW for those who might say, this is old news and not viable today: “The negotiating states are called upon to develop the program into a detailed plan for general and complete disarmament and to continue their efforts without interruption, until the whole program has been achieved.” This is embedded in “Freedom From War”. We see this reality developing, as America is virtually the last “free” nation with a population that is still armed. Since this plan was implemented, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, China, and a host of third world countries have seen the population disarmed and most militaries weakened. For all practical purposes, we are the last and the most difficult free nation left to disarm.

Here are a few, recent examples that reinforce our government’s subversion: The ongoing effort to supplant the Second Amendment with the UN Small Arms Treaty, as well as the Assault Weapons Ban, which pertains directly to the citizens. They must disarm America’s citizens. We are a very formidable force, as a whole. If they can’t, they are very likely to nuke the country as a justifiable alternative to gain world dominance. Don’t underestimate their resolve to achieve their ends. To them, it’s better to take America intact, but to sacrifice the infrastructure is a short-term loss compared to a long-term gain and is acceptable and preferable to failure.

Recently our government gave Lebanon two hundred armored personnel vehicles, and Egypt received two hundred of our M1 Abrams tanks and twenty F-16 jets. Obama, via executive order, just pledged Russia 700 million tax dollars to purchase helicopters for Afghanistan, superseding congress, the rule of law, and any monetary gain for our own aviation industry. Sequestration, by design, was to hurt the military. Benghazi was an arms running scheme; we were and are arming Anti-American Muslim terrorists. When we toppled Libya, close to twenty thousand shoulder-fired anti aircraft weapons and an arsenal of military arms and ammo ended up in terrorist control. It all adds up to the fact that the administration is undermining our military and this nation on every front, while simultaneously arming those dedicated to destroying our only ally in the Middle East– Israel. Consider our government’s influence in destabilizing the Middle East last year and recently in Syria. Consider the growth and use of the UN “Peacekeepers” as laid out in the FFW document.

We have seen the war on drugs become the vehicle to bring about the police state, escalating to the point that SWAT teams have become paramilitary units throughout America and the world. We have seen Posse Comitatus swept aside, as the military takes to the streets through out the nation in times of “emergency”, setting precedent of disarming law-abiding citizens during Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. We see a Homeland Security Metropolitan Police Force taking shape throughout the country, and we watch this on the boob tube reality shows nightly, conditioning the population to accept unconstitutional police overreach. We have heard the president call for a civilian defense force stronger and better funded than the military as they arm America’s police force with surplus military equipment. The NSA is tracking you digitally, through vast camera systems and RFID technology. Again, you need not ask why; it’s the police state mentioned in FFW. It’s TYRANNY!, and it’s going to get much worse. Wait till Obamacare’s teeth are exposed!

We are seeing our government concede to international law that is highly destructive to our Republic for no gains in return.

These two links are priceless for understanding it’s not about helping the less fortunate; it’s about destroying America and making us a third world country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPjzfGChGlE

http://www.porthuronteaparty.com/webapp/p/256/suicide-by-immigration.html

Informed military men and women see the government attacking and weakening the armed forces at every turn; the rules of engagement and the insane government intrusion in fighting wars over the last six decades have been and are exponentially increasing the danger and detriment to the forces and their mission. Face it; the government uses the military as pawns, with little moral or defensive concerns. The military has been infiltrated and is being destroyed from within. Key officers are being relieved of duty at an alarming rate. Soldiers are quizzed if they will shoot American citizens today. Those that say “yes” are directed to certain programs.

Some other very important pieces of the puzzle are the NDAA– National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 and 2013. In these and a host of executive orders, the government has given themselves the “legal right” to incarcerate anyone in the U.S. without any legal rights whatsoever. The detainee is given no right to a lawyer, and those involved have no mandate to even tell anyone that someone is in custody. They have made it legal to lie to the population via a complicit media and the leftist bastions of Hollywood, based solely on propaganda to further the new world order. They wrote themselves the legal right to lie to the citizens of this nation in NDAA 2013. All media is now suspect and can’t be trusted to tell the truth. A poll is of no value, other than as propaganda, to the ill informed. Just as market reports sighting positive statistics are usually proven wrong, for a reason. They lie consistently, but most sheeple absorb the information and actually believe it. This is complicit, conspiratorial TREASON!

The office of the president has established the right, via executive orders, to call a state of emergency without telling anyone, even Congress, why. In this state of emergency, they have made it legal to declare martial law; confiscate all food, fuel, vehicles, money, savings accounts, gold, guns, ammo, homes, farms, livestock, equipment, and literally anything and everything you own; and even force citizens to relocate and be placed to work in work camps. Did you get that? This is all found in the National Resources Preparedness Act. They ignore our unalienable rights under God and the Republic in totality. Why would they write these unconstitutional laws? This is TYRANNY. NEED YOU SEE MORE? THIS IS TRUE, AS IS EVERYTHING ELSE HERE.

Yet, consider today’s Democrat party, also known as Liberals and Progressives, who speak of and act toward spreading the wealth and social justice. Both are major tenets to the socialist party, which is nothing but the precursor to communism. They no longer hide who they are. By the way, the Republican Party is full of them, too; they just call them RINO’s. The two parties are just two sides of the same coin. Good cop bad cop is their routine. If the media or other entrenched politicians do not expose the tyranny, they are either complicit, corrupt, or cowards. The recent Senate decision to transition from a sixty percent vote to a simple majority will allow the current “administraitors” to fill the courts with judges who will assist in the tyranny. If the courts are fully subverted, is there any hope of putting a check on tyranny? If they get away with this so easily, what’s next? It’s all by design. The first judge Obama put in place has the responsibility of determining if a law is constitutional or not. Isn’t that the fox guarding the hen house? Wake up folks!

Recognize that our economic plight is not by chance. The manufacturing base did not move overseas for the weather. No, the government intentionally made regulations that forced them to; it’s called “globalism”. Our eighteen trillion-dollar debt and unfunded liabilities in the hundred and twenty trillion-dollar area is not by accident, nor was the foreclosure crises. Today, they are stealing the wealth of virtually everyone, and it’s going to jump even more dramatically with Obamacare, as we see rates doubling and tripling. Recognize the health care industry is no less than fifteen percent of our economy; when it fails, it guarantees the demise of this nation. Do you think it’s by accident that it’s failing?

It’s often been said, we have the soapbox, the ballot box, and then very reluctantly the ammo box to address the issues. Let’s consider this train of thought for a minute. The jury box is comprised of the general, dumbed-down population and a nation proven to be without the rule of law; hence there’s vacancy here, though one could argue that we, “the informed jury”, will rule some day.)

It’s time to look inward for courage and outward for allies. Thankfully, they are more numerous than flies on a carcass, which is something else we all better prepare for, both mentally and physically. Historically, disease is the leading cause of death in war-ravaged areas. (Stock antiseptics, hand cleaner, and pest control products.)

Consider that the U.S. Army is soliciting jobs for “internment camp specialists”, controlling prisoners based on social security numbers, with red and blue as another definitive marker. Soldiers are also asked if they will shoot Americans.

It’s interesting that the mantra of this link states that there is no left or right; there is only tyranny or freedom. That’s so true. Today, we have two parties, just as there are two sides of the same coin; heads you loose and tails they win. It’s a sideshow to keep you busy. Politics, as seen on Fox, MSNBC, or CNN, is nothing but a mechanism to keep you neutralized. These people are not stupid, nor are we. It’s treason.

If the media does not call it what it is, they are part of the fifth column, or is it the fourth branch of government? It’s that simple. It’s that transparent. There is no excuse for them to ignore the tyranny at this point. We expect them to call a spade a spade; that’s all we ask. Yet, why do none dare call it full-blown treason?

I’ve shared all of this, and I did not mention the Bilderbergers, The Council on Foreign Relations, the Tri Lateral Commission, the Bohemian Grove, or Skull n Bones! Hint: Men do conspire to enrich themselves and subjugate others. All these organizations warrant deep research. Conspiracy theories are fully-exposed today. Every one of the above-named organizations work toward a goal that affects the people of this nation and the planet in dark, dark ways.

Letter: Flying

Hugh,

I have to fly to the east coast soon for work. I am already feeling naked with the thought of not having a good pocket knife and pistol on my person. Is there a good tactical pen or something along that lines that I can legally carry on a plane? Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks! – M.B.

Hugh Responds: The airlines will let you fly with both pistol and knife in your checked baggage. Check with each airline for their requirements. Usually, it consists of a checked, hard-sided, and lockable case. You are not required to have TSA locks, but be available to the TSA to unlock your case because they will probably want to inspect it. Needless to say, you will have to declare it to the airlines at check in, and you should allow yourself some extra time to get through the TSA inspection and security.

Don’t forget to check the applicable laws in the state where you are traveling to. You may need special permits, and you might not be able to carry, depending upon the local laws of the state you are traveling to.

You may also expose the serial number of your firearm to law enforcement record-keeping. (This is something that bothers alot of people.)

I have flown several times with both pistol and AR-15. Do not have the ammo loaded in the pistol. You can have the ammo and pistol in the same box usually but not in a loaded condition. The ammo usually has to be in an original packaging container or similar purpose-designed holder. I have had problems with loaded magazines, too. You just never know. You will end up with totally clueless people looking your rigs over, and if you get a gun control freak as an inspector, you may have issues. If that is the case, keep calm and make sure you have met all of the airline’s regulations, and you will make it through.

Jim Adds: That has been addressed several times in the blog. Just search on “traveling and tonfa”, with our search box.

Economics and Investing:

U. S. Mint American Eagle Silver Bullion Coin Purchases Soared to Record High in 2014 – J.W.

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No Inflation Unless You Eat Food, Use Water, Live In A House Or Apartment, Heat Your Home, Get Sick, Travel, Pay Car Insurance, Go To School, Mail Letters, Or Do Your Taxes. – RBS

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Wall street banks trying to secure themselves for the collapse? . – A.M.

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Price of Electricity Hit Record High in U.S. in 2014. – G.G.

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Items from Mr. Econocobas:

IRS Threatens Service Cuts as First ObamaCare Tax Season Looms– Is this supposed to be some kind of threat?!?

Odds ‘n Sods:

For those who miss the Great Revivals of the past, R.G. sent in the link to a powerful message on YouTube. It is well worth the six minutes of your time required to listen to it. It is a huge regret of mine that my children have not experienced the spiritual revival of a church in their lifetime.

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Civil forteifure seizures to be halted without proving a crime has occurred. – RBS
Of course this is Eric Holder we are talking about here. Did anyone else have that instinctive urge to reach around and feel for the knife in your back after reading this? – HJL

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“None of this will end……..until Islam has been forcibly expelled from the continent for the third time.” – RBS

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Showing that supply chain disruptions can be as much a catastrophe for the producers as well as the consumers, Valley nut, citrus exports halted in port dispute

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Courtesy of The Daily Sheeple: Spoon Carving with an Ax

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Bench Dogs for under a buck! Don’t know what those are? Perhaps you need to watch Wranglerstar’s new video

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep?” Matthew 12:11-12a (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – January 17, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 56 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 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 then 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 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448.95) 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 $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  7. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 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 Instituteis 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. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  9. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate, and
  10. 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,
  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 Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value).

Round 56 ends on January 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.

The Benefits of Preparedness When All Is Well, by WLC

Recently, I came across a website for ex-Mormons who were lamenting the time, effort, and money they sunk into fulfilling the church’s teaching of long-term food storage.

There were many stories of throwing out large amounts of expired food, both for themselves and deceased relatives. Of course, the faithful in the Mormon Church will tell you that if you have to throw out expired food, whether you have ever experienced an emergency or not, you have not been doing it right. You should, for example, already be grinding your own wheat and making your own bread. You shouldn’t wait for the grid to fall before you start doing that.

I have to say that I haven’t gotten around to grinding my own wheat yet on regular basis, but otherwise I have fallen into a pretty good routine of using the stuff I have stored before it goes bad. Still, the ex-Mormons’ comments had me thinking whether I would someday look back and regret the time, effort, and money that I have spent on emergency preparedness. What if nothing ever happens that leads to me really needing a hand-cranked wheat grinder to survive or breaking out an AR-15 to defend my home?

My answer is that even though the biggest emergency I have experienced is the occasional brief power outage, my preparedness efforts have already benefited me in more ways than I can probably enumerate. One of my first efforts was putting an emergency bag in my car. Almost immediately, I found that I was using it. I would need to cut something, and there in my bag would be a knife. If I cut myself, I would have a bandage, or I might be stuck somewhere waiting and get hungry or thirsty; there would be some food and water in the bag. I also had a change of clothes, which proved useful on many occasions when I tore or soiled some clothes that would otherwise have required that I go back home to change. Additionally, my job would sometimes send me out of town overnight at a moment’s notice, and with my bag, I didn’t have to go home and get anything. So, with my regular use of the emergency bag, my first problem that I had to deal with was making sure I kept my supplies in my bag from running out.

Keeping up a good food supply at home has been extremely valuable and has saved a lot of money, although I did throw out some food early on before I became acutely aware of expiration dates. Now I am fairly obsessed with expiration dates. Any grocery item I buy, whether it is to be for long-term storage or not, I check the expiration date. I have discovered that some stores sell items that have already been on the shelves for too long and have a far shorter expiration date than you would expect. I’ve learned going to a higher volume store, like Walmart, can usually fetch better dates. Even for items like milk and bread, I’ve learned that if you check toward the back of the shelf, you can usually get a better date. As a single person, that’s important for me because it’s hard for me to use up a loaf of bread or gallon of milk before it goes bad. The benefit to my emergency preparedness efforts is that I have reduced waste and saved money that I can put toward buying longer term food items.

It used to be that if I came home after a hard days work and realized I had nothing in the fridge or freezer that would make a meal, I would order pizza or go back out and pick up some fast food. However, I now always have something I can put together to make a meal, and a pretty good one at that. For single people, this also comes in handy if you are sick and have no one to look after you.

I have learned a lot about guns. I used to be one of “those” who didn’t see a need for a gun and, frankly, was a little scared to have a gun in the house. However, once I bought a 9 mm, learned some safety guidelines, and fired it at a range a few times, I became very comfortable with it. I began to see that a gun is not going to fire itself and, if you aren’t an idiot, a gun is not going to harm you.

Spending on guns, however, still bothered me, because I knew I would use the food regardless, but what if I never need the gun? The thing is, if you take care of a gun, it will last pretty much forever, and it will keep its value. The guns I see for sale in the pawn shop don’t look much cheaper than new ones. So, in addition to home protection, a gun can be a way of converting paper money that could become worthless into something tangible that would become exponentially more valuable in a grid down situation. I used to scoff at people who had large gun collections, because it seems to me about four or five would cover most any scenario and you can only shoot one at a time. Dual wielding might be fun in a video game, but I don’t think it’s the best tactical choice in real life. If we are left to fend for ourselves, there will probably be no better barter item than a gun.

I live in a sketchy neighborhood, and my home was broken into twice. That was in my pre-emergency preparedness days. No one has broken into my house since, which has been about four years now. If they did, they would be making a very bad choice, I guarantee you, especially if I am home at the time, but even if I am not.

Just to cite one example of improved security, which cost only about $30, was putting in a pet door. Before the burglary, I left my dog in the back yard while I was away. However, the last time I was burglarized, the intruder came in through a front window, so my dog had no way to stop him. Now, if anyone approaches the front of my house and makes any noise, a living burglar alarm will go off from inside.

I also improved my home security team by adding a second dog. If you are allergic to dogs or just can’t have one for some reason, spend about three or four bucks for some “Beware of the dog” signs. Even in a desperate time, I would bet that any intruder would see that and be inclined to pick another house.

Some people may envision that they will be hunkered down in their home or retreat when the grid is down or have a crew to stand guard if venturing out is required. However, I think a more likely future scenario than all-out anarchy is that crime will get a lot worse. Regardless, you will still, in that case, have some incorruptible canine guards for the house while you are away, which will be invaluable.

I have learned many useful skills, such as making my own laundry soap. This soap costs a fraction of buying it and works just as well. I have not bought commercial laundry soap in more than three years, probably saving myself at least $200. I probably spend less time making it than I would by actually going to the store to buy it every time I need it. I make it by grating up a bar of Fels Naptha soap and boiling it in water until to dissolves. Then I put about four gallons of water in a five-gallon bucket, add the soap, add a cup of washing soda, and add a cup of Borax. Let it sit overnight, and you’ve got about four and half gallons of laundry detergent for the cost of about $2.

When I first started doing this, Borax was the only one of ingredients I could find in a store. I ordered the soap and washing soda through the local Ace Hardware. Now I have noticed all three ingredients are now available at my small neighborhood grocery store, as well as the larger Krogers farther away. If you can’t find it, I would try checking somewhere like Ace, where they can have it shipped without charge. You can buy it straight from online, but the shipping costs would reduce your savings. It’s funny to me when I see people showing videos online of their stored items and they have all these commercial laundry soap containers taking up space when they could buy these ingredients, store them in a five-gallon bucket, and probably have a lifetime supply.

Overall, the greatest benefit of emergency preparedness is that I have become a more forward-thinking person. My job requires me to go certain places and have certain things, and previously I would not always have all the things I needed. However, I now think farther ahead and don’t wait until I get there to see that I don’t have something. For example, just this past weekend I took a few moments to check my car’s spare tire to make sure it was pumped up and to make sure the jack and all its parts were in working order. Five years ago, I would have been checking that only when I was broken down on the side of the road with a flat tire.

Another thing I did early on, which cost nothing, was storing up water in my house. I buy orange juice in clear plastic bottles, and whenever one gets empty, I clean it, fill it with water, and stash it somewhere in the house. It wasn’t very long after I started doing it that I woke up one morning and there was no water. I found out later there had been a problem with the line nearby and the city was working on it. I was lamenting that I was going to have to go to work without a shower or brushing my teeth, when I suddenly remembered I had a stash of water. So I was able to wash up in the sink and brush before I left. This made for a much better day at work.

Perhaps most important, I have become a healthier person. I believe one of the most overlooked aspects of gridless survival is physical fitness. It’s going to take a lot of work to survive. When the grid is down, I would put my money on a physically fit person who has done nothing to prepare over an obese person with a houseful of guns and food. Although I can’t say it has been entirely the reason, the thought of trying to survive in an anarchist environment has definitely been a motivator in the fact that I have quit smoking, quit drinking, and started working out almost daily.

I could keep going, but I will sum it by saying that having a preparedness mindset has changed my life quite a bit for the better. I am grateful to the many people who have posted informative YouTube videos, blogs such as this one, and written books. I know many people think we sit around fearing the future, but I feel very much the contrary. I feel better about the future every time I do something to be more ready for it. Putting effort into ensuring that you survive is a sign of good mental health, because it means you have a love of life, even if it gets bad.