Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“For libertarians, freedom entails the right of people to live their lives any way they choose, so long as their conduct is peaceful. For conservatives, freedom entails the right of government to do just about anything it wants, even if its conduct is violent.” – Jacob Hornberger

Notes for Sunday – November 02, 2014

Just a reminder about SurvivalBlog’s Contest: If you have submitted an article and it did not win one of the top three prizes, you can still submit another article to the contest this year, even if you won an honorable mention. If you submitted and won one of the top three prizes over a year ago, you can submit again and be eligible now. If you have been putting it off, get busy and get that article in. Who knows, you could be one of the winners of over $12,000 worth of prizes.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 55 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 hardcase 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 1 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 Warehouseis providing 30 DMPS 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.
  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. RepackBoxis 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. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208, and
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  8. SurvivalBased.com is donating a $500 gift certificate to their store.
  9. Montie Gearis donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack. (a $379 value).

Round 55 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Taking Care of Your Feet When the SHTF, by J.C.

One January when I was a Boy Scout, my troop and I went camping in Missouri to participate in an event known as “Trappers’ Rendezvous,” an annual gathering of around 6,000 Boy Scouts to trade (almost) anything, from folding knives and rabbit pelts to books and video games. This was an experience I’m very grateful to have had, as I learned not only a lot about bartering (something every serious survivalist should learn) but also a lot about caring for my extremities in cold weather. The thing about Missouri in the winter is…it’s cold! Now that I live in Colorado, I laugh at myself for thinking -6 degrees Fahrenheit at night is bad. (Where I live it gets down to -17 at night in January.) However, back then that was the coldest weather I’d camped in. That weekend our campsite was covered in several inches of snow and I (contrary to the Boy Scout motto) was not prepared for it. I had enough layers––long underwear, a couple of breathable shirts, a jacket, and a heavy coat––but for footwear I only had a pair of canvas hiking shoes that were water resistant but, as anyone who has gone hiking in water-resistant shoes or boots already knows, they were not waterproof. Water resistant pretty much means that if you step in a puddle and quickly step out of it your shoes won’t be completely soaked.

In addition to being unprepared in regards to footwear, I had only one pair of thin, acrylic gloves that I had bought from Walmart for a few dollars. Acrylic is not a bad material. (It’s actually pretty comfortable, and it’s great for spring hiking and camping.) However, for winter camping, something a bit more heavy duty, like mittens or two pair of gloves (a thin inner pair and a thick, polyester or neoprene outer pair, if you decide to wear gloves) is ideal.

After setting up camp that night, my hands and feet were, understandably, quite cold. Luckily, I had on wool socks, so I guess I did do something right. That night, I climbed into my mummy bag, shivering, and tried to go to sleep. My feet were, as one might expect, frozen. I had packed a few hand warmers (air- or shake-activated packets which produce heat), so I dropped one in each of my socks and, within a few minutes, my feet had regained feeling and warmed up to a comfortable temperature. The next morning my feet and hands were cold again, so I used two more pairs of hand warmers––one in each sock and one in each glove––to get me through the morning. Anyone who has been camping in the winter knows that you’re coldest in the morning when the sun has not risen yet; your hands and feet are stiff and numb. You haven’t eaten yet, so your body is burning fewer calories than usual, resulting in a lower amount of heat production, and your sweat has frozen to your hair during the night. If I haven’t made myself clear, I highly recommend that you keep hand warmers in your bug out bag. They’re small, lightweight, and a lifesaver when your hands and feet are numb and you need feeling in them fast.

By Sunday I was out of hand warmers, and my shoes and socks were drenched. We had loaded up our trailers with our gear, including my duffle bag, which contained my only dry pair of socks. Being the twelve-year-old boy that I was, I didn’t ask for help, thinking that asking for help would somehow be a “weak” thing to do. Frankly, this was really stupid of me. If you need help and have the ability to get it, by all means get help! There was no point in putting myself in danger when I could have easily asked for a dry pair of socks from one of the scoutmasters.

My feet became increasingly colder until I felt a very strong burning sensation. Based on my knowledge of frostbite, I had the feeling that if I didn’t get somewhere warm ASAP I was going to lose my toes. Instead of asking for help though, I (foolishly) decided to wait the few hours until we left camp. This brings me to another very important principle to remember: Do everything you can to insure your survival; don’t wait on others to help you. For me that would’ve been as simple as asking to go inside one of the cars to warm my feet up. In a SHTF scenario, that usually means relying on your skills and supplies instead of waiting for FEMA or the National Guard to assist you. If help comes, great, but don’t count on it. If you have to wait on someone else to save you, you’re as good as dead.

To conclude my story, after we left camp my feet regained their feeling in the heated car. I hope none of you ever get into that situation, but if you do remember to quickly remove your socks and shoes; if you don’t already have frostbite, warm your feet up. Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes and take the following precautions to protect your feet in a SHTF scenario.

1. Keep Your Feet Clean and Dry

This one’s pretty obvious. If you’ve ever picked up a book on hiking or camping, you’ve probably run into a paragraph or two on keeping your feet dry. It seems pretty simple to do––just don’t step in any water, right? Well, not exactly. Your feet are more likely to get wet from your own sweat– something you’ll be producing a lot of if you’re hiking much– which is quite probable if it’s TEOTWAWKI. Sadly, there’s nothing you can do to keep your feet from sweating. However, you can keep the sweat your feet produce from sticking to your skin (something you definitely don’t want, as wet feet are much more likely to get frostbite and form blisters). You should wear wicking fabrics that “wick away the perspiration from your body to the outer layer of the fabric where it can easily evaporate, helping you to stay dry and comfortable.”1 For socks, the best wicking fabric is merino wool, which you can buy from any Army Surplus or camping store.

That’s great that wool socks wick away your sweat, but how do you keep water from the outside (like rain and snow) from getting your feet wet? Your best option is to buy waterproof boots. Just remember that “waterproof footwear will keep the moisture out as long as the water doesn’t spill over the top edge,”2 so your feet will still get wet if you decide to go wading through water that is over your boots. Another option is to use leather boots that have been treated with moisture repellent. In addition to that, you could use waterproof boot covers, which are kind of like ponchos for your hiking boots.

If you find yourself in a situation like the one I was in, where you are unprepared for the elements, you can always improvise. One thing that I’ve done to keep my feet dry is wear plastic bags over my socks. The down side to this is it tends to make your feet sweat more, but if you’re wearing wool socks this shouldn’t make too big of a difference. You could also make your own boot covers out of a couple of trash bags; just be sure to cut a place for the sole of your shoe or boot to stick out to retain the grip of your footwear.

It’s equally important to keep your feet clean. Wash them at least once a day and remember to properly trim your toenails. You do not want to have an ingrown toenail during TEOTWAWKI!

2. Carry Extra Socks

Socks get wet. It just happens. That’s why it’s necessary to have several pairs of socks that you can change into throughout the day. Don’t wait for your current pair to become drenched in sweat; change your socks frequently and be sure to wash the dirt and grime out of your used pairs. Store all of your socks in ziplock bags (or other waterproof bags) and keep an extra pair of socks with you (in a coat pocket or in a day bag) so that, if you’re separated from your gear, you won’t lack clean socks.

At night, if you’re camping, throw your wet socks in the bottom of your sleeping bag. Your body heat will dry them out by morning.

3. Wear a Pair of Boots That Fit

Besides wearing footwear that will keep water out, you should make sure that your boots are well-fitted to your feet. There are a lot of factors to take into account when buying hiking boots (i.e., climate and terrain of the area where you’ll be hiking), so here are just a few essentials to consider:

  • Are these boots too wide? If they are too wide, your feet will move around inside of them, which can cause blisters to form.
  • Are these too narrow? If they are too narrow, your feet may become cramped and circulation could be cut off.
  • Where is your toe relative to the boot. If your toe is too close to the tip of the boot, it will rub against it when you’re walking down hill, which I can tell you from experience is not the most pleasant feeling. Also make sure your toe isn’t too far from the tip of the boot, as this will cause your foot to shift uncomfortably inside the boot, also causing blisters to form.

There isn’t any “one-size-fits-all” formula for finding the right pair of hiking boots, so the best way to discover what works for you is to go to your nearest outdoors store and try walking around in several pairs. If you don’t like it in the store, you won’t like it when the SHTF and you have to hike 25 miles to get to your bug out location. Buy a pair of boots that work for you and remember to break them in. Don’t put your boots on the shelf until you need them. Use them now. They won’t do you any good if they’re too stiff to use when the time comes.

Recommendations

Below is a list of inexpensive clothing and gear that I recommend you add to your bug out bag:

  • Several pairs of merino wool socks (at least 4 pairs).
  • Hand warmers. (Six pair should be enough for a couple of days, but you may want more depending on how long it will take you to get to your bug out location). Make sure they last at least 10 hours.
  • Trash bags, ziplock bags, ponchos, and other material that can be used to waterproof your boots, should the need arise.
  • Optional: Buy a pair of waterproof boots if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow during the winter.

Conclusion

I’ve found that it’s more fun to read or write about guns or turning your home into an impenetrable fortress than it is to write about taking care of your feet, but sometimes it’s necessary to discuss the little things (like carrying an extra pair of socks) that can make the difference between life and death. Most beginning preppers want to get right to the “fun” stuff– guns, hunting, building a bug out location, et cetera–, but, as any experienced survivalist will tell you, it’s more important to learn how to start a fire or use a knife properly than it is to learn how to fight off an army of gang members. If you don’t know the basics (how to filter water, for instance), it doesn’t matter how many guns you have, you’ll die. I encourage you to examine your preps and make sure you’re well-rounded in each area of preparedness. Remember, it’s the little things that will kill you if you let them, so don’t let them.

Letter Re: Requesting Advice for a Recent College Graduate

Hi HJL,

I need some advice on what I should do next, and I am sure that many of the young college graduates who are reading your site are in a similar predicament. Here is the back story. I graduated from a university with about 80K in student loans– 52K in state and 28K in federal. I was very blessed to get a great job out of college working for my alma mater as a researcher making about 47K (pretax). I live at home and commute to work (1.5 hours each way), and now I am going back to graduate school for almost free. The federal loans are deferred and I am making the minimum payments. I am also trying to actively build my supply stockpile. My aim is to have a minimum of 6 months worth of supplies of basic food, ammo, medical supplies, and some comm equipment. I know that having such high financial liabilities is terrible, but I also know that I need to have some supplies for the coming crisis that will certainly occur.

I have four options for the road ahead, as far as I can tell.

  • Option 1: Divert all funds to my loans and get them paid off ASAP.
  • Option 2: Make the minimum payments and focus on supplies.
  • Option 3: Pay off my Federal immediately, then build supplies as I make minimum payments on my state loan.
  • Option 4: Get to the 6-month threshold and then attack my debt (federal first, then state) with all available funds.

I think (and here is where I would like some guidance) that Option 4 is the right path and is my current choice, but what do you think? Do you put a higher value on getting supplies first or financial freedom? Is there another option I have yet to think of? Thanks for any and all advice.

Respectfully, Patriot in Occupied NJ

P.S. And of course knowledge is free, so I have gotten many of the suggested books and plan to start reading through them in and around my graduate studies.

Hugh Replies: The college debt bubble is one of the largest and most damaging debt bubbles on the horizon. While it’s too late for your situation, others may learn from your situation. I highly recommend several resources for folks who are thinking about debt as an option to fund education:

These three resources give you a plethora of information about how the college system is financially rigged as a money maker for universities and how they enslave young people who might otherwise have avoided the debt/slave paradigm that has a stranglehold on the world at the moment. Having spent a good portion of my career as a high school teacher of Physics, I saw first hand how the “god” of higher education was pushed upon all students. I personally hold two engineering undergraduate degrees, one masters degree, and a number of “certificates” from extensive schooling. I did get caught up in the debt tangle and spent many years untangling myself. However, in all that time, in all the positions I have held, not once did anyone ever look at one of my transcripts or degrees (except for the FBI in their background checks, but that is another story) and not one job has ever been dependent on anything other than what I learned on my own.

For those who are considering college, know that nobody cares where most of your schooling occurs. The prestige is based upon where you graduated from. Take as many credits as you can at a local community college, CLEP test out of anything you can, transfer into the school of your choice as late as possible, and if nothing else, avoid the debt at all cost. If you are not sure what you want out of college, the answer is simple– don’t go! Don’t spend the money, at least not until you have a clue what you want out of it.

As you have realized, that $80,000 of debt is like a millstone around your neck while you are trying to swim. You will not be able to discharge it either. I think you answered your own question best: Get out of that debt as quickly as possible! You can still prep on a smaller scale, but I would put the bulk of my resources in eliminating the school loan debt.

Economics and Investing:

It Will Take 6.25 BILLION “Man Years” To Pay Off Federal Government Liabilities: “A Mathematical Impossibility”. – B.B.

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4 Basic Truths to Help You Navigate the Financial News

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World War I ended 96 years ago but Britain is just starting to pay off its debt . – G.P.

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The Wrath of Draghi: First German Bank Hits Savers with Negative Interest Rate . – CJB

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Chicago Bank Largest to Fail in 2014. – G.G.

Odds ‘n Sods:

An interesting look at Ebola: Math Just Is. – K.H.

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SurvivalBlog’s Field Gear Editor, Scot Eire, is curious if any readers have had a time-keeping device like this Dipleidoscope. If you are aware of this product or a similar product, shoot us an email.

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What a surprise: State of Maine Document Reports Kaci Hickoxâs Roommate in Africa Developed Ebola. – T.P.

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Another reason I don’t use smart phones: Somebody’s Already Using Verizon’s ID to Track Users. – G.G.

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For those following the Sharyl Attkisson ordeal, a video has now been released showing the computer being activated and used by “unknowns” to delete information.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” – Luke 2:29-32 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – November 01, 2014

November 1st, 1923, was the birthday of science fiction writer Gordon R. Dickson (born 1923, died January 31, 2001). Many of his novels and short stories, such as Wolf and Iron, have survivalist themes. November 1st is also the birthday of economist Martin A. Armstrong. For many years he was a prisoner of conscience, in part because he refused to turn over his proprietary trading algorithms to Federal prosecutors. After seven years in prison without a trial, the longest Federal incarceration for contempt in American history, Armstrong was finally put on trial in a proceeding that was branded as a sham. He was convicted on securities fraud charges based upon some marginal testimony and given a five year sentence. He was released from prison in September of 2011. Notably, Armstrong continued to write his economics newsletter while in prison, producing most of the issues on a prison library typewriter.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 55 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 hardcase 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 1 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 Warehouseis providing 30 DMPS 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.
  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. RepackBoxis 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. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208, and
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  8. SurvivalBased.com is donating a $500 gift certificate to their store.
  9. Montie Gearis donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack. (a $379 value).

Round 55 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Slimming Down, by Dan from Alaska

No, this is not an article on weight loss, though it should be; I need to take off a bunch of pounds. It’s more about how I readjusted my lifestyle and budget after a loss of a paycheck. Both my wife and I have been working steadily since our teens, and I consider us to not be rich, per se, but in the comfortably middle class. We have been married for the past 10 years, and we both met each other at work. That is when I first heard the moniker, DINK– Dual Income No Kids.

As I stated, we lived comfortable though it wasn’t lavish. We tried to just live off one paycheck, while the other one went into savings. We bought most items in full and tried not to get into more debt, as the mortgage is more than enough! That being said, I wasn’t out buying a new car every year or having caviar for lunch, but I was afflicted with the man disease of “if it’s sharp, shiny, or goes boom then I must have it”!

Then last year we got blessed with a baby girl. Now, by itself having a baby is a budget changer, but also having a spouse stay home and raise that baby is a different twist altogether. We made lists, rewrote budgets, prayed, and contemplated what we should do. We made the decision to have my wife stay home and raise our child instead of throwing money at a daycare. This was the best decision we have ever made, and my wife is absolutely loving her new job title of Mother!

Now comes the slimming down part. How does one cut back on a lifestyle that you are so use to? How does that effect your prepping? I did what most people probably have done many times before; I cut back on the most frivolous stuff first. I got a library card and cut out the hundreds of dollars going to Amazon for books and movies. I took more “brown bag” lunches to work, instead of going out to eat so much. Then I looked at one of my other big bills– ammo.

My current career field has me wearing a pistol, and within my career I worked my way into becoming a Firearms Instructor. So, needless to say, I shoot quite a bit. I’m a very firm believer that shooting is a perishable product; I can really see that when I compare all the people I qualify who take it seriously and practice versus the others who don’t take it serious and are just there to barely qualify in order to keep their job.

So, I crunched some numbers and figured that I shoot roughly a 1000 rounds a month through both my AR and Glock, which equates to about $600 a month. That being said, I don’t really feel that I’m practicing enough. So, a while back I purchased a SIRT pistol from Next Level Training and used it for dry fire practice at home. Pat did an excellent review of the SIRT and so I’m not going to try to elaborate more on the subject, but I want to reaffirm how the SIRT pistol and AR bolt are excellent training tools. Now that I’m looking at finances, it occurred to me that I really wasn’t using my SIRT pistol to its fullest potential. This is what I did.

I came up with drills that I did on the range and incorporated them into drills in my garage with targets taped on the back of the garage door. I now have a 7 yard, 4 lane, indoor range for my SIRT pistol. Here are just some of the pistol drills I did regularly on the range:

  • Hammer drill: Two rounds to center mass from the holster, scan for threats, reholster.
  • Body Armor drill: Two rounds to center mass, one to the head/pelvis from the holster, scan for threats, reholster.
  • Combat Reload drill: Load two rounds in all magazines, shoot one magazine until empty, reload pistol with fresh magazine focusing on techniques (elbows down, drop empty magazine with strong hand while support hand retrieves fresh magazine, keep pistol in your center line low, while keeping constant eye contact with threat, feed fresh magazine into mag well by indexing finger on front side of magazine, drop slide, reengage threat). On last magazine scan for threats, reholster.
  • Tactical Reload drill: Same as Combat Reloads except you retrieve fresh magazine first, drop a partially used magazine into support hand while loading fresh magazine into the pistol, put partial magazine in pocket (or dump pouch), reengage threat. (The thought behind this is that you may need partial magazine for the future, and Tactical Reloads are used during a lull in fight.)
  • Cover/Concealment drill: Move to cover/concealment and engage threat with two rounds standing along the strongside of cover/concealment and two rounds kneeling along the strong side of cover/concealment, scan for threats, reholster. Repeat same drill but utilizing support side of cover/concealment.

These were the core drills I would do, adding a few others when I can due to my limitations of using a public range. It seems that the old days of going down a forest service road and shooting at the old gravel pit are long gone. So, a lot of dynamic drills of moving and shooting, engaging from the ground, and shooting around awkward covers are not allowed on my range. These core drills I did on the range easily translated over to the SIRT, with some exceptions, like the SIRT pistol slide can’t be manipulated.

If you look at my core drills, you may see a pattern. I believe it was Clint Smith that said, “If you’re not shooting, you should be loading. If you’re not loading, you should be moving.” That has stuck with me, and I try to ingrain it into my training. Now, here is where I think the SIRT pistol shines. You can do these drills and more, without having local range limitations and safety issues. Speaking of safety, make sure all other weapons and ammo are locked up or inaccessible. You don’t want to pick up a live weapon when you are doing dry firing exercises in the house. Also, if you set up a “back yard range”, make sure to know who is watching. I’m lucky that I don’t live in an urban environment, where everyone can see my backyard. Just imagine what your neighbor would think, seeing you in your full battle rattle, running around your house like a Tier One Operator at Osama’s compound. You might end up meeting your local SWAT team in their full battle rattle!

Now that I have a pistol that fires just a laser, my training has expanded throughout the house and more. It’s not just a dry fire tool, it’s an active shooter trainer. I’m sure lots of people have thought of what they would do if someone was in the house. Well, with the SIRT you can! Have your spouse set up a target somewhere in the house and practice clearing room by room. Get intimately familiar with your home; it is where you spend most of your time, so you should know how to defend it. How would you react if, while you are sitting in your lazyboy watching football, someone kicks in your front door? Where is your weapon at? How do you approach the door? Where are your cover and/or concealment locations?

I’ve also added the SIRT AR bolt to my collection, and the nice part is that you get to use your own personal AR. It’s a drop in bolt that not only shoots a laser out your bore but auto resets your trigger. So, again not only am I using this as a dry fire trainer but also in active shooter drills. Putting this all together with two different components, you get to train with your rifle and incorporate pistol transitions. Again with my previous limitations, I couldn’t shoot my AR and do pistol transitions on the range.

I’ve just scratched the possibilities of what you can do with the SIRT line of products. During my lifetime I have always kept my eyes and ears open to new things to learn. I love going to YouTube and seeing if any good training ideas come up. One interesting trick came from the CEO of Next Level Training and inventor of the SIRT, Mike Hughes. On his video he talks about using the SIRT pistol and confirming your correct form by videotaping yourself. How about taking this a step further, setup your camera, iPhone, or whatever you have next to your target and see how you react or expose yourself while engaging it during your house clearing drills.

SIRT products are an awesome set of training tools, but they are not a replacement for live fire practice. Even Mike Hughes will mention this on his videos and website, be sure to look at his Next Level Training website and his videos on YouTube. He has lots of great training info for both civilians and police. I still go out a couple times a month to get in live fire time, but this had an affect on my budget. I saved about $400 to $500 a month, with an investment of about $600 in the SIRT products I purchased. The best part is that I have increased my training at least by ten fold.

Letter: A Two Year Experiment

Two years ago I buried cash and silver coins on some property I own as an experiment to see how well the cash and silver would fare. Oct 31st 2014 was the day it was recovered.

The vessel was a white plastic PVC pipe about 6” round and about 1.5 feet long capped and sealed with PVC Glue. The cash was placed in standard zip lock sandwich bags and a moisture absorber pouch was placed in each. The silver was placed in the standard coin tubes you receive when buying 20 coins at a time. No absorbers were placed in the tubes of coins. Also, no absorbers were placed in the general compartment outside of the zip lock bags.

The results.

  • CASH – There were no signs of mold or decay. The cash was dry.
  • Silver – There was a bit of tarnish on the edges of the coins. Otherwise, there was no difference between these and other coins purchased at the same time.

What was done correctly.

  • The PVC Tube was sealed correctly, as no moisture was present in the tube. I used a liberal amount of glue on both the tube and the cap. Then, I added more to the outside after about 20 minutes of drying. I did wait one day before burying.
  • The moisture absorbers did their job, as no humidity damage was present at the time of retrieval.

What was done wrong.

  • The cash had a distinct smell of PVC glue.
  • The solution is to use a food saver sealer to ensure the bags are airtight.
  • Double up on the bags for extra measure.
  • Silver tarnished on edges.
  • The silver should have been sealed, like the cash, with moisture absorbers.
  • Possibly insert a small oxygen absorber in the general compartment of the vessel, but not strong enough to break the PVC seal by creating too strong of a vacuum.

Next Time considerations

  • Mark the spot better.
  • Even though it is private property and it was buried under a fallen tree using landmarks to locate the specific place along the tree where it was buried, I still had to dig three holes to locate its exact location. Imagine the excitement (ha) after the first hole netted only dirt. This was due to natural changes of the earth. One marker was a small tree used to line up the spot, and it had died and fell during the two years. Another was a pock mark (small hole) in the bark-less fallen tree under which it is was buried. In the two years other pock marks had appeared, due to the natural decay of the tree. Hence the three holes that had to be dug to locate it. The third was a tree stump where I had dropped a tree just before burial.
  • Without the stump I would have had to dig many more holes.

To mitigate this in the future.

  • Let another trusted individual know exactly where it was buried. Even have that person along during burial, so they can visualize its location in their own mind.
  • Use other landmarks that have a longer life expectancy.
  • I don’t suggest drawing a map, because that can be misplaced or stolen, but that is a judgment call.
  • GPS may or may not be available and at best is only good within a few feet (an assumption), but it should be close enough to find it in a relatively short amount of time.

FINAL CONCLUSIONS

  • The money I buried had a specific value. Today that money has lost some of its buying power when comparing the cost of groceries alone.
  • The same is true for the silver; however, using ancient methods, an ounce of silver should still be a day’s worth of labor when the artificial paper market stops manipulating the prices. I use the dollar cost averaging method with my silver purchases so that decline does not really matter to me.

Any comments and suggestions are very welcome.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV)

Notes for Friday – October 31, 2014

October 31st is Reformation Day.

o o o

Today, we present another entry for Round 55 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 hardcase 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 1 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 Warehouseis providing 30 DMPS 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.
  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. RepackBoxis 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. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208, and
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  8. SurvivalBased.com is donating a $500 gift certificate to their store.
  9. Montie Gearis donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack. (a $379 value).

Round 55 ends on November 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Survival To Go, by JMD – Part 2

In my checked bag, when flying, I put a small zippered case that contains:

  • A Gerber Folding Sheath Knife, which is a good trade-off between size/weight and capability. I’ve found that most people (LEOs in particular) tend to be a lot less suspicious of folding knives than fixed-blade ones.
  • A Boker Plus Credit Card Knife. I put this in my pocket if I’m going out for an evening and I can’t bring my EDC kit, because it’s completely unobtrusive in a front pocket. It’s not necessarily the most robust knife in the world, but it’s the same size as a credit card and has a decent blade. If you’re in a particularly nasty part of the world, where something like kidnapping is a real possibility, you can attach it to the inside of your belt in the back with a length of Gorilla tape; you can easily reach it with your hands tied behind your back, and no one will notice it even if the kidnappers pat you down.
  • A knife sharpener for the evenings in your hotel room, which are a good time to keep your knives up to snuff.
  • A Leatherman Wave Multi-tool. In an urban environment, sometimes pliers and screwdrivers are as important as a knife.

When my checked bag arrives at baggage claim, I immediately transfer the small case (containing the items above) from my checked bag into my backpack so it’s handy. (Just don’t forget to put it back in your checked luggage before you check in for the return flight!)

I also keep a small Esbit stove and some cut up fatwood in my checked bag for heating up water when everything’s out. (Note: smoke alarms in hotel rooms continue to function even during a power outage.) Also, note that you CANNOT legally pack Esbit tablets (or any other fire-starting chemicals) in either your checked bag or your carry-on, but pieces of wood are okay.

Tips and Lessons Learned

In addition to having the kernel of a survival kit, it helps if you know and do the right things. I’ve collected a number of tips and things I’ve learned over the years that might be useful for improving your comfort/safety/survival when traveling:

  • Develop a basic worst-case route plan for getting home or to a meeting place prior to your trip, and share it with your spouse/relatives/friends. If possible, as soon as you know a disaster is about to hit, communicate your current location, planned actions, and planned destination(s) back home.
  • Dress to blend in. Use a standard backpack (Swiss Gear, Outdoor Products, Columbia, et cetera). Do not carry an OD military tactical molle bag, and don’t dress in camo or tactical vests. That tends to gather a lot more of the wrong kind of attention from people, especially when going through security.
  • If I’m going out for an evening (dinner/bar/et cetera) where I can’t take my kit with me, I always have the Boker credit card knife in my pants pocket, the Schrade tactical pen, and the H2O filter in my shirt/jacket pocket and the dog tags/whistle around my neck. It’s better than nothing if I can’t get back to the hotel immediately when a disaster hits. In some countries, man purses (murses?) are acceptable wear in more formal business settings, and they can provide you with a lot more carrying capacity for a travel EDC.
  • Request a second floor (or whatever floor is the one above ground level) hotel room. (In some countries, this floor above the ground level is called the first floor.) There is less concern about break-ins or flooding than on the ground floor; compared to rooms on higher floors, there are fewer stairs in the event of a power outage/fire and it’s easy to break a window and climb down on a sheet-rope in case you’re trapped in your room during a fire or after an earthquake.
  • When traveling in a foreign country, always keep your passport in a hidden pocket on your person, preferably in a waterproof bag, along with some local cash. If you have to bug out of the country during an emergency, it’s your ticket into your country’s embassy; you may not have time to get back to your hotel room to grab it.
  • Before you travel, locate the camping/outdoor/Walmart/Cabelas/Bass Pro/REI/gun/et cetera stores nearest to your hotel, work place, and along the route between the two. In a SHTF situation, you won’t have to waste time Googling for the closest stores (assuming cell/Internet service is even available). Also consider spending some time online on the prepper boards a find out what stores the local folks favor. You may make some new friends in the process that can help out in an emergency. I met some great prepper folks online while preparing for a trip to Hong Kong, and I had a fun night out drinking with them!
  • Try to be discrete about the fact you’re prepared. Laying in your hammock, eating hot oatmeal under your warm fleece blanket, during a winter storm in an airport/bus terminal/train station that’s lost power and heating, in front of a crowd of cold, hungry people (especially with children) is sure to draw the wrong kind of attention.
  • Maintain physical contact with your bag at all times when you’re around other people, especially while sleeping. Keep an arm through one of the straps, use your bag for a pillow, or sleep on your side and hug it. If you’re a heavy sleeper, get a movement alarm for your bag and set it while you sleep.
  • If an emergency situation is developing, immediately fill your water bottle from the closest clean source. I’ve been in situations where water went out in an airport while stuck there for two days, due to severe weather and frozen pipes. Also, grab some spare toilet paper and paper towels.
  • If you’re in an airport and you can’t string your hammock, head to the baggage claim area and check where they keep unclaimed luggage. If it’s accessible, you can lay a bunch of bags/suitcases out on the floor side by side and make a bed for the evening. It’s slightly more comfortable than a cold, hard floor. If it’s a true SHTF situation, the abandoned bags can be a good source of supplies/materials.
  • Most business-class hotels do a good job of taking care of their guests during an emergency by providing shelter, food, water, medical, and so forth. You should only leave your hotel if the situation becomes untenable, such as all of the hotel staff bugging out, which is a good indication. If you’re staying at a Motel 6 in the middle of nowhere, you’ll probably need to do a lot more prep yourself.
  • If you have to leave your hotel room (even temporarily) during an emergency, take your kit with you. The batteries that run the key card locks in most hotels may or may not work for any length of time, and you might not be able to get back into your room. I’ve had this happen on several occasions, even though there wasn’t an emergency. Security had to get the maintenance people up to my room to change the batteries on the lock so I could get back in.
  • If cell/Internet coverage goes out during an emergency, turn off the cell and WiFi radios on your cell phone to save the battery; then, turn them on once an hour or so to see if it’s back. Better yet, power your cell phone down and just turn it on occasionally for checking your navigation or cell coverage. As soon as you have a signal, send a status message to your primary/secondary contacts, including any updated plans or destinations. Create a plan document on your device and update it regularly, so you can quickly send it if service is only available for a short time.
  • Be careful about bringing your knives into any customer work place when travelling. If it’s even a potential issue, leave it in your rental car (stuck up under the seat or dash or in the trunk but not in the glove box!); you might also ask Security to hold onto it while you’re visiting. Also, never show it off anywhere!
  • Know the local knife laws. In some facilities/cities/countries, certain (or in some cases, any!) knives are illegal. While a foreign prison might afford you food, shelter and (questionable) medical care, it’s generally not most people’s first choice.
  • Traveling with business associates can make for tough decisions in an emergency situation. If you’re stuck somewhere for a while, the security and companionship of a known group can be a good thing, but you might feel obligated to share your resources. If it’s most likely going to be just one night and you’ve got enough, you can impress your co-workers with your preparedness. If you’re concerned, make an excuse about wanting to explore or needing some personal space for religious reasons (or loud snoring) and tell them you’ll see them in the morning.
  • I never try to travel with a gun any more. Yes, you can put them in your checked luggage (as long as you declare it), but the hassle and attention you get, plus the overhead of protecting it along with the hassles of local laws, makes it a nightmare. If a SHTF situation occurs while you’re on the road, try to be one of the first to the closest local gun store/police station/National Guard armory and acquire or buy one. If it’s a true national/global TEOTWAWKI situation, most gun stores won’t be worrying about background checks, but you’ll probably need to use those gold bars, since cash most likely won’t be worth much.
  • Take your kit with you when heading out for work every day and, if possible, keep it in the front seat with you when in a rental car; you may need to grab it fast and get out. Make sure you have easy access to the Gerber hook knife (for your seatbelt) and the glass breaker in case of a serious accident.
  • If you’re forced to travel a long way to get home after a major disaster, consider locating an off-road bicycle. You can make good time, power without gas, remain relatively silent, and usually fix problems fairly easily; it’s important to practice riding a bicycle with a fully-loaded backpack to get comfortable doing so, as it can be harder than you think.
  • Think trains. If it’s a local or regional emergency and you can safely evacuate the affected area, trains are most likely to keep running in adverse conditions that will limit aircraft and road vehicles, and you don’t have to spend hours behind a wheel. I use an Android app called RailBandit that covers most of the passenger train systems in the U.S.
  • If it’s a SHTF/ TEOTWAWKI situation and you’re on foot/bike/motorcycle trying to get home, following train tracks can be a good choice. They’re generally isolated, easy to travel, and typically pass close to a lot of warehouses and such, which can contain supplies that haven’t been delivered to stores yet. Obviously, stay off the tracks if the trains are still running.
  • Apply the same prep habits to your rental car you do with your personal vehicle, including keeping the gas tank at least 3/4 full at all times, so you don’t have to stop for gas if you need to bug out or get stuck in a blizzard.
  • Most countries offer a 911-like emergency service (and most are staffed with English speakers), but they typically don’t use the “911” number. Learn the local emergency number.
  • Memorize the location of the closest friendly embassy/consulate when you’re in a foreign country, and program it into your phone’s mapping software. (You don’t want to try to ask directions to an address in Tokyo during an emergency.) Also program in their phone number(s).
  • When traveling overseas (at least if you’re American), find out where the closest U.S. military base is and memorize/program its location as well. Even a small U.S. military liaison office can offer assistance in national emergencies, and you might be able to hitch a ride back to the U.S. in an evacuation situation.
  • The best seats for fast egress during a flight emergency are aisle seats near the front or rear of the aircraft. That’s where the flight attendants/pilots are during an emergency landing, and they’re more likely to get the doors open quickly than the panicked masses in or near the over-wing exit rows. Even if you’re sitting in the window seat next to the exit door, you might get swamped by panicked people before you can get the exit open.
  • If on a plane and you’re told that you’re going to make an emergency landing, put on any outer wear you have with you, grab your carry-on backpack, make sure you have easy access to your goggles and a filter mask (in case you have to move through smoke), and stick the bag under the seat in front of you. When you get up to evacuate, sling your pack on the front of your body with your arms through the straps (assuming it’s not a water landing and you have to put on your life vest). If you have a belt strap, clasp it behind your back. Yes, they tell you to leave your bags behind, but if you’re in a true emergency situation, they’re not going to make a fuss as long as it’s not interfering with your or other passenger’s movements. (Hence, the reason to have it in the front of you, so you’re not banging it into other people.) Also, if the landing is in the wilderness, you’ll be glad you have it.
  • If you travel to a lot of out of the way places that are far from civilization, consider carrying a Personal Locator Beacon for local or regional emergencies. Get a 406 MHz one; they work anywhere in the world. Another alternative is the DeLorme inReach SE; it allows you to send 160-character text messages via satellite from anywhere in the world, so you can stay in contact with your family while you’re trying to get home. You’ll need two of them, since they only work with each other, and they require a monthly subscription service.
  • If you travel to one place frequently or will be staying there a long time (I had a project where I was commuting from Boston to Dallas every week for nine months), consider stocking an evacuation cache near your destination. If there are woods or open lands nearby, use those. If you’re in a city, consider renting a storage locker, preferably somewhere between your hotel and work location, or in a small town along your most likely route home. Also check with your hotel, if you’re going to be staying there a lot; they’ll frequently agree to hold onto a small cache suitcase for you when you’re not there. (Please don’t ask them to hold onto a large, camouflaged waterproof tube!) If you’re working at a customer site, ask them if you can leave a bag there.
  • One of the most useful skills you can possess, during an emergency in an urban environment, is lock picking. Trying to knock down the door to the gun store, like they do on TV, is a great way to injure yourself, and smashing them in can be noisy and attract unwanted attention. However, keep in mind that possession of lock picking tools is illegal in most places, unless you have a locksmith’s license. That being said, if you still want to carry a set, look for one of the credit card punch-out kits, and practice at home until you’re reasonably competent. DO NOT put it in your carry-on, as TSA (and potentially the local police) will want to have a very long and uncomfortable conversation with you when they find it.

Being prepared for a disaster while traveling requires a lot of up-front planning and thought, along with the right tools and supplies. As with home-based prepping, waiting until a disaster actually happens is a good way to end up dead, but being prepared across a lot of different locations can be difficult. One additional recommendation is to carefully document and save all of your planning work for each trip, since you never know when you might be going back. If you return to the same location in the future, you can simply update your existing plans, instead of starting from scratch every time.

As with any prep work, my kit and plans are constantly evolving. If you have any ideas, comments, or suggestions, I’d appreciate hearing them.