Odds ‘n Sods:

BSA…Living up to only the first two letters. Goodbye, Boy Scouts of America. You spineless cowards. – D.S.

Article Excerpt: “So, if I haven’t been clear, here’s how this works: You give the leftist bullies every last thing they want, and in return you get nothing. Whatever you already had, you lose. Those who supported you while you were being attacked, no longer support you. The people who hated you still hate you and the people who loved you now resent you for betraying them. You are now officially in a lose/lose/lose/lose-unto-infinity scenario…But hey, at least the media will write a few nice articles about you.”

o o o

Mexico Vows $50 Million Legal Fund to Fight U.S. Deportations. Funny comment on the article below from a commentator: “Mexico’s cost for the wall just went up by $50 million. We also have a bill to submit to you for the welfare, housing assistance, health care, cost of their imprisonment, and other financial goodies they have taken from tax-paying American citizens…while they were illegally living in America…as well as for the pain and suffering they have caused to American’s by their illegal actions.” – D.B.

o o o

Secret Rules Make It Pretty Easy for the FBI to Spy on Journalists – P.M.

o o o

The Cloud Party Declares War – B.B.

o o o

Three Reasons Why a Double Standard is Imposed on Israel

Notes for Tuesday – January 31, 2017

On January 31, 1606, Guy Fawkes was executed for his part in the Gunpowder Plot against parliament and King James.

Also on this day in 1872, American author Pearl Zane Grey was born. He was best know for his popular adventure western novels, including Riders of the Purple Sage, which was his best-selling book. As a boy, Hugh could often be found behind a copy of one of Zane Grey’s books, because he was an avid reader and any Zane Grey book was a favorite.

o o o

Today, we present the last entry for Round 68 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $15,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 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 with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel 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, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $2,400 value),
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  4. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. An infrared sensor/imaging camouflage shelter from Snakebite Tactical in Eureka, Montana (A $350+ value),
  9. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  10. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Third Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A custom made Sage Grouse model utility/field knife from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  4. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  5. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  6. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  7. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a $125 Montie gear Gift certificate.,
  9. 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), and
  10. Fifteen LifeStraws from SafeCastle (a $300 value).
  11. A $250 gift certificate to Tober’s Traditions, makers of all natural (organic if possible) personal care products, such as soap, tooth powder, deodorant, sunscreen, lotion, and more.

Round 68 ends on January 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.

When Every Shred of Privacy is Lost: Take Comfort, by The Recovering Feminist

“Why should we be afraid of one another, since both of us have only God to fear?”[1] (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

There exists a place where man is not allowed to venture. This place is another man’s soul. Humans may experience consensual soul connections but to think that man could determine the end of the soul is another thing altogether. There is a place in every human being that is untouchable. Even if humans are monitored day and night and their actions and words analyzed and predicted, put into a mental prison so-to-speak, and even if somehow technology is able to affect my behavior or thoughts, there still remains a secret place of confidence that man cannot affect eternally. So, take comfort. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”[2]

Privacy

Privacy is an important aspect of survival. Effective OPSEC, for instance, can make or break a mission. How much privacy do we really have? How much is enough? What if the answer is not about privacy at all but more the human soul? Is there privacy in the human soul? Is the soul private property? We are nearing a time when technology and post-modernity merge into a world that makes privacy a distant memory of the past? Consider how much you self-censured just in the last 24 hours. What happens when you do everything right, take every precaution, and yet every shred of your privacy is lost?

In this article, three main points are highlighted. First, we have all been on the receiving end of unlawful invasion of privacy. Second, there are certain people who will continue to choose to break moral laws, including malicious spying. Third, even when the worst scenario plays out and we are faced with the absolute lack of privacy (when our most private thoughts are compromised), there is still hope. Do not fear; take comfort.

The Mind & Scientism

Psychology, psychiatry, and science will never plumb the ultimate depth of the human heart and soul. With all of our technology, the nano-tech promises and trans-humanist theories of the future, will man ever truly get into the mind of another man? More importantly, can man get into the mind of God?

Scientism is on the rise and in competition with every religion on the planet. Doubt this? Question global warming, Darwinism, the existence of the soul, and see how far you get with someone who worships science over natural law. Natural law is a beautiful thing. Take time to look into the Fibonacci numbers, and your eyes will be opened to this beauty. The claim that scientism has all the answers or the excuse that science will eventually provide all the answers is flawed. This claim is missing something important– the reality of not only the natural but the supernatural. Dr. J.P. Moreland, one of the most brilliant philosophers of our time, states, “What I do reject is the idea that science and science alone can claim to give us knowledge. This assertion– known as scientism– is patently false and, in fact, not even a claim of science, but rather, a philosophical view about science.”[3]

The brain is an interesting thing, consciousness even more so. Scientists are working hard to analyze the mind, consciousness, and neural pathways of thought. A quick search for current academic articles on the “mapping” of the human brain is quit informative on what science is attempting to do.[4] If only there were time to write about the philosophy of mind, the complexities of the soul, how the mind, brain, consciousness, and soul are connected, or more importantly how all of these topics relate to the mind of God. For more on these subjects, I recommend Dr. J.P. Moreland’s resources, especially his book, Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul, Aristotle’s On the Soul[5] and The Chinese Room Argument, published by American Philosopher John Searle.[6]

Destructive Gossip

We can all recall a conversation with a loved one, for instance, that would horrify us if it were made public; they’re those intimate, sometimes heated, sometimes confessional discussions that are private and intended to stay private. We also have memories of conversations that were made public without our consent. Perhaps you shared something in strict confidence and the next day it’s all over town or Twitter. The sense of betrayal that comes from a break in confidence is heavy and can damage relationships forever.

Malicious Spying

Destructive gossip is one thing; malicious spying is another. Unfortunately, Americans are subject to this crime daily, whether they are aware of it or not. This is a complicated matter, and although there are good, moral men in certain agencies hard at work to protect us, there are also compromised men who reject the nudges (sometimes screams) originating from their conscience about their work. Behind the motives of these men, one may find the predictable lust for greed, power, and wealth. Selling out the privacy of the American man has become a hobby and one practiced without remorse or any sense of responsibility. It seems more important these days for a professional to report a suspected “thought” about a stranger than for that suspected “thought” to be correct, verified, and most importantly justified. False accusations can destroy a marriage, a family, and worse a society.

Below are a few references to agencies, particular professions, and everyday situations that have and may continue to dishonor privacy.

Sources and Examples of Continued Abuse

  1. NSA/TSA/DHS/CPS/FBI/CIA/IRS/EPA/DEA/DARPA

    Did I forget any? Most likely I did. Some agencies are moving to ensure that our private lives are logged and analyzed (for our own safety, they declare). Some have hopes of predicting future private thoughts that may lead to future harmful or illegal actions. This goes way beyond thought police, and all under the noble cause of maintaining our safety. Yet, ironically, the lack of humanity in some of these organizations is downright terrifying.

  2. Neighbors

    Anyone experience the horror of having a neighbor call CPS on you, without due cause, of course? Perhaps the call was “just a hunch”. The pain and destruction of a false accusation of abuse has not adequately been acknowledged or addressed in our society or the court system. There should be heavy consequences for a malicious, false accusation. No excuses.

  3. Grocery Store Clerks/Dentists/ER Staff/Doctors/Teachers, et cetera

    This relates to the neighbor example; however, it is more disheartening in a way to sense that some people are holding a power card over the strangers they interact with in their professional work. You know…the “See Something, Say Something” card.

  4. Banking and Commerce

    For some reason, walking into a department store today doesn’t have the same feeling it did ten, twenty, or thirty years ago. It just seems (and this is conjecture) that certain eyes are on you. Why? Are the eyes there to anticipate your needs? This is more than the friendly store clerk greeting of, “Can I help you find something?” This is an automated, credit card tracking, algorithm modus operandi that goes way beyond the personalized store clerk. It goes so far beyond frankly, that this form of connecting with customers is the least personal interaction of all. The fault lies in the design of something that is neither personal nor attentive, a design fatally flawed to the essence of the human spirit to begin with.

    What if the eyes are simply there to anticipate right or wrong actions of customers, customers who pose a genuine threat of theft? Or could it be more complicated? What about this motive: the eyes feeding a malicious desire for power and control, and no one is willing to confront this motive, which is to know more about the person intimately than rightfully and lawfully possible. It’s a desire to know the stranger (the whole person), despite the stranger’s innocence of this knowledge, justifying the invasion deep into the psyche of the buyer as one of accounting, advertising, or worse– the push for economic growth. If only a moral leader would be so bold as to encourage a slowdown of this ambitious venture (to seek knowledge at all cost) and spend more time studying the consequences of invading private lives, just to make a buck.

Moral Men

It is crucial to point out again that there are honorable, moral people in these organizations, and it would be foolish to assume that everyone has been morally compromised. Furthermore, it goes without saying that if those good people were not there, our situation would be far worse. We should make a habit of praying for those who still stand for truth in these organizations, praying for their safety and security as they fight for what is right and confront what is wrong.

Stop Breaking Moral Law

Dr. Moreland wrote that, “…G. K. Chesterton once bemoaned, once people stop believing in God, the problem is not that they will believe nothing; rather, the problem is that they will believe anything.”[7] Do you justify your actions and your belief system through reason and logic, or rather a deep, nearly hidden sense of selfishness and pride? For those participating in the unwarranted, malicious invasion of personal privacy, come forward to your Creator, admit this fact, and repent. “The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation.”[8] You can only fight your conscience for so long. If you find yourself in a place of confusion about whether your actions are right or wrong, then at the very least excuse yourself from further crimes and stop breaking obvious moral law. Otherwise, you risk falling into the category of G.K. Chesterton’s reference of people who “will believe anything” to justify wrongdoing.

Furthermore, let it be known that the judgment seat of divine law is not filled with powerful lawyers on either side. Nor will you be afforded a jury of your peers. Only one defense may you elect, and that defense will not be swayed by scientism, humanism, naturalism, progressivism, communism, socialism, or any other worldview excuse. For those feigning ignorance, deep down you know exactly what I am talking about. We see, but we can’t see. We hear, but we can’t hear. Funny how the answer is so close, and yet the distance between the heart and head can be so great. There were men who stood face to face with the Son of God and could not see, yet blind men knew Him without sight. Why is that? Could it be that we are our own worst enemy? “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? ? John 14:9, AKJV) .

For the Betrayed

In many ways, we have all been betrayed by our own brothers, when it comes to privacy. Still, if you are personally suffering from being on the receiving end of such acts, take heart. Know that man has limited power and control for only so long. For the malicious in spirit, technology can only reap its intended rewards for so long. Do we really think technology is beyond the control of God? Evil is limited. Think of a fish in the sea. How long can it last outside of its natural boundary of water? At some point, the scales will level, judgment will come, and all will be made right. Understanding these limits, it is vital that we take to heart the words “do not fear”. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”[9]

Take time to memorize these words of comfort:

Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

‘Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;

Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.

‘You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,

Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.

‘For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand,

Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.[10]

Man’s Limits

We have the opportunity to maintain one area of privacy that no technology and no man can touch. This area is prayer. Perhaps in the future, technology will allow man to hear our thoughts as we pray. Yet, man will never know the mind of God, nor the conversation that God intends to have privately with one of His children. All men are allowed to have this type of intimacy with their Creator. The choice is freely theirs, and it is never forced upon them. Free will allows for all mankind to know truth and for that truth to set him free.

Peace of Conscience

The great William G. T. Shedd skillfully explains the holiness of God as follows:

God’s holiness is manifested (a) in the moral law; (b) in physical laws which appear in the course and constitution of nature, secure happiness to virtue, and connect misery with vice; (c) in mental laws: peace of conscience, upon obedience, is the most exquisite enjoyment; remorse of conscience, upon disobedience, is the most exquisite torture; (d) in positive laws: these spring not from the constitution of nature or of the human mind but are enactments by the arbitrary will of God.[11]

Are you seeking a peace in your mind? Are you seeking a peace in your conscience? Listen to that nudge. Start your own investigation. If you genuinely desire to know truth, it will be revealed to you. Do not listen to those who “will believe anything.” You absolutely can have “peace of conscience…exquisite enjoyment.”[12]

References

References


[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: the Classic Exploration of Christian in Community, 1St ed. (Wheaton, IL: HarperOne, 2009), 106.


[2] Romans 8:39-39, AKJV


[3] James Porter Moreland, Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul, 2nd ed. (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, ©2012), 34.


[4] “Projects Mapping the Narrative Comprehension Network and Its Persuasive Effects: Toward Narrative Disruptors and Inductors,” ASU Center for Strategic Communication, accessed December 31, 2016, http://csc.asu.edu/projects/.


[5] Aristotle, “On the Soul,” The Internet Classics Archive, accessed December 31, 2016, http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/soul.mb.txt.


[6] Cole, David, “The Chinese Room Argument”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2015 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), accessed December 31, 2016. URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2015/entries/chinese-room/>.


[7] Moreland, 34.


[8] Bonhoeffer, 112.


[9] Matt 10:28, AKJV


[10] Isaiah 41:10-13, AKJV.


[11] Shedd, William G T. Dogmatic Theology. 3rd ed. Phillipsburg, N.J.: P & R Pub., ©2003., 291.


[12] Ibid

Letter Re: Airport BOB

HJL,

I’ve traveled for my company for the past 20 years, and 98% of what T.H. listed is what I had in my travel bag. Note it is what I “had”, as in past tense. I finally got out of the airports and traveling all over the country in 2015. There is the possibility of an odd trip or two, so I still have my carry-on bag handy at work. I find that I occasionally rob it from time to time. One thing T.H. listed that I never had was a whistle, and I feel that is a good idea. I found that the items changed over time especially after 9/11. Once, when stranded in Minneapolis, MN, I was able to contact a friend who lived there and spent the night in her basement. My missing item in the bag was a toothbrush, so the next morning as her husband drove me back to the airport we stopped off at a drug store and added a travel brush and paste to my bag. Another couple of items I always keep in my bag is a small compact umbrella and a light compressible rain coat. I’ve left the sunny south, where I was in light cloths, and found snow or rain coming down where I landed and had to walk to a rental car. Having quick access to the jacket and umbrella helps. I also kept light gloves in there as well. I think T.H.’s list is very good, and for frequent travelers I suggest adding many of these items to your carry on if you have not already. – C.V.

News From The American Redoubt:

I just found a great little home-based business in Post Falls, Idaho that makes top-quality Paracord rifle slings: 2nd Amendment Slings, LLC.

o o o

This small company in Stevensville, Montana is well worth mentioning: Cooper Firearms. If a long range precision AR-15 or AR-10 is more to your liking, then check out Wyoming Arms. (In Cody, Wyoming.)

o o o

Widow of slain Oregon standoff leader carries on ‘liberty’ mission

o o o

The latest from fellow Redoubt blogger Patrice Lewis: The sword of Damocles, North Idaho-style.

o o o

Freedom Munitions and Seekins Precision (both located in Lewiston, Idaho) have teamed to offer the Seekins G.I Rifle—a 5.56mm AR variant with just the right mix of features for combat shooting. Price at $949, this rifle includes a lot of custom features that are normally found only on ARs costing $1,200 or more.

o o o

This company in McCall Idaho has a great selection of custom AR handguards they can Cerakote in the color of your choice, in-house. Their Ultralight Hex model looks great.

o o o

Breaking a car window isn’t easy, as Spokane police officer discovered while rescuing woman.

Economics and Investing:

US Dollar Index Weakness…Implications For Gold Prices

o o o

Trump’s Trade Policy To Drive Price Inflation And Gold Buying

o o o

The standard wage for an American is $29,000: Social Security data reveals raw figures for the wealthiest country in the world.

o o o

The -other- “ban” that was quietly announced last week

o o o

SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Articles on hackers:

Hackers Hold Entire Hotel for Ransom, Trap Guests in Rooms (Editor’s note: The part of trapping guests in their room may not be true.)

Computer outage grounds Delta flights in U.S. – C.L.

o o o

20 Plants And Herbs Which You Can Grow From Cuttings – DSV

o o o

Fake news on this recent Executive Order? “But, wait a sec. I read the order and Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen are not mentioned in it.” – P.S.

o o o

Emboldened by Trump, some police unions seek to overhaul Obama’s reforms. Federal monitors overseeing his city’s police department earned $250 an hour – a standard salary for the position? – ;P.M.

o o o

Warning! Fake Netflix app lets hackers read your texts and take pictures

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“There are, in fact and practice, two divisions of BATFE: they are Arbitrary, and Capricious. Everything they do has to have approval from one, and ideally both, divisions, before it gets handed down from on high as verbum dei.

For some decades, that hurdle has not been too cumbersome on their limited intellects to allow passage of all manner of nonsense, being a speed bump the height of which is measured in layers of paint on a flat surface.

Give their explosives lab to FBI, shift alcohol and tobacco revenue collection (sans any law enforcement capability whatsoever) over to Commerce, and fire everyone else, or simply transfer them to baggage screeners for TSA to make retirement. Ideally in airports not less than 500 miles from any city larger than 1 million souls.” – Reader “Aesop” in a comment to a recent post about BATFE overreach titled: ATF Cracks Down on Retro Builders using 80% Receivers, posted at Weaponsman

Notes for Monday – January 30, 2017

January 30th is the birthday of historian Barbara Tuchman (born 1912, died February 6, 1989). She wrote some of the most engaging history books JWR ever read.

January 30th is also the anniversary of the 1945 Great Raid on Cabanatuan Prison Camp where U.S. Army Rangers and Filipino Guerrillas liberated Allied prisoners. See Rescue At Los Baños, by historian and bestselling author Bruce Henderson.

Food Storage: The Calories Count! by JWR

Many newbie preppers make the mistake of buying a packaged long-term food storage system withoƒstarut looking at the details, and they just assume that they are now magically “prepared”. But anyone who is shopping for packaged food storage systems should look with a discerning eye at any claims such as: “a six month supply for four adults.” Often these estimates are based on the manufacturers’ absurd assumption that a daily ration is around 1,500 calories per day. But that is actually a starvation ration that would not maintain the body mass index for anyone with an average body stature. In actuality, the average adult needs around 2,500 calories per day for normal activity and something closer to 3,700 per day for times of heavy exertion, such as strenuous manual labor or combat patrolling. You want to be living in Survival Acres, not Dachau! Once again, look very closely at those calorie counts.

Next, consider the quality of the foods themselves. There should be plenty of essential fats and oils. If the food storage system omits fats and oils or if it includes lots of Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) as filler, then beware. Your family will need plenty of quality foods, not junk. Also look for complete proteins, such as meats or “complementary” combinations of beans and rice. Palatability is another issue. Be sure to get a sampler pack and try the foods before you buy. Also, be sure to store (and/or grow) plenty of dried herbs and spices to make your stored foods more tasty.

It is important to store good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement tablets that will make up for any unforeseen shortfalls in the vitamin content of your selected storage foods, and for the inevitable loss of nutritive value over time in storage. Lastly, do not overlook rotating your vitamin supplements tablets once every four years. Without complete proteins, or without the requisite fats and oils, or without fresh vitamin supplements, you will unwittingly be starving yourself.

For true long-term-preparedness, you need to have a transition plan for self-sufficiency, so that you can produce your own protein. That obviously requires large-scale gardening and some small livestock. Practice gardening now, and lay in a large supply of non-hybrid (a.k.a. “open-pollinated” or “heirloom”) seeds. If you live in an apartment or in an urban house with no useful yard for gardening, then you can at least do some sprouting. Fresh sprouts produce amazing nutritive value at very little cost and can be grown in a space not much larger than a shoe box.

In closing, get smart about food storage. If you rush into it without enough study, you may be making costly mistakes—and possibly fatal mistakes.

S&W M&P Shield .45 ACP, by Pat Cascio

I know what the stats say that were put out by the FBI that the 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP loaded with a good JHP round are all about the same when it comes to stopping power. However, in their testing, they have no way of determining just how fast a bad guy goes down. Yes, there are results from the street from actual shootings; however, no one is there with a stop watch to time these events. I’ve been a fan of the .45ACP round for just about all my life, and I’m convinced in my own mind that the bad guys go down faster with the .45ACP compared to the 9mm or the .40 S&W! Of course, I have no way of proving this, other than to look at the very long history of the .45ACP round and the many shooting with the grand old 1911 handgun.

The FBI jumped on the .40 S&W bandwagon, after a shoot-out in Miami, FL where the bad guys just weren’t dying fast enough. In the end, it really wasn’t the 9mm itself at that time. Instead, it was the bullet that the FBI was using– the old Winchester Silvertip JHP. It simply expanded– opened up too fast– and didn’t penetrate deeply enough to do the damage that was needed to stop the bad guys fast enough. So, the Bureau dumped the 9mm and adopted the then new .40 S&W round. Now, the FBI has gone full-circle, and they are once again issuing 9mm handguns. However, my understanding is that they are issuing the heavier 147-gr subsonic JHP bullet, which moves slower and penetrates deeper.

Which brings us to the .45 ACP, which is moving slow. Even some of the +P hotter JHP loads are moving slow compared to a hot-stepping 9mm JHP or a .40 S&W. Penetration is key to stopping a threat, whether an animal or a person. Very simply put, if a bullet doesn’t penetrate deep enough to hit the vital organs, it can take a long, long time for enough blood loss to take effect before the threat goes down. Seconds count; it’s real simple, isn’t it? The .45 ACP is a big bullet moving slow,and it penetrates deeply, even if a JHP bullet doesn’t actually fully open-up (mushroom) when hitting the human body.

So, all this still makes a believer out of me that the .45 ACP puts down a threat a little faster than smaller, faster-moving bullets. That’s just my take on it, and I’ve studied this for a lot of years, and this is the conclusion I’ve drawn. Now, with that said, I can still be caught carrying a 9mm handgun of some kind more often than some other calibers as my daily carry piece. Since I’m not in the military or in law enforcement any longer, I don’t necessarily see that I might be facing some of the threats I did back in the day. I don’t expect to go after an armed robber. My daily goal is self defense, not going on the offensives if I can avoid it. Still, I carry a high-cap 9mm with at least one spare magazine, just in case.

I love the 1911 handgun, chambered in .45ACP; however, even the light-weight 1911s are more (weight) that I care to pack on my hip all day long in my Golden Years. Yes, I’ve tried some of the “Officers” sized 1911s with an aluminum frame, and many just don’t give me the 100% reliability I expect in a gun used for self defense. I’ve only had a couple sub-compact 1911s that were 100% reliable over the years, and I regret selling or trading them. There’s just “something” about the sub-compact 1911s that makes them a little less reliable than their bigger brothers– the Commander and the Government models. I have a Kahr CW45 that has been 100% reliable right out of the box. No break-in period was needed, and I’ve fired more than 1,000 rounds through it over the years. So, it’s a great little gun for everyday carry, if you ask me. On the other hand, I have a Kahr CW9 9mm that required more than 200 rounds to break it in.

So, I’m pleased when I can find a sub-compact .45 ACP handgun that is reliable out of the box and will feed any manner of bullet configuration, including standard velocity ammo as well as low-recoil, and even +P ammo, all in a small package that I can carry around on a daily basis. Enter the S&W M&P Shield .45ACP that came out not very long ago.

Some stats on this neat little everyday carry gun are in order.This is the latest addition to the Shield line-up, and S&W has already sold more than a million Shields since they came out a little over a year or so back;they are very hot-selling guns. I’ve owned them in 9mm and .40 S&W and didn’t care for the .40 S&W at all. There was too much muzzle flip in the little gun. The 9mm is a great little gun, so I was excited when I read about the Shield in .45 ACP.

When I spied the Shield at my local gun shop (and it took some looking to pick it out from the 9mm and .40 models), I was shocked at how small it was. It is only slightly, every so slightly, bigger than the 9mm and .40 S&W guns. I had to do a double-take to make sure the gun was actually chambered in .45 ACP. The Shield line-up are striker fired, and some come with a manual safety, some don’t . My sample has the safety, which I don’t use when carrying the gun. The gun comes with two magazines– one is flush-fitting and holds six rounds, and the other extends below the grip and holds seven rounds. Both magazines are marked 6 +1. The reason the 7-rd mag holds one more round is because of the magazine base; it allows that extra round to fit in the mag without actually extending the magazine all that far below the grip of the gun.

Barrel length of the .45 ACP Shield is 3.3 inches, which is about as short as you can go without giving up any more velocity and reliability than needed. We have the three white dot sights– one white dot on the front sight and two on the rear Novak-style rear sight. The sights are very fast to pick up once the gun is brought to eye level. Overall length of the gun is a mere 6.45 inches, and the width is only 0.99 inches; we are talking thin! The slide is stainless steel, coated with something S&W calls Armonite, which is black and very durable. The frame is black polymer, and S&W put some aggressive stippling on the grip so you have a very sure hold on the gun. This is different than the texturing found on the 9mm and .40 S&W Shield versions, and I love the feel. The gun isn’t gonna slip out of my hands under any weather conditions.

The little .45 ACP Shield weighs a mere 20 oz empty, so it is a lightweight to be sure, and the trigger is hinged. You must have a sure trigger finger placement on the trigger in order to fully pull back on it to fire the gun. The trigger pull is right at 5.5 lbs on my sample, and it is a much nicer trigger pull compared to the 9mm and .40 S&W guns I’ve owned. After a little bit of slack is taken-up, the trigger pull is fairly crisp, all things considered. And, it is considered a double-action only trigger pull.

During my testing, I fired more than 300 rounds through this little gun over several shooting sessions. The gun never once failed to chamber, fire, or eject any rounds, and I had a good selection of ammo to test in the gun. I will say that the +P loads were a real bear with lots of muzzle flip, and I would restrict my shooting with +P loads. The 230-gr FMJ standard velocity ammo was also a lot of “fun” to shoot. It lets you know you have something there. The one complaint I have is that, when the slide is locked open on an empty magazine, you can not release the slide by pressing down on the slide stop/release. It just isn’t going to happen. It must be a very stout magazine spring, and they are stout because it takes a little effort to load the magazines. This isn’t a real problem for me, because when I do a reload, I insert a fresh magazine and draw the slide back and release it; I don’t use the slide stop/release. However, many people prefer to press down on the slide stop/release to send the slide forward. If you are one of these folks, be advised that you can’t do it on the .45 ACP Shield.

The .45 ACP Shield is one of those little guns that you carry a lot and shoot a little; it can be hard on the hand when shooting full-power loads, and it is a wake-up call when shooting any +P loads. From Double Tap Ammunition I had their 160-gr Barnes TAC XP all-copper hollow point, low recoil load, 200-gr Bonded Defense, and their 230-gr Bonded Defense loads. From Buffalo Bore I had their 160-gr Barnes TAC XP all-copper hollow point low recoil load, 255-gr Gr Hard Cast FN Outdoorsman +P, 230-gr FMJ FN +P, 200-gr JHP +P and their 160-gr Barnes TAC XP all-copper hollow point +P. From Black Hills Ammunition www.black-hills.com there was their 200-gr Match Semi-Wadcutter, 230-gr FMJ, 185-gr JHP, 230-gr JHP, 230-gr JHP +P, and their 185-gr Barnes all-copper hollow point +P, so there was a great sampling of .45 ACP ammo to test in the Shield.

My accuracy testing was done at 20 yards this time. For shorter barreled guns, I usually do it at 15 yards; for full-sized handguns, I take it out to 25 yards. As mentioned early on, there were zero malfunctions of any type, which is the good news. However, with the standard velocity and +P loads, the little M&P Shield .45 ACP was punishing. You don’t want to fire these loads all day long with a lot of muzzle flip, and it is slow to get back on the sights for follow-up shots. The most punishing load, in my opinion, in the recoil department was the Buffalo Bore 200-gr JHP +P round. I was sure it was going to be their 255-gr Hard Cast FN Outdoorsman load, but I was wrong. The 230-gr JHP +P loads were an eye-opener, too. The Barnes TAC XP loads– the low-recoil loads from Buffalo Bore and Double Tap– were a joy to shoot. Either one would be my first choice for everyday carry.

There is always a winner and a loser when it comes to accuracy, and the Black Hills 200-gr Match load was the clear winner. The groups were 2½ inches, if I did my part. However, none of the other loads exceeded 3½ inches, and most were right around 3 inches, if I did my part all the time. The Barnes TAC XP loads, from all three makers, were right there around 3-inches, and that is plenty good enough for self defense from a 3.3-inch barreled handgun. Full retail on the little Shield .45 ACP is $479, and it can be found for about $50 less, if you shop around. That’s a great deal, if you ask me, if you want a small .45 ACP handgun for everyday carry. I understand that the Performance Center will be coming out with a version with a ported barrel and slide, and fiber optic sights, as well as a night sight version. However, I just couldn’t wait for those to come out. I’m more than a little pleased with the standard M&P Shield .45 ACP I picked up. Now, the waiting game. S&W has not released any spare mags for this model. They said in about six weeks. Well, I’ve been checking, and it has now been six weeks since I picked up this little gem. I don’t understand why gun makers come out with a new gun model but don’t have any extra magazines available at the same time.

Be sure to check out this little .45 ACP at your local dealer. You could do a whole lot worse for a sub-compact .45ACP for self-defense work.

– Senior Product Review Editor, Pat Cascio

Recipe of the Week: Corn Casserole, by MCA

Ingredients:

  • 1 can whole kernel yellow corn, undrained
  • 1 can cream style yellow corn
  • 1 (8 oz.) carton sour cream
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix
  • 1 stick butter, melted

Directions:

  1. Mix all together and pour into large, lightly oiled casserole dish.
  2. Bake at 350°F for 55 to 60 minutes.

o o o

Useful Recipe and Cooking Links:

Video: Potted Beef In The 18th Century

Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Letter Re: Airport BOB

Hugh,

I used to be an airline pilot, so I’ve spent plenty of time in airports and hotels. Let your readers know, one inexpensive way to pick up an extra cell phone charger is to ask the front desk at the hotel. Previous guests accidentally leave their chargers, and the hotel stores them in a box. Most guests never return for them (I have left a couple myself), and the hotel either has to give them away or dispose of them. Just ask if you can run through their “box-o-chargers”; every hotel has one. – R from Texas