Buying and Testing a Dead Air RXD22Ti Silencer, by Thomas Christianson

When the Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law on July 4, 2025, it eliminated the $200 tax on silencers. This change will become effective on January 1, 2026.

Many SurvivalBlog readers may want to purchase their first silencer now that the tax has been eliminated. I decided to go ahead with a silencer purchase before the big day so that I could describe what that process looks like for first-time silencer buyers.

I contacted Dead Air Silencers to see if they would be willing to provide the silencer while I would pay the tax and the SOT/FFL transfer fee. They were kind enough to agree to this proposal.

First Steps

I began by selecting the RXD22Ti as my first silencer. I then went to the “Find a Dealer” section of the Dead Air website and entered my ZIP code. This brought up a list of gun shops in my area that have an SOT/FFL and that partner with Dead Air Silencers. I selected the shop nearest me and arranged for my silencer to be sent there for transfer.

Not too many days later, I received an email from Dead Air Silencers indicating that my silencer had shipped. They also provided me with a tracking number. Six days later, I received an email from the gun shop indicating that the silencer had arrived, and that I could stop by to set up my profile.

Not long afterward, I went to the gun shop during my lunch hour. They directed me to a Silencer Shop Kiosk, where I entered my email address and selected a password.

I then logged into my new Silencer Shop account and answered a bunch of form-4473-type questions. I then scanned my driver’s license into the kiosk to enter my personal data.Continue reading“Buying and Testing a Dead Air RXD22Ti Silencer, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Sweet Potato Chowder

The following recipe for Sweet Potato Chowder is from SurvivalBlog reader R.S..

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 sweet onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground sage
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup chopped carrots
  • 3 cups chopped sweet potato, about 1 inch in size
  • 5 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock
  • ⅓ cup cream (or substitute half-and-half or coconut cream)
  • 2 cups chopped tuscan kale
  • 4 ounces pancetta, diced, for topping
  • 3 tablespoons roasted salted pepitas, for topping
Directions
  1. Heat a large pot over medium-low heat and add the pancetta. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered and the pancetta is crisp, about 6 to 8 minutes.
  2. Remove the pancetta with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess grease.
  3. Keep the pot on medium-low heat and add the butter. Stir in the onion, garlic, salt, pepper and sage. Stir in the fresh nutmeg. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the carrots and sweet potato, tossing everything to combine.
  4. Pour in the chicken stock and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce it to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Cover and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes cubes soften.
  5. Stir in the cream (or cream substitute)
  6. Taste the soup and season it with additional salt or pepper if needed, but remember you will be adding the salty pancetta on top.
  7. Just a few minutes before serving, stir in the kale.
SERVING

I prefer to serve this soup almost immediately, but you can simmer the soup for another 10 minutes or so to soften it. Serve with the pancetta and pepitas for topping.

—

Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: Non-Hispanic White Population in Each US Congressional District. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.)

The thumbnail below is click-expandable.

 

 

 

—

Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And I do think that I’m in a unique situation because I was having the conversations with people that were going out and committing crimes. And so, I understood what was kind of pushing them there. And so, I do want people to know that, just because someone has committed a crime, it doesn’t make them a criminal.” – Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Democrat of Texas

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — September 28, 2025

On September 28, 1779, Samuel Huntington was elected President of the Continental Congress, succeeding John Jay. Huntington was a self-educated man who became an attorney and statesman.  The following is a fair use excerpt from the Descendants of Signers of the Declaration of Independence DSDI website:

“Samuel Huntington was born in the town of Scotland, Windham County, Connecticut on July 5, 1731, the 4th of ten children, and second son of Nathaniel Huntington and Mehetable Thurston [Huntington]. Nathaniel was a farmer and clothier at Scotland, and built a home there in 1732 that still stands to this day.

Samuel’s great-grandfather was Simon Huntington, who was born in England and arrived in Boston in 1633. The family settled in Roxbury and subsequently moved to Norwich, Connecticut. Matthew Marvin, a great-grandfather of Samuel Huntington, came to America in the Increase in 1635 and was one of the first settlers of Hartford in 1638.

Young Samuel did not acquire a formal education, except that provided by the “common schools.” At age 16 Samuel was apprenticed to a cooper, although he continued to help his father on the farm. Interested in learning, Samuel borrowed books from the library of the Rev. Ebenezer Devotion and from local lawyers, and began to study history, Latin, and the law. He was admitted to the bar at Windham in 1754 at the age 23, and moved to Norwich, Connecticut to begin his practice.”

—

September 28, 1066: William The Conqueror invaded England, landing at Pevensey Bay, Sussex.

—

Our big inventory reduction sale at Elk Creek Company — with nearly all of our items reduced — is in progress. This is your chance to do some early Christmas or Hanukkah shopping. Or consider it the Pre-1899 part of your tangibles investing strategy. The sale will end on Wednesday, October 1st.  Get your order in soon!

—

Today’s feature article is a guest piece by our long-time friend Patrice Lewis of the excellent Rural Revolution blog.

—

Just two days left! We need another article entry for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.  More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 120 ends on September 30th, 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. 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.

The Other AI: Breeding Maggie, by Patrice Lewis

Editor’s Introductory Note:  This guest article was written by our friend and fellow blogger, Patrice Lewis. Her entertaining and informative Rural Revolution blog has been published several times a week since 2009. We highly recommend bookmarking it. – JWR

—

Last year, we bred Maggie, our Jersey heifer, to a neighbor’s young Angus bull.

It was a convenient arrangement, and little Stormy was the product of that breeding.

But our neighbors no longer have that little bull, so we were trying to figure out how to get Maggie bred this year. After some discussion, we decided to use AI (Artificial Insemination; it had the “AI” abbreviation decades before computers were a thing).Continue reading“The Other AI: Breeding Maggie, by Patrice Lewis”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week:

The latest meme graphic created by JWR.  This is based on a pun coined by my elder brother, who turns 71, today:

Meme Text:

What Does Donny Osmond Call Marie?

Osmosis

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.

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — September 27, 2025

On September 27, 1908, Henry Ford‘s first production Ford Model T automobile left the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan. Mass production soon followed.

—

And on September 27,1936, the Netherlands left the Gold Standard and devalued the Dutch Guilder.

—

Today, we present a short guest piece by long-time SurvivalBlog reader and fellow blogger Reltney McFee. It first appeared in his entertaining but sporadically-posted blog: Musings of A Stretcher Ape.

—

Just a few days left!  We are in need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 120 ends on September 30th, 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. 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.

My Most Recent Lesson in Logistics, by Reltney McFee

Last weekend, I was performing my periodic battery survey, assessment and replacement ritual. I have a list of (I had thought) every battery device, and its location, along with a hidey-hole for the batteries to replace those that require them. This list, in the summer 2025 edition, runs 3 pages of 14 point type. On my yearly planner, it is slated for January. (Yes, I am aware that this is September. Let us consider the gulf between plans, and actions, shall we?)

As it developed, as I was working my way through each page, I would pass one shelf in my basement. On one of my passes, I noticed that I had a thermal camera, bought last winter so I can have some basis for triaging which particular insulation/air infiltration fail I should address and in what sequence.

It was not on the list. Powered by batteries.

Next to it sat an inspection camera, used to inspect voids such as you might see behind drywall, or on an exterior wall. Or, for that matter, where a bat might be hiding. It, too, runs on batteries. It, too was NOT on my list. Well, it used to be not on my list.

I entered my “Pooh Room” (where I keep “my pooh”), and noted that I had optics on several of my rifles. These optics required (say it along with me, now!) batteries, and, as well, had NOT been on my “check the batteries” list.

When you have a rifle in your gun safe for a couple of years, and have not taken it to the range in that time, well, as one might have wondered, the batteries die. So, I was given the opportunity to replace the batteries, and re-inventory all my spares.Continue reading“My Most Recent Lesson in Logistics, by Reltney McFee”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

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!

Jim Reports:

This week, I was very busy packing and mailing almost 30 Elk Creek Company mail orders. I had just cataloged a lot of FN FAL magazines. M1 Carbine flash hiders, and M1 Carbine muzzle brakes. And I started a big sale on almost all of our antique gun inventory. (I described the legalities and the logic of my strategy in my recent blog article: Firearms Ownership Privacy: The Pre-1899 Solution.) I expect to be packing even more orders next week. Busy, busy, busy!  Hopefully, things will slow down before deer and elk hunting season begins.

Now, Lily’s part of the report…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day: 

“And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.

David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

Which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;

Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.” – 2 Samuel 8:1-12 (KJV) 

Preparedness Notes for Friday — September 26, 2025

On September 26, 1508, Francis Drake completed his circumnavigation of the world, sailing into Plymouth, England, aboard the Golden Hind.

—

Our big inventory reduction sale at Elk Creek Company — with the prices of nearly all of our items reduced — is in progress. This is your chance to do some early Christmas or Hanukkah shopping. The sale will end on Wednesday, October 1st.  Get your order in soon!  Note:  If the sale prices are not showing up for the majority of items with your browser, then please clear your browser’s cache. (With most  browsers, click on “Clear browsing history” and select “All.”)

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  3. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.
  5. Preparedness author Jennifer Rader is offering a $200 purchase credit for any of her eight published food storage and medical preparedness books, including the Good Eats at the TEOTWAWKI Café series, the Armageddon Pharmacy series, and the Medicine Surrounds Us series.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. A $269 retail value survival-ready power package from Solar Power Lifestyle. This includes two Solar Power Lifestyle 25W Portable Solar Panels, plus a $150 gift card to use for any purchase at solarpowerlifestyle.com.
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 120 ends on September 30th, 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. 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.

Text Comms in a Post-Disaster World – Part 5, by J.M.

(Continued from Part 4. This concludes the article.)

There are a lot of different complicated characteristics in the LoRa radio configuration that can be changed that impact range and transfer speed, so Meshtastic has defined a number of preset configurations so you don’t need to mess with the technical details. The first word of the preset defines range, and the second defines bandwidth, with ‘Long Fast’ being the default. I strongly recommend that you stick with the ‘Long Fast’ preset until you gain more experience with Meshtastic, so make sure the ‘Modem Preset’ field says ‘Long Fast’. Once you’ve selected the preset look for the ‘Frequency Slot’ field at the bottom of the same page.Continue reading“Text Comms in a Post-Disaster World – Part 5, by J.M.”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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, an update on the state of the global economy.  (See the Economy & Finance section.)

Precious Metals:

The Precious Metals bull continues his charge!  On Tuesday, spot Gold hit an intraday price of $3,801.40 per Troy ounce. That was another all-time high. And meanwhile, spot silver briefly touched $44.66 per Troy ounce.

By Thursday afternoon (yesterday), spot gold was bouncing around the $3,765 region, after some profit-taking.  But spot silver was up to a very respectable $45.46 per Troy ounce. Late this morning, it was up to $46.36!  And Spot Platinum was at $1,586.50. Hang on, folks. This bull has just been turned loose on the streets of Pamplona, and he is feeling feisty! And, FWIW, I’m still predicting that silver will out-perform gold, substantially. – JWR

o  o  o

Rick Mills, over at Gold-Eagle.com: Precious Metals and Critical Minerals Feeling Market Love.

Economy & Finance:

From the leftist and anti-Trump policy Bloomberg: Resilient World Economy Set for Tariff Hit in 2026, OECD Says.

o  o  o

IGC: Remarkable Resilience: Global Economic and Private Markets Update.

o  o  o

From the UN’s DESA: World Economic Situation and Prospects 2025 September Update.

o  o  o

Martin W. Armstrong: When Monetary and Fiscal Policies Blur. A great quote from his essay:

“The reason politicians love low [interest] rates is not to help the people but to help government. With the US national debt now spiraling out of control, every uptick in rates increases the cost of debt service. Trump knows this. Biden knew it too. Every administration eventually leans on the Fed to keep rates down because the alternative is insolvency.”

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”