Today’s graphic: Population growth and decline since April, 2020, by state. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)
The thumbnail below is click-expandable.
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Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.
“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” – Charles H. Spurgeon
December 22, 1790: The supposedly impenetrable Turkish fortress of Izmail was stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies during the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792).
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The December 22, 1989 Cold Wave: Recorded temperatures included: -6°F in Tulsa, Oklahoma; -12°F in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; -18°F in Denver, Colorado; -23°F in Kansas City, Missouri; -42°F in Scottsbluff, Nebraska; -47°F in Hardin, Montana; and -60°F in Black Hills, South Dakota.
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Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
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More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 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.
(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.)
A modern heavy for caliber bullet that is soft in construction and has a very high ballistic coefficient is the smarter way to compensate for modest velocities. The 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser cartridge is emblematic if not iconic for sedate velocities yet flat trajectories and spectacular accuracy at ranges that can exceed 1,400 yards. A high ballistic coefficient allows a bullet to retain its momentum and buck the wind far better than most higher powder cartridges and it does this at pressure suitable for most antique actions.
Beyond 100 yards the very high ballistic coefficient of heavy-for-caliber projectiles for the old Model 1896 6.5×55, namely the 140-grain bullets, will outperform 7.62 NATO at extended ranges in all regards. And this is the reason, its offspring with similar genetics and performance, the 6.5 Creedmore became widely and wildly popular. For us old and long-time admirers of the M96 Swedish rifle and 6.5×55 cartridge, we can gloat and say: “We told you so.” But it can only perform this feat with 24 to 29-inch barrels. We can greatly improve the trajectories of .308 projectiles using both very long 29 inch barrels and with very high ballistic coefficient of either light or heavy-for-caliber bullets. For .308 barrels, the 178 grain Hornady ELD-M or Speer 180grain BTSP is the best choice. For barrels that are less than 24 inches long, the Hornady 155 grain Amax is a better choice.Continue reading“Reloading for the 1891 Argentine Mauser – Part 6, by Tunnel Rabbit”
The latest meme created by JWR:
Meme Text:
The House Continuing Resolution:
“Oh, But You’re Also Getting a Hefty Pay Raise!”
News Links:
Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!
Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.
“Let brotherly love continue.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” – Hebrews 13:1-8 (KJV)
The Winter Solstice has finally arrived. Those of us who are gardeners can now look forward to longer days and a Spring planting date. Patience, folks!
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On December 21, 1784, John Jay became acting US Secretary of State. He served in that office from 1789 to 1790.
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Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
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More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 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.
(Continued from Part 4.)
I will use temperature stable powder in these rifles so that during summer time temperatures, my previously safe-to-shoot cartridges is not adversely affected by an increase ambient air temperature or while chambered in a hot rifle barrel. H4895, H4831, H4350, and Varget are my top choices.
I engineer a wide margin of safety for powders that are not temperature stable and settle on a lesser weight charge. Accuracy can often be found at lower pressures when using lighter projectiles and at higher pressures if using heavier projectiles. Good accuracy for lighter projectiles is often found at top pressures and that is to be avoided in antique actions. Flat-based bullet will be more accurate than boat tail bullets therefore we can better avoid higher pressures when chasing accuracy.
If seeking top accuracy at lower pressures, it is better to use a heavy-for-caliber projectile that is also flat-based bullet. And because it is better to use a heavier projectile at lower velocities when hunting I will accept a hunting load that is not at top velocities. The recoil will be lower and the stress on the action lower.Continue reading“Reloading for the 1891 Argentine Mauser – Part 5, by Tunnel Rabbit”
To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!
This week, we traveled just 110 miles to pick up a new ram to cover the ewes in our little milking flock. Keeping two rams on the same property can be tricky. They invariably want to butt heads. So, I’ll have to maintain pen and pasture fences very carefully to keep them separated. I just built a separate ram pen. Hopefully, our new ram won’t be a jumper.
I should mention: I’ve witnessed two of our rams butting heads through a shared fence, timing their charges so that they both arrive at the fence wire simultaneously. Yes, in 32+ years of keeping sheep, I’ve seen a lot of silly sheep tricks…
I took a close look using my bore inspection light and added bore condition descriptions to all 9 of the Vetterli rifle listings that are in our Elk Creek Company online catalog.
Over the course of the next two weeks, I plan to have another 12 more Federally-exempt “antique” rifles, one antique revolver, and one huge Colt Walker percussion replica added to the catalog. That batch of guns includes a scare Ramrod Bayonet M1888 Trapdoor Springfield, a couple of very scarce .303 British-chambered antique rifles, and five different blackpowder muzzleloading hunting rifles — mostly .50 caliber. Stay tuned!
Now, Lily’s report…Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”
“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.” – Daniel 2: 19-23 (KJV)
December 20, 1192: On his way home from the Third Crusade, English King Richard the Lionheart (Richard Cœur de Lion) was captured near Vienna by troops of Leopold of Austria. He was released 1194.
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On December 20th, 1606, the Virginia Company loaded three ships with settlers and set sail to establish Jamestown, Virginia, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.
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Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
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More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 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.
(Continued from Part 3.)
In my opinion, regardless if the chambering is .300 Savage, or .308 Winchester, or .30-06, using a temperature-stable powder at charge that delivers a muzzle velocity of 2,150 fps to propel a .308 150 grain round nosed bullet designed for the .30-30 is the safest practical load I could put together and recommend if the reloader is primarily interested in safety.
As an example in the extreme to illustrate that a larger case capacity is more desirable in antique actions. If it were chambered in .30-06, 35 grains of IMR3031 behind a 150-grain round nosed bullet will achieve and not exceed .30-30 pressures (38,000CUP) and performance levels suitable for hunting deer. I would prefer to have an 1891 Argentine Mauser chambered in .30-06, yet that is a topic for another time as it could exceed the performance of even modern .308 Winchester if the Mauser wore its original long 28.5-inch barrel. Yet those rifles would be hard to find, therefore I am happy to also own an 1891 Argentine Mauser in .308 Winchester that is closer to the original 7.65x53mm case and ammunition.Continue reading“Reloading for the 1891 Argentine Mauser – Part 4, by Tunnel Rabbit”
Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, another look at Equities markets. (See the Equities section.)
On Wednesday (December 18, 2024) “the bell rang” when spot silver dipped down to below $30 per Troy ounce. To restate my position from my recent investing columns: Silver is a bargain, anywhere below $30.50. So stack it deep! – JWR
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Nick Giambruno: Whoever Does Not Respect the Penny is Not Worthy of the Dollar.
About as expected: Fed cuts by a quarter point, indicates fewer reductions ahead.
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St. Onge, over at X/Twitter: “Debt services hits $1.4 trillion per year — bigger than Social Security. Debt service now soaks up 28% of all taxes collected — 47% of the income tax you pay.”
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Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Operation Choke Point 2.0: How the Feds Are Seeking to ‘Debank’ Targeted Industries.
“I happen to be privileged enough to be in on the fact that we have been visited on this planet, and the UFO phenomenon is real.” – Edgar Mitchell
On December 19, 1732, Benjamin Franklin, under the pseudonym Richard Saunders, began publication of “Poor Richard’s Almanack”. He produced an annual issue for the next 25 years.
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December 19, 1972: Apollo 17 — the last of Apollo manned Moon landing series — returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, southeast of Samoa.
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Today we present another entry for Round 116 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:
—
More than $935,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 116 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.
