SurvivalBlog.com

Dear Mr. Rawles:
To amplify on some of your points is a recent reply to a reader letter, here is some data; Number 4 [bird] shot is .13 inch in diameter.
Number 4 buckshot (BK) is .24 inch in diameter and weighs 20.5 grains. (one pound avoirdupois is equal to 7,000 grains, 437.5 grains is equivalent to one ounce.)
OO BK is .33 inch in diameter and weighs 53 grains.
We have several levels of power in buckshot loads. Lets look at 12 gauge 2-3/4 and 3 inch shells.

2-3/4 inch standard OO BK has 9 pellets at 1,325 feet per second (FPS) at the muzzle.
Low Recoil 2-3/4 inch Magnum OO BK has 9 pellets at 1,125 FPS at the muzzle.
2-3/4 inch Magnum OO BK has 12 pellets at 1,290 FPS.
3 inch Magnum OO BK has 15 pellets at 1,210 FPS.

2-3/4 inch number 4 BK has 27 pellets at 1,325 FPS.
3 inch number 4 BK has 41 pellets at 1,210 FPS.

These velocities may very a little from one brand to another.

The 3 inch Magnums offer more pellets per load, but they recoil very heavily and reduce the magazine capacity. If I lived in an apartment, a mobile home or my exterior walls were thin or if I had other people living in my home, I would consider using no. 4 or no. 6 bird shot to reduce over penetration. You could always have the first and second shot to be bird shot and the last two or three shells buckshot. If I lived in a rural area and thought I might need more range and penetration then use OO BK or OOO BK and possibly shotgun slugs. Use the shotgun with buckshot at 30 yards and under, use shotgun slugs at 50 yards and under. There are specially choked and rifled barreled shotguns that will extend these ranges but the usual short barreled and bead front sight riot shotgun will be doing very good to achieve consistent hits at these ranges.

I load my 12 ga. house gun with (5) 2-3/4 inch Magnum OO BK (12 pellets) in the magazine with a empty chamber, and 5 more of the same shells in the buttstock shell holder. Close by I have a ammo belt with 20 shot shells (bird shot,buckshot and slugs).

As a comparison – if fired from a rifle the 22 long rifle with a 40 grain lead round nose has a muzzle velocity of 1,255 to 1,280 FPS.
Each number 4 BK pellet will have a little less energy than a 22 long rifle bullet and each OO BK pellet will have a little more energy than the 22 long rifle bullet at the muzzle. Consider several people with veering levels of skill firing at a target with a 22 long rifle all at the same time, at close range this buckshot ammunition is very effective. Thank you for your work. – Campfire

Mr. Rawles:
Concerning an advertiser on your site. I have done business with George over at The Pre-1899 Specialist and have had outstanding results.
Without getting into specifics I bought from him and the Post Office managed to damage my order severely.
I notified George and as always received a very swift and positive response.
All was made right and I couldn’t be more satisfied. All was sent as advertised and in perfect (except for the gorillas at the USPS) working order.
The prices were great too. I am looking forward to doing more business with George in the future.

I also found Don Stott at Colorado Gold in your investment page. Don is very straightforward, professional and his prices were reasonable as of when I placed my order.
He isn’t a paid advertiser but maybe with a little encouragement he might consider it.
Keep up the good work.- Bucc.

Sir,
I cannot speak higher praise than for the Benchmade line of folding knives, specifically those with the Axis Lock mechanism.
$100 may seem steep to some for a folding pocket knife, but its one of two tools I use every single day, and potentially might have to trust my life to some day. The only folding blade I’ve found with a lock I trust that much is the axis.
The two specific models I favor are the Ares and the AFCK. I have done things with these knives one should probably never attempt with a folder, but they continue to go strong. As always, thank you for the insight and information you offer through SurvivalBlog. – Pat R.

Jim,
I’ve been making and selling knives for 25 years, and you’re spot on with folders. They’re easy to keep on the person, convenient, generally not seen as weapons, and sturdy enough with modern materials to be quite useful. CRKT is one of the best values for the money. Cold Steel is a little pricier. Benchmade and Emerson are top of the line, since the CUDA line was largely discontinued by Camillus.
I wouldn’t rule out all the imports. Even some of the Chinese ones are decent. However, that’s the catch–some of them (I’m not thrilled at supporting the Chinese, but price speaks to so many people. I stock them to pay the bills). It takes a moderate amount of experience to know a good one. Check for smooth function. Easy isn’t necessarily good if it doesn’t lock open or closed with authority, and fit and finish should be near perfect. Look at how the blade is ground and the balance, and
compare to known quality. For people on a budget, there are knives in the $10-30 range that are near as good as name brand. But I’d check with a knowledgeable person to be sure (I’ll always answer questions, even in regards to stuff I don’t sell, BTW). But if in doubt, save up and go with the name brand. Your life is too important for second rate tools.
On fixed blades, Ontario Spec Plus are US made, no-nonsense (no saw teeth, hollow handles, gimmicks or gadgets. Just honest carbon steel with a solid handle) and very reasonable–most are available under $50 from dealers, no more than $80 on the largest. They have both a Crash Axe which is standard on most aircraft, and exceptional for breaking
through wreckage (on cars, too), and a survival machete with a chisel tip. I like the 14 inch tanto and the “fighting knife” (though I’ve never fought with one, it’s an excellent utility blade) that they offer.
On larger folders or fixed blades, I would avoid stainless steel. Few of the commercially used stainless steels are tough enough to withstand chopping or prying. AUS 8 and ATS 34 hold up decently, and while not completely stainless, are certainly enough so to reduce maintenance. Avoid 440 and 420 stainless steels in anything longer than 4 inches. They were not originally intended for cutlery, and are quite brittle in long sections. (440 C is a marine bearing steel. It can take outrageous
amounts of saltwater and holds a good edge, but will not flex under stress. It shatters.) – Michael Z. Williamson