Odds ‘n Sods:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog benefit auction (for the RWVA Super Shooter’s package is now at $150. Our special thanks to the RWVA and Fred’s M14 Stocks for sponsoring this fund raiser! (The prize is worth $250+.). Please submit your bids via e-mail. This auction ends on the last day of July. OBTW, speaking of the RWVA, they have a Rifle Instructor’s Camp coming up at the end of August in Ramseur, North Carolina. It is a great opportunity for you to learn how to teach others how to shoot like a pro–including your own family members.

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A gent from Australia recently launched a new site, www.beatbirdflu.info, aimed at providing the ‘unenlightened’ with basic information about surviving an Asian Avian Flu pandemic. In an e-mail to me he mentioned that his thinking is that “many people are scared off by the term ‘survivalist’ so if we can encourage as many people as possible, via a nice ‘passive’ web site, to prepare for such an event then we may open a few eyes, save a few lives, and it may lessen the chances of us catching Avian flu!” OBTW, one of my other favorite sites with info on the Asian Avian Flu is The Ark Institute. And I also have my own piece on the subject that is available for unlimited free reprinting or re-posting.

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Ready Made Resources, (our biggest advertiser) is brokering the sale of a very hard to find upgraded P-10 self-contained NBC shelter.They are selling it on behalf of an acquaintance. When sold new, these shelters sell for $100,000 with all of the options included in this one, such as the 1,000 gallon water tank and Level 4 protective entry door. (Cutting torch and .308 bullet proof!) These very rarely come up for sale in used condition, so don’t miss this chance to buy one for only one-fourth of what it would cost to buy one new. It is being sold “on site”, so you would have to pay for hauling. (About $4,000 to the Midwest, or $6,000 to the West Coast.) Please mention that you saw it on SurvivalBlog for a nifty bonus.

Letter Re: Pre-1899 Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant 7.62x54R Rifles and Ammo

Jim,
Concerning the Polish 7.62x54r ammo question: I have shot several thousand rounds of it through my PKM machine gun without a single misfire. The accuracy has pleasantly surprised me as well. As yet, I have shot little of it through my MN [Mosin Nagant] bolt rifles but have not had any problems there so far. Czech, Russian, Polish, Chinese have all been fine. The only 54r ammo that has been a consistent problem is the Albanian. Crimp is not done properly making it nearly impossible to load into Russian belts and feed into my PKM and SG-43 Goryunov. It will work in the bolt guns but not as well as the others do. Anybody wants some, I certainly have plenty to get rid of!!

I treat ALL surplus 54r as corrosive. For some reason, it does NOT all seem to be corrosive in the same way – I have no idea why. Like you, I consider ammo that is mildly corrosive like being a little pregnant. Corrosive primer chemistry allegedly is less sensitive to very low temperatures which is one reason the Russians continue to use it. Same for long term stability. I have some 54r that has primer problems and also some newer (mid fifties) 8mm FN with the same issue – however both appear to have been very poorly stored and corroded, many rounds having bullets so rusted that I will not shoot them in a good barrel. Upon disassembling them, many even have rust mixed in with the powder. I make display dummies out of a number of the bad rounds and find that some of the primers are okay, some completely dead and some that are very weak or merely make a little smoke and don’t even “pop”. I have NEVER had an issue of duds from a well-sealed can, some dating to the early 1930s! I shoot a lot of old, corrosive, cheap ammo and have amazingly little trouble. Your experience may vary.

Storage of ammo is important. Dry, moderate temperatures are best. I leave mine in the spam cans until the shooting season begins then open and immediately put in military ammo cans with good gaskets. If it is to be belted, I load the belts then put them in ammo cans. Store in my garage out of direct sunlight. Have had zero problems to date.

Cleaning after corrosive ammo. It depends on how much moisture the gun is exposed to how quickly it needs cleaned. In my safes with “Golden Rod” heaters I have no trouble for one to two weeks. Sitting in the garage in Ohio’s notorious humidity, a few days seems the maximum. Of course, chrome lined barrels are far less of a problem. If it may be a while before I can get my guns cleaned, I douse them in WD-40 (I buy it by the gallon can – cheaper). To clean, I use one of several different methods. Hot soapy water is probably best. Immerse the muzzle in a bucket of it and brush in such a way as to really wash it out. If the water is hot enough, the gun will flash dry on it’s own. Apply oil to all parts exposed to the water as it removes all of the oil residue and rust is a certainty! I prefer LSA (available from Sarco, $6.95 per quart) or CLP (which I pick up at Knob Creek for about $10 per quart). If the hot soapy water is a problem I use Hoppe’s Copper Solvent which contains ammonia, followed by Hoppe’s #9 [bore cleaning solution], then oil. The ammonia helps rinse away the corrosive salts, not to mention removes some copper fouling. Most important, IMHO, is to inspect the gun every couple of days after cleaning and again a week or two later to make sure that you did not miss some odd spot and rust is developing. While I admit cleaning a PKM, Goryunov or AK gas system after corrosive ammo is a bit of a pain, the [low] price of the ammo certainly justifies it. Remember, when these guns were new and being used by the military, corrosive was the only kind of ammo available! A note on Hoppe’s #9 – the older formula contained Benzene which worked very well at removing corrosive residue. Trouble is, the stuff is hazardous so it is not in the current formula. Hoppes still will clean a gun of corrosive residue but more effort is required! Same for some WWII / Korea era GI bore cleaner.

Cheap but reliable ammo in sealed military cans is great to have for a SHTF stash. A couple cans of it opened and stored in .30 or .50 caliber gasketed ammo cans allows you to shoot some for practice and to prove that it works. Remember that occasionally a spam can leaks and the ammo inside will be junk. By opening one or two, you know that at least some is good. It is also possible to leak check a can by submerging in water and squeezing it hard enough to force out some air – making bubbles. I have found so few bad ones I don’t bother.

A bit off subject – Guatemalan .5.56mm in battle packs sometimes has a problem. They have some nasty bug down there that bores through the plastic [allowing moisture to enter and] and causes corrosion. Good ammo but I suggest you put it in GI ammo cans to be safe. No, I haven’t found any live bugs yet! – Mike

Note from JWR:

The high bid in the SurvivalBlog benefit auction (for the RWVA Super Shooter’s package is at $20. Our special thanks to the RWVA and Fred’s M14 Stocks for sponsoring this fund raiser! (The prize is worth $250+.). Please submit your bids via e-mail. This auction ends on the last day of July.

Letter Re: More on Asteroid Impacts

Dear Jim:
For those who still think an asteroid impact is nothing to worry about, this was just posted on the Australian survival site forum, http://www.aussurvivalist.com: a 10 inch asteroid just hit the moon with the power of four tons of TNT, making a crater just over 42 feet wide. The event was captured on video. Although it is acknowledged that this would have been unlikely to make it through Earth’s atmosphere, the point is this goes on all the time, and Earth being hit by one that makes it through is just a matter of time. It is also believed that a 26 pound meteor landed recently in Northern Finland. Early speculation was that it was much larger. – Rourke

JWR Replies: Rourke’s letter (received July 2nd) deserves even more attention after a news story on July 3rd about a large asteroid a near miss ( Apollo Asteroid 2004 XP14). This one was estimated at 370 meter width, and passed by Earth at only one lunar distance (LD), which by astronomical standards is a very close call. OBTW, for comparison, the asteroid that is thought to have formed Barringer Meteor Crater in Arizona was estimated to have been just 25 meters in diameter.

Four Letters Re: Solar-Powered Versus Self-Winding Watches

James,
If in the market for a solar powered watch, I think that the Casio G-shock “tough solar” is much more durable than the Citizen Eco-drive watch. While G-shocks are readily available in the US, it is important to note that the Japanese domestic market G-shocks are generally superior to the ones they export. Yes, the Japanese save the best stuff for themselves. Higuchi.com is a reliable source for Japanese watches. Regards, – MP

 

Jim,
After all the discussion about the benefits of automatic watches, I have to say several things. I have a lovely Swiss top-brand automatic watch that my wife gave me for a special gift some years ago. It has spent most of the last year in factory service, after being manhandled by the best local metro service, then by the factory service in the US. Now, it is in Switzerland, hoping to be cured.

Let’s get real. Even the best of the Swiss movements go bad (your 300 meter watch may leak when surface snorkeling, like mine did), and if you are paying more than a hundred bucks for a watch, you are buying jewelry. There is no miracle to mechanical watches. You will save a bundle if you buy a dozen $10 quartz watches, take out their batteries, get a desiccant, maybe a dozen extra batteries in the internet, and stick them in an ammo can to protect against EMP. If you are worried about a crisis that those won’t sustain, then get a good sundial. Or build a pyramid or Stonehenge.

If a Swiss watch that costs thousands can’t be relied on to run more than five years without expensive specialized service, why assume that a $100 Chinese automatic will run longer than a $10 quartz watch on its original battery? – Mr. Bravo

 

James:
I think this bears further conversation. We must remember that in a SHTF long term scenario, much we take for granted in both goods and services will become nonexistent. What else besides watch repair people won’t we have access to? Choose the simplest functioning tools you can. A good compass (the best are by Brunton), a mechanical pedometer (same source) a mechanical altimeter and a basic understanding of trigonometry over a GPS. A fixed blade over a folding one. Extra socks over a treadle powered sewing machine (I have both), Catchment water over electrical pumps and resublimated USP iodine crystals (www.spectrumchemicals, see item I1015) over water filters (for biological hazards only). Paper reference books over reference materials on CD. 1/2″ ferrocerium rods (flints from epcamps.com firecraft section) over lighters. Hats and lightweight but sun blocking clothes over sunscreen.
A working understanding of physics and chemistry are invaluable as they allow us to recreate advancements in science. Know how to make cement or stucco? Burn limestone or seashells and mix with water and sand. Even better, learn the chemistry behind it (The cartoon guide to Chemistry – an excellent chemistry book.) Know how to make black powder? See same book. Better yet, also get the Wagner’s Chemical Technology (1872) from Lindsay Publishing.
What’s the use of having a shortwave or ham radio without the understanding of how to solder a broken component. Get a basic book on electronics (Basic Electronics by Radio Shack available at same) so you know the difference between putting batteries in parallel and in series.
If we are to shorten our stay in the dark ages, then it is good to have simple tools, but if we are to rekindle civilization, then we must also understand the principles at work behind the tools. if you want a fun place to start, rent the old McGyver TV series. – SF in Hawaii

 

Jim:
You made some fantastic points about automatic watches, I just have a few points to add. First: Be very careful about non-mechanical, non-battery watches. (i.e. solar, kinetic, etc). The capacitors in these watches that serves as a very short-term battery are notorious for dying rapidly and randomly. They also cannot be replaced by your local jeweler and need to be sent to the factory. They certainly cannot be counted on to last indefinitely and I would not wear one on a daily basis.
Be aware that automatics are less accurate than their quartz cousins. Expect yours to be off a few seconds every month and you should check it against a more accurate quartz source regularly. You could reset it against a sundial if you had to (and knew how), its just something to take into account.
For very long term thinking, mechanical and automatic watches are unbeatable in my opinion. An unwound automatic that isn’t exposed to extremes should substantially outlast its owner. Also, if your automatic uses a common movement (many Seikos use identical movements), you can often purchase replacement movements through eBay.
I have heard that with a steady hand and the proper tools no special training is required to replace a complete movement. I am not a watchmaker, have never done this and this advice is worth what you paid for it.
Other features in a watch that I’m sure are old hat to your readers are shock resistance, tritium markings (glow-in-the-dark without needing to be ‘recharged’ in sunlight), ‘hack’ button for synchronizing times, timer and stopwatch. Automatic watches with these features cost more than most cars.
I would advise a daily watch that is suitable for your work. This might mean a nearly-disposable quartz watch, a low-end automatic or anything in between. Automatics make good candidates for dress watches and they can hold value well. I would also advise having a few military-style shockproof tritium ‘hack’-able watches hanging around and set properly, Just In Case.
Also, a quick word of praise for the level-headed tone this blog takes with regards to a balanced preparedness plan. Too often ‘preparedness’ means “I have big guns, I have little guns, I have bombs of all sizes!” and these Mall Ninjas neglect other crucial items. Like food. Please keep up the good work. – P.H.

Note from JWR:

About half of the cache of 50 books that I recently found at an estate sale have now sold or are pending sale. (The same ones that I first mentioned on June 28th.) There are still some great titles on: preparedness, self-sufficiency, homesteading, gardening, canning, shooting, livestock, recipes, carpentry, outdoor survival, NBC protection, fire protection, offshore relocation, and a few “hard money” investing books. I have reduced the prices on many of the remaining books. See my mail order catalog for details. Please let me know via e-mail which ones that you want me to set aside for you. OBTW, I pay for the postage and tracking on any mail order over $50 that I send to a U.S. address.

Letter Re: Pre-1899 Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant 7.62x54R Rifles and Ammo

Jim,
I read your novel, “Patriots” in 2003. It reinforced my survivor beliefs and encouraged me to take additional steps to become more prepared. I also enjoy reading SurvivalBlog.com and visit your site many times each day. Over the last six months I have followed your advice in purchasing three pre-1899 rifles. All three are Finnish M-39 Mosin Nagants chambered for 7.62x54R ammo.

I picked up one from AIM Surplus when [it was] first listed in December 2005. It appears to be in very good condition with a 1895 Tula receiver and 1944 SAKO barrel. The other two I purchased from gunsnammo.com which appear to be in mint condition – unissued, 100% blue, new bores, new post war stocks, matching bolts, unnumbered floor plates with a 1897 Ishevsk receiver and a 1944 VKT barrel. The other rifle has 1898 Tula receiver and a 1970 barrel.

I have spare parts, an Insta Mount from scopemounts.com, 100 stripper clips, and Forrester head space gauge and tools. The ammo I purchased from AIM Surplus: About 300 rounds of new Igman 150 grain jacketed soft point, brass case, boxer primed non-corrosive and 880 rounds of Polish 147 grain FMJ sealed in “spam” cans, made in the 1970s.

So far my knowledge of the M39 is based upon my Internet searches, an interesting ammo test posted at http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinAmmo.htm. and my current efforts to convert one to a sporter. Does anyone have any range experience with a pre-1899 Finnish M39 from AIM Surplus, gunsnammo.com or another dealer? Does anyone have experience with the specific ammo mentioned above? Jim, what are your thoughts, guidance, counsel on the M39s and ammo? – F.N.

JWR Replies: IMHO Mosin-Nagants are great guns that are both under-rated and under appreciated in North America. They have a tremendously strong action. Although I generally prefer the ergonomics, bolt style, and aesthetics of pre-1899 Mausers (such as those sold by The Pre-1899 Specialist), I still think that Mosin-Nagants are a good inexpensive choice for adding a pre-1899 to your survival battery. I don’t have any experience with the particular ammo that you mentioned, nor have I heard anything either good or bad about it. I’m sure that someone that reads the blog will offer an informed opinion about that ammo.

My main concern is that you get non-corrosively primed ammunition. For the sake of the newbies out there: There are essentially two types of rifle cartridge primers: corrosive (typically mercuric) that leave potassium chloride salts in the bore (with a strong affinity for moisture), and non-corrosive (typically lead styphnate) which leave no hydrophilic residue. Corrosive primers are a no-no unless you are absolutely scrupulous about gun cleaning. See this scholarly piece for a full description of the perils of corrosive ammo, and even the chemistry of the priming and residue. My general advice on military surplus ammunition, particularly from the former Eastern Bloc nations, is as follows: Unless you are assured in no uncertain terms that any particular batch of ammunition is not corrosively primed, then assume that it is corrosive. Don’t be fooled by advertisements that claim that their ammo is “mildly corrosive.” That is like a lass claiming to have been made “a little bit pregnant.”

The only way to be fully certain that ammo is non-corrosive is to use this priming test: First carefully pull a bullet and dump out all of powder from a cartridge. Then “blank fire” the cartridge’s primer at a piece of “in the white” unlubricated scrap steel from a distance of just one inch from the gun’s muzzle. (If need be, clean the scrap first with a degreaser such as Chem Tool..) Then leave that piece of steel exposed to the air for 72 hours. For those of you that live in a very dry climate, pick a fairly damp place such as your home bathroom for the test. Of course immediately clean the barrel of the rifle that you used for the primer test. If after 72 hours the steel test plate still has as uniform color and the center of the late has no more corrosion than the balance of the plate surface, then the primer was indeed a non-corrosive type. But if instead their is a rusty smudge in the center on the plate where the bore gasses impinged upon it, then the primer was corrosive. (Corrosive primers leave a hydrophilic residue, that induces rust.)

Unless or until you are certain that any particular batch of ammo is non-corrosive, then follow the standard U.S. Army pre-1900 cleaning drill, which is to thoroughly clean the rifle’s bore and bolt face for three days in a row, using bore brushes and bore cleaner. Otherwise, your rifle may end up with a badly corroded bore. To illustrate, here is a sad tale: I have a friend who will remain nameless that destroyed the bore on a mint condition Model 1909 Argentine Mauser. All that it took was one shooting session with corrosively primed ammo and then neglecting to clean the bore. Six months later, the bore looked like a sewer pipe.

Two Letters Re: Insulin for Diabetics in Event of TEOTWAWKI

Dear Jim,
I’m a family physician and my wife has had Type 1 (insulin-dependant) diabetes mellitus since age 9.
There’s an inhaled insulin (“Exubera,” manufactured by Pfizer) that offers some promise for long-term storage, as it’s a powder. It was released last winter, so there isn’t much clinical experience with it yet. Problems such as irregular absorption and possible lung injury are still under investigation.
Oral insulin therapy may also suffer from irregular absorption and will likely have the same shelf-life issues as injectable insulins.
The only practical long-term solution for the insulin-dependant diabetic is to extract injectable insulin from livestock. The process is no longer used and recreating it would require a reasonably well-stocked and functioning lab. (Here’s a thumbnail sketch covering the discovery of insulin and some of the issues involved.)
I’m researching ways by which the process might be made more practical under adverse circumstances.
After insulin, the most important thing that a Type 1 diabetic would require is the ability to monitor blood sugars. Glucometer strips are readily available, but fairly expensive. Under deep-freeze storage conditions, they should last well beyond their expected life, but will inevitably expire. Urine test strips are likewise available and more convenient, but much less accurate than blood glucose measurement. Strips will also retain their viability when kept very cold.
A last resort that might prove useful is a very old standby, though not for the squeamish. Before laboratory blood and urine testing became available, a simple means of detecting abnormal blood sugar in urine was to taste it. (If it tasted sweet, the patient was deemed to be diabetic.) Obviously, I don’t recommend this as a matter of routine, but in a dire situation, the information may prove useful. Kind Regards, – Moriarty

 

Jim,
Saw today’s board regarding insulin alternatives. As a Internal Medicine Specialist, Intensivist, and Disaster Medicine Specialist, I treat many diabetics. Currently, Type 2, or Adult onset diabetes is the most common in the U.S. and rising steadily. It is usually treated with oral medications, and then insulin once [the patient has] maxed on oral medications. Weight loss, exercise, and diet modification can decrease and possibly eliminate dependency on meds early in the course of the disease. However, Type 1, or juvenile diabetics are dependent on insulin from a young age and cannot survive without insulin, regardless of diet etc, without developing Diabetic Ketoacidosis Acidosis, a potentially fatal condition.

Exubera is the latest formulation of insulin that is a dry powder, that is then inhaled. (Exubera.com) It is set for release this month, in fact the [Pfizer company] rep just stopped by last week. Other oral insulins are in phase 3 trials but are not yet on the U.S. market. The price on these is still unknown, but will be significantly higher than standard subcutaneous injections. It cannot be used by asthmatics or those with severe lung disease. As a dry powder it should have a significant shelf life. I’ll keep you posted on its progress and price as it comes available. I’d be happy to go into more detail on diabetes, treatment, and options if needed. And as always, would happy to help with any medical questions or issues. – MD in MO.

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

"Rags make paper, and paper makes money,
Money makes banks, and banks make loans,
Loans makes debts, and debts make beggars,
and beggars wear rags…" – Paraphrase of an old Dutch proverb, as quoted by a paper-making company in Holland

Note From JWR:

Ordering deadline extension! Thanks to all of you who ordered my preparedness course. Publisher Jake Stafford just wrote me with good news for those who missed the July 4th deadline: “Jim, Our weekend staffer promised a few of your readers that if they mailed payment postmarked by July 5th due to the July 4th postal holiday, they would qualify for the special pre-publication pricing. Now, to be fair to all, we must hold the window open for everyone for the extra day, including web orders at www.readyfortheworst.com. But that window closes at midnight, Pacific time, July 5th.”

For those of you that are “on the fence” about whether or not to order, I can tell you that the course is in hard copy format, more than 200 pages long. It has plenty of reference tables and appendices, and will be fully indexed. Also included with each course is a 1 hour interview (with JWR) about family preparedness, on a standard audio CD.

We got great Fourth of July present: Yesterday we surpassed the 500,000 unique visits mark! (Not bad, considering that I only expected at most 100,000 unique visits per year, and yet the blog has only been up since August of Aught Five.) Many thanks for making SurvivalBlog such as great success! Please keep spreading the word. In particular, we are in need of more advertisers so that I can make a living at this. If you know of any companies that are a “match” for the SurvivalBlog readership, please ask them to get an ad here. Our ads are dirt cheap. See our Advertising page for details.

Letter Re: Insulin for Diabetics in Event of TEOTWAWKI

James:
I was wondering what your thoughts on perishable things like insulin might be in a worse case scenario…. as it needs to be refrigerated at all times, and even if you were to get a large supply. How long could it last as it deteriorates quicker than pills…and pills might be easier to manufacture after a bad scenario whereas insulin would be very difficult to make. Diabetics would probably have a limited life in a TEOTWAWKI., right? – CWW

JWR Replies: Insulin is indeed a problem for those that envision a long term socioeconomic disruption. However, I challenge the view that in a long term scenario, diabetics will face certain peril. First, many diabetics can minimize or even totally eliminate dependence on daily insulin by altering their diets. I strongly suggest that any SurvivalBlog readers that are diabetic or that have diabetic relatives look into the Weimar Institute’s NEWSTART Program. There are also some herbal alternatives for diabetics that are not fully insulin dependant. And here are a few others, from another source.

For those that are indeed insulin dependant regardless of dietary changes, I recommend that you stock up on enough injectable insulin for its full potential shelf life. TEOTWAWKI would of course mean a grid-down situation. So I also strongly recommend that you get a long term photovoltaic (PV) backup power system to run a compact refrigerator, similar to that described by SurvivalBlog reader Hannibal. If building your own PV system blows your complexity quotient, you can buy a prepackaged system from Ready Made Resources. Or how about getting a propane powered refrigerator and a large propane tank?

One recent development is a new variety of Oral Insulin (Oralin/Oral-lyn)

As an aside, the American Diabetes Association put together this web page on disaster planning for diabetics. (The link at the bottom of the page on diabetes emergency packs is the most useful tidbit.) Here is one alternative view.

Letter Re: A New Global Survival Gear Test Web Site

G’day Jim,
Just a quick note to make you and SurvivalBlog readers aware that the newly-established Survival Gear Test web site is currently looking for volunteer gear testers from all over the world. The URL is http://survivalgeartest.phpnet.us/.
We aim to become the first port of call for survivalists before making equipment purchases. We are non-profit, no BS and receive no money from manufacturers or retailers. We will provide an unbiased, accurate evaluation of equipment that survivalists from all over the world may wish to acquire, without having to wade through advertising spin.
Survival Blog readers interested in submitting reviews of their own equipment are most welcome to e-mail us at survivalgeartest@hiddenmickeys.every1.net for evaluation guidelines and further information. Thanks for your time. Regards, – Omega Man

Letter Re: An Interesting Extra High Power 12 Gauge Single Shot Shotgun

Dear Jim,
I found an article about this custom 3-3/4-inch 12 gauge, with energy exceeding that of a .50 BMG. It has extreme power, for very large game or certain anti-armor applications. It’s legally a shotgun, and easier to reload than rifle cartridges. Also, custom projectiles are easier to make. Some of the conversions are on readily available single shot receivers.One advantage is that the converted shotgun will still shoot all standard 12 gauge shells [of shorter lengths.] – Michael Z. Williamson