Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The right of a citizen to bear arms, in lawful defense of himself or the State, is absolute. He does not derive it from the State government. It is one of the high powers” delegated directly to the citizen, and `is excepted out of the general powers of government.’ A law cannot be passed to infringe upon or impair it, because it is above the law, and independent of the lawmaking power.” – Cockrum v. State, 24 Tex. 394, at 401-402 (1859)

Notes from JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction that started yesterday is already at $800. The auction is for a large mixed lot that includes:

1.) A large “be ready to barter” box of full-capacity gun magazines, from the JASBORR. This box includes: 12 – Used original Bundeswehr contract HK91 (G3) steel 20 round magazines, 6 – Used original FN of Belgium-made FN-FAL alloy 20 round magazines, 6 – Used AR-15/M16 USGI (a mix of Simmonds & Colt made) alloy 20 round magazines, and 2 – New and very scarce original FN (Belgian-made) US M1/M2 Carbine blued steel 30 round magazines (marked “AYP”) . All of these magazines are of pre-1994 manufacture (and hence legal to possess in New York.) These magazines have a combined value of approximately $450. Note: If you live in a state where full capacity magazines are banned, then you must choose to: refrain from bidding, or designate a recipient in an unrestricted state, or re-donate the magazines for a subsequent auction.

2. ) A brand new in box Big Berky Water Filter, with your choice of either four white ceramic filter elements or four black filter elements. This is a $329 retail value, courtesy of Ready Made Resources.

3.) A huge lot of DVDs, CD-ROMs and hard copy nuclear survival/self-sufficiency references (a $300+ value) donated by Richard Fleetwood of www.SurvivalCD.com

4.) A NukAlert compact radiation detector donated by at KI4U.com (a $160 retail value). 

5.) A desert tan SOG Trident folding knife, courtesy of Safecastle. (a $92.99 retail value.)

6.) A case of 12 recent production full mil-spec MRE rations (identical to the current military contract MREs, but without the civilian sale restriction markings). This is a $90 retail value, courtesy of CampingSurvival.com.

Thus, the combined retail value of this combined lot is at least $1,275. This auction ends on January 15th. Please e-mail us your bid for the entire mixed lot.

Today’s first letter comes from my old friend “Jeff Trasel.” Those of you that have read my novel “Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse” will immediately recognize Jeff as the basis for one the thinly-fictionalized characters. In real life, Jeff is a former US Marine Corps Force Recon NCO that later went on to work in the defense electronics industry and the software industry. More recently, he has lived abroad, and he has pursued two graduate degrees.

Letter from Jeff Trasel Re: Competence Versus Caliber

James:
In continuing our discussion on the warrior-way as lifestyle, I have several observations relative to several recent posts on SurvivalBlog that need comment. First off, I am heartened by the level of awareness, camaraderie, and spirit of practical know-how, innovativeness, and just good common sense that pervades the posts of late. However, several have given me pause for thought, not so much for controversy, more so as how the subject matter should be approached by those new to our practice. For instance, there have been some marvelous discussions on battle rifle calibers and their respective effectiveness. In fact, the data was some of the most comprehensive I have seen since attending the Small Arms armorers’ course at Aberdeen Proving Ground and various SOF weapons schools. The authors are to be commended for their research. However, I would caution those in the early stages of the preparedness continuum to perhaps hip-pocket knowledge of this nature, as the reality of such data is more academic than practical. Competence is in many ways more lethal than caliber. I cannot stress this enough and it is this mindset that is the nexus of my writings here.

Projectile weights, powder charges, and the like are good to know if you intend to customize specific loads for your preparedness battery, but in times such as these, the risk-reward ratio of the effort is somewhat squandered, and [for the majority of shooters] the costs better spent on ready-made, good quality commercial or surplus military ball. In fact, you cannot get much better than mil-spec National Match-quality out of the box. I know, as I’ve tried it, and it took a lot of tests with different projectiles from a variety of manufacturers, and considerable experimentation with various powder [types and charges] to make any measurable difference in many years of experimentation. This is not to say it cannot be done, but there are more pressing matters, such as time on the range that should occupy one’s time.

A recent post listed sabotage skills as desirable in a preparedness situation. As someone trained in such matters, and having practiced said skills in the field, I find this a rather curious addition to the discussion. This is a matter of one’s personal survival philosophy, but given that long-term living in a preparedness state is akin to living the life of an insurgent, I can think of no quicker way to bring one’s existence to the eye of authority. Indeed, this runs counter to any idea of survival in hostile environments, and represents an escalation that could imperil the long-term viability of one’s retreat. Sabotage is an offensive, not defensive posture. The nature of survival is to exact retribution only as a last resort and in a fashion that does not telegraph a level of tactical sophistication that is counter-productive. To paraphrase Chairman Mao, “…one must swim as a fish within the sea of the masses and not antagonize the great angler.”

There are distinct tactical reasons where sabotage may be of use, primarily in urban and built-up areas as a means of area denial or in hindering those who may be in pursuit during your egress to your retreat. Caltrops or water in the gas, as mentioned, would certainly work in these and other scenarios. I bring this up only in urging caution in deploying such tactics. It takes practice to become efficient these types of low-intensity offensive operations, and while one should stand ready to incorporate their use in a prudent long-term retreat strategy, it is better to focus on avoidance rather than irritants. – “Jeff Trasel”

Three Letters Re: Speeding Coyote Hunters Arrested in Illinois

Jim
I went to college at Western Illinois University [WIU] and now live 30 miles from there. I don’t know much about the guys that got arrested but I can give you some info on Illinois gun laws.
No NFA [“Class 3”] items are allowed except for possibly AOWs. I have heard conflicting reports on AOWs, but know for sure that “silencers” (sound suppressor) are
illegal under the state law.

As for transporting guns, all guns must be unloaded and inside of a closed case. This goes for handguns and long guns. And no a glove box, center console, or
trunk don’t count as a case for the gun.

Also, the only CCW allowed in Illinois is by police, retired police with the proper paperwork, private investigators with proper paperwork, and of course just about any
Chicago politician. – Mark from the corrupt state of Illinois

 

JWR,
Regarding the recent post about the two young men arrested for weapons offenses in Illinois. In Illinois, it is illegal to have a firearm in a loaded or open carry manner in a vehicle. All guns, long arms and handguns, must be unloaded and in a case. Interesting to note, my wife and I drove to Idaho this summer from our home in New Jersey looking for areas for relocation.That was a 6,000 mile trip and the only two states that I could not have my handgun loaded and either on my person or in the glove box were Illinois and Iowa. Although Iowa does have a consideration for concealed carry for residents. Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states in the Union that do not recognize an individuals right for self protection with a firearm (the only two “no issue” states in the union). Just an FYI you may want to pass along to your readers. – CG

Sir;
An interesting post there “Letter Re: Speeding Coyote Hunters Arrested in Illinois”. I was curious why they were arrested and what “aggravated unlawful use of a weapon might be” so I went to look up some Illinois law.

It seems like they were arrested for what I would call “carrying concealed without a permit”.
It looks like the problem was the immediately accessible loaded handgun (without a concealed carry permit)–they had loaded handguns under the seat.

So:
1) Don’t do that!
2) If you are doing that, then don’t speed
3) Never give law enforcement officers permission to search your person, your car, residence, etc.

Some YouTube videos on the subject:

One
Two
Three

Regards, – Karl W.

JWR Replies: There may have been the doctrine of “plain view” invoked, whereby the owner’s permission is not required for a search.
In sum, it sounds more likely it was just bad OPSEC rather to blame, than anything else. When traveling in gun-grabby states, guns and and accessories must be kept out of view.

We live in the era of the Nanny State. So it is important–particularly for those of you that live in the more populous and heavily-regulated states–to study these doctrines which can be used as the pretext for searches: Plain View, Reasonable Suspicion, and Probable Cause. These doctrines are drummed ito the heads of students at police academies. Your knowledge of these doctrines, and your ability to intelligently articulate them to law enforcement are quite important if you want to remain free to go about your business. Be polite, but stand up for your rights. If you are asked for permission to search you vehicle, then decline politely. If the officer persists, you should say something to the effect of” “I’m sorry officer, but I have been advised by my attorney to never voluntarily assent to a search. Is there anything substantive stemming from the doctrines of Plain View, Reasonable Suspicion, or Probable Cause that would lead you to believe that I am engaged in any illegal activity beyond the motor vehicle code infraction for which you pulled me over? Assuming there is not, am I now free to go?”

Further, my advice specifically to the good people of Illinois is: Don’t continue to live under such tyrannical laws. Exercising the Right to Keep and Bear Arms should a given rather than something that must be kept a secret. Vote with your feet, and move! FWIW, I briefly compare the gun laws of 19 western states as part of my analysis in my Recommended Retreat Areas page. But for a far more detail on the gun laws of all 50 states, see Boston’s Gun Bible. (BYW, I consider that book a “must” for the bookshelf of every prepared American family.)

Odds ‘n Sods:

Reader T.H. in New Mexico wrote to ask, “How long will this recession last, and how deep will it get? A year ago, I would have said that it might last as little as 18 months, and that it would surely be “sharp.” But no we see many trillions of dollars being thrown at Mother of All Bailouts (MOAB), thus perpetuating the malinvestment, and doubtless delaying economic recovery. So I’d say that we will see a severe recession if not a full blown depression with lots of disruption that will last between four years and 15 years. Be ready for a couple of years of deflation, probably followed by a period of stagflation, and possibly some quite severe inflation. If possible, relocate to a safe retreat area, soon.

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Justin M. suggested this article: Gun Toting mom divides community. As I’ve said before: A right that goes unexercised soon devolves into a privilege, and finally a crime. Good for her. If more Pennsylvanians regularly exercised their right to carry, then this would have never have been a controversy.(See the last chapter of my novel.)

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For anyone that has been dragging their feet on the $59.99 FoodSaver vacuum packer special (which will benefit SurvivalBlog, via sales commissions), be advised:

– Orders must be placed by 12pm EST 12/18/08 (tomorrow) to guarantee delivery via UPS Ground before 12/25/08.
– Last day for UPS 2nd Day Air is Noon EST 12/22.
– Last day for UPS Next Day Air 12 Noon 12/23.
– Not responsible for delays due to inclement weather.

You can buy a FoodSaver v2830 for $59.99 (originally $169.99) with free Standard Shipping for orders over $100, directly from FoodSaver.com.Use code L8FAV28 at checkout. OBTW, I also recommend getting the Mason Jar vacuum sealing adapter kit, to make your FoodSaver more versatile. This offer is valid only during the month of December, or while supplies last. More than 400 SurvivalBlog readers have already bought these at the special sale price. Don’t miss out!

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RKB sent us an article from rom CQ Homeland Security, an inside-the-Beltway publication primarily for lobbyists and media types: Americans Talking the Preparedness Talk, but Not Walking the Walk

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More economic news and commentary from Cheryl: Stocks Rise After Fed Rate Cut — IMF Chief Issues Stark Warning on Civil Unrest — Global Woes Fuel Unrest — Downturn Spurs “Survival Panic” in Some — Treasury Yields Drop to Records as Fed Foresees “Exceptionally Low” Rates — The Next Financial WMD? — Airline Employment Fell 5.7% in October. And to cap all those, Susan Z. sent us a Bloomberg piece that corroborates one of the assertions that I’ve repeated since SurvivalBlog was started in 2005, that the Fed will likely inflate its way out of any major problem: Fed Cuts Rate to As Low As Zero, Will Use All Tools. (It would have been better titled “Monetizing debt is next, Fed says”)

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The bottom line is that we’ve become a nation of thieves, a value rejected by our founders. James Madison, the father of our Constitution, was horrified when Congress appropriated $15,000 to help French refugees. He said, ‘I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.’ Tragically, today’s Americans would run Madison out of town on a rail.” – Dr. Walter Williams

Notes from JWR:

Congrats to Sheryl, the high bidder in our benefit auction that ended last night. Many thanks for your generous bid. Today we start a new auction, which includes:

1.) A large “be ready to barter” box of full-capacity gun magazines, from the JASBORR. This box includes: 12 – Used original Bundeswehr contract HK91 (G3) steel 20 round magazines, 6 – Used original FN of Belgium-made FN-FAL alloy 20 round magazines, 6 – Used AR-15/M16 USGI (a mix of Simmonds & Colt made) alloy 20 round magazines, and 2 – New and very scarce original FN (Belgian-made) US M1/M2 Carbine blued steel 30 round magazines (marked “AYP”) . All of these magazines are of pre-1994 manufacture (and hence legal to possess in New York.) These magazines have a combined value of approximately $450. Note: If you live in a state where full capacity magazines are banned, then you must choose to: refrain from bidding, or designate a recipient in an unrestricted state, or re-donate the magazines for a subsequent auction.

2. ) A brand new in box Big Berky Water Filter, with your choice of either four white ceramic filter elements or four black filter elements. This is a $329 retail value, courtesy of Ready Made Resources.

3.) A huge lot of DVDs, CD-ROMs and hard copy nuclear survival/self-sufficiency references (a $300+ value) donated by Richard Fleetwood of www.SurvivalCD.com

4.) A NukAlert compact radiation detector donated by at KI4U.com (a $160 retail value). 

5.) A desert tan SOG Trident folding knife, courtesy of Safecastle. (a $92.99 retail value.)

6.) A case of 12 recent production full mil-spec MRE rations (identical to the current military contract MREs, but without the civilian sale restriction markings). This is a $90 retail value, courtesy of CampingSurvival.com.

Thus, the combined retail value of this combined lot is at least $1,275. The opening bid is just $100. This auction ends on January 15th. Please e-mail us your bid for the entire mixed lot.

Today we present a guest editorial by attorney and economic commentator Edgar J. Steele:

Call Me Delusional, by Edgar J. Steele

The following is an e-mail I sent three weeks ago to a small group of exceptionally-forgiving friends of mine, in which I pre-announced my hunch that things have changed fundamentally in the precious metals (PM) markets:

There are lots of possible reasons: options expiry last week, new administration coming, new econ[omic] team (same as the Clinton econ team, which ran the [Plunge Protection Team] PPT into overdrive), China going into recession, Motor City going BK, a need to devalue the dollar in the face of global recession, shorter hem length, planetary alignment… Fact is, though, it is just a hunch. An educated guess.

Both gold and silver were up smartly last Friday and this morning. This may be a trend worth watching. If you have the ability and have not yet gotten aboard the train, this would be a good time. Silver is much more volatile than gold and moves both quickly and over a larger amount of real estate than does gold. Currently, silver is historically about as undervalued vis-a-vis gold as ever has been seen. A quick march right through $20 per ounce is coming – of that you can be certain – it’s the timing that is fuzzy, is all.

eBay hasn’t yet caught a whiff of the trend, if a trend it is, thus the premiums for silver and gold still reflect last Thursday’s prices. A good time to buy on eBay but not to sell. I hear that Tulving has silver for sale.

Throughout this whole debacle during which physical and paper PMs parted company, resulting in a true “Black Market,” real, physical silver never has gone below $15 per ounce. Recall that I said a while ago that you never again will see silver below $15. If we see a sudden upsurge in the spot price of paper silver, it will be interesting to see if the 40-60% physical premium carries along – it probably will for a while, then decline.

My feeling isn’t strong enough yet to go public to my list or web site with my hunch. This missive goes out just to a handful of those who I know will forgive me for being wrong, as I so often seem to be regarding short-term PM price movements (though my long-term trend forecasts have been right on the money).

I’m looking for serious and significant politico-social events during the next 90 days. All hell could break loose, in other words. This, perhaps, is the single most important component of my hunch.

– – –
[Some follow-up commentary, also by Edgar Steele, added on December 15th:]

Though I have personally suffered tremendous losses as a result of the government’s months-long manipulation of the dollar, silver and gold, it has pained me even more deeply to know that others have sustained such losses, at least partially in reliance upon my outlook.
Fortunately, most have followed my recommendations to the letter and bought only physical silver and taken personal delivery. They will be made whole and then some. A whole lot more than “some,” I firmly believe.

Some list members, like myself, have been foolish enough to ignore my fundamental advice to hold only physical PMs, which is all that I continue to support publicly. They and I took substantial positions in mining stocks on margin and we got destroyed during the past few months. It was a calculated risk. I never imagined that the government would drive down PM prices while the stock market crashed and simultaneously inflate the dollar beyond the bounds of all reasonable foresight. Our recent experience illustrates the folly of investing (gambling, actually) with borrowed money.

Now I have no choice but to continue to gamble on the leverage inherent to mining stocks, though I have been stopped out of all my margined positions. As noted below, I believe that the fundamentals have shifted once again, more in line with what existed a year ago.

I still like Pan American Silver (PAAS) and Gold Corp (GG), but am particularly impressed with Coeur d’Alene Mines (CDE), which has declined well beyond the average during the past few months (to less than 10% of its value a year ago, becoming a true “penny stock” today) and which appears to have more headroom than most, as a result. I have bought as much of CDE as I could with what remains of my brokerage account balances (not much), though I continue to hold modest positions in PAAS and GG, as well as a couple of small firms that I cannot in good conscience suggest to others.

Do as you will. You know what I am doing. I can in good conscience recommend only that you buy gold and silver and take physical possession. They are at bargain levels today and are readily available if you are willing to pay the premiums being commanded. Do not mistake spot price for market price.

Check eBay, which is the closest thing we have to a published market these days. Here are links so that you easily can check on prevailing eBay silver and gold prices.

Here are a few good sources for gold and silver bullion: Tulving, Bullion Direct, Gold and Silver Now, and Seek Bullion. (Yeah, well, I wish I got something for recommending these sites – something beyond the knowledge that you almost certainly will be treated fairly and given good prices, that is.)

I believe that the next sixty days or so are among the most dangerous ever faced by America. We are in transition, with a do-nothing, lame-duck president standing in the way of a nation still transfixed by the vision of another man falsely promising change while that man (Obama) surrounds himself with the very people who created the staggering problems, both economic and political, now facing us.

Israel is whipping itself into a fever and virtually certain to strike out at Iran. Pakistan and India are on the verge of nuclear war. Economic riots have spread from Greece to other parts of Europe. Incredibly enough, pirates actually roam the seas again. All hell could break loose at any time, folks.

Take care of the fundamentals first: location, protection, survival. Then, and only then, should any of this financial stuff matter to you.

As bleak as this Christmas might seem to be shaping up, it well could be “the good old days” when viewed from just a couple of years hence. Enjoy it well and be particularly attentive to your family. In the long run, family is all that you have. And friends, don’t forget. I count you, particularly, among my treasured friends.

Merry Christmas. – Edgar J. Steele

JWR Adds: Unless someone is very wealthy, I concur with Mr. Steele thatthey buy only physical (read: tangible, in your personal possession) precious metals. Those might prove useful for barter in the recovery phase of an economic collapse, but not in the very depth of it. Here in the States, the easily-recognizable pre-1965 circulated silver US dimes, quarters, and/or half dollars will be ideal for barter.

Steele and I are are also in complete accord on this statement: “Take care of the fundamentals first: location, protection, survival. Then, and only then, should any of this financial stuff matter to you.” Or, as I put it, “Get your beans, bullets, and Band-Aids squared away before ‘investing’ anything extra.”

Letter Re: A Prescribed Burn in North Carolina to Find a Fugitive’s Weapons and Ammo

Howdy James,
I thought that this article was interesting in the fact that the US Forest Service is calling for a prescribed burn [in order] to locate weapons, ammo, and explosives (sounds like reloading powder) that a fugitive may have stashed around his camp site.

This got me to thinking, how safe are your caches? You will want to make sure any caches you have are buried well if they come looking for your cache and burn the area. Also consider that those landmarks/trees that were there may be gone after a burn, so locating it again may be difficult if you are basing it on ‘sight’ only! Be sure to have other methods to recover your cache. Later, – Mark in North Carolina

Two Letters Re: Comparing the Big Three Battle Rifle Chamberings in the United States

Jim:

The recent article [by Kyrottimus] that stated that at 50 yards a typical 45 ACP and 9mm [Parabellum] will have the same energy is wrong.

.45 ACP 230 gr ~390 ft/lbs (528 joules) @ 875 fps (JHP)
9x19mm Luger/Parabellum 115 gr ~385 ft/lbs (521 joules) @ 1,225 fps (JHP)

His additional assumption, that bullets will slow equally in an air mass, is also wrong.

I noticed that he listed the fps for a 9mm cartridge at 1,225 fps. This is the energy for a 9mm +p+ range cartridge, while comparing it to the 45 ACP ball cartridge, not a +p rated bullet. How convenient for the crowd that believes 9mm and 45 to be “equivalent”. The Winchester Ranger +p 230 gr ball is rated at 985 fps out of my barrel and it’s ballistic coefficient makes it retain more energy at 50 yards than the lightweight 9mm 115 gr cartridge. So while not trying to get into the age-old 9mm versus 45 ACP fight, he’s perhaps unintentionally dishonest in his comparison. I would hazard a guess that the data itself was simple cut and pasted, and the writer is unused to vetting his writing.

I also found a big error, where the writer says: “Note that grains in bullet mass differ from from the “grains” of smokeless powder (nitro-cellulose) propellant, which is not used in this article.” He couldn’t be more wrong. I thought there was something up when he equated grain weight to carats and then to grams – I don’t think this is a reloader or someone more conversant with ammunition – no reloader I know could ever make this mistake. [JWR Adds: I think that what he meant write was that a physical grain of powder does not necessarily weigh one grain. But you are correct that powder is weighed in the same “grains” scale as bullets.]

When he talks of the destabilization of a typical rifle round, he also describes what actually happens erroneously, when referring to the centrifugal force of the cartridge “failing”, and “the laws of inertia, resistance, velocity and mass” being the deciding factors after the “spin fails”. He uses big words, but I’m positive he doesn’t know what the interactions of those forces are. Using words like ‘critically destabilizes’ sounds like he was quoting something again, and not instructing the reader. You know, as do I, that [Col. Martin] Fackler [the lead author of the NATO Emergency War Surgery manual and numerous ballistics studies] explained all of this stuff very simply and very succinctly – and rotational forces are a primary reason for jacket and bullet fragmentation, they do not “usually fail” as he writes. – Jim H. in Colorado

 

Jim:
“Point blank” is not just vaguely “… a few yards from the muzzle” as Kyrottimus stated.

Here is the official definition:
In external ballistics, point-blank range is the distance between a firearm and a target of a given size such that the bullet in flight is expected to strike the target without adjusting the elevation of the firearm (see also gun). The point-blank range will vary with the firearm and its particular ballistic characteristics, as well as the target chosen. A firearm with a flatter trajectory will permit a nearer minimum and further maximum point blank range for a given target size, while a larger target will allow for a longer point blank range for a given firearm.

We need to teach the correct usage of terms, not colloquialisms. – Beach

Odds ‘n Sods:

Eric sent us this: Amish homeowners: Religion trumps building codes

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Michael H. flagged this: Fed Refuses to Disclose Recipients of $2 Trillion

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I’m overwhelmed! More than 300 SurvivalBlog readers have bought Foodsaver vacuum packers at the special December sale price.This a is a great way to save money and to support SurvivalBlog! (We get a small commission on each sale, if you follow our link.) You can buy a FoodSaver v2830 for $59.99 (originally $169.99) with free Standard Shipping for orders over $100, directly from FoodSaver.com.Use code L8FAV28 at checkout. This offer is valid during the month of December, or while supplies last. By buying foods in bulk and re-packaging them in more handy (single meal size) vacuum bags, you can save a lot of money on your grocery bill. And of course vacuum-packed foods have greatly extended shelf lives. Buy a FoodSavers, and you’ll be glad that you did!

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Not surprisingly, the bad economic news keeps coming: I spotted this article linked at Drudge: Third of Hedge Funds Face ‘Wipe Out’ After Slump, Godden Says. Terry in Cornwall, England sent this: Supermarkets’ emergency plans to keep shelves full. Bill N. endorsed a tongue in cheek look by Fred Thompson concerning the MOAB. Michael M. heard an NPR Marketplace news story and sent us the link: Quantitative Easing = “Let’s just print the money”. Reader “Bigbird” flagged this: Gross Domestic Product: 40 Percent of the United States GDP comes from 5 States; California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois. And Eric sent all these: Ponzi Nation — Just a sign of troubled times, or has the Fed lost it? — Treasury bonds have reached bubble stage — Deflation has become inevitable — Household Net Worth in U.S. Declines Most on Record — SF feels pain of real estate meltdown. And to round out the day’s links, here is the latest batch from The Economatrix: Radical Fed Reserve Rate Cut to .05% — Dollar Staggers as US Unleashes Cash Flood — UK Royal Mail Pension in $14 Billion Hole — Ireland Joins Wave of Bailouts — Ecuador Default: Fears Others Will Follow — Alternative Currencies Grow in US — Bankers Privately Talk of the End of Days (A key quote: “I have spoken to a couple of pretty senior bankers in the past couple of weeks and their story is rather different. They don’t refer to the looming problems as being like 1992 or even 1929. They talk about a total financial meltdown. They talk about the End of Days.”) — Goldman Sachs Faces $2 Billion Loss, its First Since 1929 — “Already Bankrupt” GM Won’t be Rescued By Loan — Collapse of Pension Funds: End of Retirement? — Homes Lose $2 Trillion in Value in 2008 — Grave Worries About Automaker Failure — Gold Rises to $823, Dollar Sinks

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Let them fail; let everybody fail! I made my fortune when I had nothing to start with, by myself and my own ideas. Let other people do the same thing. If I lose everything in the collapse of our financial structure, I will start in at the beginning and build it up again." – Henry Ford. February 11, 1934

Notes from JWR:

The SurvivalBlog Benefit Auction ends at midnight (eastern time) tonight!

The high bid is now at $1,085. The auction is for a large mixed lot that includes:

A.) 15 brand new 30 round M16/M4/AR-15 magazines from JWR‘s personal collection. These include four scarce and desirable brand new HK steel “Maritime Finish” magazines, and 11 new USGI alloy magazines made by Center Industries. (Note that most of these were made during the 1994-2004 Federal ban, so most of them have restriction markings, but those became null and void after the ban sunsetted.) Even if you don’t own an AR-15, these magazines are great to keep on hand for barter. (Note: If you live in a state where full capacity magazines are banned, then you must choose to: refrain from bidding, or designate a recipient in an unrestricted state, or re-donate the magazines for a subsequent auction.) In today’s frenzied market, these magazines have a retail value of at least $460..

B.) A NukAlert radiation detector donated by at KI4U.com (a $160 retail value).

C.) An assortment of loose leaf teas, a box of Bellagio hot chocolate (25 individual packs), and your choice of $50 worth of ground or whole bean roasted coffee. (A combined retail value of more than $150), all courtesy of CMeBrew.com.

D.) A case of 24 cans of canned storage butter, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $110 retail value).

E.) A carton of 10 rolls of Hydrion fuel test strips, (with a retail value of $85), donated by UR-2B-Prepared.com.

F.) “Alone in the Wilderness” book and 2 DVD Value Set on the life of Richard Proenneke (a retail value of $51.95) courtesy of Camping Survival.com

G.) An EVAC Easy Roll Stretcher kit, (a retail value of $49.95), donated by FrostCPR.com.

This auction ends on December 15th. Please e-mail us your bid for the entire mixed lot.

 

Today we present another entry for Round 20 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The contest prizes include:

First Prize: The writer of the best contributed article will be awarded two transferable Front Sight  “Gray” Four Day Training Course Certificates. This is an up to $4,000 value!
Second Prize: A three day course certificate from OnPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses.
Third Prize: A copy of my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course, from Arbogast Publishing

Round 20 ends on January 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival will have an advantage in the judging.

Comparing the Big Three Battle Rifle Chamberings in the United States, by Kyrottimus

Since there are probably many folks new to firearms in the recent months, it may help to convey a sense of awe and respect for the power which they possess. I intend to use practical examples to give the average person a relative understanding of firearm ballistics; dealing primarily in the overall energy they are capable of unleashing at varying ranges.

I will focus on the three most common military-spec cartridge calibers found in semi-automatic battle rifles in the U.S.: 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Win), 7.62x39mm Soviet/Russian and 5.56x45mm NATO (.223 Rem). I will also address some comparisons with handgun ammunition and even the .30 Carbine round.

Note: This article make fair use quotes and cites data from a variety of references. See the References list at the end of the article for links. The author thanks the writers of these fine references for their many hours of research.

It is my hope that people who read this will not only further their knowledge about firearms, but find that it may aid them in their quest for wisdom when it comes to knowing the limitations of their weapons.

The statistics used herein are averaged and aggregated from various sources, primarily focusing on military-spec ammunition (what most civilians wind up buying as “military surplus” ammunition from various nations). Since most NATO nations comply with similar cartridge standards, comparing their attributes is easy.

When it comes to the 7.62x39mm Soviet cartridge, I averaged Tula, Vympel and Barnaul munitions factories from Russia, since Russia is the home where the 7.62x39mm cartridge was born and standardized. While most of us know these brands by their commercial names: Wolf Military Classic, Golden Tiger and Brown Bear, the ammunition itself is made to Russian military specifications.

.30 Caliber Carbine (aka US .30 Carbine) is added to the analysis of modern military cartridges to give those people who use it a realistic idea of its limitations. Not to detract from the merits of a compact, lightweight, easy-to-carry carbine or its light ammunition, but to compare it apples-to-apples when it comes to net power.

All rifle cartridges used in these statistics were Full-Metal Jacket (FMJ–meaning the entire lead bullet is encased in a cupronickel metal covering). The .30 Carbine ammunition statistics can be applied to either FMJ or JSP because both projectile types are the same mass, with the same velocity and with almost identical sectional density.

As we all know, mass x velocity = energy. But it’s not so simple. Let’s visit some popular mathematic formulas:

F = ma
Force equals mass times acceleration.

P = Fv
Power equals force times the constant velocity.

KE = 1/2m v2
Kinetic energy equals one half of mass times velocity squared.

So a bullet’s speed (velocity) means nothing to us unless we know its mass. Coupled together we get:

Caliber, Bullet Weight, Muzzle Energy and Muzzle Velocity

7.62x51mm NATO 147 grain (gr)~2,550 ft/lbs (3,457 joules) @ 2,700 fps (FMJ)
7.62x39mm Soviet 123 gr ~1,525 ft/lbs (2,067 joules) @ 2,360 fps (FMJ)
5.56x45mm NATO 62 gr ~1,250 ft/lbs (1,694 joules) @ 3,050 fps (FMJ)
.30 Caliber Carbine 110gr ~965 ft/lbs (1,308 joules) @ 1,995 fps (FMJ and JSP)
.45 ACP 230 gr ~390 ft/lbs (528 joules) @ 875 fps (JHP)
9x19mm Luger/Parabellum 115 gr ~385 ft/lbs (521 joules) @ 1,225 fps (JHP)

The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) and 9x19mm pistol cartridges were added as a comparison for those familiar with handguns and their energy at point-blank range. At 50 yards, both standard .45 ACP and 9x19mm defense loads are roughly equal in net energy (~350 ft/lbs or 475 joules each).

When measuring both energy and velocity at the “muzzle” of a firearm, it is basically “point-blank range” which when describing firearms [versus artillery] means within a few yards of the muzzle.

Now these figures are measured within a few feet of the muzzle (hence the term “muzzle energy” or “muzzle velocity”), which is the most powerful the projectiles will be throughout their ballistic path. Because of wind resistance, they will decelerate (and thus lose energy) at varying distances. This is why we get the term “effective range,” as beyond a certain point the energy is too low to be expected to be nominally effective. Also, keep in mind some projectiles will drop rapidly as their ballistic arc terminates (and is pulled down by gravity). The energy and velocity at ranges listed below are assuming the shooter is holding the sights high enough to get the projectile there before it hits the ground…at a certain point this practice becomes futile and borders on indirect fire, going back to the concept of “effective range.”

Remember; so long as the air resistance remains constant, so too will the rate of deceleration of the projectile.

Also, bear in mind that while some bullets travel slower than others, if they are heavier they can have a net force which is more than the other (e.g. 7.62×39 has a muzzle velocity (MV) of 2,360 fps and the 5.56 NATO has a MV of 3,050. While the 5.56 NATO is roughly 700 fps faster at the muzzle than the 7.62×39 projectile, the 7.62×39 is almost exactly twice the mass of the 5.56 NATO).

The statistics shown here of muzzle velocity and energy are all given through 20″ rifle barrels (though not certain on the .30 Carbine figures, though since there is primarily only one common firearm which fires the cartridge, the M1 Carbine which has an 18″ barrel, it is assumed all statistics for that cartridge are applied for a 18″ barrel). The shorter a rifle barrel is, the less time the expanding gasses from the compressed burning powder have to accelerate the projectile before it exits the barrel (which ends acceleration and begins deceleration due to air resistance). A 20″ barreled AR-15 will generate faster projectile velocity and higher net bullet energy (using identical ammunition) than a 16″ barreled AR-15 Carbine [such as an M4gery or a typical civilian CAR-15].

To compare accordingly, an AK rifle and a civilian AR-15 carbine both have 16.25″ barrels and thus would have roughly the same ratio of velocity and energy (though at lower values). If one wanted to compare 20″ to 20″ inch, maybe a standard length AR-15 and a Russian SKS (or even Romanian RPK) would be a fair comparison (either may be slightly over 20″ but would be a closer comparison than a full-length AR-15 to a 16″ bbl AK).

Probably the fairest means of comparison using statistics below is to assume the cartridges were fired from the following 20″ barreled rifles:

7.62x51mm NATO : FN-FAL (most have 21″ barrels but many can be found with ~20″ barrels)
7.62x39mm Soviet : SKS (most have ~20″ barrels)
5.56x45mm NATO : AR-15 (standard size has ~20″ barrel)

The measure of mass used for firearm projectiles (bullets) is grains. A grain is a unit of lead mass measurement, roughly equal to 1/3 of a carat or 65mg. 16 grains is roughly equal to 1 gram. Note that grains in bullet mass differ from from ” grains” of smokeless powder (nitro-cellulose) propellant, which is not used in this article.

A hard baseball is about 5-1/8 ounces or 149 grams. This equates to 2,300 grains in mass.

The energy being used is in foot-pounds of force and in joules. The best way to describe a single foot-pound of force, “is the amount of energy expended when a force of one pound acts through a distance of 1 foot along the direction of the force.” While not scientifically “correct,” the terms “force” and “energy” are used interchangeably in this article.

Also, keep in mind that if a bullet does not release all of its energy into a single target, it will go through it while retaining the remainder of its force while coming out the other side. This is why most modern handgun projectiles are Jacketed-Hollow Points (JHPs), so they mushroom in deformation to a larger diameter (usually ~0.72″ regardless of what caliber it started out as), thus increasing surface area and resistance in the target medium and will then release more energy over shorter distance (basically to prevent over-penetration at close range). Over penetration of a target means that not all of the kinetic energy in the projectile winds up being released in that target. From the target’s perspective, that means less overall damage.

Rifle cartridges are also designed to deposit as much energy as possible in a target in a relatively short distance. The 5.56mm NATO projectile, if within 200 yards, will often critically destabilize while acutely decelerating in a soft target medium and fragment into many pieces; releasing its energy all at once in a very small distance. The 7.62x39mm Soviet will usually tumble a few times (yaw/pitch) in a soft target medium and in doing so release a spike of its remaining energy in each tumble (and if it stops in the medium, will wind up facing backwards). The 7.62mm NATO projectile will usually tumble once and if it does not exit the other side of the target medium (which it usually does at closer ranges), it will expend all of its energy into the target and end up facing backwards–this is due to the projectile’s point of balance being closer to the rear, as the back half of most rifle projectiles are heavier than the front. Once any of the Big Three cartridge projectiles begin rapid deceleration in a target medium, their centrifugal spin-stabilization (caused by the rifling in the rifle barrel–similar to a nicely thrown “spiral” pass of an American football) usually fails and the laws of physics continue with inertia, resistance, velocity and mass in the target medium.

Now, let’s get into the meat and potatoes of mass, velocity and energy:

A 90 mph (132 feet per second, or fps) fastball (major league baseball is 149 grams, 1/3 of a pound or 2,300 grains) exerts approximately 60 ft/lbs of force as the pitcher releases it:

Baseball (Fastball) 2,300 grains ~60 ft/lbs (81 joules) @ 132 fps (90mph)

This may not be really easy to envision in any practical sense of energy when thinking of foot-pounds of force, so joules are also included.

1 joule of energy is equal to the force required for an average adult human to pick up an apple from the ground to their waist (~1m). Conversely, 1 joule is the amount of force released when that same human drops that same apple from that height. Since an apple weighs about the same as a baseball, a person must exert 81 times the force needed to pick up an apple to pitch a 90mph fastball.

Now that a few rough practical examples of applied force have been given, let us now examine the Big Three military-surplus cartridge calibers’ energy at varying distances (.30 Caliber Carbine and two pistol calibers are thrown in as a comparison to more modern military cartridges):

Caliber, Bullet Weight, Muzzle Energy and Muzzle Velocity

7.62x51mm NATO 147 gr ~2,550 ft/lbs (3,457 joules) @ 2,700 fps (FMJ)
7.62x39mm Soviet 123 gr ~1,525 ft/lbs (2,067 joules) @ 2,360 fps (FMJ)
5.56x45mm NATO 62 gr ~1,250 ft/lbs (1,694 joules) @ 3,050 fps (FMJ)
.30 Caliber Carbine 110 gr ~965 ft/lbs (1,308 joules) @ 1,995 fps (FMJ and JSP)
.45 ACP 230 gr ~390 ft/lbs (528 joules) @ 875 fps (JHP)
9x19mm Luger/Parabellum 115 gr ~385 ft/lbs (521 joules) @ 1,225 fps (JHP)

Energy at 100 yards

7.62x51mm NATO ~2,100 ft/lbs (2,847 joules) @ 2,550 fps
7.62x39mm Soviet ~1,200 ft/lbs (1,626 joules) @ 2,104 fps
5.56x45mm NATO ~970 ft/lbs (1,315 joules) @ 2,650 fps
.30 Caliber Carbine ~600 ft/lbs (813 joules) @ 1,570 fps

Energy at 200 yards

7.62x51mm NATO ~1,750 ft/lbs (2,374 joules) @ 2,331 fps (now moving faster than 62 gr 5.56NATO)
7.62x39mm Soviet ~915 ft/lbs (1,240 joules) @ 1,825 fps
5.56x45mm NATO ~735 ft/lbs (995 joules) @ 2,310 fps
.30 Caliber Carbine ~375 ft/lbs (508 joules) @ 1,240 fps (equal in force to 230 gr .45ACP @ ~10 yards)

Energy at 300 yards

7.62x51mm NATO ~1,450 ft/lbs (1,965 joules) @ 2,125 fps
7.62x39mm Soviet ~690 ft/lbs (935 joules) @ 1,585 fps
5.56x45mm NATO ~550 ft/lbs (745 joules) @ 2,000 fps
.30 Caliber Carbine ~265 ft/lbs (359 joules) @ 1,040 fps

Energy at 400 yards

7.62x51mm NATO ~1,200 ft/lbs (1,625 joules) @ 1,931 fps (equal in force to 5.56NATO @ ~15 yards)
7.62x39mm Soviet ~515 ft/lbs (700 joules) @ 1,370 fps
5.56x45mm NATO ~405 ft/lbs (550 joules) @ 1,718 fps
.30 Caliber Carbine ~210 ft/lbs (284 joules) @ 930 fps

Energy at 500 yards

7.62x51mm NATO ~1,000 ft/lbs (1,355 joules) @ 1,750 fps
7.62x39mm Soviet ~395 ft/lbs (535 joules) @ 1,200 fps (equal in force to 230gr .45ACP @ ~2 yards)
5.56x45mm NATO ~290 ft/lbs (393 joules) @ 1,460 fps
.30 Caliber Carbine ~175 ft/lbs (237 joules) @ 850 fps

Energy at 600 yards

7.62x51mm NATO ~810 ft/lbs (1,100 joules) @ 1,560 fps (equal in force to 5.56NATO @ ~150 yards)
7.62x39mm Soviet ~280 ft/lbs (379 joules) @ 1,030 fps
5.56x45mm NATO ~172 ft/lbs (233 joules) @ 1,122 fps
.30 Caliber Carbine ~135 ft/lbs (183 joules) @ 760 fps

It is plainly obvious why so many recommend a 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Win) chambered rifle as a primary defense rifle. It clearly overpowers all other modern, common military battle rifle calibers at all ranges and maintains a further effective range. The few negative aspects are the relatively higher recoil, louder report and heavier cartridge weight.

Keeping in mind the power of the aforementioned rifle calibers, and that the more powerful cartridges weigh more, and thus the shooter would be able to carry less ammunition when comparing a like weight (e.g. 25lbs) of ammunition. An average adult human male can only comfortably carry about a 65 lb load on their shoulders. An average adult human female can only comfortably carry about a 40 lb load on their shoulders. Keep that in mind when selecting a primary defense rifle.

Penetration is another important thing to consider. So is effective range and accuracy. Determine which pros outweigh the cons and pick your rifle(s) accordingly. By comparing the Big Three military calibers most commonly found in semi-automatic “battle” rifles in the U.S., I hope you have expanded your understanding a little bit on the amount of power they each bring to bear. If possible, I recommend getting at least one rifle in 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Win) and another in either 7.62x39mm Soviet or 5.56x45mm NATO (or both if you can afford it). Heck, two of each is good too.

When it comes to the .30 Carbine cartridge and the M1 Carbine which fires it, many will pooh-pooh its lack of “stopping” power. Many of these same individuals will champion the .45 ACP as a great handgun cartridge. I know one is a pistol and one is a carbine, but the M1 Carbine more or less bridges the gap between a handgun and a battle rifle. At 200 yards, the M1 Carbine hits with the same power as the .45ACP does at nearly point-blank range. While the .30 Carbine cartridge in military configuration is FMJ (to abide to the Hague Convention of War [that restricts military use of expanding bullets], which at closer ranges can over penetrate a target and thus not release all of its kinetic energy, there are many commercially available sources which are loaded with JSP (Jacketed Soft Point) projectiles. These deforming bullets are essentially the same as most hunting bullets, though would be better as a personal defense weapon than a hunting one. Within the effective range, they will deform and ensure that most or all of the energy of the bullet is released in the target.

For defensive purposes, an M1 Carbine is still viable as a PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) in your battery–especially for small-statured women and adolescent children. A Ruger 10/22 (or Marlin 60/795) with Tech-Sights installed has a very similar length of pull, sight picture, and balance as an M1 Carbine. It can easily be used to train a person unfamiliar with firearms using the inexpensive .22LR cartridge until they prove proficient enough to graduate to a centerfire weapon–the M1 Carbine is the perfect transition weapon from the 10/22. It is more powerful and easier to control and has a greater effective range than most modern semi-auto handguns. While both the .30 Carbine cartridge and the M1 Carbine firearm are both fairly outdated, and there are better choices for a defensive rifle and cartridge, they are still better and more versatile than any semi-auto handgun, in my opinion. If you wind up seeing a WWII or Korean War era M1 Carbine from the CMP, at a gun show, pawn shop or from a personal seller and it is a reasonable price, I suggest looking into getting one. Also, a few modern reproductions are floating around out there by IAI (Israeli Aerospace Industries) and Auto-Ordnance (Both are good quality and American made). [JWR Adds: The Plainfield and Iver Johnson clones were also quite well made. The M1 Carbine reproductions to avoid were those made by Universal Industries. Few of their parts interchange with original GI M1 Carbine parts, and their trigger groups could best be descibed as “pot metal”. They were in fact more “look-alikes” than they were M1 Carbine clones.]

But when building your survival battery, make certain you can afford the necessary accoutrements for each rifle; such as magazines, spare parts, web gear/LBE, ammunition, lubricant/rust preventative, cleaning accessories, and most of all–training. Get familiar with safety first and foremost, and move your way into nomenclature and eventually to close, intermediate and long range shooting with each caliber in various shooting positions to broaden your horizons further. I also suggest that you pick up some grocery-store throw-away produce and line them up at varying ranges to see what kind of hydrostatic shock your rifle can produce at 400+ yards. Melons, pumpkins and coconuts are fun to shoot. They also put all the numbers above in perspective to what 1,000+ joules of force can do to soft tissue.

Let is all hope and pray that no one reading this will ever need to use any firearm in their battery against another human being. But if one day we find ourselves forced to defend our lives, family and property, then let us be prepared to stand and fight!

References:
Chuck Hawks’ Ballistics Page (Rifle Shooter magazine)
.308 Winchester Ballistics (Rifle Shooter magazine)
 7.62×39 Ballistics (Rifle Shooter magazine)
.223 Ballistics (Rifle Shooter magazine)
.30 US Carbine Ballistics (Rifle Shooter magazine)
Wikipedia Page: Joule
Answers.com: Foot/Pounds
Baseball Pitching Facts and Fallacies
Rifle Shooter Magazine’s Ballistics Page
TKD Tutor: The Concept of Force
The cited energy and mass conversions done using Microsoft “Convert” utility program

Letter Re: Speeding Coyote Hunters Arrested in Illinois

Mr. Rawles,
I came across this today, and thought you’d be interested: Police: WIU students arrested with cache of weapons.

The key points are:
1.) They were stopped for speeding and their truck searched
2.) Both men had gun permits
3.) They were arrested for possession of firearms and ones’ home searched
4.) Both are now facing legal battles – [even though] no laws [other than the speed limit] have apparently been broken

Blessings & Good Health, – Christine

JWR Replies: A few of my observations:

Did you notice the box for the FN FS2000? It looks like they had a big gun-buying budget.

If they were indeed just out hunting, then why were they wearing body armor? That seems a bit odd, but they were certainly in their rights to do so.

I have my doubts about the article’s mention of a “silencer.” Odds are that either a. ) It wasn’t really a suppressor–just a misidentified muzzle brake, or flash hider, or b.) It was an NFA-registered suppressor. The bottom line is that they may not have been doing anything illegal, other than exceeding the posted speed limit. (Although I have no idea if it legal to carry a loaded firearm in a private automobile in Illinois like in The Unnamed Western State (TUWS), where I live. Knowing Illinois, I suspect that they’ve restricted that right.)

It is curious that the illinois journalist mischaracterized the four guns (one rifle and one pistol per man) as a “weapons cache”. That is a pretty modest quantity for a “cache”. In Texas, in fact, that would be considered traveling “lightly armed.”

And on the lighter side, here is a bit of conjecture, from your friendly Editor: Can you imagine if this had happened in Wyoming instead of Illinois? The exchange probably would have gone something like this:

Deputy: “Do you know why I pulled you over?

Student: “I think it was because I was going 70 in a 55 zone.The 70 zones are so much more common, so that’s what feels like a normal speed to me.”

Deputy: “You boys need to slow down, especially after dark. Consider this a warning.

Student: “My apologies, officer. I’ll do my best to keep a closer eye on the speedometer.”

Deputy: “Whatcha boys doing out here with those NVGs?

Student: “Huntin’ coyotes.”

Deputy: “Had any luck? I hear the price of pelts is was up this year. Oh, you should watch for bobcats, too. I hear those pelts are fetching $800 apiece for nice ones. Now don’t forget to slow down. Good luck with your hunt, boys.”