Letter Re: How To Use Your IRA /401k to Fund a Survival Retreat Property

Jim,

I enjoyed the January 10 letter titled “How To Use Your IRA /401k to Fund a Survival Retreat Property“. I’d like to offer a few comments that your readers might find helpful.

My bona fides: I am a tax attorney who has dealt with self-directed IRA’s in audits and in Tax Court. I have gotten my clients some very good results in those arenas. I deal primarily with real estate in IRA’s. The same rules that govern real estate would apply to other non-traditional investments via Self-Directed IRA’s (“SDIRA”).

ROBS: The transaction that was described by “An Anonymous CPA” in the January 10th article was not a typical self-directed IRA deal. Rather, he described a very specialized sub-species of 401(k) deals known as “Rollovers as Business Start-Ups”, or “ROBS”. Understanding that context is key. The CPA’s information was accurate insofar as ROBS transactions go. While there are some common features, the posted information does not really apply to SDIRA’s in general. For more information on ROBS a little googling will uncover several outfits that promote such transactions. Most such outfits are one-trick ponies; they do ROBS and nothing else. One important caveat on ROBS: While technically legal (at least as far as I can tell, I’ve never researched ROBS to the nth degree, I refer ROBS work to the specialists), the IRS does not like them. The Association for Advanced Life Under-Writing posted the following on their website in a May 21, 2009 article:

“The IRS has placed a high priority, especially in the Small Business/Self-Employed Division, on so-called ROBS (rollovers as business startups) of which this transaction would be considered a part, even though it did not involve a rollover. Apparently there has been substantial advertising and marketing of the Roth IRA business technique and the Internal Revenue Service is determined to shut it down through the use of repetitive and detailed audits.”

While I have not dealt with such an audit, I think the quote is correct. ROBS are complex transactions, and one little misstep would allow an IRS auditor to impose severe penalties. If one wishes to execute a ROBS transaction, paying $6k+ for highly-specialized advice would be an absolute must. Further: Most of the ROBS specialists make a living off of selling ROBS and are therefore not very objective (“To a guy with a hammer everything looks like a nail”). In IRS parlance, they’d be viewed as “promoters”. It would probably make sense to have a second opinion from someone who does not make a living selling them.

Prohibited Transactions: As the name implies, Prohibited Transactions (“PT’s”) are bad. Specifically, if an IRA engages in a PT:

  • The entire IRA ceases to exist. All of the money in it is distributed and most or all of it is taxed as ordinary income. If the amount is large, the tax bracket will be quite high.
  • If one is under 59.5 years old, he’d almost certainly pay a 10% penalty on the amount distributed.
  • Additional penalties would apply, usually in the 20% to 30% (of the taxes) range, but sometimes higher.
  • Interest charges will apply as well.
  • In general, we advise clients that a PT in an IRA means that that 50%+ of the IRA will go to the government.
  • The size of the PT has no impact on whether the IRA gets blown. A $100 PT could blow a million dollar IRA. For this reason I am very, very conservative when it comes to PT’s. Anything that could even arguably be a PT should be avoided like a female intern avoiding a Clinton job offer.
  • PT’s in 401(k)’s are “less bad”. Heavy penalties would still apply, but a PT does not destroy a 401(k) the way it does an IRA. 401(k)’s have other advantages, including larger contribution limits and better asset protection features. 401(k)’s can be invested or “self-directed” in almost exactly the same manner as IRA’s.
  • I will describe PT’s in very basic terms. This description is not a substitute for good, customized advice. Rather, it’s designed to provide an overview of an important and complex subject. This topic is rarely covered as it should be. I put PT’s into three basic categories when I speak on the subject:
    • First: “Doing Business” with Certain People (IRC 4975(c)(1)(A) and (B))
      • No buying, selling, lending, extending credit, guaranteeing loans, leasing, provision of services or furnishing of facilities to/from disqualified persons (“DP”)
        • Subtle but important: “Furnishing of facilities” – e.g., IRA assets in your basement would be a problem even if you did not charge the IRA for the use of the space. Basement = facilities. Bad.
      • Key Disqualified Parties
        • Lineal descendants and ancestors, including those of a spouse
          • Direct or indirect
          • “Indirect” means no matter how you structure it, if the end result is the same as if it had been done directly, your IRA is toast. For example, instead of lending money to your father (who is a DP), you lend it to your cousin who lends it to his dog who lends it your dad. It’s indirectly the same as your IRA lending money to your father and therefore it’s a PT.
      • The IRS is very, very sophisticated when it comes to looking for indirect PT’s. They call and interview a number of persons during IRA audits and they ask probing questions. Thinking that “they’ll never catch it” would be a dangerous conceit.
        • YOU are a DP as to your own IRA, see below under “fiduciary”.
        • IRA Service Provider is a DP
          • For example, the lawyer who provides services to your IRA is a DP. As such your IRA cannot, for example, lease property him.
        • Fiduciaries are DP’s
          • These are people who can direct the IRA’s investments. You can do that, as can an investment adviser whom you’ve hired to help invest the IRA’s assets.
    • Second: Services
      • Technically a sub-category of discussion above – but not discussed or examined enough by supposed “how to” gurus, and one that often trips people up. I’ve never seen a good discussion of this issue on the net. So I treat it as a category of its own.
      • As a “fiduciary”, YOU are a DP with respect to your IRA
      • The statute therefore says that you (a fiduciary and therefore a disqualified party) cannot provide ANY services to the IRA.
      • The statute does not exempt services if they are provided for free.
      • So if you provide any services to your IRA, you have a PT.
      • Stick to directing your IRA, have others do the work
        • For example, you should NOT manage properties owned by your IRA. Nor should any other DP.
        • Do enough work, and you have a “service”
        • You can direct the IRA or direct others to do work on behalf of the IRA – but nothing more. You can research and choose investments – but nothing beyond that.
        • Investments can be anything that’s not banned. Certainly real estate, physical gold and silver (subject to certain restrictions), ammo, firearms that are not “collectibles”, etc.
      • The term “services” is not defined. When push comes to shove and the IRS creates a definition (one fine day in court), the court will defer to the IRS per the (unconstitutional, created in FDR’s time to enable the Praetorian bureaucracy) Administrative Procedures Act.
    • Third: The Sole Benefit Rule – the IRA’s assets must be invested for the sole benefit of the IRA. You may not use its assets for your benefit – no matter how small or indirect that benefit is. Several recent cases have hammered taxpayers for some pretty indirect benefits.
      • For example, if the IRA makes a loan to a company that is not a DP and the loan indirectly benefits you (e.g. – you own a small interest in the company or you work for the company, directly or indirectly) such a loan would be prohibited.
      • This means NO personal use of the property, no matter how minor or indirect.
        • Hunt on the IRA’s property once and you’ve blown the IRA. Stay overnight. Cut some firewood. Do a little shooting. If any of that gets caught, the IRA is simply done.
        • The IRS HAS caught such things. People fear them. When they start interviewing people close to the IRA holder (I have seen it done), you’d be amazed at who squawks. It’s human nature.
        • If someone close to you uses the property in the manner described above (a friend, a co-worker, a family member), same result.
        • I repeat: NO personal use of IRA property, no matter how indirect or how trivial.

Distributing half a house: As another reader posted, one can distribute partial interests in IRA property. This allows one to control the amount of income tax (in the case of a Traditional IRA, it wouldn’t matter in the case of a Roth) incurred each year.

Swanson case: That case is grossly over-hyped by promoters. They imply a ruling that is much broader than what the case actually said. No need to discuss the dull details. I’d simply add “cites Swanson a lot” to my “Danger Will Robinson IRA Promoter BS Detector”.

Government Seizure: I think a direct seizure like Argentina’s is unlikely in the US. My reasons:

  • While our Republic is in its death throes, certain traditions still have considerable residual power. For example, legislation or regulations require advance notice and follow a long, highly visible path. Ample warning would likely exist to react (e.g. – eat the penalties and distribute). Executive orders (that is, the Diktat so beloved by our Dear Leader) are really not a realistic means of executing such a seizure – the law itself is too clear. EO’s work when you can make a small tweak that has great effect (e.g. – we are not enforcing this subparagraph – you know, the one about deporting illegals, etc.). This could change if things got bad enough to enable the man on the white horse to do as he pleases – but we are not quite there just yet.
  • Too many people have IRA’s and 401(k)’s. An act as dramatic and direct as confiscation would wake even the sheeple.
  • Too many people in power have and use them as well – remember Romney’s $20M to $100M SEP IRA?
  • Indirect action will get the same result much more quietly (e.g. – QE) because most people will not do “extreme” things like invest in physical gold and silver. The little frog gets boiled slowly but thoroughly, no need to toss him in the microwave and make a mess that might get attention.

Equity Trust Company: (ETC) Ain’t what it used to be. For a number of reasons their service has declined dramatically. For example, deed transfers now take much longer, and are sometimes botched or forgotten entirely. Not ideal if for some reason one needs to make a fast transfer or distribution. There are lots of self-directed IRA custodians, do your research and find one that fits your needs. I hope ETC regains its former excellence, I do not think it likely.

Bottom line: IRA’s, 401(k)’s and other tax-deferred or tax-free retirement vehicles are excellent means of efficiently funding non-conventional assets such as land, buildings, timber, gold and the like. But our Byzantine tax system has added a price to such vehicles in the form of complex legal requirements. Ultimately the tax savings are worth the hassle. But please DO accept the hassle and get good advice. Ignoring the legal hassle or cutting corners (“I did it myself, how to is on the internet, it must be true!”) will cause a bitter harvest in favor of the IRS down the road. Do it right. – Prepper Tax Dude

Letter Re: Glock 27 .40 S&W Pistol

I thought Pat did a great review on this little pistol. Very thorough and insightful. While looking for a backup and off-duty gun, I purchased a G27in 1999 and have carried it daily since then. I spent the extra money and got mine with Meprolite night sights, but as he notes,the plastic with white outline are excellent. Pat does make a great point about the Glock 26 9mm being easier to shoot, though I have found that I shoot the 27 just about as well as my department-issued G22. Another point in favor of the 9mm is that in today’s market the ammunition is much less expensive than .40 S&W, and you need to practice as much as you can afford to. I have carried the G27 in a Fobus holster under an un-tucked shirt or a jacket, but find a G&G belt-slide holster to be more comfortable. I do recommend the use of a finger-grip mag extension for better recoil control. That brings up my only complaint about my G27. When changing magazines, the edge of my hand keeps the magazine from dropping free and I must use my off hand to pull the mag out before I can reload, but this would happen even without a grip extension. Seconds matter, so this is a serious issue in a gun fight. As to ammunition, I am only allowed to carry what is department-approved, and at this time that means 180gr Gold Dots. One last comment about the 9mm: My son purchased a Glock 19 gen 3 last year and I absolutely love the gun. I’m a big enough guy that concealment is not much more difficult than the 27. So, consider the G19 compact along with the ‘Baby’ Glocks when you make your selection. Thanks for avery well-done review, Pat. – C.C.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Big name search engines face rebellion. JWR Adds: I use and recommend both IXQuick and Privacy Abroad’s VPN tunnel. (But even with those, you should assume that you search history will be logged somewhere, somehow. For any searches on controversial or legal gray area topics, be sure to use a public library computer terminal!)

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Cheryl N. sent: When Revolution Comes, What Is Your Logistics Plan?

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Also from Cheryl: How This Family Of Four Lives ‘Off The Grid’ In The Middle Of The Desert

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Reader Scott L. mentioned a free Medicinal Plants and Drugs iPhone/iPad App

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Gregg P. spotted this news item: Israel ends gas mask distribution to public

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

 "Controversy for its own sake is a sin. But controversy for the sake of the truth is a divine mandate." – Joe Dallas (from a lecture series at Southern Seminary)

Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 50 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $9,700+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) 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, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), F.) A $300 Gift Certificate from Freeze Dry Guy. G.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. H.) A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com. The current value of this roll is at least $225, I.) Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad. They have a combined value of $195. J.) 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. and K.) APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit.

Second Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) 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. C.) A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100 foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. D.) $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P.), E.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials F.)A full set of all 26 of the books published by PrepperPress.com. This is a $270 value, G.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value). H.) EP Lowers, makers of 80% complete fiber composite polymer lowers for the AR-15 rifles is donating a $250 gift certificate, I.) Autrey’s Armory — specialists in AR-15, M4s, parts and accessories– is donating a $250 gift certificate, and J.) 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.

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security., E.) A MURS Dakota Alert Base Station Kit with a retail value of $240 from JRH Enterprises. F.) Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and G.) Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies. This assortment has a retail value of $208.

Round 50 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Tactical Solutions for Preppers, by The Grunt

As a sound and forward thinking prepper you should already be on your way to some level of sustainability in the event of some kind of social breakdown.  The food, water, medical, and sanitation needs are boring, but important enough that without them-anything else doesn’t really matter.  As readers of this blog I sincerely hope you’ve utilized the vast wealth of knowledge available here to develop your own systems of storage, rotation, and skills development.  So with all of that as a foundation, I pose a question.  With your family, your plans, and your supplies all depending on you for security-what do you next when whatever calamity strikes?

So many preppers, myself included, get caught up in the gear reviews.  Oh, its so easy to be swept away by the allure of product reviews or the exhilaration of arguing the merits of your favorite “survival” rifles and why all the rest should be used for decorative paperweights.  The bug out bags have become especially mainstream these days.  Its no longer the tin foil hat wearing crowd with three day bags and remote properties fully stocked and ready to go.  The bags, the gear, along with our food and water are easy to research and acquire.  What’s proving difficult for many people is finding actual tactical common sense for defending our preps.

Lets pretend for a moment that some disaster has befallen our once great land.  Those with access to remote locations have already made it to their “bug out location.”  Those that are going to shelter in place have gathered their families and are worriedly wondering to do next.  I pray that scenario never comes to pass, but if it does, you will be far ahead of the herd.  With a little common sense,  a little planning, and a few inexpensive supplies it is quite easy to keep anything less than an infantry platoon away from you and the things important to you.
Whether a remote farmstead or a cute little suburb the first thing we need to do is grab our favorite beverage of choice and sit on our front porch for awhile.  The single most important foundation of a good defense plan is a thorough understanding and knowledge of the neighborhoods and adjacent properties next to ours.  People are like any other wild animal in that we almost always choose the easiest path to our objective.  In the Army we called these paths natural lines of drift, and with few exceptions our ability to read the terrain around us and identify the easiest routes of travel proved fatally catastrophic to the idiots trying to ruin our day.  The simple truth of the matter is that while sitting on our porches, and just a little help from our imaginations its quite easy to see which way trouble will come from.  Simply ask yourself this question.  If I was a bad guy and I wanted to get to this house, what would I do?  The human brain is surprisingly agile with matters such as these, and you will very swiftly become aware of the natural lines of drift leading to your property.
After we’ve done this exercise a time or ten, being careful to pay attention all sides of our property its an easy enough task to look at the google earth imaging for our areas of defense.  The way things look from the air is very often dramatically different from what we see on the ground.  For one, line of sight on ground level makes short distances feel longer than they are.  Looking at things from above will undoubtedly bring security concerns to light that would not seem relevant from ground level. 
So now we understand the terrain around us,  the obvious and natural access points to our homes, and the vulnerable and secure geographic features that we are dealing with.  Now its time for a basic tactical tutorial.  For those not familiar with combat, or those with a hollywood fueled perception of fighting there are a few very simple but very critical truths that are paramount to the success of a well planned defense.  First,  every fighting position needs to be over lapped or “covered” by another.  Meaning that the reachable distances from left to right of each fighting position should overlap at least one and preferably two other positions.  Your defense plan should be faced to the obvious vulnerabilities first, but placed in such a way that it provides 360 coverage.
Secondly,  Distance ALWAYS equals two things.  Time and safety.  The time aspect of this is quite simple.  The further away an enemy is from a target the longer it will take to achieve their objective.  The further away from your loved ones that you can engage a threat provides reaction time for your and your loved ones to initiate whatever pre arranged defense protocols you have established.  This in and of itself provides an added level of safety.  If you are trying to protect your family, and they are going to be in the home, than the defense should be started as far away from the house as is possible.  A good shot with an AR style rifle can ruin your day from five hundred meters in.  I am aware that it may not be possible to establish a perimeter at that distance, but that would be best.  I suggest possibly establishing a forward outpost at this distance if possible.  A forward placed rifle and a few well placed shots may well be all it takes to persuade someone that its better to go somewhere else. 
For the purposes of this article I will presume that the threats we are attempting to dissuade from entering our property are non governmental groups of loosely organized, lightly trained people who didn’t clearly understand the precarious nature of our existence, and failed to prepare accordingly.  Therefore it is safe to assume that they will be armed in much the same ways that we are.  Probably some deer rifles,  a few AR or AK variants and a shotgun or two sprinkled in for good measure.  We should not be concerned with heavy automatic fire or anything resembling heavy weapons like mortars and such. 
With that in mind its important that after we identify where to place our defensive positions that we fortify them in such a way as to provide a reasonable level of survivability for those tasked with fighting from them.  I prefer the tried and true hole in the ground with a few sandbags for support.  Simply dig a small trench, maybe five feet long and armpit deep.  Place a double layer of sandbags all along the edges and that should be good enough for most small arms encounters.  Sandbags can be purchased for around forty five cents a bag and come unfilled and neatly stacked making storage an easy task.  I trust that we will all be able to tell when the time has come to bring them and a shovel out of storage and put to them use.
In many families it will be necessary to provide a safe room or mini bunker for non fighting loved ones.  This can be achieved by selecting an interior room of your residence and fortifying it with as many sandbags as is practical.  Obviously this is the reason for all of our other defense plans and should go without saying that special care and consideration should be given to its layout.  I think it most prudent to line the walls of the room with sandbags preferably two layers deep to at least waist height.  If you choose to add additional protective measures after this it would be a wise decision.  If you have a large group of people I might suggest an able bodied fighter to be posted to this room with a shotgun full of 00 buckshot and clear instructions on how to escape.
So,  we’ve planned a defensive grid consisting of multiple fighting positions facing natural lines of drift along our property.  We’ve procured sandbags and a shovel or two to be used after the poop hits the fan.  We have designated a hardened “safe room” for our loved ones.  Let’s talk about how to function in a tactically sound manner while actually fighting an enemy.
The first and only rule to small arms fights is very simple.  Move or die.  This is especially true if outgunned or out manned, which is basically the same thing.  I can hear you saying “what the hell, this guy just told us to dig holes and use sandbags and fight there.”  Yes, the fighting positions should be manned and fought from, but if that’s all you do a smart enemy will just sit tight, find some cover and pick you off when you show yourself.  In any small arms engagement the objective should be to kill or wound any attackers, or remove them from the battle space entirely.
This is accomplished by establishing a base of fire from your hardened positions, and a separate element flanking or maneuvering in such a way that your fire intersects with that of your static position.  Simply put, one group shoots and another group runs like hell around the attacker position and puts fire on them from another direction.  Even one person firing from behind an enemy while they are focused on what’s firing at them from the front will suck the energy out of most untrained people.  
All modern warfare is essentially that simple.  Engage your enemy in more directions than he is willing to defend and they will have to retreat.  Plain and simple. With that said it should be inferred that you are not going to be able to do this alone.  You will need as many able bodied fighters as possible.  I pray you are in good standing with neighbors.  Not that they have to be preppers, because quite frankly that isn’t going to happen.  But if you know them, and do a little planning for them, when the time comes and their butts are on the line they will more than likely sign up for anything that resembles a path to safety for them and their families.
Planning goes a long way when it comes defense.  The more you put into it now, the less guesswork you will have when the stress is already high.  I would urge you all to print and secure in document protectors the aerial imagery of your area.  I would urge you to consider who will be tasked with what assignments, and with what weapons.  The smart move is to implement a night watch strategy.  That is when any group is at their weakest and most vulnerable.  I would think that a two hour rotating watch schedule would be the most convenient route for most groups.  Even during daylight hours it is a good idea to have at least one person dedicated to some sort of patrol route.
I am hoping that you have an adequate communication plan in place.  Once guns start going off having good communication is the difference between life and death.  With a good radio, and some pre planning your goals should be that each member of your team is well versed in retreat routes, flanking protocols, and feels comfortable making decisions for themselves.  In the Army we call them battle drills, but if you develop a short list of scenarios and train every member of your team to react the same way to each of those, than in the chaos of a gunfight you will all be well served. 
Leadership is critical once lives are on the line.  With that said, your goal should always be that any member of your team feels comfortable clearing weapons malfunctions on all weapons being used.  It is also important that everyone understands where to go, and what to do at the moment of truth.  Confusion and indecision get people killed, and loses fights.  The flip side is that the biggest difference between a ragtag mob and the navy seals is that each seal knows exactly what to do at all times.  Their brains don’t have to waste time considering options.  They just act, decisively.  They act with what’s called violence of action.  They take the fight to enemy before the enemy has time to react and develop a plan.  In our situations most of this can be achieved with a good plan, and a clear understanding of each members responsibilities. 
Obviously, there are many many more variables to a well planned defense strategy.  This is merely the beginning or a template to be built upon.   A base of knowledge that can be customized and molded to fit you particular scenario.  I do not care to get into discussions of what guns are the best for this.  Take what you have, and develop a plan.  As long as you are prepared to act decisively even your grandpas deer gun will be good enough.
  I do not believe in violence as a means of survival, and am not advocating for that here.  However,  if things get bad than its a pretty safe bet that people will get bad just as quickly.  This information will put you in a position to protect the ones you love in a manner that is tactically sound. If the opportunity presents itself I hope to write more on this topic in the coming months because there are many methods of tightening a security plan that would be useful for our prepping community.

Letter Re: When The Schumer Hits (Literally)

Dear Editor:
In response to the article titled: When The Schumer Hits (Literally), by Prepper EMT:

I am on board until we reach the recipe, which calls for lemon juice and lime juice. Unless you live in a citrus grove or in  a state where you can grow citrus and are lucky enough to get sick when the fruit is on the tree you are going to be in trouble here.   I suggest that [instead] each person stocks the ingredients to make a simple electrolyte solution that uses common and easily stored ingredients. There are several recipes to be found by simply doing a search on the internet.  There are also powdered mixes of electrolytes that you can stock. Sporting goods, camping stores and your local vet are all a good place to shop. One of the simplest ones (not necessarily the best) is:

6 teaspoons of sugar,
½ teaspoon of salt,
and 1 liter of water.

There are others that use “lite” salt and baking soda etc.  Do a little research and find the ones that work for you and your ‘pantry’.

News From The American Redoubt:

Some useful data from Atlas Van Lines: 2013 Migration Patterns. The migration trend toward The American Redoubt looks like it is accelerating. The only contrary data point is the recent out-migration from Wyoming, but I suspect that much of that is attributable to the petroleum engineers, roughnecks, and assorted camp followers who are heading toward the ongoing Bakken oil boom in North Dakota and adjoining eastern Montana.

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Coeur d’Alene cops release shooting video. (You can see the video here.) JWR’s Comments: This looks like another intentional “Suicide by Cop” initiated by someone who was mentally unbalanced. Considering how quickly someone could cover that distance, I’d say the officer showed good restraint. And speaking of good Idaho cops: FBI: Bonners Ferry man targeted ATMs throughout U.S.

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The flu hits the Redoubt: Kootenai Health says patients are close to capacity

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Senators, Crapo, Risch sponsor bill to expand concealed weapon rights. Some details can be found at Senator Crapo’s web site. JWR’s Comment: What we really need is nationwide Vermont-style (Permitless) concealed carry!

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WSU scientists order MRI for a grizzly suffering from seizures

Odds ‘n Sods:

Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s I worked for a couple of Silicon Valley companies. On my lunch hours I often wandered around Usenet, back when it had miniscule traffic volume. (This was before graphical web browsers even existed. The Internet was public, but just barely. (Outside of a few AOL users who began arriving in 1991, most of the early 1990s Internet users spoke UNIX and wore pocket protectors. And nearly all of us were either in government scientific agencies or worked for big corporations.) On Usenet, I often read and occasionally posted to a Usenet newsgroup called “talk.politics.guns.” One of the most frequent posters there was a gent named Clayton Cramer. He was an eloquent man with asbestos long johns, who bravely withstood repeated flaming insults hurled at him (and hurled at logic itself), by legions of anti-gun statist buffoons. Some of his great Usenet posts are still being cited. He also notoriously made many posts that cited crime statistics and studies on child molestation by homosexuals (such as those published in scholarly journals like Arch Sex Behav) that didn’t earn him many friends on the left. Recently, I was pleased to see that Clayton Cramer is alive and well and living in Idaho. – JWR

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Chris R. mentioned a video about a quite innovative new pistol ammunition, developed by a company in Georgia, USA: R.I.P.

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File Under: Time Wounds All Heels: Washington ‘Prepper’ pleads not guilty in gun case. (JWR’s Comment: You may recall that this was the man who was bragging about his plans to go pillaging, WTSHTF.)

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OSOM wrote to note yet another reason to avoid social media: Invasion of Privacy? App Matches Strangers’ Photos to Their Online Profiles

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Reader D.R.B. suggested this fascinating 35-minute documentary video: Agafia’s Taiga Life. “In 1936, a family of Russian Old Believers journeyed deep into Siberia’s vast taiga to escape persecution and protect their way of life. The Lykovs eventually settled in the Sayan Mountains, 160 miles from any other sign of civilization.”

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The Fed’s policy of monetizing one trillion dollars of bonds annually put pressure on the US dollar, the value of which declined in terms of gold. When gold hit $1,900 per ounce in 2011, the Federal Reserve realized that $2,000 per ounce could have a psychological impact that would spread into the dollar’s exchange rate with other currencies, resulting in a run on the dollar as both foreign and domestic holders sold dollars to avoid the fall in value. Once this realization hit, the manipulation of the gold price moved beyond central bank leasing of gold to bullion dealers in order to create an artificial market supply to absorb demand that otherwise would have pushed gold prices higher. The manipulation consists of the Fed using bullion banks as its agents to sell naked gold shorts in the New York Comex futures market. Short selling drives down the gold price, triggers stop-loss orders and margin calls, and scares participants out of the gold trusts.” – Paul Craig Roberts, The Hows and Whys of Gold Price Manipulation

Notes from JWR:

The Managing Editor position at SurvivalBlog has been tentatively filled. My sincere thanks to the more than 50 people who sent resumes. There were a lot of wonderful candidates, but only a couple of them met all of our experience requirements.

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I have a very trustworthy friend who is looking for a live-in caretaker or house-sitter position at a retreat in northern California. (Preferably anywhere between Tuolumne County and Shasta County.) He is a conscientious non-smoking single man in his 50s. Please e-mail me if you presently have an opening for a caretaker or house-sitter position in that region. Thanks!

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Today we present two guest articles, by permission from their authors. But first, here are a couple of product reviews from our stalwart Field Gear Editor:

Pat’s Product Review – SurvivAMINO Protein Tablets

When I’m out hunting, and a lot of hunting in my neck of the woods is via logging roads that you drive on, or out for a hike, I like to have a little something to munch on. Quite often, I’ll take some beef jerky or granola bars, as well as high-protein bars. It’s just a good pick-me-up to have something to eat – instead of running home, when I’m a little hungry. Only problem I have with beef jerky is that, while it is quite tasty, it promotes thirst – a lot of thirst. Granola bars and high-protein bars are okay, but they really aren’t a substitute for real protein, that the body needs, especially during activities like hunting, hiking or if you’re in the military, out on a patrol, or even engaged in combat. The body needs protein – simple as that. [JWR Adds: Another problem with most compact high-protein foods–such as jerky, canned meats, and peanut butter–is that after a few days of an exclusive diet they tend to induce constipation, which could be potentially life-threatening if in the field for an extended period.]
 
I make no claims to being a scientist, in any way, shape or form. But I do a lot of research – as does my wife – on topics of nutrition, and what helps keep us alive. While I really enjoy a good piece or two of beef jerky, it is a bit hard to digest, unless you drink a lot of water, and you chew it – a lot – before swallowing it. Granola bars – well, I can take or leave ’em – but I have some when out and about in the boonies – I’ve always found their taste a bit lacking. And, I keep high-energy protein bars in my BOB, just in case.
 
A lot of hunters will carry a Thermos of coffee, for a quick pick-me-up, and that’s fine – but it wears off almost as fast as the “high” it brings on. And, coffee really doesn’t serve as a beverage that one needs in a high-stress situation – as in survival or combat. Yeah, I know, many folks are almost addicted to coffee – or more properly, the caffeine in coffee. I stopped drinking coffee more than a dozen years ago – and I only drank a cup or two each day…it did nothing for my acid reflux. However, I will say that, when you’re out and about, in a combat situation, out hiking or camping, a nice hot cup of coffee is a nice thing to have. Still, it does nothing to aid in your survival for the most part.

Consider Vitality Sciences, and their new SurvivAMINO tablets. SurvivAMINO tablets are a 100% replacement for amino acids – and any protein in the world can be broken down into a combination of the 20 amino acids. Of these, 8 are considered essential because without any one of them, body functions start to shut down in a few weeks. Any protein source without all 8 essential amino acids is not a complete source and is setting you up for a deficiency. This is not good in s serious survival situation, or even in combat. Let’s face facts, when your in a survival situation, you are under a lot of stress, and your body is burning calories – a lot of calories, and that means you need protein to keep going. And, you sure can’t carry a BOB full of sirloin steaks, and while beef jerky is nice to have, it still won’t supply all the amino acids your body needs to keep going, and going and going.
 
You probably have the best backpack money can buy, and tough boots – that are water proof, and that Gore-Tex jacket will keep you warm when it’s 30 below zero. You’ve made a study and have the best M4 type of rifle, that will see you through any fire-fight, and plenty of ammo to go along with that rifle. You have some MREs in your BOB, too – but as you know, MREs are heavy, and you can’t possibly carry all the MREs you want or need. You also have the best camo clothing, for the area you’ll be operating in, too. But have you really taken into consideration what your body really needs – to keep going and going? Probably not! We keep multi-vitamins in our BOB, and while it’s a great supplement, it still isn’t a substitute for eating right, and as already mentioned, your body needs protein if you want to keep going. Yes, I know, a lot of folks are Vegans or Vegetarians – and that’s fine, but the human body, needs protein if you expect it to keep function 100% – especially in stressful situation – and a survival situation, no matter what brings it on, causes a lot of stress and your body craves protein – it needs protein.
 
Yeah, I know, you are better skilled than “John Rambo,” and you can hunt wild game and get your protein that way. Well, believe it or not, Rambo is a fictional character, and to be honest, if you believe you can hunt all the wild game you’ll need to survive in the wilderness, you’re going to die in short order. I’m not Rambo, never was…and the older I get, the wiser I get (I think?) and I want to pack smarter and lighter for my BOB – and that means carrying less weight, and the weight I do carry, I want it to count – to provide me with the best of everything, to ensure my survival.
 
SurvivAMINO tablets take up very little room in a BOB, and weight only a few ounces. A 100-count bottle of SurvivAMINO tablets is enough to last a person for 7-days, if they have no other source of protein. And, “no” SurvivAMINO is NOT a substitute for food per se, it is a supplement for protein that our diets call for. And, taking a SurvivAMINO tablet will not give you an instant boost in power and energy – just like a good steak won’t give you that boost, either. However, your body will notice that it is getting what it needs in the protein department.
 
One again, I’m no scientist, but I know a good thing, in the nutrition department, when I find it, and if you’re serious about your survival – in whatever form, you honestly should have a bottle or two of SurvivAMINO in your BOB – it will only help your overall health and well-being, when under stress. My youngest daughter was recently discharged from the US Army, after serving a 4-year hitch. And, by the time this article appears on SurvivalBlog, she will be in New Zealand, making a trek, on foot, across 2,000 miles of that country, and she will have SurvivAMINO in her backpack – there will be some parts of the trek, where she will be at least, several days between rural towns, and the SurvivAMINO will help her keep her protein level up there, for the trek.
 
A 100-count bottle of SurvivAMINO is $45. – and it’s worth it, if you’re serious about aiding your survival. If you’re a military troop, stationed in some hell hole of a place, you’ll really appreciate the benefits of SurvivAMINO – it will help keep those protein levels up where they should be – in addition to the MREs you are eating. If you’re a hunter or camper, these tablets will help you…if you’re into long distance running or walking, the benefits of SurvivAMINO tablets will come into play. And, best of all, they come with a 100% money back guarantee, too. My family and I will be stocking-up on SurvivAMINO as funds permit – it’s a small investment insuring your long-term and even short-term survival – whatever brings on that emergency, that requires your survival. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio

Pat’s Product Review: Glock 27 .40 S&W Pistol

Many years ago, when I worked for the late Col. Rex Applegate. We worked with Paladin Press, on the very first video they produced, titled “Manstoppers.” In this video a large selection of semiauto handguns were tested and fired by Tom Campbell, who at one time was Smith and Wesson’s top shooter. I acted as range officer and a consultant on the video, that was shot at the old Applegate pioneer homestead outside of Yoncolla, Oregon. For this video, Col. Applegate obtained a prototype Glock 23 handgun, and we were all impressed with it, albeit there were many malfunctions, due to the fact, that the magazine sent with the gun was a modified Glock 19 magazine, and it caused feeding malfunctions. As I recall, well-known gun writer, Wiley Clapp, who was also on board for this video, suggested that Glock come out with a sub-compact version of the Glock 23 – I don’t know if Clapp’s idea ever reached the ears of Glock or not. However, a few short years later, Glock came out with two sub-compact handguns, the Model 26 in 9mm and the Model 27 in .40 S&W.
 
Today, the Glock Model 27 is the top choice for a back-up or off-duty for police officers and police departments that issue the full-sized Glock 22, which is in .40 S&W caliber. I don’t have the exact stats on-hand, however nearly 80% of police departments in USA issue the Glock 22 as their duty sidearm these days. That speaks volumes of the popularity of the Glock handguns in general. However, lately some police departments have been switching back to the 9mm round – they’ve found that qualifying scores have taken a serious hit because of the recoil of the .40 S&W round. Additionally, there have been a lot of advancements in the 9mm caliber, which is easier to shoot – less recoil – and the stopping power is right up there with the .40 S&W when modern JHP rounds are use. (This is a different story, and best reserved for another article.)
 
The sub-compact Glock 27 is a chunky little brute of a pistol, it’s only 6.49-inches long, 4.17-inches tall, and 1.18-inche wide. The barrel is 3.42-inches long, and the gun weighs in at 19.75-ounces empty. Trigger pull is 5.5 pounds and the gun is classified as a D/A (double action) only by the BATF, however many experts call it a S/A (single action) trigger pull – to each his own. I own a third generation Glock 27, and it came with two 9-shot magazines. Current models are called Gen 4 and come with three magazines and backstraps that can be changed for a better grip feel. I honestly can’t feel much difference between the Gen 3 and Gen 4 models. However, I understand that the Gen 4 models are a bit stronger, to handle some hotter .40 S&W loads – like those produced by Buffalo Bore Ammunition. More about their loads shortly. I’ll admit that, the trigger pull on Glocks takes a little getting used to, they are a bit “mushy” compared to say, a 1911 handgun, that has a very short and crisp S/A trigger pull. However, with practice, the Glock trigger can be mastered in short order. Another plus for the Glock line-up is that, they only contain 34-parts – less things to break, and parts interchange between many models, too.
 
I owned a Glock 26, 9mm sub-compact before the Model 27, and I found that my pinky was always left dangling under the magazine, because of the short frame on  the gun. In short order, a couple companies came out with a pinky extension. You simply replaced the magazine floorplate, for the after-market version, and there was plenty of room for your pinky to get a better grip on the gun. After that, some makers came out with a +2 floor plate – that not only give your pinky a place to go, it also added two additional rounds to the Glock 26, 9mm magazine. The same aftermarket magazine floor plates fit the Glock 27 – with the exception being, the +2 floor plate only allows one extra round in the magazine instead of two rounds. Yes, there are some no-name after-market +2 floor plates that will allow two extra rounds to fit in the Glock 27, 9-round magazine. However, I have found them lacking in reliability – yes, you can squeeze two extra rounds in that Glock 27 magazine, but at what cost? I’d rather have just one extra round that I know will feed, instead of two extra rounds that may not feed. In my humble opinion, and in my own use, I immediately replace the standard floor plate on a Glock 26 or 27, with a +2 floor plate – giving my pinky some place to go, instead of dangling under the magazine – and it gives me a very secure grip on these little powerhouse Glocks. And, the length of the +2 floor plates don’t detract much from the concealability of these little handguns.
 
Right up front I’ll voice my two-cents worth on the advantages and disadvantages of the Glock 26 and 27. If you are new to handgunning, and want a powerful, yet concealable handgun, it’s hard to beat the little Glock 26. The reason I recommend the 26 over the 27 to new shooters is that, the 9mm round is more controllable than the .40 S&W round in the Model 27. Recoil is noticeably less in the 26, and follow-up shots are easier and faster. The Model 27 has some pretty violent recoil, and new shooters are a bit intimidated by the recoil of the .40 S&W round in the Model 27. If you start flinching, you start missing – and I’ve run this test a good number of times – having shooters fire a Glock 26 first, then fire the Glock 27 – and the shooters scored better with the 9mm Glock 26 and found it more enjoyable to shoot – even with +P loads.
 
I’m voicing my opinion, and from my experience, in shooting both the Glock 26 and Glock 27, and that of other shooters. With today’s modern JHP ammo, most shooters will pick the Glock 26 over the Glock 27 – because the recoil is less, and they find it much easier to shooter compared to the Glock 27. I’ve been shooting for a lot of years, and I’m really not bothered much by recoil, so I could live with either the 26 or the 27. It is worth taking into consideration though, that all things considered, if you can hit better and faster with identical guns – other than the caliber difference – it’s worth going with the gun you can shoot better and faster. Another factor to take into consideration is that, 9mm ammo is still less expensive than .40 S&W ammo is.
 
Now, with all the above stated, I prefer to carry the Glock 27 over the Glock 26 – I just like bigger bullets, because I still believe in my own mind that, they are more effective in stopping a threat. I know, the stats say there is virtually little difference when using comparable modern expanding ammo…but I’m old school! That’s not to say I don’t carry my Model 26 – I do – often! And, when I do, it is stoked with +P 9mm expanding ammo!
 
The front sight on the Model 27 is plastic, and it has a white dot – the rear sight is also plastic, and it has a white outline. I find these sights extremely fast to pick-up for combat shooting. For precision or target shooting, I prefer a different type of sight. However, we are discussing self-defense, so the sights that come on the Model 27 work just great. I know some folks replace the plastic sights with steel sights – and that’s fine. There have been reports of the plastic front sight breaking on Glocks – I’ve yet to have that happen to any Glock handguns I’ve owned. The only two parts I’ve ever had break on a Glock, is the trigger spring – and this is a problem in my opinion, and I had an extractor break on an older Glock 27 I owned – both the spring and extractor are easy to replace – Glocks are extremely easy to work on if you know much about handguns in general. I keep a small supply of spare parts on-hand for Glocks, and the most often replaced part is the trigger spring.
 
On the new, Gen 4 Glocks, you can move the magazine release from one side to the other if, you’re a left-hander. That’s a quick and easy thing. On older Glocks, you can’t do this – nor will the older Gen 3 magazines work in a Gen 4 pistol, if you swapped the magazine release to the opposite side of the gun. And, the magazine releases are much larger on Gen 4 Glocks – easier to hit for a fast reload. Tim Sundles, who owns and operates Buffalo Bore Ammo, tells me that, the Gen 4 Glocks are a bit stronger, and he doesn’t see any problems shooting his +P .40 S&W ammo in the newer Glocks. And, he hasn’t heard of any problems with older Model 27s shooting his +P ammo, either. Sundles said the barrels are the Gen 4 models seem to have more of a fully supported chamber. In any event, I’ve shot a lot of his +P .40 S&W ammo in my Gen 3 Model 27 without any problems at all. The recoil spring set-up is a bit stouter on the Gen 4 line-up of Glocks, too – and they are not interchangeable between earlier Glock generation pistols.
 
Out to the range, with a good assortment of .40 S&W ammo, and a lot of shooting was in order. These days, I’m trying to keep my firing down to about 200 rounds because of the great ammo shortage, we are still in. However, I fired more than 300 rounds of ammo through my Glock 27 for this test because of the wide assortment of ammo I had on-hand. From Black Hills Ammunition, I had their 140-grain Barnes Tac-XP all-copper hollow point load – and I only had a partial box, also, from Black Hills, I had their 180-grain FMJ remanufactured load – again, only half a box. From Buffalo Bore Ammunition, I had quite an assortment to fire. First up was their standard pressure (non +P) 125-grain Barnes Tac-XP all-copper bullet and the same in a 140-grain load. I also had their fairly new 200-grain Hard Cast FN standard pressure load. In the +P loadings from Buffalo Bore, I had their 155-grain JHP, 180-grain JHP and their 180 grain FMJ loadings.
 
I enjoyed the Black Hills 180-grain FMJ remanufactured load the most – the recoil wasn’t bad at all. I have to beg Black Hills for some more of this loading. It is a great range and target load. The 140-grain Barnes Tac-XP all-copper hollow point was a pleasant load, too – and would make an outstanding street load for self-defense, I’m really sold on the Barnes all-copper hollow points – they expand nicely and penetrate deeply. The Buffalo Bore 155-grain and 180-grain JHP +P loads had about the same felt-recoil in my opinion. And, for quite some time, I carried their 155-grain JHP load in various .40 S&W chambered handguns. The Buffalo Bore 140-grain and 125-grain standard pressure loads, with the Barnes Tac-XP all-copper bullets really got my attention in the little Glock 27. They seemed hotter, and had more recoil than the +P loadings from Buffalo Bore – so I mixed these loads in the magazine, and found that, in my humble opinion, the standard pressure loads had a bit more recoil – the slide was moving pretty fast during recoil – but there were no malfunctions. The last load I tested, is the Buffalo Bore 200-grain Hard Cast flat nose (FN) round, and this is the round I’d carry in the little Glock 27, if I was out in the boonies, and worried about larger 4-legged critters – it really penetrated. I placed four one-gallon milk jugs with water in them, and fired this load – it completely penetrated all four jugs of water. And, felt recoil wasn’t bad at all. So, again this would be in my Glock 27 if I were out in the boonies.
 
I was really torn between the Buffalo Bore 140-grain and 125-grain standard pressure Barnes Tax-XP loads – as to which one would be the better street load for self-defense. The 125-grain load actually had a bit more recoil if my humble opinion compared to the slightly heavier 140-grain load. Nothing I couldn’t handle, but the felt-recoil seemed to be a bit more in the lighter load, compared to the heavier load. In the end, I selected the 125-grain Barnes Tac-XP all-copper load for my street self-defense load. I compared this loading, to the Buffalo Bore .357 SIG 125-grain Barnes Tac-XP all-copper load, and they are identical in ballistics (on paper) and the .357 SIG is making a real name for itself, as a man stopping load. So, in reality, if you look at the ballistics, the 125-grain .40 S&W Barnes Tac-XP all-copper load is doing the same job as the .357 SIG load – with the exception being, you are firing a .40 caliber bullet – compared to the 9mm bullet that the .357 SIG load is throwing – and once again, it comes down to, bigger is better, if you ask me.
 
I fired the little Glock 27 across the hood of my SUV, using a rolled-up sleeping bag as a rest. Distance was 25 yards – and the Model 27 easily hit where I aimed it. Most loads were in the 3-inch to 3 1/2-inch range – good enough for head shots if you had to take one. The winner in the accuracy department was the Buffalo Bore 200-grain Hard Cast FN load – and I was able to just slightly break that 3-inch mark with 5-shots – if I did my part. Firing so many rounds through the little Glock 27 was tiring, and it was all done over the course of several hours. I honestly believe the gun might be capable of even slightly better accuracy than what I was getting. I’ve found that some of the sub-compact Glock’s actually give me slightly better accuracy than their mid and full sized brothers do.
 
I carry the little Model 27 in a Glock sport holster – they are only about $12 and they hold the gun high and extremely close to the body – I like this holster a lot ! I have several leather holsters for this Glock, but the plastic Glock sport holster seems to work best for my concealed carry needs. Go figure!
 
If you are in the market, for what might just be, the epitome, in a concealed carry .40 S&W caliber handgun, the Glock 27 might fill the bill for you. With the +2 floor plate on the magazine, that gives you 10 rounds, and one more in the chamber, and you should always carry at least one spare magazine with you. That will give you 10 more spare rounds of ammo. If you can’t get the job done with the rounds in the gun and a spare magazine then you should have been carrying your AR-15 or AK-47. And, if the .40 S&W has too much recoil for you, then you can go with it’s little brother, the Glock 26 in 9mm, loaded with quality, JHP loads. If I had to pick the ultimate concealed carry .40 S&W handgun, it would probably be the Glock 27. – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio