Is Prepping Success Kinda Like X-Files?

The truth is out there.

But, “they” don’t want you to find it.

Those two sentences sum up the Fox hit show, The X-Files. Mulder and Scully, out there in a search for the truth. There were always hidden truths and inside men protecting that truth from average folks on the outside.

It seems to be human nature to suspect hidden truths or that we are being kept out of the loop or inner circle. That human nature also bleeds over into the field of survival planning. How do I know?

Recently, I’ve gotten several emails from readers asking me for the secret to being prepared for any disaster. They assume something more complicated is going on than there is. That I’m keeping secrets or hidden truths for myself.

They assume that survival planning or prepping is more complicated than it really is. And they want me to reveal my secrets – well the truth is I don’t have any. Perhaps, the “secret” is to actually do something.

When I started preparing, I didn’t know anymore than anyone else just starting out – I was a prepping newb. And I made many mistakes along the way.

I’m still learning new stuff all the time. No one knows everything or has all the answers to every conceivable situation or skill. It is a continuing learning process.

We need to stop wasting time looking for secrets and instead put what we know to use, before it is too late. And another thing, don’t just read about survival, actually learn the skills being illustrated.

Just because you read it once in a book, doesn’t mean you have mastered that survival skill or that it will a work in a real life situation.

Reads ask me for ways to ensure their survival, build a supply of survival food, and to “tell me stuff that hasn’t been said by everybody else already.” We’ve all heard the saying “There is nothing new under the sun but there are lots of old things we don’t know” this is true also for survival planning.

While there are new products and new techniques being introduced, the core needs of survival stay the same. Air, water, food and shelter. We may all have different approaches, but it all basically comes down to the same stuff.

No secrets. No smoking man. It’s just a matter of applying the basics and hard work.

It seems everyone is looking for the easy button, when in fact it does not exist. The truth isn’t out there yet hidden… it is everywhere and in plain view.  The problem is that you’re not applying what you already know.

Perhaps that is the biggest secret of all. Grin

Top nine mistakes of prepping newbs

First one I make: Not eating what they store. I like rice but not the greatest cook, I read how to cook it and figured I could do when I needed to.
Second one I make: Not storing enough salt. I don’t add salt to anything. So in one sense it doesn’t make sense to buy something I don’t use but with all that rice maybe I should.
Mistake 3: Relying on bugging out. Well yes I prefer heading to the hills than remaining in a city close to Dallas. Sorry the sheeple will be rioting looting and shooting. My gun is a 22 and hubby’s is a 9mm. Why my house is fine and close to a small pond I much rather be on land paid off that my father owns. I rather travel the dirt roads to get there and have a lake front view and watch nature and fish and attempt to farm/garden several acreas.
4, Storing one type of food. Well yes the bulk of my food is in rice I do have 30 cans of meat, cereal, oatmeal, canned goods. Why I prefer a larger inventory I am going on budget and think having at least a year’s worth of rice is headed in the right direction. I highly doubt my family will eat beans but I may be able to get them to eat pumpkin seeds that do provide protein. While my oldest might starve from here stubbornness to eat veggies I think if it was between life and death she will eat what is given to her. And anything I try to stock comfort foods my pantry gets raided by a 4 year old with climbing power (That’s where a 30 day supply of pop tarts went and many more lollipops)
I do think that me and my husband combined have the skills to survive. Me with rationing, and medical care, and a strong work ethnic and hubby with misc. skills like being a roofer helper, plumper help, son of a carpeter, Me the granddaughter of a farmer and hunter and fishermen.
I think survival is a lot about brain power and will. No matter how prepared you are you can lose everything in a blink of an eye. I have been researching what type of foods you can eat like dandylions. They are extremely healthy even if I don’t like the taste. Has all the iron, vitamin A, K, a good amount of C and potassium. I at least know what the super foods are and what seeds I should be buying.
I know for those with depression should eat fish for the omega 3s to treat depression ie why I need to be by the lake. I have been learning about composting and fertilizers. I also have to delay my plans to build anything on my dad’s property until I get written documentation that I am getting 5 acreas to do as I please.

How To Survive TEOTWAWKI In 14 Easy Step

Will You Be Ready

I write lots of detailed, in-depth posts for you here on The Survivalist Blog about preparedness, frugal living, weapons and homesteading. Today I thought I’d simplify and offer you some quick survival tips on how to survive TEOTWAWKI broken into bits.
1) Keep it as simple a possible. If something can be done in two steps instead of three why bother with the third step? If there is an easier and simpler way to the same result, why make things difficult. Remember The KISS principle: “Keep it simple, stupid”.
2) Take your time and create a plan. With a paper and pen write out a detailed survival plan. What, when and how – while considering your personal needs and those of your family. Do this every six months – circumstances change, keep you plans flexible.
3) Have realistic expectations. I’m sure many of you would like to have a retreat on one-hundred acres nestled in the remote Idaho wilderness. A room full of high-tech weapons and gear. A customized humvee in the drive. A bunker stacked from floor to ceiling with MRE’s and the latest freeze-dried foods. But in reality most of us will never have this stuff. Set your preparedness goals at an obtainable level work relentlessly to meet them.
4) Educate your team, work together. Divide your family or survival group by skills. For instance; one member might specialize in medical procedures, another in chemistry and another weapons repair and reloading etc. Figure out what skills and resources you have as a group. Fill the gaps with training, classes and study.
5) Get a solid understanding of the basics. Everyone should at least know the basics, CPR / first aid, how to shoot, weapons maintenance and using available resources. Cover the basics first before moving to more advanced concepts. Refer to #1 above.
6) Know when to change strategies. Don’t become fixated with plans or beliefs. If something works, great; if not you need to find out what the problem is and how to fix it – even if it means a complete overhaul of your original plan.
7) Do a threat analysis. Stop, think, look around – if you were being attacked what would be the most likely approach? What are the weak points in your defenses? Who are probable attackers? When are they likely to attack. When are you most vulnerable? Find weak spots in your defenses and harden those points.
8) Experiment. I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. Never assume something works without first trying it yourself. We have to many armchair survival “experts” giving advice on things they have never done. Never take anything at face value – try everything yourself to see if and how it works, (This includes stuff you find here), leave nothing to chance.
9) Build a good library. You need books on gardening, homesteading, food storage and cooking, trapping, tracking, repair, raising livestock, alternative energy, medical, herbs and eatable plants, outdoor survival etc. Make a list of the books you need. It’s best not to get many titles covering the same subject – they tend to overlap and cover the same techniques and advice. See number 8.
10) Don’t get discouraged. It’s easy to become discouraged or give up altogether. Stay focused, set obtainable goals and remember everyone started from the beginning. Stop worrying about what some survival guru said you need in his latest fiction novel. You know your situation and needs better than anyone – plan accordingly.
11) Analyze your skills. Take a close look at yourself and your skills. Write down the things you are good at – find your strong points. Do the same for your weak points. What do you know little about? Find the area that needs improvement and get to work building your skill level in that area.
12) Take inventory.Take a good look at your food storage and other survival supplies. Write down what you have, look for gaps in your inventory. I did this a couple of weeks ago and found I needed to expand my medical kit.
13) Get a check up. If you still have a job with medical insurance great. Get a complete physical and check-up – same with dental. Correct any problems found.
14) Find your own way. No one knows your situation or location better than you and no one can formulate a survival plan based on your personal needs better than you. You know who you are and what you are capable of – plan accordingly.
Have other tips or advice on how to survive TEOTWAWKI? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Responsible Use of Lethal Force

A few weeks ago, I was talking to a guy, I’d hired to help me do some work around my place when he noticed my No Trespassing sign that was nailed to a nearby post. He turned the Coke to his mouth swallowing the last of its contents before throwing the empty can into the bed of his pick-up truck.
He then Turned toward me as he cleared his throat, and said; good thing you nailed that sign up down there, with all the thievery going on around here, now if you catch them on your property you can drop them in their tracks and they’ll be paid for because you have that sign up down there.
He continued with his legal advice; as long as you have a sign like that on your property you can shoot anyone that steps foot on your land and the law can’t do a thing.
I pulled my cap off and smiled as I wiped the sweat from my brow, really, I said. You know anyone, that’s put that to the test in court? I think you need to go talk to the district attorney about that, before you actually kill someone for trespassing and have to spend the next 35 years in Brushy…
Before I could finish, he started shaking his head in disagreement.
I spent the next ten minutes trying to convince him of his folly, but he would have none of it, stressing the fact his uncle who was a deputy sheriff back in the 1980′s told him so, so I had to be wrong…
Okay, some people just refuse to listen to logic or excerpt common sense and this guy was obviously guilty of both, but it proves that there are many misconceptions and a lot of bad advice out there when it comes to the responsible and legal use of lethal force.
Unfortunately, many survivalist also adhere to the same type of foolishness, when it comes to self-defense and especially the use of deadly force against another person.  If you own a gun for protection you owe it to yourself, your family and everyone around you to seek competent legal advice and to take the time needed to research the law’s regarding the use of deadly force in your state, county and city.
As gun owners we spend a lot of time learning how to shoot but little if any, learning when the use of deadly force is justified in the eyes of the judicial system. This is a big mistake and one that could result in you spending several years behind a fence topped with razor wire.
Fortunately, there are several DVD productions as well a books available to help you in this regard – below are four titles, that I recommend, for everyone owning a firearm for personal protection.
1. Armed Response Video Training Series - The Responsible Use Of Deadly Force with David Kenik and Ralph Mroz (excellent)
2. Armed Response Video Training Series – Shoot / No-Shoot Scenarios with David Kenik and Ralph Mroz (my highest recommendation)
3. After You Shoot: Your gun’s hot. The perp’s not. Now what? by Alan Korwin
4. In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection by Massad Ayoob

Lifestraw water filter system

In my bug out bag, I have two Sport Berkey water bottles, these work great and besides filtering out waterborne pathogenic bacteria and heavy metals the bottles do double duty as a canteen of sorts. But, with clean water being second in importance only to oxygen for survival, I’ve been looking to add yet another water filtration system to my bug out bag.
For utility, I’ve divided my bug out bag into two separate bags, a full-sized backpack being the main bag and a smaller pack (US PeaceKeeper Rapid Deployment Pack) for essential items, you know the stuff you can not live without.
With the two bag system, it is easy to hide the larger bag, or leave it at camp while still allowing me to have those “must have survival items” on my person at all times without having to carry the weight and bulk of the full-sized bag.
But, while the Berkey bottles are great for a full-sized bug out bag they take up to much space in the smaller bag, so I’ve added the LifeStraw water filter system to my kit.
According to my research the LifeStraw removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, 99.9% waterborne protozoan parasites, and will filter approximately 264 gallons of water.
When I received the LifeStraw in the mail, the first thing I noticed when I opened the package was its weight, or lack of it. At 9 inches long with a 1 inch width, it weighs about as much as a pack of cigarettes, but instead of killing you with toxins the LifeStraw could save your life by eliminating them.
When using the LifeStraw for the first time, it takes a bit of work to get the water flowing up through the filter but once you get the water moving through the straw it is easy to keep it going and to continue drinking. I could not detect any difference in taste (I used clean water for the test) when using the filter than when drinking straight from the cup.
My only complaints are that I would have liked to have had color options when purchasing, a nice olive drab would have been nice. But overall, I think the LifeStraw will be a great addition to my bug out bag and at a price of only $19.95, I think I’ll buy anther one for my car kit…

Review of the Benjamin Titan GP .22 caliber air rifle

The Benjamin Titan GP is an excellent foraging tool for small game.

Some of you may remember reading my last air gun review, in that review, I found the Crosman Titan GP to be lacking in dependable on target accuracy. As stated in my review, the results could have been due to a poor quality rifle from the lot, and not a representation of the rifles themselves.
Because of my first experience with the Crosman Titan GP, I was excited when Pyramyd Air offered to send me the Benjamin Titan GP Nitro Piston .22 Caliber Air Rifle for review. As far as I can tell the Benjamin Titan GP is the exact same rifle as the Crosman Titan GP except for the name.
Reviewing this new rifle would give me a chance to compare the two and perhaps vindicate this line of air rifles. Let’s get started…
Shipping from Pyramyd Air was prompt with the product being delivered in under a week. The rifle came well packaged with the rifles factory box discreetly placed inside a plain brown cardboard box.
The first thing I noticed when opened the box and removed the rifle was that the Benjamin Titan GP sported a darker finish on the stock than the previously reviewed Crosman. I prefer a darker finish on all of my rifles, so the Benjamin Titan GP was already one up on the Crosman.
In my experience air rifles of this type tend to be on the heavy side and the Benjamin Titan GP was no exception weighing in at 8.50 lbs (a standard Ruger 10/22 weighs 5.00 lbs.) It would be great if air gun manufactures could get the weight down on this rifle to less than 6.00 lbs.
Perhaps they could do this by shortening the barrel and redesigning the stock (the rifle has an overall length of 47.00″) but then, I’m not an air gun designer or manufacturer so I don’t know the technical specifics to such changes or the effects they would have on the performance of the rifle.
Cocking the rifle was easy in one smooth motion of the single shot breakbarrel after tapping the barrel with the palm of my hand, and required little physical effort. The technical specifications listed by pyramydair.com on their product page states; that the rifle takes 31 lbs of effort to cock, which isn’t a problem for most people, but it could be problematic for someone with advanced age or a disability.
The Benjamin Titan GP .22 caliber air rifle features a 19 inch fully rifled barrel and a muzzle brake, both with a nice looking deep blued-steel finish. I also have a Ruger .177 caliber air rifle and comparatively the finish on both the metal and stock is much nicer on the Titan GP.
As with most air rifles of this type, the Titan GP has no iron sights but the rifle is grooved for mounting an optical sight and comes packaged with a CenterPoint Optics 4×32 scope & mount kit. I think the addition of a good set of metal sights would greatly add to the overall functionality and dependability of the rifle.
But as a rule, I prefer all of my rifles to have the choice of iron sights as well as scope mounting with see through mounts. Scopes can break, become fogged, lose zero etc., and the ability to quickly change from one sighting option to the other without losing the target aids greatly to the utility of any rifle.
The Titan GP features an ambidextrous thumb-hole stock with dual raised cheekpieces, and while well designed, I found the reach from the grip to the trigger to be a bit long. But, this would not be a problem for shooters with larger hands or longer fingers. Even with the longer reach to the trigger from the grip, I had no problem pulling the trigger or shooting the rifle.
The rifle also comes with a 2-stage adjustable trigger for fine tuning to the needs of each shooter, however I found the factory setting to be very good for my needs so I left the settings as is. But, adjustment is an option and a welcome addition that I’m sure many will find very useful.
One of the main selling points of the Benjamin Titan is the Nitro Piston system and a velocity of up to 950 FPS. The Nitro Piston offers a several advantages over rifles with a metal mainspring system, such as smoother cocking, no spring fatigue, reduced vibration, functions better in cold weather and the Nitro Piston system is also much quieter.
In fact, the Titan is noticeably quieter than my other air rifles, and is much quieter than my Ruger air rifle which is the loudest of the lot.

Sighting-in and accuracy

I shot this target from 15 yards - it measures just less than 1 inch including the flyer.

After plinking away the first one hundred shot break-in period that is recommended by the manufacture, I tacked up a target at 25-yards from my shooting table and went to work fine tuning the CenterPoint Optics 4×32 scope to match the precise point of on target impact. After several shots and a few clicks of adjustment, shots where center of zero with 5 shot groups averaging 1 1/4 inches.
After sighting the scope to match the rifles point of impact, I decided to do a couple of tests to see what the penetration capabilities of the rifle are. Using Crosman hollow point hunting pellets (the only type available at my local Wal-mart) the penetration was better than I had expected, with the pellet penetrating through both sides of a full can a cream corn at 15 yards.

A hunting we will go

Last weekend, I decided to take the Titan GP small hunting in the woods that surround my property. After walking about 75 yards, I spotted a nice gray-squirrel on a tree branch at about 20 yards. I slowly moved the rifle up to my shoulder into a shooting position and pushed the safety forward and off-safe with my index finger.
After centering the CenterPoint Optics 4×32 scope on the squirrels neck, I gently squeezed the trigger releasing the shot. The animal jumped and fell to the ground dead with the pellet completely penetrating the body and exiting through the other side.

Final Thoughts

The Benjamin Titan GP .22 caliber air rifle is a great survival tool that will allow you to quietly and effectively take small game out to 25 yards, without alerting neighbors or giving away your location.
I would replace the CenterPoint Optics 4×32 scope with a better and more versatile air gun optic such as the Leapers Golden Image  and add a sling such as the Gamo Gun Buddy air rifle sling.
For less than $170 the Benjamin Titan GP .22 caliber air rifle is hard to beat and is a recommended addition to you survival preps…

I believe people are far more resilient than given credit for

I believe civilizations self correct. I believe people are far more resilient than given credit for and when push comes to shove, I believe they rise up, not cave in.
It seems to me in times of crisis people move towards each other, not fragment & disperse into a deep protectionist state & mentality. Look at all of the classics – 9/11, Y2K, 3 Mile Island, all of the natural disasters that occur, the Great Depression, Japan – the vast majority of people all moved towards each other, which seems to be the more natural order.
The whole Hollywood idea of sandbagging the perimeter of my property & installing a gun turret on my roof to protect my 12 cans of beans & 5 gallons of water chafes my butt.
Do I prep? No, not by the same definition & end times motivations described here. I have a bug out bag specific to natural disasters here and enough to get me away from the dangers to my home – it’s basic, inexpensive & simple. Food wise I rotate a 3 month supply & that’s plenty & prudent planning I believe.
Sure, I own several guns but I hunt & have a firearm in the house in case my house gets broken into while I am sleeping. I’m no fool, live in a city & will protect my family but if some hungry family or individual comes to my house in need, I’ll feed them.
I have pitched the question here – why is it that far less that 1% of the population (blog specific survivalists) are so certain TEOTW is imminent within the next 2-4 years yet, the remaining 99% – with the exact same information available, are oblivious?
I live in San Diego & won’t bug out unless it’s a health risk (nuclear meltdown) mainly because I know it will be gridlocked & that is far more dangerous. I feel perfectly safe here but lived in the city my whole life (L.A. for my first 35 years then SD).
Ohio Prepper has a valid point in that he is specific to possibilities to him & not expanded upon the greater speculations of the world’s fuse burning up it’s final centimeter.
AZ Rookie has difficulty thinking outside the box and that’s understandable & normal because there is a certain comfort zone & belief that some do not want disturbed or challenged.
I will probably get lambasted – again, because sometimes questioning a position gets viewed as an attack or inflammatory rather than an opportunity to explore opposing points of view with the possibility of having (some) value or, more importantly, solidify personal beliefs – all, in a more level headed discourse.
Anything less can only be fear driven in my opinion.
Lastly, why am I here? To learn how to be self-sufficient because I believe it would be fun to become independent from our consumer based & wasteful society.

Are Nuclear Power Plants Safe?

First of all, nuclear power is not the same as a nuclear or atomic bomb. A bomb is made to disperse radiation, a nuclear reactor is not.
Nuclear power has inherent danger, just as ALL sources of power and energy have. The very nature of stored power, whether stored water (dam) or stored electricity (battery) or nuclear power (reactor) can be dangerous. You can’t have something that provides power that doesn’t produce some risk. More people have died due to broken dams than due to nuclear power plants. The Johnstown Flood of 1889 in Pennsylvania killed 2,200 people. How many died from Chernobyl? Not anywhere near that many and the radiation levels around Chernobyl are fading faster than expected.
The radiation left behind by the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WWII was supposed to cause birth defects and sterile soil for hundreds of years, yet those two cities were rebuilt and the horrible predictions never materialized – thank God. The panic and hysteria about nuclear power is unjustified and exaggerated. Why? Because it makes fascinating news stories, which in turn sell advertising, and advertising makes a fatter paycheck for the “news” media.
I ordered some potassium iodide (KI – haven’t received it yet), but after reading about and thinking about the Japanese nuclear power plants and how hard the Japanese are working to secure the sites, and realizing the great distance between Japan and my home near the California coast, plus watching the real-time radiation levels in this country which are available online, I realized I wasted my money on the KI. Even if radiation finds its way here, I’m not worried about the levels. The earth has a very good way of dealing with poisons – it absorbs, flushes, and/or neutralizes them. Dentists receive greater doses of radiation than just about anybody else, but there is no shortage of dentists. So let’s not buy into the hype, may cooler heads prevail.
Nuclear power isn’t the problem, the fear-mongers in Washington, DC are. They are always the biggest problems.
And I echo what OhioPrepper said, there are thousands of dead Japanese from the earthquake and tsunami, and so far nobody is dead from the radiation. I expect it will remain that way.
TNBob, I don’t know where you got your figures for the magnitude of earthquakes on the San Andreas fault, but I can attest to the fact that it’s not the only faultline in this state, and the San Francisco quake of 1906 was on the San Andreas fault and it was estimated to be 8.1. I have personally experienced tremors here that were 7.1 and southern California has had some of similar strength. Both Diablo Canyon Power Plant (on the coast) and Rancho Seco (on the coast) have experienced major earthquakes and withstood them without trouble. The nuclear power plants here have very high tsunami barricades in place and the plant structures are different shapes than those in Japan, and therefore better able to withstand quakes and massive waves.
I’m embarrassed when I realize I became a sheeple for a moment, when I ordered the KI. The news media creates sheeple, so keep that in mind the next time the media wants to fatten its bottom line at our expense. Think, question, use reason, don’t fall for the hype as I did.

The Preppers’ Problem with Nuclear Power

Note: The information, experience and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. Some readers have sent emails stating that this post has wrong information – I’m not an expert on nuclear power, so if you find any bad info please let everyone know in the comments below. M.D.
This is to bring up the issue of Nuclear Power Plants. For the purposes of this discussion, I specifically talk about Florida, because that is the area that I know. Here is a link to a map with all the nuclear power plants in the

 U.S., so you can make your own deductions about the area you live in:
There are currently three active power plants in Florida. They are in Crystal River, St. Lucie, and Miami. Crystal River is the closest to my location in Tampa at about 75 miles, St. Lucie is about 150 miles, and Miami is about 200 miles.
Now normally, there shouldn’t be much of a problem with nuclear power plants, because even if there is a small leak of radiation or radioactive material, it won’t last long, won’t spread far, and more than likely the wind is not blowing in my direction.
If there is an EMP (either nuclear or solar), all power plants will probably get a big EMP shock because of all the huge transmission lines leading into them. Nuclear power plants run on a type of ‘dead man’ switch, which means that supposedly if there is any kind of problem with the power plant (like all electronics get fried by EMP), the nuclear rods will automatically be extracted from the reactor via the use of non-electric gravity powered devices, stopping the nuclear reaction. Yeah!!!
Nuclear rods are radioactively and physically HOT!!!! The standard practice of nuclear power plants is to remove spent nuclear rods from the reactor and put them in radiation blocking casings and submerge them in large pools of water to keep them cool. The water is continuously refreshed and circulated to remove the heated water and bring in cool water. That’s why all the nuclear power plants are built right on the water (rivers, barrier islands, etc.) – easy access to plentiful water.
These nuclear rod cooling pools have diesel generator backups that will continuously keep the water refreshed in case the nuclear power plant goes down and can’t produce electricity. The generators have thousands of gallons of diesel stored, enough for several weeks run time, more than enough time for re-supply during normal times.

However…

• 1) The nuclear rods are so hot that they have to stay in the cooling pools for years and even decades before they’ve cooled enough to transport to a permanent storage facility or be recycled. So most nuclear power plants have all their spent nuclear rods they’ve used for the past 20 years in the cooling pools on their property.
• 2) The EMP might also fry the generators, especially if they have electronic controls and are connected to the grid.
• 3) Even if the generators run, if there are no electronics left working after the EMP, how will computers (dead) order fuel from the refineries (dead), and trucks/trains (dead/dead) and ships (dead) bring diesel to re-supply them?

Consequences:

• 1) If the warm water is not taken out and cool water brought in, the cooling pools will get hot and start boiling.
• 2) Within 24-72 hours, the water will have boiled off and the casings holding in the radiation will start melting.
• 3) When the casings are melted off, the rods will start burning the concrete and the earth and the buildings covering the pools. The buildings aren’t shielded, they’re basically just warehouses, so they’ll must be more fuel for the radioactive fire.
• 4) The rods will burn for 3-6 months, spewing clouds of radiation far into the atmosphere, potentially reaching Tampa from all of the nuclear plants in Florida (maybe even some from Alabama & Georgia). Chernobyl sent radiation a thousand miles away into Europe and even today eating feral pigs is forbidden in some areas of Germany due to high radiation in the meat.

Remediation:

The solution to protecting from nuclear power plant radiation is the same as protection from nuclear weapons, except that nuclear weapons don’t keep going off for 3-6 months. Florida is a particular problem because there are no basements and the water table is too high in most places to shelter underground.

• 1) Have a sailboat and head south for a Caribbean island that doesn’t have a power plant anywhere near it.
• 2) Have a retreat on high ground and build a basement or underground bunker and stock it with enough food and water for 1+ years. Remember that a basement bunker has to have at least 18 inches of concrete over it, a house will not stop radiation.
• 3) If you don’t have a basement, pick a room in your house or use the garage and build an interior bunker using 18 inch concrete blocks (filled with concrete) and a bunker roof (supported by 4x4s) covered by 18 inches of concrete blocks (filled with concrete), stocked with enough food and water for 1+ years.
• 4) Take a shipping container and put it in a shallow hole above the water table (3-4 feet) and then cover the shipping container on the sides and roof with as much soil as possible or concrete blocks on the outside and logs over the top covered with soil (18 inches of concrete or 36 inches of soil is recommended to stop radiation).

Good news:

• 1) A solar EMP will probably be less powerful the farther South you are, so Florida might be spared the worst. But even then, how long will the diesel last and what are they going to do with the nuclear rods?.
• 2) Radiation does not usually affect ground water, so if you have a well, your water should be good as long as your water pump works.
• 3) Within 6-12 months after the rods stop burning, most of the radiation will be greatly reduced. Just don’t dig or stir up any dust (for the next couple of decades), which will make gardening harder. So you might want to have lots of potting soil and fertilizer in your garage or barn to start your new container garden with.
• 4) This may not sound like good news, but a lot of people will not survive the radiation so there shouldn’t be much competition for the remaining resources when you come out of the bunker.

Caution:

I am not a nuclear engineer, architect, or a nuclear medical specialist. I worry about radiation, but I don’t have any bunker – yet. I’m bringing this up for discussion because I’m worried about it, think others should be aware of the potential problems, and hoping others with more specialized knowledge might have more and better solutions. This is not legal, construction, or medical advice – do your own research and continue at your own risk.

*Notes:

• All bunkers must have ventilation; overheating and humidity are the biggest problems with bunkers.
• Solar panels are recommended. Store them in EMP proof containers. They are easy to install and you shouldn’t have to go outside to maintain them. Have enough solar panels w/batteries to keep several LED lights on in the bunker, power the ventilation fans several hours a day and run the water pump to your well.
• For anyone who read the book ‘One Second After’ about the U.S. after an EMP attack, the author didn’t mention the multitude of nuclear power plants in and around North Carolina. But then the book would have been a lot shorter when everyone died after 3 weeks from radiation poisoning.
• Make sure you keep the news about your bunker quiet! Don’t forget the Twilight Zone episode ‘The Shelter ‘ – every family should watch it together to emphasis the need for OPSEC about your preps.

Would love to hear your opinion in the comments below…

5 Days Without Power

In December 2008, I got 2 feet of snow. OK, so some of you are laughing – 2’ – so what? But this area usually only gets 6-8 inches a couple of times a year, which is mostly gone the next day, and some of the trees here are not designed to handle that much snow. The result was trees and branches down everywhere and major power outages all over the area. My house was plunged into darkness for five days because my particular electric line only has 97 customers on it, so we were not a money-making priority for PG&E.

I live alone and for me, this would only have been an inconvenience, however, at that time, I had living with me; my 34-year-old daughter, her 14-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter, my 32-year-old son, and 2 grandsons, one 4 years old and one 18 months old for whom I was ‘foster mom’ for about 5 months.
There was even 12 inches of snow at my mom’s who is only at about 1100 feet elevation (I’m at 2500 ft). She almost never gets snow at all, so she lost 15 big oak trees, but the power outages were not a problem for mom because she lives off grid. Fortunately, I too have lived off grid on several occasions, so was probably a little more prepared to handle the situation than many of you might be.
My home is 100% electric. No electricity means no refrigerator, no freezer, no lights and no TV to help keep the 3 kids, 5 and under occupied.
My car, at the time, (I now have an older 4×4 truck that is relatively EMP proof) had only 6 inches of ground clearance, and did not consider itself a snow plow, so I did not have the option of running off to the store.
I have a good wood stove, but even that doesn’t work if there is nothing to burn in it. Fortunately, my son was staying with me to help me with the little boys when this happened. I do own a chainsaw, but I have never been taught to safely use it. I had only about one day’s worth of wood outside, so my son cut and I brought the wood in with the sled and stacked it on the deck to use each day for the wood stove. We used a lot more than I would have expected because we had to keep the fire going 24 hours a day to keep us warm, cook our food and melt snow for washing the dishes (and us). Fortunately, I had gas and 2-stroke oil, but would not have had enough for more than a week or two.
My water comes from a well on my property (as it does for all my neighbors). Another fun fact of no electricity is no power to the well pump, so no water when you turn on the faucet, no showers and no flushing toilets. I gotta tell you, the house smells pretty ripe after a day and a half of 7 people using toilets that don’t flush. I was fortunate there too in that I own a Jacuzzi, which I remembered only after the house became amazingly aromatic. I went out to the breaker box, flipped off the switch to the Jacuzzi (in case the power came back on), grabbed 5 gallon buckets and used Jacuzzi water to flush the toilets.
No matter how many times you tell people not to open the refrigerator door, old habits die-hard. And, someone, please, please, tell me why people just stand there staring into the refrigerator for several minutes? Do they think if they stare into it for long enough, Butterfinger bars (or whatever it is they are hoping for) will magically appear? As a result, the food in the refrigerator and freezer quickly needed to be cooked and eaten. Even with eating some strange combination meals, and placing some of the food out into the snow on the deck, we didn’t get everything cooked/consumed in time, and a bunch of the food had to be thrown out.

Lessons I learned or thought about as a result of this experience:

1. Store water. Water to drink, water to prepare food, water to wash with and water to flush toilets. My well is too deep for a hand pump to work, even if I had the money to have one installed.
2. Always keep enough wood on hand to keep me going for at least a few weeks.
3. More cast iron cookware.
4. Hand tools, saws (and extra blades) and the like. I have garden tools but could use back ups.
5. Learn to use the chain saw safely.
6. Keep more gas (and gas preservative), 2-stroke oil and chain oil around the house.
7. Cards, dice (and Yatzee score pads), board games, paper, crayons, pens and pencils, etc.
8. Keep empty 5 gallon buckets around, they come in handy for so many things.
9. Lots of extra blankets, sweats (and warm jammies for the kids).
10. Buy another ice chest (for the frozen food).
11. Print out all my survival information and place in binders.

Some of the things I had to deal with could have been anticipated. Others, I learned only by this experience.
My suggestion to all is to simulate an experience like the one I had to live through, to see if you find gaps in your own preps.
Pick a long weekend. Turn off all power to your house (except to the refrigerator – no reason to lose all your food since this is a simulation, however duct tape the door shut – no cheating!) Figure out what you will do for water, even in the city in a serious grid down situation like an EMP or a major pandemic where people don’t want to leave their houses to go to work, basic services could be lost. Consider it camping in place.
If your plan is to go to someone else’s house, or a retreat location, what if the situation is nation wide? What if there is rioting or other dangers that prevent you from leaving right away?
What will you do to keep warm or cool? How will you handle sanitation if the toilets don’t flush and the faucets don’t work?
Use only your preps. Grind your own wheat, make your own bread and pasta by hand. No blenders, no food processors, no mixers (unless they are hand powered). All meals need to be made from your long-term preps only and no fair using your computer to search for recipes. This might be a good reminder to print out recipes or go to used bookstores or the used books section of Amazon or the like and find books with recipes for your storage. Find out if the recipes are something you could live on day after day – if not, find lots of new recipes. Do you have the spices you need to make your food palatable?
No TV to relieve the boredom or keep the kids out of your hair. No radio (even emergency radio might not be available). Spend time playing games with your kids, and reconnect with your spouse. Make lists of the things you hadn’t considered before.
Even if you have a generator and stored gas, propane, diesel or whatever, assume these will somehow not be available to make electricity (an EMP blew it out or some part broke) and do it all without power. This might be a real eye-opener for you, and may help you to survive if something happens to your back up plan.
I doubt many of you will actually simulate a grid down situation, which is too bad, it may save your life. My five days with no power taught me a lot (the silver lining to my clouds) and gave me even more food for thought.
It made me decide to prepare for more than 1 year. What if TSHTF in early autumn (you can plant in the spring, but don’t normally harvest until mid to late summer)? What if there was a drought that summer and my garden died or failed to produce much? Would me and my family (you and your family) be OK (even thrive) if a grid down situation lasted more than a week, month, year, or, God forbid, permanent?

Romanian WASR-2 a Best Buy

During the period of complete lawlessness, that is sure to follow any type of collapse, be it peak oil, economic or wide reaching pandemic, you my be forced into a situation where defending your home or retreat against mobs of semi-organized gangs of looters of even well-organized and well armed paramillitary bands of outlaws will become necessary. Living near a military base or national guard armory would tend to make the latter of the two much more likely.

The old WW2 bolt action surplus rifles such as the S.M.L.E in .303 British highly recommended by another survival blog author, may in reality be a poor choice for our purpose, if things get as bad a I envision. I hope I am wrong, but don’t count on it. Granted the S.M.L.E was the best military shoulder weapons of it’s time. It was a reliable design, strong, and accuatate out to longer ranges then most average soldiers could shoot. And during a time when virtually all infantry weapons sported a magazine capacity of only five rounds the S.M.L.E carryed ten.

But you as a lone survivalist or small family group, should have the best weapons available for defense. Don’t skimp on your personal safety, doing so could cost you your life or that of a loved one. Remember if you are to come under attack you will potentially be facing a superior force of determened well armed individuals, possibly rogue military personal no longer abiding by any command structure.

If you are to have a reasonable chance of defending yourself in a post collapsed world you will need a reliable semi-auto military type rifle, to put the odds more in your favor. Sure one could luck out pulling through with nothing more then an old worn out 65 years ago surplus bolt gun. But why not give yourself every advantage possible? After all, it is only your life at stake.

There’s one particularly good deal out there at the moment that you can take advantage of. AIM Surplus has Romanian WASR-2 rifles for $289. These are copies of the Russian AK-74 rifle, which replaced the AK-47 as the primary infantry rifle in the Soviet Union. They use the same AK design, but chambered for the 5.45×39 cartridge, which was designed to perform much like the US 5.56mm cartridge. AIM also has surplus 5.45mm ammo available, in 1,080 round sealed cans. Several other supplier have the ammunition as well, for similar prices. Finally, you can get extra 30-round magazines (the rifle comes with two) from Centerfire Systems.

So, for $620 plus shipping, you can get yourself a totally reliable military semi-auto rifle, six magazines, and 2100 rounds of ammo. Hard to beat that. It won’t be around forever though, especially the ammo. So don’t wait too long if you’re interested.

What You Should Know About The Bulgarian AK-74

Just about everyone has heard of the AK-47. With over 55 national armies and dozens of paramilitary groups using the weapon at some point in history and production estimated of over 90,000,000, yet most aren’t familiar with the later production AK-74 rifles.

This version of the venerable Kalashnikov design first saw service with Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Where the new 5.45×39 round was dubbed “devils round” or “poison bullet” by the Mujahideen.
From what I’ve read ,the 5.45×39 round has a hollow cavity in the nose and a steel core behind it destabilizing the bullet; thus, when it hits the flesh, it is quick to yaw inside the tissue causing massive wounds.
I’ve shot several groundhogs with this round and the on target performance has been impressive. A small entry hole, with an exit large enough to put a fist and internal organs blown to mush.
The 5.45×39 was designed by the Soviets in an attempt to duplicate the performance of the 5.56x45mm NATO round used by U.S. and allied forces. Both are lightweight, high velocity, low recoiling rounds (the AK-74 has a muzzle brake to reduce recoil further) and I think one is as effective as the other for military purposes.
I ordered my rifle through J&G Sales along with a case of military surplus ammo. On first inspection, I noticed fit and finish were far superior to the Romanian AK-47 WASR10 with Romanian ak folding stock, I’d ordered several months ago. With more of a Parkerized look than the painted black appearance of the typical WASR10.
At the range I put up a target at 50 yards. Three shots from the bench, all went about 2 inches high, but center with a spread of just under three inches. After making the needed adjustments to the iron sights, I mounted the scope from my Romanian WASR10. After about 15-20 shots (I lost count) I was on target with groups under two inches. This was with Russian surplus ammo, I’m sure groups would shrink to about 1 inch with better quality ammo.
After firing half a case of ammo through the Bulgarian AK-74 NDS-2 – without a single stoppage. I went home and cleaned the rifle using Windex® (to neutralize the corrosive salts) followed by regular cleaning with Hoppe’s® No. 9 .
The next day, I went back to the range for accuracy testing at 100 yards. I have to say for an AK type rifle I was impressed with the performance of both the rifle and the 5.45×39 round. Groups at this distance were consistent at 2-3 inches. Much better than groups shot with my Romanian WASR10 and other 7.62×39 variants, I’ve owned over the years.
So what’s the downside? The availability of ammo, or lack of is the only negative I’ve found. I checked every retail outlet in my area, and none carried 5.45×39. So I have to order it by the case – 1080 rounds in a sealed metal tin for $149 plus shipping.
If you decide to make the Bulgarian AK-74 NDS-2 Rifle, 5.45×39 your main defensive rifle, stock up with several thousand rounds of ammo and a parts kit. As far as I know, there is are no domestic ammo producers at this time and any number of things could cut off supply.

What You Should Know About The Glock 19

Some prefer revolves over auto loaders, while others simply want a simple .22 for target practice and recreation on the weekend. The “perfect” handgun for me may not be right for you or your needs, it is a personal choice only you can make.

For me the perfect handgun is the Glock 19. I bought mine several years ago from a local gun shop, and immediately fell in love. It is just the right size and fits my hands perfectly.
The Glock 19 is small enough for everyday concealed carry without pulling your ass off, yet large enough to serve as a full size weapon, offering accuracy and magazine capacity comparable to full-sized auto pistols.

Glock pistols are capable products right out of the box, but can be made even better with the addition of a few choice accessories, most of which are also offered by Glock. The first thing I did to mine was replace the standard synthetic sights, with the more durable Trijicon Night Sights that are proven to give shooters greater accuracy at night.
The next thing I did was add the slug plug to the grip, this helps to keep out dirt and other unwanted gunk, I also installed the extended slide release, even though I never use it, I just pull back the slide with an overhand movement with my left hand to chamber a round from the magazine. My main motivation for installing the extended release was to aid in one-handed operation, if needed.
Over the years, gun writers have spent countless words debating the stopping power of the 9mm round. Most of this has been a waste of time and wasted print. The number on element of stopping power is shot placement, not whether the bullet weighs 230 grains or 115. If you do not hit a vital target the outcome will be the same no matter what handgun round is used.
I am a big fan of the 9mm for survival usage. Keep in mind I am not talking wilderness survival here, but about a break down or collapse of the current system 0r TEOTWAWKI.
For price and availability of ammo the 9mm is hard to beat and offers plenty of “stopping power” to get the job down with proper shot placement. If you are wondering or care to know, my choice for an everyday carry round is the 115 grain Cor-Bon +P at 1,308 fps.
Like I stated at the start of today’s post, everyone has their own idea of what makes up the perfect handgun, let us know what you think and your choices in this matter.

Springfield XD 9mm : What Everybody Ought to Know

Springfield XD

Some of you remember reading my previous post “Glock 19 – perfection in a 9mm ” where I taunted the piece of Austrian plastic as the best 9mm on the market.
Well from time to time something drastic comes along uprooting long-held beliefs and prejudices, for me that was the Springfield XD9.
A few months ago I was lusting over the contents of a display case of various handguns at the local sporting goods store. When the Springfield XD9caught my eye and I had to take a look. When the grip touched my hand I felt that spark, you know the one, like a teenage boy in love for the first time.  I had to have it.
After paying the required 20% down the owner put the pistol in lay away. I worked and saved and worked some more, putting every dollar I could spare toward paying off the debt.  After about two months of dedication and sacrifice the bill was paid in full and I was the owner of a brand new toy.
While I still love the Glock, I think the Springfield XD is better than anything that came before it. The Springfield XD9 Incorporates the best of both the Glock and SIG with a few of its own upgrades thrown in for good measure.

Features Include:

• Checkered front and back straps.
• A grip-frame arched on its rear surface enhancing “pointability” and control.
• An ambidextrous magazine release mechanism.
• A loaded chamber indicator.
• A cocking indicator.
• A Glock-type trigger safety – only better.
• A large beveled magazine well, to enhance quick reloading.
• 16-rd. drop-free metal magazines.
• Grooves in the frame forward of the trigger guard to accommodate lights and other accessories.
• A dual-spring recoil assembly to reduce muzzle flip and felt recoil.
• Metal three dot sites.
• Utilizes the same dovetail size for its sights as does SIG, making installation of replacement sights easy.

Over the past couple of months I have put about 700 rounds through the XD9 and have not had any hang-ups or malfunctions of any kind. Every time the trigger is squeezed BAM, with this pistol reliability is not an issue. While I have not testes for accuracy from the bench I can say from all my plinking and banging around that accuracy seems to be above-board, with empty soda cans being easy targets at 35 yards.

Field Stripping the Springfield XD9

1. Cock the piece by pulling back the slide as you would to chamber a round.
2. Retract the slide and lock it rearward aligning the take-down lever with the groove.
3. Turn the take-down lever upward.
4. Move the slide forward and press the trigger to decock.
5. Pull the slide forward to disengage from the frame.
6. Turn the slide assembly upside down.
7. Remove the recoil spring unit.
8. Pull the barrel up and to the rear, removing it from the slide.

And you’re done.

Urban Survival Skills To Keep Your Ass Alive

 

Can You Survive

No mater how much I bitch and moan, some of you just don’t listen, letting my advice go in one ear out the other. I tell you to get out of the major population areas, but you refuse, thinking you will pack up your bug out bag and head for the hills moments before the first flames light the night and the mushroom cloud hovers overhead.      
Even if you are fortunate enough to have a retreat out in the country getting to your safe haven maybe impossible during upheaval. Roads blocked by wrecked and fuelless vehicles will stop most bugouters in their tracks. Maybe you were born lucky and can make it out safely before the balloon bursts, then what?      
People in rural areas, will start shooting if threatened by mobs of refugees fleeing the city. Don’t expect to be welcomed with arms outstretched. Most country folks don’t trust outsiders; you will likely be greeted with a load of buckshot and not the cup of fresh coffee and meaningful conversation you hoped for.      
After the cities are in ruins, criminal gangs will start to migrate to the country where they will continue their business of stealing and terrorizing in more fruitful territory. If you can stay hidden and survive the first weeks after a collapse you may at some point have the entire city pretty much to yourself. If you can’t or won’t get out NOW at least start making plans to survive where you are.      

Food Storage A Must For The Urban Survivalist 

You should store enough survival food to last at least six months. This means enough food to live on without leaving home. Food stables include, rice, beans, honey, wheat, sugar, tea, coffee, salt, pepper, baking soda, cooking oil etc. Also canned soups, meats, fruits and vegetables should be included for verity. The food storage calculator is an excellent tool for approximating needed qualities of foods and is a great help here.      
Sprouting seeds will keep you supplied with fresh greens even in the winter. Sprouts are germinated seeds of vegetables, nuts, grains and legumes. Sprouts are nutritious, inexpensive and high in protein. Sprouts should be included in your survival food plans. All that is needed is a couple of quart mason jars, a squire of nylon window screen, rubber bands and viable seed stock.      
If you decide to include whole grains in your diet, you will need a grain grinder. Grinders should be steel-burred, not stone. Some people suggest that steel-burred grinders cause heat that could damage the nutrient content of the grain. Don’t buy it. Hand grinding doesn’t cause enough heat to cause damage. Don’t waist your money on stone grinders or combination steel and stone, get the much cheaper but entirely functional steel-burred grinder.      
Next you will need something to cook on. I recommend one of the Colman multi fuel camp stoves. I have the Peak1 which burns both Coleman fuel and kerosene. These stoves are small, light weight and very energy-efficient.      
Remember, when using stoves like these indoors the fumes must be vented to the outside, if not carbon monoxide can build up and kill you.      
If you don’t have one already go by your local shopping center and pick up a Stanly Aladdin narrow-mouth thermos bottle. You will use the thermos as an energy-efficient appliance for cooking. Don’t get a wide-mouthed thermos; if you intend to use it for cooking, these are less efficient at holding heat.      
It is best to use a different bottle for cooking then your everyday thermos. Coffee smell for instance, tends to leach into whatever you are cooking, even if the bottle has been cleaned.      
Thermos cooking is in no way difficult or complicated, all you need is some simple directions.      

Water in Urban Areas

Without a source of clean drinking water most of us will die within seven days, three during extreme weather. The problem with water is it’s difficult to store enough to last through an extended emergency. Most of us just don’t have the space required to store the volume of water needed.      
The water from a water-bed can be used in an emergency if you have a method of purifying the water before drinking. The average waterbed will hold about five hundred gallons; a family of four could have two thousand gallons in waterbed storage.      
Collecting rain water on the roof could be a solution in areas that receive an ample amount rain fall. Use plastic sheets etc, to funnel the life-giving liquid into clean trash cans, buckets or other containers.      
When I lived in an apartment building in the late 1990’s I bought several “kiddy pools” just for this purpose. They can be stored neatly one inside the other and slid under the bed out-of-the-way until needed.      
Some urban areas have lakes or streams near by. Never drink directly from the source; there is no way of knowing if the water is contaminated without proper testing. Don’t take chances; invest in a good water filter to be sure. The best filters filter out Bacteria, Organic Chemicals and Protozoa (Giardia) Viruses.      

Survival Shelter in Urban Areas 

I hated living in an apartment. I felt like I had no privacy what so ever, I could literally hear every word, whimper, moan or scream through the walls, ceiling and floor. I am sure every one in the building felt the same way. If you are stuck in the city an apartment is likely the situation you will need to deal with despite its limitations.      
There are a few things you can do to make your place more secure. The first thing I did was replace the front door with a steel security door with dead bolt and peephole. I hid the old door in the closet and replaced it when I moved. I also replaced the door leading into the bedroom with the same type door, lock and peephole set up for an instant safe room inside the apartment.      
Don’t forget smoke and carbon monoxide. Keep at least two fully charged fire extinguishers on hand . Also the magnetic break door and window alarmswork well when used to guard the windows and doors leading into the apartment.      
If you are above the second floor an escape ladder or rope should be put back in case of fire. A proper mask should also be considered.      
When we pay rent we are always faced with the possibility of eviction. If possible keep the rent paid up at least six months or more in advance. If you have no other way of paying in advance, borrowing the money from the bank will keep you sheltered during hard times. I hate debt but this is on area where it could be to your advantage depending on your personal circumstances and how you work the situation.      
Going mobile could be an option for the city survivor, but fuel would become a problem post peak-oil. Like everything else in life we must weigh the good against the bad and make our choices based on that knowledge. If you are interested in this, a great information can be found here.      

Urban Survival Weapons

Defense in the city will likely be a short-range engagement. For city work I recommend a good pump shotgun and a handgun. The Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 with 18 inch barrel are both excellent choices. The double-barreled coach guns should also be considered. For versatility put back a verity of shot loading as well as buckshot and rifled slugs.      
Handguns should be at least .38 caliber or above. I like both revolvers and semi autos, in skilled hands both can be effective. Stay with what you know and practice. If you have had little or no training in this area seek out a competent instructor and become qualified. If you are fortunate enough to live in a state that issues concealed carry permits, you should apply for yours as soon as possible.      
My favorite foraging tool in urban areas is the Springfield Armory M6 scout. It was developed for the U.S. Air Force as a survival tool for downed pilots and works well in that role. I think the main advantage this little rifle has over others is the fact it can be broken down or folded up and hidden in a backpack until needed.      

Wild Game in Urban Survival  Planning 

As the human population continues to decline, look for a huge increase in the number of wild and semi-wild animals. Mostly small game such as rabbit and squirrel but what most people fail to realize is that the outskirts of most urban centers harbor a good number of whitetail deer.      
Small game can be taken with traps, air rifles, slingshots or ever killed with a club or rock. When I lived on a lot in a small city I shoot squirrels that found their way into my back lot with a .22 caliber single rifle loaded with CB caps, (down-loaded .22 rimfire ammo) the little rounds are very quiet and can take most small animals out to about ten yards. Deer can easily be snared or shot.      
Look for huge numbers of semi-domestic dogs and cats to populate urban areas after a collapse. If you can get past the thought and your own limitations these can be good sources of meat. Dogs can be caught in snares and cats are easy to trap using homemade box traps.      
Most cities have an abundant pigeon population. It is a simple matter to follow the flock to their roost at dusk. Shinning a light into their eyes they tend to set still where they can be caught or killed with little trouble. Air guns and sling shots work well.      
Without a doubt the most abundant source of meat in any urban environment is the common rat. They have thrived under even the most challenging circumstances. It is almost a certainty if there are human survivors after any catastrophe rats will be in abundance. Like most small animals they can be trapped in homemade box traps or shot.      

The Urban Survival Garden

Don’t expect to support yourself entirely from a city garden, at least not at first. I have raised tomatoes in a window box and hanging baskets on the terrace. Perhaps in time large community gardens would spring up that could be worked by groups of survivors.      
During the first months preceding a collapse gardens will need to be hidden and out of sight. A lot of vegetables are easily mistaken for weeds and are not all that difficult to keep hidden from passers-by.      
The first rule of avoiding detection is to never plant your crops in a row. The three sisters gardening method comes to mind, the some North American Indian tribes used this technique to grow corn, beans and squash to great effect and it acts as a natural camouflage.      
When it comes to survival gardening, obviously we must start with seed; it becomes a necessity to have a source of viable seed on hand. Look for non-hybrid (“heirloom”) varieties, you want to be sure the seed saved from year to year will breed true and continue to do so. Hybrid varieties for the most part are unpredictable and seem to only do well during the first year of planting.      
Most garden varieties should be included in your stock. Include such vegetables as: artichoke, asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, corn, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, gourds, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard green, onions, parsley, parsnips, peanuts, peas, peppers, pumpkin, radishes, soybeans, spinach, squash, sunflowers, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnip, watermelon, zucchini etc; In general put back seeds that grow well in your area and of foods you like to eat.      

Conclusion

Even in the most populated areas after the rioting, burning and looting subsides there will be survivors. The most difficult part is surviving the first few months after the crash, and then the rebuilding can begin.

Prepper List : Ten MORE Things To Do Now

You may remember my post “10 things to do now!“, if not go read it before continuing – go on I’ll wait… Done. great. Now let’s go back to the shopping center with another survival food and gear list and ten more things to do now. Ready? Great.

1. Go to the grocery department and pick up 5 lbs of powdered milk or the equivalent of canned, now go over to the next aisles and throw in 5 lbs of rolled oats and a case of Ramen noodles. Ramen noodles aren’t the most nutritional food but they are cheap, add bulk to the diet and store well –  just don’t rely on them to provide all your nutritional needs. And don’t forget a good manual can opener.

2. While you’re in the grocery department be sure to pick up an assortment of spices to taste, such as Basil, Chili powder, Cinnamon, Garlic, Sage, Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme and Black Pepper. Spices can go along way toward making unfamiliar foods palatable. Also, while you’re in that area add 5 or more lbs of salt to your shopping cart, as you know salt has 101 uses.

3. Okay, counting what you bought during our first trip to the shopping center, that should do it for the grocery. Now go over to the area near the pharmacy and pick up 3 large tubes of toothpaste, 3 brushes, 100 double edge razor blades, (note: if you don’t have a razor you’ll probably have to order one from Amazon.com and don’t forget a brush and bowl), I’ve used this type razor for years and think it is a cheaper long-term solution than disposable.

While your there, add the most comprehensive first-aid kit that you can find to your cart and don’t forget over the counter pain meds (Tylenol, aspirin etc.). If you’re a woman (or have one in your life) go over a few shelves and pick up enough “feminine” supplies to last three months or longer.

4. With all that food in your pantry its only a matter of time before you have to poop. I know, its shocking but we all do it.  If you have a water source such as a stream or lake nearby you can still use the toilet in your bathroom, all you have to do is manually fill the tank in back and flush as usual. If this isn’t an option, you’ll need to look for other alternatives such as the Portable Toilets sold in the sporting goods department or making a  sawdust toilet from a five-gallon bucket.

5. What’s next? You guessed it toilet paper. If you poop you need to wipe, if not you probably need to start. You could use a corncob, cloth, Roman sponge on a stick or paper from discarded books or newspapers but I would wager most of you prefer the softness of Angle Soft. Get enough to last at least a month, more if possible and remember women need more than men so plan accordingly.

6. While you are in that area of the store pick up a supply of disposable plates, bowls and plastic utensils. Don’t go overboard here but having a small stockpile of these items on hand can save a lot of water that would otherwise be used to wash dishes. Also add two or more gallons of regular, unscented bleach to your cart.

7. This is a biggie and can’t be done (legally) at the department store pharmacy without the signature of a doctor – that is stocking up on prescription meds.  Getting more than a 30 day supply, at least in the U.S., can be difficult if not impossible. But there are ways to get most of what you need for long-term survival. See this post and this one and this book (note: some of the information in the book is dated but there is still good advice to be found).

8. Now push your cart (man this thing is getting heavy) over to the hardware department of the store and pick up a carpenters hammer, vice grips, adjustable wrench, screw driver set, duct tape, electrical tape, axe, pry bar, crosscut saw, hacksaw and large can of WD-40. This is your bare minimum survival tool kit.

9. After you get your tool kit, go over to sporting goods and in the camping supply aisle pick up a propane camp stove and 5 or more 1 pound propane cylinders or a bulk 20 lb tank and hose adaptor - yes the pressure in the small bottles is the same as a 20 lb cylinder or even 100 lb tank, just be sure to get the proper adapter and hose assembly. Another alternative and the one I prefer is the Volcano Stove because I can use propane, wood and charcoal.

10. Okay, we are just about done for today – only a few more steps pushing the cart and you’ll be out the door. You’ll need a way to keep in touch with your group so go to the electronics department and pick up the best two-way radios that you can afford – I have these. Don’t forget a battery-powered radio and extra batteries for both. While not necessary, I prefer a radio capable of receiving AM/FM and shortwave broadcasts – I have this one.

This shopping list will have you better prepared than probably 90% of the U.S. but it should not be signify the end of your preps only a good start. There’s always something to do and learn never become complacent – remember the quote “On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of those who on the very threshold of victory sat down to rest, and while resting died.”

What did I leave out? What would you add? Let us know in the comments below.

Prepper List : 10 Things To Do Now!

No matter how much I beg, some of you, no doubt haven’t done anything to prepare (you know who you are). I don’t know what else to do. All I can do is give you the information, it’s up to you to act. No one can do it for you.

No doubt some of you are intimidated by my repeated suggestions of storing and using whole grains. If it doesn’t come from the supermarket shelf it’s strange and unfamiliar and you want no part of it. Fair enough.
But you still need to prepare. Here are ten things that you can do right now  that will make you better prepared than probably 90% of the population.
And everything is available at your local shopping center – so it’s easy. You can do all ten steps at once or divide each into a separate week and shopping trip. But you need to get it done as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that this is only a starting point and isn’t presented here as a completed list.
1. Head to the nearest Wal-mart, Kmart, Costco or whatever and pick-up 20 lbs of white or brown rice and 20 lbs of pinto beans. White rice has a better storage life while brown rice has more nutritional benefits – your choice.
2. While you’re there grab 5 lbs mixed beans, 5 lbs of white sugar, 5 lbs of iodized salt, one gallon of olive oil (can be frozen to extend shelf-life), 5 lbs oats, 10 lbs each of white or wheat flour and cornmeal.
3. Now head over to the canned foods and pick-up 20 cans of canned fruits and 20 cans of canned vegetables. Be sure to buy only those brands and contents you normally eat and nothing exotic. No need to shock the senses.
4. Now over to the canned meats. Pick-up 20 cans of various meats, salmon, stews, spam and tuna. Again buy only those brands with contents you normally eat and nothing exotic.
5. Okay. Now to the to the peanut butter shelf and toss two 40-ounce jars in the cart.  The listed shelf life is just over two years and each jar has over 6,000 calories. Peanut butter is an excellent instant survival food.
6. Over to the powdered drink mix – go on I’ll wait…Okay, pick up two 72 Ounce Tang Orange drink canisters (provides 100% of the US RDA vitamin C requirement per 8 oz. glass). Also grab six 19-Ounce Containers of Kool-Aid Drink Mix.
7. Off to the vitamin and supplement aisle, pick up 400 tablets “one a day” multivitamin and mineral supplements. I buy this brand at the local Wal-Mart - comes in 200 count bottle for $8 each.
8. Now to the department we all love – sporting goods. Go to the camping aisle and pick up 4 five gallon water containers. Fill with tap water as soon as you get back home.
9. While you’re there buy 250 rounds of ammunition for your primary defensive weapon. More if you can, but this should be a good start.  Also a good universal cleaning kit.
10. And lastly pick up  the best LED flashlight you can afford, extra batteries and bulb. Also grab two boxes of wooden matches and several multi-purpose lighters.
Don’t forget to date, use and rotate – remember first in first out. Let’s get started.
What would you add to the list?

Bug Out Bag Guns (What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You)

I’m not a big fan of the bug out bag survival strategy. In a nutshell you’re voluntarily becoming, a refugee, but looking at the recent disasters in New Orléans and Haiti it is obvious that a bug out bag and get out of dodge strategy are not only needed but required for anyone who is prepared.

A few days ago we talked about bugging out with children and several months ago, I went into detail about my bug out bag contents.
When reading such lists it is important to keep in mind that any list is only a suggestion. Everyone should look at their skills, situation, security monitoring , and location and then plan accordingly. In most cases you are better off bugging in not out.
No two bug out strategies will be the same, nor will the contents of the bug out bag. Your bug out bag should be put together with your personal situation and needs in mind – only then will it will be effective.
Today we will take a quick look at choosing guns for the bug out bag. Anytime, I mention firearms or survival guns I get flooded with comments from readers giving their suggestions and advice.
I hope this post will elicit such a response. If you have suggestions or questions, by all means feel free to post them in the comments below. Please keep in mind that we are only discussing the head for the hills concept, and not the other possibilities available to the survivor.
Most will suggest a .22 caliber rifle and often this is a prudent choice. A .22 caliber rifle can take small game as well as larger game such as deer with proper shot placement.
For foraging purposes, firearms such as the Remington International 410 Ga/22 LR Over & Under are difficult to beat.
With the addition of the 410 Ga shotgun being a significant advantage over having just to 22 LR. ammunition is cheap and lightweight when compared to other rounds and packing several thousand rounds in a bug-out bag isn’t out of the question.
Another advantage is relatively low report especially when using CB caps and the ability to be effectively silenced with a homemade sound suppressor.
Just remembered that such a device is illegal without proper government approval and will land you behind bars if caught, and is suggested here for a worst case scenario only.
The downside of the .22 Long rifle round is limited range, penetration and stopping power when used in a self-defense mode.
I suggest a backup handgun chambered for a cartridge suitable for self-defense . I would not go below a 9 mm or 38 special here. Anything less powerful isn’t enough.
Even with a 9 mm and 38 special, I would seriously consider using only the + P rounds such as the 115 or 124 grain JHP +P in the 9 mm or 158-grain lead semi-wadcutter hollow point .38 Special +P for defensive purposes .
Your location would also determine weapons choice. For example those bugging-out in grizzly country should definitely consider something more powerful than the aforementioned 9 mm or 38 special.
My first choice for protection against such large game would be a center fire rifle chambered for 30.06 or larger. My second choice would be a magnum revolver with a 5.5″ to 7.5″ barrel chambered for .44 Magnum or larger.
I think it is wise to avoid any armed confrontation if possible. Trust me you are not a coward if you avoid the possibility of being shot in the head. You are not expendable – neither are the lives of your family or those in your bug out group. Those with the macho kill ‘em all attitude will not last very long.
With that being said, a semi-auto military type rifle could be considered especially if you are trying to get from an urban area to the country, where facing organized gangs or other threats attempting to block your exit could be a possibility.
An AR-15 with collapsible buttstock or folding stocked AK-74 could help get you out of a dangerous situation.
What are your thoughts or choices for bug-out firearms? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below…

The Best SHTF Gun Finally Revealed!

The issue of the best SHTF gun is like my ex-wife it’s been worked top to bottom, bottom to top and side to side and back again, it is nothing new.  

Some will say a .22 rifle or shotgun, others will suggest an AR-15 or some other center-fire magazine fed rifle and a few will tell you a bolt-action is the most logical choice.

While they aren’t wrong – at least under certain circumstances, they fail to see the big picture or fail to realize what really happens after a collapse.  

9mm automatic pistol. The brand is your preference, I love the Sig226 as it is perfectly reliable but very expensive. I fire it at work, but one of my own is still on my wish list. I have my standard issue Beretta from work and a Hi-Point of my own. 9mm is the most common ammo around. The US and NATO use it as do about 70% of law enforcement offices throughout the US. Ammo has a good balance of availability, cost, capacity and stopping power. Alright: 40 and 45 lovers come and get me.
2nd weapon: another 9mm automatic. Better to have 2 than one. You may be disarmed or a small part of your weapon may break. Have one on you and one close by in a car or home.
9mm Carbine. I love the Hi-Point 995. The Beretta Storm may be better, but I haven’t put the money into it. I love the old west concept of a rifle/pistol combo that uses the same ammo. Even better is a combo that uses the same mags (15rds or more). The Kel-Tec Sub2000 is ugly as sin, but it is cheap and can even fold and hide in a small computer bag
I love my M4 at work, but again haven’t put the money into it. Most others have already pointed out that it most engagements will be at close range. The M4 has a great compromise of close quarters ability with the capability to reach out to 300m for the practiced marksman. I’ll stick with the 9mm due to cost and availability of ammo.
.22lr semi-automatic rifle. I have a bolt action Winchester 69 that was handed down from my grandfather. A semi-auto would be better, but the bolt action is fine for varmint hunting. It is light, non intimidating, quiet and deadly accurate to 100m. And, as several of you have stated, the ammo is dirt cheap and available everywhere. This is great for practice, practice, and more practice. It is also a good rifle for older kids and small women. After SHTF you even a small-budget survivor like me will have buckets of ammo for hunting and occasional practice without announcing yourself to the entire neighborhood.
7.62×39. AK, SKS, other… These are available for under $250 and will put a big hole in a bad guy. Ammo is plentiful and cheap. Not sexy like the CAR-15, but more economical. You can also dress it up with aftermarket stocks, grips, sights, lights, etc just like an AR.
7.62×54. A big, bolt action rifle has its advantages. 30-06, 308, etc are just as good, but I found a Mosin-Nagant 91-30 for $99 still in the packing grease. I put a sight and a bipod on it and I can put a hole through a head or heart at over 500m. The ammo is plentiful and inexpensive and it will stop a moose. Accuracy, ammo availability, economics, stopping power: best high caliber long rifle for my SHTF list.
Shotgun. 12 gauge Remington 870 for me. Nothing will make an intruder leave like the sound of a shotgun racking a round. I don’t trust automatic shotguns in a life or death situation. I have a mix of 1-1 buck and slug mix in mine. Great combo of spread and knockout power. I prefer my pistol or carbine most of the time to a cumbersome shotgun.
Other stuff I keep around are pump bb guns (squirrel anyone?) and an array of sharp edge weapons. The bbs are almost close to free and can kill small food game without giving away your position to anyone more than a few dozen yards away. Machetes and Gurkha Kukris can be carried in the woods/garden in the pre-SHTF world without raising eyebrows and are great for clearing brush or defending oneself. I also always have a multitool and a small knife on me and in the car.
Before you spend 1500 on an AR-15 and all the lickey-chewies to go on it, ask yourself if you have water, food, radio, camp stove, and a plan to get through the first weeks of a SHTF scenario. Have a budget, a prioritized plan, and start preparing for what we hope will never happen.

Pinto Beans What You Should Knows

We all know that the pinto bean is a wonderful source of fiber and protein, but fewer people know that it is a great source of B vitamins which are vital for new tissue growth and repair. Vitamin B also helps us maintain an “upbeat attitude” and helps us deal with stress. The pinto bean contains calcium and is also full of many other micro-nutrients which are also important for overall health.

You can see why this makes the pinto bean a wonderful, (and as M.D Creekmore has pointed out, very affordable) addition to your food storage. Cooking with beans is not something that a lot of us grew up with though, leaving many at a loss as to what to do with them. I know that at first my only recipe was chili. And while chili is very good, it can’t be served to your family everyday, unless you want open revolt or everyone finding an excuse to be elsewhere at supper. But maybe that was just my family.
Anyway, I began looking for alternatives and have been very pleased with the “discoveries” I have made. I found that it is very easy to use pinto beans in day-to-day baking.
Muffins are especially easy to adapt, simply replace half the oil or margarine a recipe calls for with one cup well mashed pinto beans, and trust me, no one will know. The muffins will be wonderfully moist, yet not too crumbly, and your family will be getting the benefits of pinto beans while enjoying a snack. Muffins made with whole wheat flour and pinto beans also make a great breakfast, the fiber and protein fill you up and give you lasting energy. Basic Pinto Bean Muffins, 2 cups whole wheat flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup mashed pinto beans, 2 eggs, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a bowl. Set aside. Blend eggs, oil, milk and mashed pinto beans well, using a wire whisk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry all at once, stirring only until the ingredients are moistened, batter will be lumpy. Fill muffin tins 1/2 full and bake at 400 F for 20 to 25 minutes. Makes 12.
You can see the basic pinto bean muffins recipe is almost identical to a regular muffin recipe. For additional flavour, just add your favorite spices, or omit the sugar and add sharp cheese and diced onion for a savory muffin. You can see how easy it is to add pinto beans (omitting 1/2 the oil) to your favorite recipe.
Pinto Beans can also be added to cookie recipes using the same formula, but just be aware that the cookies will be cake-like, and not “crispy chewy”. In the hard times to come, making “every bite count” will be vitally important. Pinto Beans should be an important part of your storage, and by incorporating them in your day- to -day diet now you will be comfortable using them in creative ways to provide some variety when we have only (or mainly) our food storage items to feed our families.