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 completed most of my Spring slash burning.  Now I can concentrate on cutting my annual supply of firewood.

I rebuilt our sheep-milking stand.

There has been a recent surge in pre-1899 rifle orders at our Elk Creek Company mail-order biz.  We recently increased our silver divisor to 24.5 times face value, for anyone who prefers to pay in pre-1965 U.S. silver coinage.

We had a delightful visit with our four grandsons, who came to stay with us for five days here at the Rawles Ranch. Lily will fill you in on all of the details on their visit, in her part of the report…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.” – Malachi 3:1-12 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — April 18, 2025

On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode from Charlestown to Lexington warning: “The regulars are coming!”

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On April 18th, 1906, the San Francisco earthquake struck northern California, killing hundreds of people as it toppled numerous buildings and started fires that engulfed whole neighborhoods. The quake was so powerful that it knocked down chimneys in the Anderson Valley, 120 miles north of the city.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 118 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 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),
  4. 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.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

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. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. 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. 3Vgear.com is providing an ultimate bug-out bag bundle that includes their 3-day Paratus Bag, a Posse EDC Sling Pack, and a Velox II Tactical Backpack. This prize package has a $289 retail value.
  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.

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More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 31st, 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.

Avoiding the Worst Case Scenario – Part 3, by M.B.

(Continued from Part 2.)

There isn’t room here for detailing all the things to look for to see trouble coming, but violence does not usually consist of a bad guy leaping out of the bushes to attack someone. More commonly, the assailant looks for a way to get close to an intended “mark” and to size them up for their suitability as an easy victim. The idea is to gauge your reaction, and to see if it’s safe to victimize you. Marc MacYoung calls this “the interview”.

The criminal interview may be as simple as asking for change, or for the time, or some other seemingly innocent request. It can also be much more threatening, depending on what the potential assailant believes he can get away with, or what he believes is needed to get what he wants. At the link above, MacYoung describes multiple forms that a victimization interview can take. He strongly advises the defender to “fail” the interview, by showing traits that identify you as difficult to victimize, such as alertness, confidence, and a willingness to defend yourself.Continue reading“Avoiding the Worst Case Scenario – Part 3, by M.B.”

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, some explanation of the Basel III Agreement.  (See the Precious Metals section.) Pictured above is the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.

Precious Metals:

Basel III Endgame: what you need to know. JWR’s Comments: One little-known provision of Basel III is that beginning in July of this year it will require banks to acquire and maintain physical precious metals to back their paper contracts. This will create a strong physical delivery demand, straining global physical supplies of gold. The world’s central banks have been feverishly buying up physical gold, in anticipation of Basel 3.1 (a.k.a. Basel 3 Endgame) for the past eight years.  When I last checked, gold was up 24%, since January 1, 2025.  Pictured above is the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.

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With the recent spike in the gold markets, the silver-to-gold spot price ratio has slipped to 101.9-to-1. Yowza!  This is an exceptionally good time to ratio trade out of gold (paper or physical) and into physical silver.  I suggest that you do so soon,  before the ratio reverts to its recent norm in the sub-85-to-1 range.  When it does, you will almost certainly make a handsome profit, even after the trading costs. – JWR

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S&P Global: ABS Frontiers: Looming Basel 3.1 Rules Could Incentivize More Bank Securitization.

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Reported on Wednesday: Gold zooms past $3,300/oz as investors seek shelter from tariff war.

Economy & Finance:

At Fortune: Goldman Sachs pulled its recession call moments after Trump pressed pause on tariffs. Moody’s chief economist isn’t convinced: ‘I take no solace in the president’s announcement’.

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At Zero Hedge: US Retail Sales Soared Most In 2 Years In March As Auto-Spending Spiked Ahead Of Tariffs.

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Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: America’s $19 Trillion Consumer Economy in One Chart.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that ‘old soldiers never die, they just fade away.’ And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good-bye.” – General Douglas MacArthur, April 19, 1951, from his farewell address to a joint meeting of both houses of Congress.

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — April 17, 2025

Jan-de-Heem (Jan Davidszoon de Heem) was born April 17, 1606 in Utrecht.  From the InfoGalactic Wiki: “Jan-de-Heem was a stilllife painter who was active in Utrecht and Antwerp. He is a major representative of that genre in both Dutch and Flemish Baroque painting. De Heem was born in Utrecht as Johannes van Antwerpen. He studied first under his father David de Heem the Elder (1570–1631), then under Balthasar van der Ast. His ‘middle name’, Davidsz, is a patronym referring to his father’s name: In Dutch a name ending in -sz is like -son in English and Mac- in Scottish, meaning ‘son of’ the rest of the name. He lived in Leiden from about 1625 to 1629, where he studied in 1629 under David Bailly (1584- c. 1657). His professional name, “de Heem”, means literally ‘the home’.”

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 118 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 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),
  4. 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.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

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. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. 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. 3Vgear.com is providing an ultimate bug-out bag bundle that includes their 3-day Paratus Bag, a Posse EDC Sling Pack, and a Velox II Tactical Backpack. This prize package has a $289 retail value.
  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 $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 31st, 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.

Avoiding the Worst Case Scenario – Part 2, by M.B.

(Continued from Part 1.)

Some U.S. states and municipalities still practice anarcho-tyranny, with the state of California being a standout example. Homeless people and illegal aliens are largely ignored, while minor infractions by taxpaying residents are zealously enforced. Professor Victor Davis Hanson—affectionately known as “VDH”—is a classicist, author, and podcaster. VDH has written and spoken extensively about the situation in California. Comedian, filmmaker, and podcaster Adam Carolla has similarly spoken about the differential treatment between groups of people in California. He sees the reason that mountains of red tape are heaped onto taxpayers and homeowners is that they’re capable of paying the fees and fines levied against them. On the other hand, officials ignore people running unlicensed street hot dog carts and roadside flower stands.

Under an anarcho-tyrannical system, it becomes even more important for the armed citizen to avoid violent conflict if at all possible. Even a “clean” self-defense case could still find the defender charged with some offense by a Left-wing prosecutor. “Winning” in court under these circumstances can still cost the defendant their life savings, while the state can draw out the process without concern for costs, turning the legal process into another form of punishment. Even prevailing in a trial is far from certain, no matter how justified the act of self-defense was. A jail or prison cell is about the worst place to be when “the Schumer hits the fan.”Continue reading“Avoiding the Worst Case Scenario – Part 2, by M.B.”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, we take a special look at trends in preparedness tactical training.

A New York Times Reporter Heads to The Range

Lily alerted me to this New York Times article: Americans Are Preparing for When All Hell Breaks Loose. It carries the sub-heading: “Once thought of as a fringe mind-set, the prepared citizen movement is gaining traction in a world shaped by war, the pandemic and extreme weather.”

Max Velocity’s Training Classes

Max Alexander, a veteran of a British Army Parachute Regiment operates as a mobile trainer, here in the United States: Max Velocity Tactical. “Max Velocity” (a pseudonym) is well-known for his no-nonsense live fire team training classes. Most of them are taught in Romney, West Virginia, although he trains in many other states, most notably in Texas. Here is a review, posted seven years ago, over at the AR-15.com forums: Max Velocity Tactical HEAT 1 Review. Addendum: “Max” recently added a pre-paid Unlimited Season Pass training option, for a flat fee of $2,500. Since each MVT class normally costs $1,200, this is a bargain for anyone who can schedule three or more classes in a year.

Gunsite’s Team Tactics Classes

Long known as a top firearms training school, Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona now offers a Team Tactics for Two – 3 Day course. Full Disclosure: Gunsite is one of the prize sponsors of our bi-monthly nonfiction writing contest.
Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — April 16, 2025

On April 16, 73 AD, the Masada fortress fell to the Romans after several months of siege, ending the Jewish Revolt.  From the InfoGalactic Wiki:

“The siege of Masada was one of the final events in the First Jewish–Roman War, occurring from 72 to 73 CE on and around a hilltop in present-day Israel. The siege is known to history via a single source, Flavius Josephus, a Jewish rebel leader captured by the Romans, in whose service he became a historian. According to Josephus the long siege by the troops of the Roman Empire led to the mass suicide of the Sicarii rebels and resident Jewish families of the Masada fortress.”

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April 16, 1746: In the continuation of the Jacobite Rising of 1745, the Battle of Culloden, the last battle on British soil. Royalist troops under the Duke of Cumberland defeated the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 118 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 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),
  4. 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.
  5. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $250 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

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. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  3. A Laptop EMP Shield and a Smartphone Faraday Bag (a combined value of $200), courtesy of MobileSecSolutions.com.
  4. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  5. 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. 3Vgear.com is providing an ultimate bug-out bag bundle that includes their 3-day Paratus Bag, a Posse EDC Sling Pack, and a Velox II Tactical Backpack. This prize package has a $289 retail value.
  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 $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 31st, 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.

Avoiding the Worst Case Scenario – Part 1, by M.B.

Author’s Introductory Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. Although there are references to the legal system in this essay, no part of this essay should not be construed as legal advice. This essay is for informational purposes only.

INTRODUCTION

On April 11, 1986, near Miami, Florida, eight Federal Bureau of Investigation agents engaged in a four-minute gunfight against two suspected bank and armored car robbers. The shootout took place in front of a home in a residential neighborhood.

When it was over, two FBI agents—Special Agent Ben Grogan and Special Agent Jerry Dove—were dead. Five agents were wounded—three seriously. Only one agent escaped injury. Both bank robbers were dead. Bank robber WM fired only a single shot during the gunfight, then was shot in the face and knocked out with a very serious wound early in the shootout. Amazingly, he regained consciousness almost immediately and evidently crawled out of the window of their stolen Chevrolet Monte Carlo and made it to Dove and Grogan’s car in an attempt to escape.

The second robber, MP—who along with his partner, will not be named here—carried the fight to the FBI single-handedly, despite receiving a mortal wound from a bullet fired by Jerry Dove as he exited the Monte Carlo. MP ignored bullet after bullet that struck him and must have seemed unstoppable. After shooting seven agents with a .223 Remington Ruger Mini-14, MP also made his way to Dove and Grogan’s car. He was attempting to start the vehicle when Special Agent Edmundo Mireles—his left arm nearly destroyed by a .223 bullet—approached the vehicle and emptied his revolver into the two robbers, finally stopping them and ending the fight.

For the FBI team that had been attempting for months to stop the two robbers, this was a worst-case scenario. The two bad guys had been a mystery, beyond their crimes—which included robberies and murder. Both criminals were Army veterans who trained constantly with their weapons, firing 750-1,500 rounds per week. They either purchased the ammo or stole it from people shooting on public land—people they ambushed, robbed, and murdered for their guns, ammo, and vehicles. Neither MP nor WM had a criminal record on the day they died. The agents attempting the felony car stop had no way of knowing the situation they were entering.Continue reading“Avoiding the Worst Case Scenario – Part 1, by M.B.”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.

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Glock May Be Discontinuing .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .45 GAP Pistols

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Three Decades Wiped from Life Expectancy of Covid-Vaxxed.

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Randy in S.C. mentioned this article: We moved to a farm in rural Maine because we thought homesteading would save us money. It didn’t.  Randy’s Comment:  “This is exactly what my parents discovered, in the 1970s.”

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The latest video from our favorite sailboat vlogging Finns, now wintering in Greenland: Our Boat Froze In, So Now We Ride This.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The Constitution … is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary which they may twist and shape into any form they please. – Thomas Jefferson, from a letter to Judge Spencer Roane, September 6, 1819

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — April 15, 2025

The Battle of Rain was fought on April 15, 1632. Swedes under Gustavus Adolphus defeated Count Tilly of the Holy Roman Empire during the Thirty Years’ War.

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Today is guitarist Roy Clark‘s birthday. He was born April 15, 1933.

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On April 15th, 1912, the “unsinkable” Titanic sank. 1,517 people lost their lives on that maiden voyage. As research into the incident has progressed over the last 100 years, it seems as if, one way or another, the ship was just going to sink. Impact with an iceberg, raging coal fires in the fuel supply, wrong turns, locked-up binoculars, weak rivets, too few lifeboats, and more. Perhaps this whole incident was really the result of man’s hubris.

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Today is the 22nd Blogiversary of Commander Zero’s Notes From The Bunker blog.

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Today, as many Americans are filing their 2024  income tax forms and the first of four 2025 Estimated Tax forms, it is apropos to post the following feature article.  Note that it is running as a guest piece because it is too short for inclusion in the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest.

More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 118 ends on May 31st, 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.