Letter Re: Practice, Cub Scouts, BB Guns, and the Old Guy

Dear Jim and Readers,
I want to start out with a little bit of pre-history. About five weeks ago I had my first heart attack, and the doc installed a stint. That was a wake-up call! Wow. Of course the subject by the doc was diet, lose the lard, get exercise. I started losing by cutting back, but I needed a bit more help. Work would be nice, it would help with my activity level plus I needed some extra finances to come in as some big bills were hitting all at once. So when all these things begin to get out of control I prayed. “Hey Lord, I need to lose all this fat, and I need enough money to pay my bills. YOU have never ever failed me, could you help me out on this one please”? Less than an hour later I got a phone call from our troops Boy Scout Master, who just happens to be our Scout Camp Ranger at Camp McLaughlin in the Crater Lake Council. “Hey Dave, are you free for the next four weeks? I got a job that pays a thousand dollars, ya want it?” Immediately I thought – Hmmmmm, that was sure quick Lord thanks! And answered – “Yes I will take it! What is it? (I really didn’t much care even if it was cleaning toilets, they get really messy there.) He said “You’re an ol’ sarg, could you help run the BB gun range, it would be a lot of fun?” ” Let me see– hold on a minute”. A short pause and short question to my dear loving wife, “Can I go away for a month and help run a BB gun range at the scout camp?” Her response, “I’ll help you pack!”. Back to the Camp ranger. “Yes she wants me to get some exercise, and start recovering from the heart attack, and doesn’t want me to get shot, when do I start?” “Be here tomorrow morning at seven and meet the boss and staff. And bring enough stuff to last you at least 4 days. You’ll be on 4 and off 3 days during the month.“ A few thoughts like “ Hmmm 0700, I haven’t gotten up that early in months, ahh I guess I can do that.” “Sure I’ll be there.” At 0500 I got up, showered, packed, and was out the door by 0545 with a cup of coffee. My go bag had most of my stuff, so the packing was easy.

It was a beautiful drive down the highway, with the sun coming up the drive across to the Crater Lake Highway. Up and across the valley to West Side Road was absolutely gorgeous. What a beautiful day to be on the flower side of the roots. It could have very well been the other way around. I was very thankful to our loving God. The time with Him and His beautiful creation was a real treat. “Thanks again, Lord”. Sixteen miles on West Side Road, to the 140 road to Medford, up the mountain about nine more miles and a mile south to the scout camp. The camp sits on the beautiful Lake of the Woods. Sixty one miles on the button, and ten minutes to spare. Hmmm, a bit over 55, but not much. I met my Scout Troop Master and my new boss, hmmmm younger than my 33 year old son. They were very appreciative that I would even consider the job.” Glad to do it, if it’s for the boys. They need good guidance and this helps me to get out from under my wife’s feet.” A bit later I met my new mentor, a fine retired Master Chief also named Dave. A bit older than me, and we hit it off quickly. I was his new shadow. We discovered we had something in common – we both had heart attacks within days of each other and both shared the same doctor.

We went to the range to prepare for the next group of cub scouts and almost an
equal number of parents. More groups started coming down a couple of hours later. Dave sat me down to read the Boy Scout BB gun range master chapter, and all the rules, etc. Not difficult, but it was sure hard to not call the BB gun a weapon, a BB a round and change from open the breach or chamber. The boy scout terminology is OPEN THE ACTION, BB gun, or rifle. But it’s not rifled. So BB gun works nice. After passing a test that was actually pretty easy for me once I learned the terminology of the Boy Scouts. I was issued a BB gun range officer certification. Wow, an ol’ retired guy, an expert marksman from my military days with the M-60, M-16, M-79, Ma duce, and not so expert at the time with the 1911A1, but now I am, and can add the SKS to it too. And now a BB gun. The first day was the safety spiel, the following two days was practice, competition and when possible chatting and shooting a bit with some real marksmen, and moms of the boys when time permitted.

I struck up some new friendships with some dads who had some of our readers common interests. There were several who were of like mind. In the evening after retreat, a few of us had time to talk. One told me it was really hard for the boys to correlate the big board we had with the sites and site picture painted on it to the actual site picture. So I said I would bring it up to other Dave, and we put our heads together. Our idea, was to take a BB gun and line the sites up on the target on the range exactly where the gun would hit the target for the bull. We did this with the sand bags. Then we took Dave’s cell phone and took about a dozen pictures trying to get just the right sight picture. When we finally got it, he went home and made copies of the best one and we laminated them so they could be handled over and over. We did enough for each firing position.

Next we presented the idea to a large group of scouts and their dads. There were two police officers in the group. Their eyes lit up, and one hollered WHAT A GREAT IDEA! He looked at the picture and wondered why no one had ever done that before. My past life I worked in a research lab as an engineering development tech, and helped develop lots of really great ideas ( like our automatic blood pressure cuffs), so my little synapses still work now and then, especially when I think something could be improved on.

Our first day with the photographs made our day so much easier. We used the picture before the first BB was ever fired and had the parents or ourselves hold the picture up in front of the barrel aligned with the sites. The boys would look and see what they were supposed to see in the picture and it worked great for the boys to find the correct site picture when they were aiming the rifle. Our day was very long but extremely satisfying. Our kids had a great time. We gave out tootsie rolls for ever hit in the X or that broke the line. By the end of two full sessions, three days each, we ran out of tootsie rolls. The candy chewers were really making our job easier. Of course we had to sit down with many boys to help them in learning how to hold the BB gun, get their breathing right, their cheek and shoulder weld the same each time, and squeeze the trigger, instead of jerking it. LOTS OF FUN for us old guys teaching these skills. I really enjoyed it.

All of our guns, and bows and arrows are all provided by grants from the NRA (a little plug for them). Even though I’m not a member, I’m now considering it. We also beg for grants from anyone who will help. There is a great need for positive role models to work with our youth.

OK, now to the meat of what I want to talk about. I had a lot of time to sit down at the table and check sites and put a lot of BB’s down range at about 31 feet. It gave me lots of time to practice. PRACTICE. I can’t afford to get 22 ammo right now at a cheap enough price that I want to blow money practicing my marksmanship. The thought came to me that this would be a good subject for Survivalblog. I was able to work on my breathing, concentration, site picture, sighting with all of the rifles, and most of all my trigger pull. These little guns can be used in almost any back yard, with a low hanging clothes line, a piece of old tent canvas to catch the BB’s and some good targets hung with cloths pins. Hmmm, my wife still uses them. Mom’s do you remember how to hang a shirt on the line? I was surprised how many kids that had never seen a cloths pin and the response was usually. ‘Nah! my mom uses a dryer.’ Well folks break out the cloths pins, line and start drying out side again. Oh you don’t need starch when you hang clothes on the line either. BB’s are cheap. The guns we used were about $50 dollars. You can copy targets off on your own printer.

I started cleaning out the bulls eye in 10 to 15 shots.

Another thing, add clothes pins to your trading larder for when the SHTF. All those boys moms are going to need them. I wonder how many. 22 rounds you could get for a pack of them.
I have really enjoyed having time to shoot, and enhance my skills, and cleaning up some bad habits. The boys were all a real blessing to work with. They were all great youngsters. They are our future leadership. If you ever get the chance to work with youngsters take it. The pay is very low, accommodations rustic (minus 5 stars) and food, worse than a bad GI mess hall, but that’s the FDA’s fault. Oh it is also a good way to meet like-minded people. I made several new friends who need some help with communications, my usual subjects. Looks like new opportunities are just around the corner.
Thank you Lord for the help and fun, I left 15 pounds and 4 inches behind too. Blessings to you all, – Dave of Oregon

Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader Karl G. suggested this by William A. Levinson: How the Cooper Color Code Explains ‘Stand Your Ground,’ and Prevents Crime

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Todd Savage of Survival Retreat Consulting wrote to mention that he has been successful is finding retreats for a large number of clients this year. He also mentioned that he is offering a 50% discount for clients who retain his services during the month of August, 2013.

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“Lithium is no longer available on credit.” Back to Land Lines? Cell Phones May Be Dead by 2015

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Reader B.G. sent a link to a fascinating bit of the history of modern Israel: A Secret Underground Cartridge Factory. Oh, and BTW, some modern-day kibbutzim are still cranking out war materiél.

Notes from JWR:

Today we remember the birthday of author Reginald Bretnor. He was born Alfred Reginald Kahn on July 30, 1911, in Vladivostok. He died on July 22, 1992 in Medford, Oregon. In addition to penning many witty science fiction novels and short stories in his characteristic style, he also wrote nonfiction survivalist articles for Mel Tappan’s P.S. Letter

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Today we present another entry for Round 47 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The 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.) Two BirkSun.com photovoltaic backpacks (one Level, and one Atlas, both black), with a combined value of $275, G.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo. and 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.

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 FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 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 and F.) Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

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.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value. E.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value), and F.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 47 ends on July 31st and the queue is full, but you can e-mail us your entry fro Round 48. 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.

Bone Broth, a.k.a. Stone Soup, by H.A.

Bone broth is slow-simmered broth, made with bones.  Vegetables and/or vegetable scraps are also sometimes used, as is a shot of vinegar to help leach the minerals from the bones.  Bone broth is healthful and frugal.
Why make bone broth?  For starters, prepping can be expensive!  Being frugal makes prepping easier.  Bone broth can be “almost” free to make, from items that you don’t even realize that you have, hence the “Stone Soup” title.   Also, bone broth is chock-full of minerals and nutrients, which is always a good thing, but especially so if/when the “balloon goes up”, when staying healthy will be of the utmost importance.  It is great for stiff joints, and it is supposed to promote gut wellness.  In addition, bone broth is easy to make. 

There are online resources that can explain in detail the health benefits, scientific facts, history, and miscellaneous other minutiae regarding bone broth.  This article isn’t about that.  It’s about my personal experience, and tips for a successful and delicious pot (or two, or ten) of broth.  Feel free to search for more information; I encourage you to do so. 

Any bones can be used for bone broth.  I am particularly fond of using “used bones”.  Roasting a turkey?  Save the carcass.  Grilling chicken legs?  Save the bones.  Rack of ribs?  Yep.  I freeze as many bones as I can.  I also freeze trimmings from carrots (peels, ends, etc.), onions (skins and all), garlic, and most other veggies.  I typically don’t save cruciferous vegetable scraps, though.  They are too strongly flavored, and can make your broth bitter.  They can be used if you really like them, but I typically don’t. 

I also save “wild bones”.  We butcher our own game, and I save many of the bones.  I usually don’t save the spines of deer, but a large quantity of the animal’s other bones end up in my freezer.  Venison and wild turkey stock have made the foundation for some truly gourmet meals in my home.  Deer bone broth simmered with rosemary and juniper berries is a delight!  Wild turkey noodle soup?  Delicious!

The easiest way to start making bone broth is to start saving bones and scraps.  I have numerous zip top bags in my freezer with various bones, meats, and vegetable scraps.  When they fill up, it’s time to make broth.  I also save veggies that are starting to “go south” in the vegetable scrap bag.  Nothing spoiled, mind you.  But it’s the perfect place for slightly limp vegetables that would otherwise be wasted.  When I prepare meals, I save the things most people throw away.  My biggest dilemma is deciding which scraps go to the freezer, and which scraps go to the chickens!  Bone scraps go into bags by type.  I do use bones that may have been chewed, as in rib bones or chicken leg bones.  They are frozen and then simmered for many hours at temperatures that kill bacteria, so I feel safe in using them.  Use your judgment.  It’s up to you.  There may come a day when you have no choice.  We have never become ill by doing this.  If I were canning the broth, I may reconsider this practice, but I don’t usually do so.  I occasionally buy pig’s feet (“trotters”) for broth, as they contain lots of gelatin and make the broth really rich and silky.  They are also great if you are using the broth for stiff joints.  I can get two feet for about a dollar.  “They” say that often, you can make friends with a butcher and get them free of charge.  I haven’t tried that yet. 

There really isn’t a set recipe for bone broth; it’s more of a technique.  Obviously, you start with bones.  Grass-fed beef bones are spectacular, but if you can’t get them, or more likely can’t afford them, regular grocery store beef bones are fine.  “They” say that broth made with conventionally-farmed bones won’t have as many vitamins, but it will have some, and the minerals should be the same.  If the animal was able to stand, it had minerals in its bones.  Organic free-range chicken bones make spectacular broth, but I’ve made a pretty darn good broth with the bones from take-out chicken.  In short, use what you have.  It will work, and it will be fine. 

So, place some bones in a pot, slow cooker, Dutch oven, etc.  I typically use my slow cooker, because it uses very little electricity and requires very little attention once set to cook.  Right this minute, I have about 3 pounds of beef marrow bones (two large bones that I purchased) in my 7-quart slow cooker, along with one large onion cut into chunks, some garlic scapes (just because I have them…otherwise I would have added 3-6 garlic cloves), and some celery, including the leaves.  I only have the purchased soup bones because they were a really good deal at the grocery store; less than a dollar per pound.  Normally, I use bones from roasts I’ve cooked, steaks I’ve grilled, or the like.  If I had a bag full of vegetable scraps in the freezer (I normally do, but I used them up earlier today to make fish bone broth and pork bone broth), I would use them instead of the chopped vegetables. I added a shot of white vinegar, maybe two tablespoons.  I don’t measure the vinegar, and honestly, sometimes I forget to add it.  It still works fine.  Vinegar is supposed to help draw out minerals from the bones, and it stands to reason that it should, but the broth will still be delicious and healthful if you don’t use it.  I have a few backyard chickens, so sometimes I throw in a few eggshells for the minerals they contain.  I turned the slow cooker to the Low setting for 10 hours (the maximum).  After about an hour, I will leave the lid slightly ajar, because my cooker runs a little hot.  The broth should barely bubble.  They say boiling damages the nutrients.  I don’t know about that, but it tastes better when it doesn’t boil.  Since it is evening, I will reset the slow cooker so it runs all night.  I am comfortable doing this; if you are not, only cook this during the day.  I normally cook beef bone broth all day AND all night. 

Simmer your bone broth for as many hours as you want.  Guidelines are anywhere from 2 hours to 72 hours, so obviously your mileage may vary.  I typically simmer fish broth for 3-6 hours, chicken for 6-12 hours, pork for 10-20 hours, and beef for 10-30 hours.  Taste it frequently, and when it’s really delicious, it’s done.  Strain through cheesecloth, if you like.  I normally use a wire sieve without cheesecloth.  You can strain more than once for perfectly clear broth, but that just seems like a lot of extra work to me.  Chill the broth, and remove the layer of fat, if you like.  If I use grass-fed beef, pastured pork, or organic chicken, I do not remove the fat.  I believe that it is healthy and nutritious, and it’s also quite tasty.  If I use bones from conventionally farmed meat, I do remove it.   Additionally, I remove any venison fat that occurs, only because I don’t care for the taste. 
Use your finished broth for soups and stews.  Use it as the cooking liquid for rice or quinoa.  Many people just heat it and drink it, with a pinch of sea salt.  It’s quite satisfying.  One of my favorite ways to use bone broth is to chop leftover meat, veggies, pasta, rice and/or whatever else is available in the refrigerator, put it in bowls, and ladle steaming hot broth over all.  Add a squeeze of lime and a dash of hot sauce, and it becomes a “faux” version of Vietnamese Pho, a delicious soup.  I’ve made this countless times, especially during fall and winter, and it’s been delightful, and completely different, each time.  The cost of this meal?   Very little.  If you are like me and let your leftovers get away from you on occasion, this is an incredibly satisfying feeling!   Something from “nothing”!  Stone Soup!

If/when the “Schumer” hits the fan, I plan to continue making bone broth, just in a different way.  My solar oven will be an excellent substitute for a slow cooker.  I haven’t experimented with winter sun cooking, but I plan to this year.  Additionally, my woodstove has a flat top that works well for boiling water, so it should work well for broth with a trivet to keep the pot far enough from the heat for simmering broth.  If time permits, I plan to purchase a wood cookstove. 

As far as storage, the Chinese have a solution of sorts.  They keep a pot on the back burner at all times on the lowest heat.  Scraps are tossed into this pot as they occur.  It’s a “perpetual” broth.  They ladle some out, and add more water, meat, bones, vegetables, etc.  Occasionally, the contents of the soup pot are composted, and they start over.  From what I’ve read, this yields some amazing broth/soup.  No refrigeration necessary!  I realize this isn’t the perfect solution, but it will work at least part of the time.  Some cooks use a similar method now in a slow cooker.  I’m sure with trial and error, this method will work.  I hope I’m never forced to find out.  Try this method today; you won’t be sorry!

Letter Re: Preparedness Course Question

Mr. Rawles:
If I get the downloadable “Rawles Gets You Ready Preparedness Course” can I print out a copy for my reference binder? Is that considered okay? (I have a giant binder with 4″ rings that my husband got in the Navy that we use for all our prepping references, except for recipes.)
With My Regards, – Sheila C.

JWR Replies: Yes, since you are legitimately downloading it, you are welcome to print out a reference copy for your own use.

News From The American Redoubt:

I heard about another Reformed church in Spokane, Washington: Reformation Community Church. The Pastor is Jeremy Lyerla. Phone: (509) 496-0920.

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A study shows that the American Redoubt region and much of the Great Plains region now offer the most opportunity for lower class Americans to rise into the middle class. (Thanks to Chris W. for the link.)

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Yes, even in Wyoming: Local Wyoming Gun Control Scheme Targets Children’s Rights. (Note that Platte County’s school superintendent is a recent transplant from Minnesota. Also note that school funding is based on days of attendance. That, it seems, is the real issue, behind the scenes.)

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I heard about an an All-American gear maker in Bozeman, Montana with a captivating name: Mystery Ranch. One of the founders wrote me and mentioned: “We provide two of the three issued packs to SOCOM units. While about 80% of our sales are to military units, we also provide packs to Wild land Firefighters, as well as those involved in professional level outdoor activities- from skiing to mountaineering.”

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At last count, there were 180 gun and ammunition making firms in Idaho, but I suspect that the number is growing.

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B.B. sent: AP Refuses Comment on Gun Permit FOIA Request in Montana. (They may also be seeking permit holder lists in other states.)

Economics and Investing:

G.G. sent: Cyprus, lenders set Bank of Cyprus bail-in at 47.5 percent, sources say

Over at FOREX Crunch: Is the smart money fleeing stocks? The article begins: “Institutional investors have been net sellers of stocks for the most of the past year or so.. Since late June, this trend increased, with the 4 week average flirting with sales of 1 billion dollars. On the other hand, retail investors have been net buyers since early June…” [JWR’s Comment: With the Dow Jones Average bouncing around 15,500, we are entering into what they call a “sucker’s market.” Get out of stocks, now!]

France is dancing on a volcano, and Europe may go up in flames

Items from The Economatrix:

CBO: Cancel Spending Cuts Now, Boost Economy In Short Run

Obama’s Jobs Record:  Where Are We Now?

Are Big Banks Driving Up Commodity Prices?

Odds ‘n Sods:

Our friend Commander Zero sent this: First Responders Broke Into Shore Army-Navy Store in Seaside Heights During Sandy. The article begins:

SEASIDE HEIGHTS – First responders in Seaside Heights were forced to break into an Army-Navy store during Superstorm Sandy.
The Shore Army-Navy store, located on Hamilton Avenue, was broken into by first responders during Sandy. The first responders took an estimated $185,000 worth of goods, including clothing, sleeping bags, camping equipment and backpacks.
Mayor Bill Akers says first responders had little choice when they were soaked and needed dry clothes.
The tab has now been settled with store owner Ted Domaracki, but he wishes the situation could have been handled better.
“If there was someway they could have picked me up in a National Guard truck and had me take inventory of what they needed, it certainly would have been desirable,” Domaracki says.
Mayor Akers says the situation was a learning lesson and the borough is now putting together proper protocol for situations like this.

Commander Zero’s Comments: “If you have to loot citizens to equip your first-responder units then you are really not much of a first-responder, are you? ‘Course, when .gov, even local.gov, does it they get a free pass and it isn’t called ‘looting’. Instead of apologizing for the ‘first responders’ behavior, perhaps they should be examining why their responders were so poorly equipped to begin with that they needed to steal from the populace.”

JWR’s Comments: So this is all deemed acceptable, since they were “…forced to break into an Army-Navy store…” I suppose that Mr. Wilson could have told us who forced them. This incident reminds us that we need to be very quiet about our preps. Not all of the looters will overtly be from the rough neighborhoods. Some of them may be carrying badges.

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As usual, the lamestream media headline writers get it wrong: Don’t Be Alarmed by the Drone Blimps Hovering Over D.C. They’re Here to Stop Cruise Missiles. They are not blimps! Rather, they are tethered aerostats. FWIW, I predicted their widespread use, 25 years ago. (See my article titled: “A Watchful Eye On The Border,” in Defense Electronics magazine, in which I profiled Raytheon’s prototype radar aerostat at Fort Huachuca, in 1988.)

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Cook County sheriff’s team taking guns if FOID card is revoked. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: “Much like a muscle that atrophies with disuse, any right that goes unexercised for many years devolves into a privilege, and eventually can even be redefined as a crime.”

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Services promise combat roles for females by 2016. JWR’s Comment: All politics and feel-goodism aside, post-pubescent human physiology is an inescapable controlling factor. The sad truth is that on average, women have 20% less muscle mass than men. And for young women, the ratio of body fat versus muscle runs about 15% higher than men. So unless the Army launches a special recruitment campaign looking for lean, muscular women who are 6’2″ or taller, then distaff soldiers will never be a physical match for their male counterparts. (Again, on average.) When you consider the 90 to 100 pound loads carried daily by foot soldiers in this modern era of body armor with SAPI plates, batteries, beau coup ammo, hydration packs, et cetera) it is not realistic to think that females can hack it, at least in the infantry. And how many women will be able to lift 155mm projectiles to the breach, hour after hour? Let’s not sacrifice our ability to wage war at 100% for the sake of Political Correctness.

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States seek to nullify Obama efforts. And meanwhile, we read: Proposed new state in northern Colorado gains traction

Notes from JWR:

Today is birthday of Alexis de Tocqueville, born 1805. He died 16 April 1859.

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I heard that ownership of Naturally Cozy has successfully changed hands. The new owners (also a small, home-based family operation) have picked up making the products with no interruption in order processing. They will continue to sponsor our non-fiction writing contest, just like their predecessors.

Harry’s Book Review: The Wayward Journey, by Nathan Hale Jefferson

Book Title: The Wayward Journey (Volume 1)
Author: Nathan Hale Jefferson
Copyright Date: 2013
Publisher: Abundant Future Media
ISBN: 978-0989319904
Audio, e-book or foreign translation avail? Yes–Kindle edition of The Wayward Journey
Suitable for children? Teens and up.

The Wayward Journey is a story in which a natural disaster is piled on top of a growing disaster of financial mismanagement. There is not much in this novel which requires significant stretching of the imagination. In this story John, Margaret and their two children are struggling to make ends meet in an America which is burdened with both high inflation and high unemployment. John has a job, but it entails travel to remote locations for the reviewing of plans and construction of oil rigs. It is not an ideal job for a family man, and Margaret is not at all happy about it when John has to travel, but it is the best they can manage given the circumstances.

The story opens with John having to head out west to check out a string of projects. He has arranged things so that he can use his time as efficiently as possible and be home again soon. Margaret is worried because the national financial situation is deteriorating, and it is a justified concern. While John is on the trip the government decides to give everyone in the country a bonus benefit rebate (read: additional cash in their checking accounts), but then makes a mistake and gives many people ten times the amount of money intended. This of course does wonders for the inflationary cycle, spurred on to even greater heights as people try to spend the money before the government can claw it back. It is on top of this economic mess that a magnitude 7.9 earthquake on the New Madrid fault is added, devastating the midwest and plunging the entire nation into chaos. And of course, John is stuck a long, long way from home.

In reading the story I found myself viewing it as the inverse of William Forstchen’s One Second After. This is what it would be like to be one of the people out on the road, just hoping for a safe place to rest and a bite to eat. But John is a refugee who no one wants, or at least, no one wants for purposes of good. In addition to chronicling John’s journey, the author intersperses chapters which detail what is going on at John’s home while he is not there. The author does a good job of showing how society deteriorates both on the road and at home. What I thought was best done was the depiction of how neighbors who were just fine to live around so long as society was functioning smoothly could so quickly devolve into life threatening menaces.

SPOILERS AHEAD! The family in which the parents have handed off the raising of the children to schools, television and the video game industry reveal their lack of true character development when their spoiled brats become the neighborhood vandals. And the father who hasn’t been a real father responds to his children’s misbehavior by attacking the messenger. Then there is the neighbor whose background we are not given, but whose development of an empire is driven by an unscrupulous, psychopathic mind. His capacity for manipulation and deceit is the sort of thing no one wants to dwell on, but the progression of his acts is within character for human nature. It is on the home front that this book best portrays the descent into chaos. On John’s journey the cast of characters is continually changing, but at home the cast is fixed. While the characters John meets become progressively harder and more violent it is hard to pin down the causes and motivations for this behavior. At home however, the development of aggression and violence can be followed from one fault to the next, all along a path which is within the scope of human nature and which underscores the value of true character. When I got to within the last fifty pages or so I began to wonder how the author was going to wrap this book up in so few remaining pages. Be advised that it’s a good thing the book opens with a note about the sequel coming available: It does not end with a tidy wrap up, but rather leaves the reader hanging, looking for the next chapter. Not entirely a bad thing for a capitalist to do, but consider yourself advised in advance.

My copy of this story was a [pre-release] PDF, and it still needed some final editing touches for the sake of some grammar and spelling details, but nothing was so bad that it seriously detracted from the telling. I believe this is the author’s first book, and as such he is off to a strong start. Language is kept as clean as possible while still portraying bad guys as who they are. The most graphic of violence is largely left to the reader’s imagination (the results of gunshots being the most vividly described violence.) Overall, it is a book which I can recommend to the SurvivalBlog audience, and I hope Nathan Hale Jefferson is already pretty far along with Part II.

Pat’s Product Review: Stevens Model 350 Shotgun

There’s not a week that goes past, that I don’t hear from someone asking me “what’s the best gun for home defense…” and I can’t give a pat answer to that question. First of all, what does a person mean by “home defense?” Secondly, what are your physical abilities – or disabilities – when it comes to handling a firearm? What is your budget? What is your skill level with any firearm? And, the list goes on and on. So, as you can see, there is no single or easy answer to what is the best gun for home defense. And, no matter how I try, I can’t convince most people that there is no one answer to this question – there is no “best” gun for home defense. And, if I recommend this gun or that gun, I’ll enter into an endless debate with someone, and I don’t have the time to do this. We are all entitled to our opinions and views on this subject.
 
I often recommend some type of “riot” shotgun for home defense, and we are talking about a 12 gauge shotgun with a barrel length of around 18-inches to 18.5-inches – something that is a bit easier to handle in the close confines of your home or a hallway. Sporting shotguns with long barrels aren’t recommended because you can maneuver them easily in close quarters. I own several “riot” shotguns, and I enjoy shooting them all. I live in a very rural area, and if someone is breaking into my home, the local sheriff might be a long time in arriving, so I take the safety of myself and my family as my own responsibility. And, “yes” I do keep a handgun as my “bedroom” gun, however, within easy reach is a shotgun.
 
Many shotguns made today come with an aluminum receiver, and I own several like this. However, my favorite shotgun is my Stevens Model 350 for several reasons. First of all, it has an all-steel receiver – which means it’s heavier and can take a lot more abuse. Secondly, the 350 is very close to the famed Ithaca Model 37 shotgun, that has a bottom eject feature, unlike other shotguns, that eject from the side of the receiver. Nothing “wrong” with a side ejection shotgun, I just like the bottom ejection feature of the 350. Yes, this makes the 350 a bit heavier than some other shotguns – it weighs in around 8-pounds unloaded, this is good and bad. The good part is, it helps tame recoil, the bad is, well….the gun is heavier to carry. However, I don’t plan on an extended romp in the boonies with this shotgun – it is reserved for home defense. Also, the 350 is a pump-action shotgun, and they are very reliable, and not complicated, like some semi-auto shotguns are to get that first round chambered.
 
The 350 is parkerized in a nice gray/black finish – tough stuff. The furniture is black synthetic polymer, which makes if ideal for my area, where wood stocks can swell from all the rain and moisture in the air. There is also a rifle-style front sight and ghost ring rear sight, and if you’ve never used a ghost ring rear sight on a shotgun, you are missing out on how fast and how much more accurate you can shoot – all things considered – with a shotgun… What a ghost ring rear sight does is, it allows you to focus on the front sight, while the ghost ring rear sight is “ghostly” in appearance – it is a bit fuzzy is maybe a better way to describe it. Still, it is VERY fast to acquire a good sight picture. The safety is easy to reach, and so is the slide release – on some shotguns, you have to change your hold on the gun to push on the slide release – not good! I keep my 350 magazine tube loaded with 5-rounds of 00 buckshot, and the chamber is empty. I also keep the slide closed (locked) so I either have to pull the trigger to unlock the slide (not good) or I can simply push on the slide release to pump the slide and chamber the first round – the smart way to do it.
 
I also keep a side-saddle magazine holder on the left side of the receiver, and it holds 6 extra rounds of 00 buckshot for me. I’m going to add another side-saddle magazine holder on the right side of the polymer butt stock. I could add another on the right side of the receiver, but that will just add more weight that I don’t need. With 5 rounds in the magazine tube, and 6 more rounds on the receiver, and when I add the other carrier on the right side of the butt stock, that will give me 17-rounds on-hand, with reloads. If that doesn’t get me out of trouble, then I’m in deeper than I can possibly be.
 
The 350 is easy to load and shoot, although the trigger pull is a bit heavy, then again, we are talking about a shotgun, and not a long-range precision high-power rifle, where pin-point accuracy is called for. So, the heavy trigger isn’t a handicap as far as I’m concerned. I can fire 5-rounds in about 2.5-seconds from the 350, and that’s fast shooting, and I can hit my target out to 25-yards…no trick to this, other than to practice.
 
I have had zero failures to feed, function and eject with the 350, and the action is fairly easy to operate, too – some pump-action shotguns require a pretty aggressive “pump” to load and ejection rounds and when you tie-up a pump-action shotgun, you are in serious trouble, it takes time – a lot of time – to clear a double-feed. And, I keep the 350 loaded with only 00 buckshot – I live in a rural area, so I don’t worry too much about over penetration – my guest house is next door, however, should I have a break-in, it will come from a direction opposite of my guest house. If you live in a big city or have neighbors next door, you might want to consider using bird shot, or a #4 shot for self-defense – in the confines of your house, this will get the job done – as most shootings take place at very close distances – yes, 00 buck is better, but you have to balance all things, and take into account where you live and the danger of over penetration. Just something to think about – now you see why I can’t give anyone a pat answer, as to what is the “best” gun or ammo for home defense?
 
I recently received the Alpha Tech Shotgun Flashlight Mount, for testing for an article, and I thought it would make a perfect product to add to my Stevens Model 350 shotgun. Without going into the details, on how easy it is to install this flashlight shotgun mount on your shotgun, you can find complete information on their web site. Now, I’ve tried some other flashlight mounts on my shotguns, and while they worked, they weren’t to my satisfaction – not durable enough, and many simply clamp onto the barrel. The Alpha Tech Shotgun Mount is a bit different, in that, it attaches to the magazine tube – again, I’m not going into details – you can find complete info on their web site, but it only takes a couple minutes to install this mount. And, it is made out of steel, and black in color, with a sling adaptor on it, too. There is a “ring” for installing your flashlight, and you need a tactical flashlight that has a barrel of 1-inch – and that is easy to find. It only takes a few minutes to get this whole thing up and running.
 
Now, this particular Alpha flashlight mount wasn’t designed for the Stevens 350, because of the set-up in relationship to the barrel/magazine/disassembly tube set-up, I was able to tinker with it, and make it fit on the 350, with a shim. While not the perfect set-up, it works. I could have put the mount on my Maverick shotgun – and it fits – however, I wanted it on my 350. Alpha Tech is in the process of developing mounts for other shotguns. Contact them for details to see if they have a mount that will fit your shotgun.
 
If you are planning on using a shotgun for home defense, I highly recommend you  have some type of flashlight mounted on it for several reasons. Firs of all, it helps you ID an intruder, secondly it can blind the intruder, and it helps you get on target in the dark – since you can’t see your front sight in the dark. Right now, the Alpha Tech Shotgun Flashlight Mount is made to fit many shotguns, including the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 and many others. They are in the process of making one that will fit on the Winchester line-up of shotguns, too – check with them to see if they have a mount for your particular shotgun.
 
I found the Alpha Tech mount to be well-built, and very solid. I fired several boxes of ammo through my Stevens Model 350, and the mount showed no signs of coming loose. Full retail for the mount is $48.50 and a worthy accessory to complement your shotgun for home defense. It’s also a great mount for law enforcement officers to have on their shotgun they have in their patrol cars.
 
So, with the Stevens Model 350 and the Alpha Tech mount, and a good tactical (bright) flashlight, I’m pretty confident that should I have to use my shotgun at night, I can ID my attacker(s) and I have a shotgun that is totally reliable. The Stevens Model 350 is hard to pin down as far as price goes – so many sporting goods shops and gun shops discount Stevens shotguns, it’s hard to come up with a price. I believe you can find a brand-new one for around $300 give or take a few bucks, and it’s a great deal, on a shotgun that will give you a lifetime without problems. And, just because this shotgun is made in China doesn’t take anything away from the quality – you can get as good as you want from China. I don’t especially enjoy contributing to the Red Chinese government, however in this case, I’ll make an exception. So, if you’re in the market for a good affordable pump-action 12-gauge shotgun for home defense, take a close look at the Stevens Model 350 for your next purchase. If all you can afford is one gun – then a good shotgun for home defense is hard to beat! – SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Pat Cascio