Range Estimation and Windage with Mil Reticles – Part 1, by N.E.

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“Tossing a bit of dry grass in the air as he had done at countless high-power matches, T.K. judged the wind. He complained, ‘Darn, I wish I had a windage table for .50 Browning. I’ll just have to guesstimate.’ Getting ready for his first shot seemed to take forever. First, he made several adjustments to the bipod. Then he squirmed around trying to get into a comfortable prone position. He tried placing his cheek on the stock several times before he found a position that was both comfortable and provided a full field of view through the rifle’s ten-power Leupold scope. Next, he concentrated on getting himself relaxed and controlling his breathing. Then, and only then, did he pick his primary and secondary targets.

‘I’ll spot for you,’ Dan said, as he pulled out his binoculars. Dan lay propped up on his elbows, peering through the rubber-armored seven-by-fifty Steiner binoculars. ‘What do you make their range, about eight hundred?,’ Fong asked.

‘More like nine-fifty,’ T.K. remarked coolly.” (Patriots, p. 229).

If reading the novel Patriots doesn’t get you pumped up, maybe you’re on the wrong web site. In this article, I provide a “how-to” on long-range shooting by showing you how to range targets using a mil-based reticle and ways to read the wind.

Long-range shooting works well with prepping because being true to the meaning of the word, you need to prepare in advance so that your end result meets your expectations. Shooting at longer ranges requires an advanced understanding of several things, but, I assure you, it is not hard once you get into it.

Shooting at longer distances does require practice and patience, however. Long range is also not for everyone due to several factors such as firearms interest, cost, and range availability. Or, maybe your general location won’t allow you to see beyond 200 yards. However, if you are sitting at your retreat, or at your home and you can see further than 200 yards, then learning how to use a mil based reticle can help you in the most basic sense of just calculating distance.Continue reading“Range Estimation and Windage with Mil Reticles – Part 1, by N.E.”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on Yellowstone National Park’s efforts to boost its Trumpeter Swan population. (See the Wyoming section.)

Region-Wide

Supply chain issues affect items from cars to fishing lures

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What’s Next for the Pacific Northwest? — Neutral El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Conditions

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43 windmills being transported through North Idaho starting Thursday night

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Your photos, videos of wind damage around the Inland Northwest

Idaho

Idaho has two of America’s fastest-growing cities. You’ll never guess who isn’t one.

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CDA: Moose spotted on campus at Woodland Middle School

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Boise is a ‘trending destination’ during pandemic, Airbnb says. What does that mean?

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — October 19, 2020

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We’re counting down the hours!  Book Bomb Day for my latest book (The Ultimate Prepper’s Survival Guide) will be tomorrow Tuesday: October 20, 2020. Please wait to place your order until after midnight tonight, eastern time, to maximize the rankings on Amazon.com, and on the New York Times Bestsellers list. Thanks!

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October 19th is the birthday of some notables. First is the late Alexander Zeisal “Zus” Bielski –he and part of his partisan band are pictured.  Other birthdays today: investor Jim Rogers (born 1942), and James Howard Kunstler (born 1948). Kunstler is well known to SurvivalBlog readers as the author of the novel World Made by Hand and the nonfiction book The Long Emergency.

A fictionalized portrayal of Zus Bielski is seen in the movie Defiance. This movie was loosely based on the excellent book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans by Nechama Tec.

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The Pre-Election Sale on Antique Pre-1899 Cartridge guns is continuing at Elk Creek Company. At last count, our inventory was down to just 50 guns. We won’t have many left by election day, so order soon!

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Here is a new listing that I spotted at SurvivalRealty.com: Remote Log Cabin in the Tall Timber South of Dixie, Idaho.

Star BM 9mm Pistol, by Pat Cascio

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I’m a fan of military surplus firearms, of all kinds – unfortunately, there aren’t too many in my meager gun collection. Once again, everyone believes that because I’m a writer – mostly about firearms and knives, that I have a huge collection. But in fact I don’t. I can’t afford all of the guns I’d love to have, so I’m a habitual gun trader. My local FFL dealer recently purchased two huge gun collections, and they obtained quite a few M1 Garands and M1 Carbines in these collections. I’d love to own one of each, especially since those are in original condition – not rebuilt. However, I simply can’t afford the price tags on either model – even the lowest priced models are out of my financial reach. So, I settle for less — not less quality, but lesser prices.

I’ve long admired Star Firearms – long out of business – and the outstanding handguns that they produced. I owned a couple of the Star PD .45 ACP pistols over the years, and wish I had kept at least one of them. But I had never owned a Star BM 9mm handgun, for some strange reason – until recently.

The Star BM 9mm, is of course, a 9mm chambered handgun, and the outward appearance resembles that of a 1911 Commander .45 ACP handgun. However, that’s where all the similarities end. The Star is a completely different gun design from top to bottom, yet it is a solid handgun for police, military, or civilian use. J&G Sales in Arizona obtained some Star BM 9mm pistols via Century Arms International that were brought into the USA from Spain some time ago. They had three grades of the BM, with the “worse” of the batch graded by J&G as in “good” condition. A word here, about J&G and their grading of used guns. I’ve been in the firearms community for half a century, and over that time, I’ve purchased some used guns from J&G. Generally, I’ve found their grading to be one step below how other many other outlets describe guns. For instance, a gun graded as “good” is most likely just in “fair” condition, and one as “very good” is probably in “good” condition – just my two cents worth.Continue reading“Star BM 9mm Pistol, by Pat Cascio”

Recipe of the Week: Giardiniera (Italian Pickled Vegetables)

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The following recipe for Giardiniera (Italian Pickled Vegetables) was kindly sent by SurvivalBlog reader “Animal House.”

Chef’s Notes: I developed a love for giardiniera when I lived in Europe; and now it is a family favorite. In the summer we add giardiniera to cold rice, salad, soups or eat as a snack. In winter add to warm rice, soups, stews and casseroles, or as a stand-alone vege with dinner. There is a German version that adds hot peppers and uses coriander rather than oregano; but I like the Italian version.

This recipe fills 24 pint-size canning jars.

BRINE:
  • 4 cups white vinegar
  • 4 cups apple cider vinegar
  • 4 cups water
VEGETABLES:
  • 2 cauliflower heads cut into florets
  • 3 pds of carrots sliced
  • 2 heads of celery diced to bite size pieces
  • 2 each red, yellow and green bell peppers in bite size pieces
  • 2 medium size red onions, diced to bite size pieces
  • Other vegetables like green beans may be added as desired.In each pint jar:
  • ¼ tsp pickling/canning salt
  • 1/8 tsp minced garlic cloves
  • 1/8 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1/8 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/8 tsp black or white pepper
Instructions

Follow all the food safety guidelines for canning!

  1. In a pan, heat water, and two vinegars for brine, turn heat off before boiling.
  2. Ready your utensils, jars, lids/rings and canners for water bathing.
  3. Begin heating the water bath so it is boiling prior to putting jars in canner.
  4. Add the spices to each pint jar.
  5. Divide vegetables among the jars and pack tightly into jars.
  6. Pour the brine to 1” below jar rim; use a plastic or wood utensil to release the air bubbles in each jar.
  7. Add additional brine as needed to allow ½ to ¾ inch head space, but cover top of veges.
  8. Wipe the jar rims so nothing remains on the rims to block sealing.
  9. Finger tighten rings on to jar lids and carefully place in the water bath.
  10. Bring water bath back to a boil and set your timer for 15 minutes.
  11. Remove from canner and let cool on a clean dish towel. Leave jars set at least an hour before checking for lid sealing.
  12. Let jars set for at least 7 days to pickle, before eating.

Do you have a favorite 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 and slow cooker recipes, and any that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at the nationwide shortage of guns, ammunition, magazines, and reloading components. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Election countdown: Sell U.S. dollar, buy silver, and other advice from analysts

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Egon von Greyerz: MALDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH & SILVER – INVESTMENT OF THE DECADE

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Podcast: This Gold Bull Market Won’t End. (A hat tip to H.L. for the link.)

Economy & Finance:

A recent piece by Wolf Richter: Stimulus & Debt-Deferral Economy: Americans Splurged. Huge Price Increases Boosted Auto Sales. Liquidation Sales Pumped up Department Stores

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At Zero Hedge: A Q4 GDP Contraction Will Soon Become The Base Case In Europe

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Dennis Miller, at The Burning Platform: The Perils Of Inflation. JWR’s Comment:  The included charts speak for themselves.

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Another at Wolf Street: Disney Struck. Cinemas, Landlords Face Nightmare in Brick-and-Mortar-Meltdown Series as Movie Debuts Shift to Streaming

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The Australian newspaper The Age reports on trouble for Peter Schiff’s bank: The day the international tax authorities came knocking.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“From this view of the subject it may be concluded that a pure democracy, by which I mean a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole; a communication and concert result from the form of government itself; and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party or an obnoxious individual. Hence it is that such democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. Theoretic politicians, who have patronized this species of government, have erroneously supposed that by reducing mankind to a perfect equality in their political rights, they would, at the same time, be perfectly equalized and assimilated in their possessions, their opinions, and their passions.

A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and promises the cure for which we are seeking. Let us examine the points in which it varies from pure democracy, and we shall comprehend both the nature of the cure and the efficacy which it must derive from the Union.

The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.” – “Publius” (James Madison),  The Federalist Papers, Number 10.

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — October 18, 2020

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October 18th, 1662 was the birthday of Matthew Henry. (He died 22 June 1714). Henry was a Presbyterian minister who lived primarily in Chester, England. Matthew Henry’s six-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments (commonly called Matthew Henry’s Commentary) (1708–1710) is a must for the bookshelf of any serious Bible scholar.

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The first printing of the Survival Retreats and Relocation book that I co-authored is pre-selling at a rapid pace. Get in the queue soon. Otherwise, you may have to wait an extra month or more, to buy one from the second printing run. That second printing probably won’t be until January of 2021.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 91 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. 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),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  5. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $150 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 firearms purchasing privacy!

Round 91 ends on November 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.

My Preparedness Evolution, by Melody Channel

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I was six, and there was very little food in the house that night. I rummaged around in a cupboard and pulled out a nearly empty peanut butter jar, and using a table knife and my finger, I scraped out every bit of it and went to bed early. Being young, I don’t remember if this time lasted days or weeks, but the gnawing feeling of hunger made a profound impact, and from the roots of that childhood experience came the mindset for preparedness and survival.

Everyone has a story, and this is mine. It is hoped that by sharing the stages of the preparedness evolution that I went through it will resonate with those that are beginning their journey as well as those already on their way. All of us, no matter where we fall on the continuum, must constantly be evaluating and reevaluating our prepper status. We are all works in progress. My personal convictions rely on two principles: 1) reducing dependency and 2) minimizing waste, which anyone can learn to live by, in whatever stage they are. For me, these two principles represent freedom and being the best steward possible for the gifts and blessings we were given by our Creator.

Because of the food insecurity issue, I had long watched grocery store sales like a hawk and started small stockpiles of food and supplies early on when my children were young. My first actual effort at prepping beyond food was shortly before Y2K. I bought a kerosene heater and fuel, and in the upstairs bathroom closet I tucked away other items, including bottled water. Those provisions were meager compared to what I have accumulated today, and I didn’t end up needing them, but they gave me a sense of some security and I was glad I had them. As a beginning prepper, it can seem intimidating and overwhelming trying to figure out how to begin, but like many things in life, the best advice is to start where you are.

What are your fears? Where do they come from? Use this information to guide your self-improvement in areas that are uncomfortable for you, and build up your tolerance, albeit slowly. Rome wasn’t built in a day, my mom liked to declare, and it does apply to a lot of life experiences. Start where you are. What can you start to accumulate, and what can you start to give up? Give priority to health and well-being, and your actions and activities will flow from there, in whatever stage you are at this moment in time. Live more sustainably, and responsibly, in the situation you find yourself now.Continue reading“My Preparedness Evolution, by Melody Channel”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

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“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” – Revelation 3: 1-6 (KJV)

 

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — October 17, 2020

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On this day in 1835, Texans approve a resolution to create the Texas Rangers– a corps of armed and mounted lawmen designed to “range and guard the frontier between the Brazos and Trinity Rivers”. After winning their revolutionary war with Mexico the following year, Texans decided to keep the Rangers, both to defend against Indian and Mexican raiders and to serve as the principal law enforcement authority along the sparsely populated Texan frontier.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 91 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. 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),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three-day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (a $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A Front Sight Lifetime Diamond Membership, providing lifetime free training at any Front Sight Nevada course, with no limit on repeating classes. This prize is courtesy of a SurvivalBlog reader who prefers to be anonymous.
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, that have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Naturally Cozy is donating a “Prepper Pack” Menstrual Kit.  This kit contains 18 pads and it comes vacuum-sealed for long term storage or slips easily into a bugout bag.  The value of this kit is $220.
  5. An assortment of products along with a one-hour consultation on health and wellness from Pruitt’s Tree Resin (a $265 value).

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  4. A transferable $150 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 firearms purchasing privacy!

Round 91 ends on November 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.

Thoughts on an Amish Auction and Preparedness, by 3AD Scout

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Previously, in my August, 2020 SurvivalBlog article titled Going Old School,  I discussed how when we prep by having a primary and back-up, I stated that one back-up should be old school or vintage to accommodate loss of electric and other technology in a prolonged (years) event. Practicing what I “preach” I sometimes attend Amish auctions for non-electric and off-grid equipment and supplies.

Recently I spent a Saturday at an auction where the property of an Amish Wheel Wright and buggy maker was up for sale. My first observation was “English” (non-Amish) buyers were the minority. So, if you go you may not have a lot of competition from other non-Amish bidders. Absent were the antique dealers, second-hand shop owners and flea market vendors looking for merchandise to flip. I believe this lack of attendance by non-Amish is indicative that these types of auctions are an under-tapped resource for serious TEOTWAWKI preppers.

This leads to my second observation, the prices at an Amish auction can tend to be higher (but not always the case) than the prices where the majority of bidders are non-Amish. This doesn’t mean, however, that you won’t get any good deals at an Amish Auction. So why do Amish tend to pay more at auctions? First, most don’t utilize \online E-Commerce. Second, if what they need isn’t within buggy distance, they have to pay someone to drive them to the store or business thus increasing the cost of whatever they buy. Another reason Amish tend to pay higher prices is that their lifestyle is simple and many own and operate their own “cottage industries” and hence they require the means of production that also align with their religious beliefs as well.Continue reading“Thoughts on an Amish Auction and Preparedness, by 3AD Scout”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

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To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make 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. Note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in the Comments. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

Things went very well with my slash burning, early in the week. Two of the four piles were consumed within eight hours, one with 12 hours, and the last one–containing a stump–within 20 hours. There was only one pile that required much “Woof” (dyed off-road diesel) to get started.  All of this burning was during a rainy spell, for safety. I should mention that if I had waited until this weekend for burning, I probably wouldn’t have been able to get those piles started. There are some more drenching rains in the forecast, and even a chance of a snow shower here on the valley floor, on Sunday.

I had one on-site consulting session with a client who recently bought a large retreat in our region. He has an enviable lifetime supply of Western Larch (locally called “Tamarack”) for firewood.

I’ve been topping off a few supplies, here at the Rawles Ranch. Part of this was rotating our old fish and other veterinary antibiotics, and replacing them with fresh stocks. I’m also laying in some additional full capacity magazines, for barter purposes. I anticipate the California appeals court to strike down that state’s magazine ban sometime before the end of 2020 or perhaps early 2021. If and when that happens, then we will see the result of 20 years of pent-up demand from 35 million+ Californians. (Their ban on buy any additional 11+ round magazines took effect on January 1, 2000.) I expect their high demand to devastate the nationwide supply of available magazines for at least a year.

Our pre-election sale at Elk Creek Company is continuing apace. The inventory is being depleted rapidly–now down to just 50 guns. Not surprisingly, we’ve had several orders for freshly-reconditioned Chilean contract Mauser Model 1895 short rifles chambered in 7×57 Mauser. We started out with nine of those a week ago, and are now down to just six five four two one remaining. “Going, going…”

And now, over to Lily:

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”