Odds ‘n Sods:

As expected, weapons manufacturers have created a new AR-15 design that is compliant with New York’s “Safe Act”. – RBS

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P.S. sent n an article showing that Ohio National Guard Training Envisions Right-Wing Terrorism. Apparently documents show that a training drill last January envisioned a mock disaster where Second Amendment supporters with anti-government opinions were the domestic terrorists. I understand the desire to vary training requirements, but either these people have no common sense or they are deliberately demonizing the most loyal patriots.

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JBG sent in this link detailing the slow trickle turned surge of Weapons related companies leaving the states that enact unfriendly laws.

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Another reader sent in this link on how to care/feed your sourdough starter. I haven’t seen that blog before and I kind of enjoyed poking around the site on their other topics as well.

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Taking down a running elk with an AR-7 survival rifle is a dream that often occurs when envisioning survival as a beginner. J.W. sent in this article on the .22LR: Truth & Myth and may just put some of that to rest. Seriously, it’s a great article that accurately portrays the capabilities of that round.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

”People can foresee the future only when it coincides with their own wishes, and the most grossly obvious facts can be ignored when they are unwelcome.” – George Orwell

Notes from HJL:

Today we present another entry for Round 51 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Today’s entry is written by a student from Québec with some humor. I think you will enjoy it as much as I did. The $11,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. 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. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  5. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  6. A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  7. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  8. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  9. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  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. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  12. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

Second Prize:

  1. A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand,
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training. Together, these have a retail value of $589.
  3. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100 foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  4. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P .),
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. A full set of all 26 books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  8. EP Lowers, makers of 80% complete fiber composite polymer lowers for the AR-15 rifles, is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  9. Autrey’s Armory — specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts, and accessories is donating a $250 gift certificate,
  10. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  12. Organized Prepperis providing a $500 gift certificate.

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. A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  7. 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.

Round 51 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Cold Weather Survival, by S.F.

I was born and raised in Québec City, Canada. For those who don’t remember their geography class, Québec City is located about 160 miles northeast from Montréal. Considering the latitude and the very special climate (mainly caused by the sudden widening of the Saint-Lawrence River), one could call the city the northernmost “major” city in North America. Winters are comparable to those in Norway, yet we get more snow, on average. They get about 31 inches of snow in Oslo; we get 124 inches. I call that a difference. Just check Wikipedia to see if I’m right. Then, let’s take into account our summers. Taking the humidy index into account, our record high temperature is 120 degrees, while in Oslo’s high is 95 degrees. I’m not saying it’s always so, but we never see a summer without at least a week or two of temperatures over 107.

So, the subject of this article must seem obvious to you by now. I’ve read so much about your polar vortex that I almost broke a rib laughing at my cousin’s rant about Alabama’s schools being closed because of two inches of snow. Now, now, I know that snow is rather unusual down there, but let me explain.

All of you, fellow preppers, need to adapt your prepping to the extreme cold weather. It might sound rather weird to tell a Texan he needs to buy a snowsuit, and actually that isn’t the point of the article. You are the very best person to judge what you need or don’t need to do in order to adapt to extreme weather.

I’m not a meteorologist; I’m just a student in economics and sustainable development at the Université Laval. However, I was thinking about it earlier today when I saw a guy wearing only a t-shirt, “chilling” outside. It was -40 degrees! I told him, “Wait, I know it’s not my business, but you really need to put a coat on if you intend to stay outside!” Do you know what he said? “Oh, no problem, I was just feeling drowsy, so I came out to get some fresh air.”

A few things stunned me about this brief conversation. First, his answer seemed completely natural to me. I even said, “Ah, that makes sense!” Second, in a TEOTWAWKI scenario, this guy would probably end up dead, frozen in a ditch.

Now why did it seem so natural to me? It’s because we all do this, sometimes. Going outside wearing only underwear to pick up the mail while it’s -30 seems completely normal to us, Québécois. That’s an advantage of being used to cold weather. On the other hand, in a survival situation after a couple months of lack of food, insufficient heating, low-nutrient intake, and poor sanitation, doing this would most certainly kill some people.

So I started thinking (while completely ignoring my Financial Markets and Institutions professor) about writing something on day-to-day survival in extreme weather conditions and where to post it. The first part isn’t that easy, but the second part hit me like a train– JWR’s blog! That even gives me a chance of winning some stuff. So, why not?

Now enough anecdotes and back to the matter at hand– climate. There is very little chance that one day one of us is going to be exposed to a sudden, unexpected weather extreme. Oh, wait. That’s what I would have said before this winter’s polar vortex. I suppose climate changes DO happen. I know it’s not a very popular idea among most preppers who consider themselves to be “on the right,” but it’s just a fact. Now, whether or not that is caused or influenced in any way by mankind is subject to a completely different debate in which I want no part.

What do I mean by “climate change”? It’s not only about global warming. It’s also an increased occurrence of unusual extreme weather events. I’m not only talking about hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the Calgary flood, or the polar vortex here. I’m talking about all those, plus several other events we might have no clue about yet. Why not 10 inches of snow overnight in Los Angeles? Well, chances are it won’t ever happen, but what’s prepping about if not preparing for the unsuspected?

Since I’m rather used to those weather extremes, my preps are adapted to those, and I might be the only prepping “frenchie” with at least a basic level in English, why not help you prepare better?

First, let’s talk about heating. For those of you who own a wood stove, it might not seem like a big issue. In most cases you’d be right, but do you have any idea of how many cords of wood one needs to heat an average house to keep it at 60 degrees all winter while it’s -30 outside? You can probably guess that it’s alot. Well, it is at least 15! For those of you (us) who do not own a wood stove, gas stove, or other non-electric heating contraption, heating may pose an even bigger problem. That might even just force you into bugging-out, which we all know is not always the best solution, especially if we’re talking about bugging-out of your BOL! That’d be crazy! So, if you don’t own a non-electric heating apparatus, either you get one or do without. It’s feasible.

Let’s say you need to bug out 100 miles because you can’t heat your home, or just that it’s pretty darn cold and snowy and that, for whatever reason, you have to leave without notice. Is your car equipped with snow tires? (I’m not talking about those 4-season cheap stuff that gets hard when it’s -10. I mean real snow tires, which can cost twice the price of a regular set.) You know what? Driving without them is illegal during the winter in the province of Québec. Yup. It’s THAT necessary. Even with snow tires, some cars (especially those using propulsion instead of traction), get very difficult to drive. Chrysler 300s, for example, need to be AWD when there’s good snow on the ground. I once made the mistake of jumping into a Chrysler 300 taxi that was rear-wheel drive during a storm, and it was the most terrifying experience of my life.

What if there’s so much snow you can’t even use your car? Back in the winter of 2008-2009, there was such a horrible storm that public transit (including buses and taxis) was shut down; the cars stalled in freeway exists were completely covered with snow. People had to drive in convoy behind a snow plow to circulate. A normal drive that would have taken about seven minutes took over an hour. We were about 20 feet behind another vehicle, yet we could barely see its tail lights. Yes, it can be that bad. Cleaning all that mess took a couple of days, even for us (who are prepared with equipment). In Washington, for example, it could take weeks. So, you might need to plan a back-up winter transit system. I suggest skis or, maybe, snowshoes. Both have obvious advantages and disadvantages over the other; price is one of them. Don’t forget to take the weight of your BOB into account when buying them. They all come with a weight limit. Oh, and buy a sleigh to carry children and heavy stuff. Our ancestors could walk 500 miles every winter, bringing back furs to Québec City, only using snowshoes and a toboggan.

Now don’t get me started on snowmobiles. Unless you live in the far northern parts of the USA, chances are there aren’t any snowmobile tracks around, so it might be hard to use one except in case of emergencies. Of course, that’s a great winter BOV, providing you can afford it, keep its tank full, and learn how to use it. Instead of going two miles per hour by foot, why not go 50 miles per hour?

Don’t even consider walking long distances in deep snow. Your feet will get wet, so you’ll get sick and might even lose a couple toes. Your pants will be damp too, so you’ll lose a lot of heat. You’ll burn so many calories trying to cross a snowfield that you could very well not make it, especially if you have a bad heart. I haven’t yet mentioned snow blindness (yes, it does exist!), frozen body parts (at -40, frostbite happens in less than 15 minutes!), dehydration (you don’t feel it, yet you’re sweating your life away while making your coat all wet!), and other little hints you can never guess by yourself. Here are a couple of them:

  1. When it’s sunny, it’s cold, and when it’s cloudy, it’s cool.
  2. Do NOT wear your scarf right over your mouth. Condensation of water in your breath will make it all wet in a matter of minutes.
  3. When the snow makes a crispy sound when you walk, it means it’s really cold.
  4. Black ice is invisible. When a street looks “dark” even when there’s supposed to be some salt sprayed around, it’s black ice, which is very slippery.
  5. Thermal underwear look ridiculous, so there might be a reason why people still keep buying them.
  6. When the thermometer says -5, take the wind in account. The temperature may feel considerably lower as the wind reaches higher speed.
  7. Blizzards do not only happen when it’s snowing; powdered snow on the ground can turn into a blizzard.
  8. There are some kinds of crampons for everyday walking on ice. They work, but the heavier you are, the more often you need to replace them.
  9. Buy winter mittens instead of gloves; mittens are warmer.
  10. Hand warmers are great, but not only in your mittens; put them in your boots, pockets, scarf, cap, and everywhere you feel cold. Also, you can apply them directly on the skin of your hands, but nowhere else.
  11. The first body parts to protect from frostbite are the ears, nose, cheeks, fingers, toes, forehead, and thighs (if your clothes are tight).
  12. If you have a beard, it’s going to get covered with ice as you breathe. It’s okay; don’t worry, but that means it’s about -20.
  13. When possible, wear onion skin layers. On your legs, have underwear, thermal underwear, pants, and snow pants. On your body, wear a shirt, one or two cotton/wool sweaters and a winter coat with a waist strap so you can “close” it. Wear two pair of socks– one cotton under one wool. If you feel hot, you can take one layer off.
  14. Carry sunglasses if it’s sunny. Snow blindness happens in a matter of minutes, sometimes. You can also wear a baseball cap under your tuque (a knit stocking cap commonly worn in Canada), I’ve found it’s a great way to protect from direct sunrays while adding an additional layer of clothing.
  15. Do not ever manipulate metal with bare, wet hands…ever! Also, if you ever try LICKING some metal, you’re in for a Darwin award, pal!
  16. Do NOT eat snow, even if dehydrated; it’s going to cause hypothermia. Fill a quart bottle with snow and let it thaw inside your coat instead.
  17. Woodland/desert camo is no good in winter. Urban camo works better, but a plain white poncho/trash bag would be best AND offer some protection against thawing snow.

Well that’s all I can think about right now. I’m sorry I can’t write about surviving extremely hot weather. Well, I could write about it, but I’d have nothing more to say than what common sense tells anyone. I hope you liked it.

Three Letters Re: Keeping Warm in an LP/OP

Dear Hugh,

Regarding Heating Concern in LP/OP, as a long-time member of the military with extensive deployment, outdoor, and survival experience, here is my humble response to the reader’s query on keeping warm in an LP/OP. LP/OPs come in all shapes, sizes, and budgets. I’ve typically seen LP/OPs in three levels: hasty, intermediate, and advanced. Regardless of which one is manned, they all share two traits– clear fields of fire/observation and keeping the soldier alert. Having frozen my backside off more than I have wished and as it addresses your question head on, I will focus on the latter.

Exposure to the elements is what you want to avoid the most. The Army uses a simple acronym for cold weather: C.O.L.D. In regards to your clothing, it stands for: keep it Clean, avoid Overheating, dress in loose Layers, and keep it Dry. Here then are the three levels of positions.

  1. A hastily dug fighting position with overhead cover. These are obviously temporary, but even one built with sandbags and a roof quickly gets drafty, muddy, dirty, and cold (or very buggy in the warmer months). In the military, you would see these only around Tactical Operations Centers that were conducting operations at one of the various Training Centers (National Training Center, etc) or around non-mechanized artillery firing batteries. Field Manual (FM) 21-75 discusses construction of these (and for the purists out there, yes a hasty is just a “ranger grave” and a “deliberate” is by the book, but come on, even the deliberate is just a really well dug hole, possibly with a roof). These should not be your redoubt standard unless you are far behind the power curve or putting in a more advanced position is unfeasible due to OPSEC. We would have to rotate people fairly rapidly (about once an hour) to avoid fatigue, frostbite, chillblain, et cetera.
  2. The “budget” fighting position. You can build a two-person budget position for under a hundred dollars plus the time and sweat it takes to construct. These are typically wood reinforced. I prefer pallets for the floor and sides and two by fours with a sheet of plywood for the roof. The trick for heat here is threefold. First, be diligent on eliminating leaks (from rain) and drafts. Second, put survival (emergency) blankets on the sides (as long as you can’t see the shiny reflection from the outside of the LP/OP). As a tip, use staples to secure it, but put a piece of duct tape (or 100 mph tape) wherever you staple as a way to avoid rips. I love my survival blanket; it really works. Third, always occupy with a buddy. There is an old Harvard study that showed people could withstand having their legs in ice water twice as long if they had a friend with them. The friend didn’t even need to say anything, just their mere presence helped with the elements. With my soldiers, we typically used MRE boxes, plywood, and wood scraps that came with our ammo or concertina wire deliveries. You can watch the documentary Restrepo for a visual understanding of this (and the previous) type of LP/OP/fighting position.
  3. The Redoubt baseline. Here you can go from a couple hundred bucks to thousands, but why blow your money? Your standard should be a concrete reinforced LP/OP. However, here is the trick: bury the entire thing minus the door/hatch. You don’t want a bunch of pillboxes that scream “prepper” strewn about your property. If you completely bury these, they can serve as caches or storage areas until TEOTWAWKI. After that event, you simply dig out the observation/firing holes. I think it’s best to have clear sliding plexiglass instead of open holes so you can conserve heat as much as possible. You could always go all out with pig iron “shutters” or something else more elaborate (and expensive). The added bonus of a concrete structure is that you can route electricity for a heating source. You can do the same with some PVC piping to the wooden structure above, but your heat loss is greater. A second heating option is installing a small ceramic rocket stove.

So, the short answer is: If you want to stay warm, build a nice LP/OP! – C.E.

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Hi Hugh,

This is actually more of a response to one of your responses (the one from E.B.). I wanted to second his suggestion of ski goggles to help keep your face/eyes warm, but I have a slight modification to suggest. I was a ski racer from age 8 up until age 22. I’ve used every tint known to man in multiple goggle styles. Rather than clear goggles, I highly suggest yellow-tinted goggles. The yellow tint (which is not a common color) are the ONLY ones that allow you to see contrast in the snow during flat-light conditions. They also, to a small extent, amplify low-light conditions. Once I tried a set given to me by a sponsor, I could never go back to any other tint/clear again. Thanks, – J.M.

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HJL,

Hello and welcome. Um, I’m no expert, but I can say from experience that nothing is better then having heat in your shelter. LP/OP are usually changed out every 2-3 hours, right? Why not simply bring it with you? Spending a whole night out in 10-degree weather in an unheated shelter isn’t going to be easy or fun, and it isn’t necessary. Bring heat with you.

You’d need a wood/coal stove and several 2-quart buckets with a few cantaloupe-sized rocks in them, for each person on guard.

Why wouldn’t they just do something like this? Let’s figure you have a house in the center of your plans, and each LP/OP is a spoke with the house being the central hub. Inside the hub you’re going to have a wood stove, right? Make it part of the SOP to have the guard bring out a metal bucket that has heated rocks in it. You’d need twice the buckets with rocks (and no stream stones, please, as they might explode). At the start of each shift, they carry their hot bucket to the LP/OP along with their other items they need to take for completing their tasks. The stones don’t need to get red hot, yet will produce heat for a few hours.

When they come back in from being on guard, the bucket goes back on top of the stove. They would also add fuel to the fire at this point. This idea gives someone the same practical setup as a heating pad. Also, I would totally bring a wool blanket. With the bucket at my feet, I’d drape the blanket over you to keep you warm for a few hours. I’d hope that the LP/OP would have a place to sit. I’d wrap myself in the wool blanket, putting my feet right on that bucket with the heat in it. If you get sleepy, drink more water, get up and move around, or open your warm clothing to get chilled. Don’t get so warm you actually fall asleep, ever. Hourly radio checks is probably a really good idea also, as most people really struggle from about 3am to 5am.

While out hunting a few years back, I experimented with using charcoal briquets in a metal bucket. It’s not ok to use these in an enclosed space due to CO2, and you will likely want some kind of a grate for the ash, but they would be ok in a hunting blind or LP/OP (as long your not worried about the smell traveling and giving away your position). With the hot rocks, you don’t have any worry about heating smells traveling. Charcoal is pretty stinky.

Metal buckets are easy to find. A quick search turns up buckets online for $4 for 2 quart buckets that would work for this application. You might be able to find them cheaper at local auctions. – Fitzy

News From The American Redoubt:

Cowboy Euphemisms– Krayton Kerns, DVM, Montana State Representative HD #58

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$225,000 payout to man mauled by police K-9 – RBS

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Ore. woman survives 18 hours with hand stuck under hood of truck

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Tom Kitchar So. Oregon Waldo Mining District : presentation to Idaho Legislature 2/7/14 on Suction Dredge mining video. – Mark

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Boise, Idahoe has their very own Cheerleader with Downs syndrome. A true inspiration to others.

Economics and Investing:

B.B. sent in this article on the Bullion Baron: Soros Reloads SPY Puts, $1.3B Bet On S&P 500 Decline

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Bob also sent in this follow up to “Singularity” that asserts that the models are not working. In this article, Robert Samuelson – no darling of the economic right to be sure – provides an assessment of applied economic theory and finds that economists don’t really know what’s going on and can’t really predict where we are headed. This act of self analysis and honest reflection is somewhat refreshing…..even though – as in yesterday’s article/blog – there is no answer provided. Perhaps that is the real insight, that even economists are finally realizing the conundrum in which the global economy is poised. The Lights Go Out On the ‘Dismal Science’

Items from The Economatrix:

Food Prices Soar As Incomes Stand Still

Bank Of America Warns \

Following the Bodies: “We Are at the Precipice of Something So Big, It Will Shake the Financial World”

Odds ‘n Sods:

The Washington Times reports that the NRA’s ‘American Rifleman’ surges to top 25 magazines in America knocking ‘Maxim’ from the list. – G.G.

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Hands off our children, Big Brother, Patrice Lewis’ latest on ‘Common Core’.

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California’s Gun Confiscation Program Hits Firearm Owners Hard. As part of its ongoing efforts to defend gun owners from malicious and improper prosecutions, the foundations recomends:

  • Never consent to a search
  • Exercise your right to remain silent
  • Contact CGF’s Help Hotline through the online form at www.calgunsfoundation.org/hotline or call (800) 556-2109, open 24/7/365
  • If you need immediate legal assistance, please contact an attorney (some firearms attorneys are listed on the CGF Help Hotline web page)

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B.R. sent in this article from the “Charleston Voice” suggesting that the Militarized Police are the standing army the founders warned about.

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A heavily pregnant mother has spoken of her fear after workmen found live ammunition in the garden of her Worksop home. More nonsense from ignorance. This is similar to a post than ran on Sipsey Street Irregulars last year on July 12. The quote used was from “The Abolition of Man” by C.S. Lewis. It’s a good quote.

“We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.”

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“They’ve (the government) took our silver, They’ve took our gold. They’ve took th’ silver certificates all in. And we ain’t got a thing except our gover’mint on it. There’s all we got t’back it up. It just left us, by granny, with a piece a’paper; an’if we lose our gover’mint, it’s all dead anyhow just th’same as gover’mint bonds. We’re all broke. If th’gover’mint go broke, we ain’t got a thing in th’world.” – Hillard Green, sometime between 1968 – 1970 as part of Foxfire.

Guest Article: LRP Rations, The Survival Food of the Pros, by Thomas Baldrick

Maybe you wear a Peyton Manning jersey. Maybe you gulp Gatorade during your outdoor activities. Maybe you like Lowe’s because they sponsor Jimmy Johnson’s #48 car. If you’re one of the millions of people who commonly buy into the products of the top professionals, you might have an appetite for Long Range Patrol Ration Entrees. After all, LRP Rations are the survival food carried on long range missions by U.S. Military Special Forces members.

The name Long Range Patrol Rations tells you who the intended military target was for this food. Today, current examples of Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol units (LRRPs) include U.S. Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Marine Corps Marine Reconnaissance units, and Navy SEALS. Historians claim long range surveillance teams first formed during the fighting of World War II. The operations of specialized units, such as the British Force 136 and Long Range Desert Group set the modern standards for skills and tactics in scouting the enemy.

LRRP units are small teams of soldiers who bravely serve as “our eyes behind enemy lines.” They do dangerous, covert missions crossing deep into unfriendly territory to gather important military intelligence. They identify and collect current information on matters such as enemy troop sizes and locations, key resources, and strategic targets of opportunity. These types of patrols have served critical roles in eastern Europe, North Vietnam, the Middle East, and beyond.

The Lowdown on LRPs

Out of necessity in the 1960’s, American Military ingenuity developed a high-tech food advancement. It was formally called The Food Packet, Long Range Patrol Ration. Referred to as “Lurps” or “Lurp Rats,” it produced a new solution to an old problem, which had been eating away at both soldiers and commanders for years.

The standard canned rations known as C-Rations just weren’t making the grade. They weighed too much and were too bulky. This was especially true for the backpacks of heavily armed Special Operations soldiers who needed to travel long distances on foot and move quickly at times.

Highly nutritious fresh food is prepared and cooked. It then goes through the freeze drying process. At this time, 98% of the moisture gets removed from the food. Next, it is vacuum-packed, intentionally into the shape of a small brick. Now the nutrients and freshness are locked in securely. Entrees, weighing only four to five ounces each, can be easily stacked in a small space within a backpack, giving soldiers the ability to carry many more days worth of meals. There are other added benefits, too.

Suddenly, soldiers are given more room in their backpacks and more options to carry other important items they might need. Tremendous ease of use is also important. LRP Rations need only water (preferably hot, but any temperature will do) to reconstitute once opened. Within minutes, the aroma, texture, and taste returns. The nutritional value is alive and well. The end result is a delicious meal with a yield which increases to more than 20 ounces of high-protein, high-energy food.

Much to Love About LRPs

LRP Rations aren’t just like freeze-dried foods. They are freeze-dried foods. Long Range Patrol Rations offer a long shelf life, typically lasting for decades. So, as is the case with other freeze-dried foods and dehydrated foods, LRPs will be reliable, ready, and waiting for you in those times when you want or need them most. This is the purpose of survival food.

The differences between these and traditional civilian freeze-dried foods are LRPs have higher ratios of key ingredients such as beef, chicken and turkey. This is mandated in order to meet nutritional requirements established by the U.S. Military for active soldiers in challenging field conditions. Another difference is LRPs in the shape of small brick packs are quite compact. They take up less space and weight than both pouches and #10 cans of freeze-dried food.

Long Range Patrol Ration entrees are manufactured in the U.S.A in large single servings, offering good-tasting, high-energy meals in a wide range of options. Among those on the menu for LRPs entrees are the following meals:

  • Chicken & Rice
  • Spaghetti with Meat
  • Chili Mac with Beef
  • Turkey Tetrazzini
  • Mexican Rice & Chicken
  • Beef Stew
  • Granola and Blueberries
  • Scrambled Eggs with Bacon

Civilian Use of LRP Rations

Because they are lightweight, compact, and easy to prepare, LRPs have attracted the interest of a variety of civilians. Lurp Lovers include backpackers, who carry them on hiking and rock climbing adventures. Also, campers, RV travelers, and sailboat owners bring them along as high-protein, home-cooked tasting meals that take very little space and effort. Survivalists and preppers consider LRP Rations as valuable and practical survival food items to have in their “Grab & Go” bags, and on their long-term storage shelves.

“Americans in the know” know how to make use of LRPs. The big issue with Long Range Patrol Rations and civilians has nothing to do with whether or not to carry them in backpacks, or store them with other emergency preparedness foods and items. The challenge is based on the rarity of these unique freeze-dried food solutions and their lack of availability to the general population.

Due to their long shelf life, manufactured runs of Long Range Patrol Rations are not done every year. In fact, it is not uncommon for periods of five to seven years to pass between requests by the U.S. Military for more.

LRP Rations only become available outside of military circles in the event there is a U.S. Government overrun (as was the case in 2013). On these occasions, a limited supply can be put on sale for consumption by the general public.

The LRP Ration is the longest running military ration still in existence today. For nearly 50 years, it has proven good enough to be carried on the backs of U.S. Special Forces on their longest, toughest missions. So, it may prove worthy of consideration by you for your emergency or outdoor food needs… especially if you want the best, like the pros do.

About the Author:
Thomas Baldrick is with Freeze Dry Guy and can be contacted at Freeze Dry Guy, Inc

Pat’s Product Review: Deployable Compact Armorers Tool

I love working on guns, and I’ve tinkered with them since I was a teenager. Later on, I was trained by a military armorer to work on M1s, M14s, and M1911s, and I took several gunsmithing courses over the years. I’ve repaired many guns; however, the two firearms I enjoy working on the most are the grand old 1911 and the AR-15 family of rifles. More than anything, I usually can’t leave a 1911 alone, especially as it comes from the factory. So, I keep a decent supply of spare parts on-hand. The AR-15 doesn’t usually require a lot of repairs, which is a testament to the Stoner-design. However, when something breaks or needs replacing, it often calls for specialized tools. If I don’t have that tool, I make do with another tool that is not intended for the job but gets the job done. I also keep a small supply of the most often broken or misplaced AR parts.

Some of the most broken or misplaced/lost parts are small springs and pins, so I keep plenty of those little parts on-hand. My local gun shop often calls me to see if I have “this” part or “that” part for an AR. Most of the time I can help them out. If you own an AR of any make or model, you really need to have some spare parts for a SHTF scenario, when a gunsmith not be available and parts are scarce. Plus, you should, at the very least, have a good working knowledge of how your gun operates and have an armorer’s manual on-hand. Honestly, most work done on an AR is fairly easy to do, and most parts don’t require precision fitting; they just need replacing, in most cases.

I have three tool boxes full of spare parts and various types of gunsmithing tools. I’m always searching in the boxes for just the right tool to get a job done properly. Yes, you can make do with a tool that’s not specifically designed for a certain job, but it’s nice to have the right tool and have all the tools you need in one place.

That’s exactly the great benefit of the Deployable Compact Armorers Tool, also known as D-CAT. The D-CAT is designed and sold by Spaceage Weaponry , and it can also be found at my favorite gunsmith supply house, such as Brownell’s http://www.brownells.com/ (where I do much of my tool and spare parts shopping). The D-CAT is just about every tool you’ll need for working on the AR-15/M16 family of firearms, all in one nice little package.

A quick run down on the D-CAT is in order. First of all, the D-CAT was designed to fit into the butt stock of a standard, full-sized AR-15. It also weighs only 6-ounces. The tool (made of 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum, 303 stainless steel, and H13 tool steel) is designed to give you a lifetime of service. The D-CAT comes supplied with all the bits, punches, and other small parts located in the tool’s “magazine”and accessed by rotating the magazine gate to expose the individual storage compartments. You will find a 1/8-inch punch, a flat blade screw driver, front sight adjustment tool, and both 3/16-inch and 9/64-inch hex drivers. There is also a spare punch pocket and a hammer/trigger pin pocket. You can also use the D-CAT as a screw driver. Okay, I can already hear someone complaining, “How do I remove the barrel or the butt stock on my AR?” Glad you asked. You can buy additional tools for the D-CAT for that job. If you need to replace a barrel, you really should be trained in how to do it properly. Torquing it to the right poundage and aligning everything just perfectly is usually a job best left to someone properly trained to work on an AR. An adaptor is available from Spaceage Weaponry, so you can use the D-CAT for butt stock removal. For the majority of us, the D-CAT (as it comes from the factory) will take care of 95% of your needs, and is an all-in-one tool in one nice little package.

One of the AR-15/M16 tools I’m always using and breaking is the front sight adjustment tool. Most ARs that I’ve run across usually need the front sight pin moved up or down to get the proper zero, and I’ve lost count of the number of front sight adjustment tools that I’ve broken because of a stubborn or frozen in place (rusted) front sight pin. Well, with the D-CAT tool, I don’t worry about having to buy another front sight adjustment tool. Springs and pins break, wear out, or get lost if you are really serious about taking an AR apart. The D-CAT tool makes it soooo much easier and faster, plus it’s nice to have just the right punch on-hand. Some folks can’t quite figure out how to remove some of the little pins on an AR (not that they need replacing), but gun buffs get curious. Well, the D-CAT can nicely handle the job on all of the pins. Brownell’s has a short video on the D-CAT, and the Spaceage Weaponry website also has several videos you can watch and see the tool in action.

Have you ever tried replacing the factory trigger guard on an AR? You might want a larger one or an oval-shaped one. Well, it’s easier said than done, since you have to depress the little pin to get the trigger guard to release. However, with the D-CAT, the job is much easier to do. Do you need to remove the trigger assembly for replacement or a broken disconnector, or just want a match-grade trigger group in your AR? Once again, the D-CAT can handle the job.

Are you a military armorer? Just think how nice it would be to have a complete AR-15 “tool box” full of tools, all in one, that you can carry in your pants pocket? To be sure, you could also put some of the most often broken or replacement parts in a plastic baggie to keep in your pocket. This way, when an M4 or M16 goes down and a soldier needs it repaired “right now,” you can do the job, without having to take the rifle back to the arms room or armory to work on it.

Are you a police armorer? Once again, you will find how handy it is to have the D-CAT on-hand. If out on the range with your officers qualifying or just getting in some target practice when something breaks or a part gets lost, you can repair it right there with the D-CAT and a few of the most-needed, spare parts in your pocket. No need to go digging through your tool box to find the right tool; you’ll have it in your pocket.

If you are a serious Prepper, you absolutely should have a D-CAT on-hand, along with spare parts for your ARs plus a working knowledge on how an AR type of rifle operates and functions. They really aren’t all that hard to work on, if you have the right tool and the right parts.

The D-CAT is one of those “why didn’t I think of that” inventions. While it’s not a KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) idea, it took a lot of time, effort, and design know-how to come up with it. Still, you wonder why you didn’t come up with the idea for all the tools you’ll need to work on an AR-style rifle in one compact little package that fits in your pocket. The D-CAT retails for $149.99. It may sound like a steep price, but if you went out and purchased all the tools you’d really need to work on an AR, you’d probably spend that much or more, and they wouldn’t be in one nice, tidy little self-contained package, like the D-CAT.

Remember, though, all the tools in the world are useless if you don’t have the spare parts needed to do a gun repair on an AR, or any firearm for that matter. At the very least, get a D-CAT and then get one of the AR spare parts kits (or a couple of spare parts kits), so you’ll have it all on-hand when it’s needed. If you take your survival seriously, and you should, then take weapon maintenance/repair just as seriously. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat CascioPat Cascio

Pat’s Product Review: CRKT K.I.S.S. Folder

Don’t you just hate it when someone comes up with one of those “oh-so-simple” ideas, and it is an immediate hit or success. I don’t begrudge anyone success in their lives, but how come it’s always someone else who invents a better application of the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle? I’ve been around long enough to know that keeping things simple is usually the right and smart way to go. I recently heard from one of my former martial arts students, who I hadn’t heard from in 25 years. He now holds Black Belt rank himself in several different styles of martial arts. He said he always remembered what I taught him– the “basics” are what work in a fight rather than all the fancy kicks and jumping around. If you did nothing except learn and instill the basic fighting techniques, you’d be a force to be reckoned with.

Now, as most SurvivalBlog readers will know, I prefer big knives. They seem to get the job done better than smaller knives, in many situations. Consider the Columbia River Knife and Tool Original K.I.S.S folder from the creative mind of Ed Halligan– a well-known custom knife maker and designer. It’s one of those simple designs that I wish I had come up with while designing knives over the years. Now, while the design is simple in context, everything had to fit together precisely for the design to function properly. This K.I.S.S. design has to have everything perfectly in balance, and CRKT and Halligan did an outstanding job.

By the way, the K.I.S.S. design actually stands for “Keep It Super Simple”, according to Halligan. I can’t find fault. The design is super simple. The K.I.S.S. is a unique two-piece construction, featuring an integral frame lock, and the design allows the cutting edge of the blade to seat against the handle rather than inside of it. It’s easier to see on the CRKT website, than it is to explain.

I first saw the K.I.S.S. during a visit to the CRKT offices many years ago and was amazed at the design. The closed length of the knife is 3.5 inches, and opened it is 5.75 inches. The blade is only 2.25-inches long and can be had partially serrated or plain edged. Both the blade and handle material is 420J2 stainless steel. The blade shape is a Tanto with the grind being chisel point and only sharpened on one side, like a wood-working chisel blade.

There is a thumb stud for one hand opening. However, I must confess that on smaller blades I simply can’t use the thumb stud to open blades. This is not unique to this knife. It’s the same on all smaller-sized folders; I just can’t open them with my thumb. My thumbs kind of work opposite of most folks’ thumbs; they easily bend backwards but not very far forward.

When you close the blade on the K.I.S.S., it folds onto the handle, NOT into it. My first impression was that a person is going to get cut or the point of the blade will stab them, when it is closed. Such is not the case. I’ve tried to intentionally cut myself with the K.I.S.S. folded and couldn’t do it. The blade is securely locked against the handle and you can’t cut yourself when the blade is closed. AMAZING!

Now, there are several ways you can carry the K.I.S.S. on your person. It can be clipped to your pocket with the pocket clip (my preferred way to carry it) or clipped to a shirt pocket. Since I only wear t-shirts, the idea of clipping to a shirt pocket wouldn’t work for me. You can also use it as a money clip, and it doesn’t draw unwanted attention when you pull the paper money out of your pocket with the knife clipped to it. I have to assume it works that way because I never have any paper money in my pocket. I only carry change, so my pennies and dimes kept slipping off the pocket clip. LOL! You can even use the knife as a keyring knife, and you won’t even know it’s there until you need it.

The K.I.S.S. came with a hair-popping edge on the blade. You can also get one with a partially serrated blade as well. Given a choice, I’d go with the partially serrated blade for opening mail and boxes . The serrations just rip through cardboard boxes with ease. I’ve also found that a small knife, like the K.I.S.S., doesn’t cause someone to express “that” look when you pull it out of your pocket in public. Whereas, a larger knife draws glares, and people wonder why you need such a big knife. The K.I.S.S. is a fun knife. When you show it to someone, they immediately comment on how simple the design is. I’m not sure how long this design has been in the CRKT line-up, but I’m sure it is probably their longest-selling design. It comes in many different flavors, too, so check out the website. You’ll be amazed at all the different ways they came up with this same basic design. Unlike many smaller folders, this is one stout, very well-made, little folder.

If you have a birthday coming up, either for yourself or a loved one, the Original K.I.S.S. would make a wonderful addition to your knife collection. You’ll find yourself using it all the time for those smaller chores that call for a knife. Now, while I wouldn’t dare call this knife a “survival knife” by any stretch of the imagination, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it. Which reminds me, I just gave my K.I.S.S. sample to someone who couldn’t stop talking about it. So, I need to replace it because I miss it already.

The K.I.S.S. retails for $39.95, but can usually be found deeply discounted at many of the big box stores or online at knife dealers. Since the K.I.S.S. came along, there have been many, many imitators, but there is only one original. The imitators are all junk and have violated a patented design. Pick-up a K.I.S.S. for your loved ones, and I’m betting you’ll get a kiss in return. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat CascioPat Cascio

Apple Bread with Brown Sugar Icing – Anonymous

This bread freezes beautifully in a freezer ziploc bag. (I recommend storing without the icing. Just defrost the bread and make the icing before serving.) It’s yummy!

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 8 ounces sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, beat above ingredients on low speed until thoroughly combined.

  • 2 cups flour (I use half whole wheat and half bread flour)
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • pinch cream of tartar
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Gradually add dry ingredients into large mixing bowl, stirring until just combined.

  • 1 1/4 cup chopped, peeled apples
  • 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Hand stir apples and pecans into the batter. Pour into greased 9×5” loaf pan. Bake 1- 1 1/2 hours, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool while making icing.

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

In a saucepan, combine the butter and brown sugar and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring very often. Once it boils, reduce heat and let boil gently for one more minute. Add cinnamon and stir thoroughly. Remove bread from baking pan and drizzle the icing on top. Cool, slice, and serve.

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: Complications of Advanced IRA Strategies

Editor:

I am not a tax preparer, but I have been a financial adviser for more than 30 years. I have been growing more concerned about potential government confiscation of a portion of the public’s Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA’s) and 401(k) plans (employer-sponsored retirement savings plans). The “myRA,” that Obama introduced in his State of the Union address, could be a precursor to a plan that would take part of the assets in these plans, and replace them with U.S. Treasury bonds.

One alternative, of course, is to take your money out of your IRA. You’ll owe taxes, of course, and a 10% penalty if you’re under 59 ½ years old at the time. If you’re over that age, the penalty will disappear. If you own a Roth IRA, withdrawn assets before the above age will be taxable and penalized, with no tax consequences after reaching that age.

I have read a variety of materials suggesting that investors in these plans should either set up self-directed plans or even use Limited Liability Corporations (LLC’s). The purpose here would be to make it more difficult for the government to get its hands on a portion of the assets, since a self-directed plan would be invested in physical gold and/or silver coins, and an LLC could invest in real property or even a business.

However, the government does not have to “get its hands on” assets in such plans. All it has to do is require plan custodians to convert a certain percentage of the assets to cash, and to send that cash to the government, under penalty of law for not doing so. Anyone who did not comply with such an order would be guilty of a felony. Becoming a felon can easily result, among other things, in not being able to legally own guns of any type.

In addition, once a taxpayer reaches age 70 ½, he or she must start taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMD’s) from a traditional IRA or employer-sponsored plan. The exact dollar amount is currently based on the value of the account on 12/31 of the previous year, and an actuarial table available on www.irs.gov in the publications section. If one has an LLC-run IRA entirely invested in real property, raising the necessary cash inside the IRA to take these distributions could be difficult.

My point here is to caution readers not to overreact and blindly follow someone who is selling a package that purports to avoid the problems of limited investment choices and potential government confiscation. Also, as a side note, owning real property in an IRA brings with it a set of VERY stringent rules; the violation of any of which can result in your IRA being entirely set aside and immediately taxable. The IRS has not yet targeted these strategies, but as they become more popular they will begin focusing more on anyone who is using them.

At the very least, if you are considering one of the more advanced strategies, have an independent tax preparer or attorney review what you’re planning to do. Do not rely blindly on the material provided by those selling you the strategy. – M.W.

Letter: Soft Point Ammunition in a PTR-91

Dear Mister Rawles,

To your knowledge, does 308 soft point ammunition function in a PTR-91?

JWR Replies: Just like the HK91 from which it is cloned, the PTR91 is not specifically designed to shoot .308 Winchester softnose hunting ammo. The SAAMI specifications for commercially-loaded (Remington, Winchester, Federal, et cetera) .308 Winchester are different from the military specifications for 7.62mm NATO. Although the two cartridges have quite similar exterior dimensions, the military brass is thicker (this creating slightly smaller interior dimensions) and the pressure specification is lower. (Yet, I still hear people talk about “hot military ammo.” The reality is just the opposite; the commercial loads have considerably higher pressure than the military loads.)

Now, as for the HK91/PTR91 design: It has been reported that these rifles will shoot .308 Winchester without damaging the action. However, keep in mind that this action uses a fluted chamber, and that it is notorious for violently ejecting brass. (It is not unusual to have an HK eject fired brass 20 feet, or farther!) With the thinner .308 commercial brass, it is therefore inevitable that you will someday see a case failure, resulting in a jam. Here are a couple of ways this can happen:

Typically, a case failure will leave the front half of the brass while the back half is ejected. Then when a new round is chambered, the bolt will not fly close. Clearing that stoppage does not usually solve the problem, since there is still half a cartridge case in the chamber. It can only be cured by either waiting for the gun to cool down and cycling the action repeatedly and/or banging the rifle’s butt, or by using a ruptured case extraction tool.

The other likely failure is a rim failure, where 95% of the case is left lodged in the chamber. One small portion of the rim shears off, and then the extractor can no long “catch” the empty case. This also can result in a broken extractor.

Bottom line: Yes, you can use .308 softnose in an HK or clone, but DO NOT do so in life threatening situations because jams can take a long time to clear.

Lastly, be sure to buy a spare extractor and a few extractor spring cotter pins for your rifle. These parts are available from RTG Gun Parts, and several other online HK parts dealers. Buy a spare firing pin and a couple of spare takedown pins, while you are at it. (In fact, RTG’s $116.95 \ is worth buying.)

Another must is buying a .308/7.62 NATO ruptured case extractor tool. These are available from KeepShooting.com

I should also mention that there is also an issue of the shallow depth of the chamber flutes used in early-production PTR91 barrels. This makes their early rifles more finicky on the ammo that they will feed. With those, I have found that military surplus South African, German, and Lithuanian ammo all feeds and ejects reliably. And as Pat Cascio pointed out in his review of the PTR91, Winchester (“USA”) white box 7.62mm ball ammo does not function reliably in early PTR-91s.