Before we get stated with this weeks “What did you do to prep this week?” segment, I would like to thank Curtis H, Sherry S and Brenda C for their support via our voluntary subscription service. Thank you.

If you feel that this blog is worth $5 a month to you then you too can join us by signing up here.

I would also like to thank Thomas T. Tinker for the great card and donation via snail mail. Thank you sir, it is appreciated.

Okay, now let me see… Oh, yes, all of the “ITEOTWAWKI-And I Feel Fine” CD’s have been mailed and everyone should receive theirs by the end of next week at the latest.

Now what did I do to prep this week?

• Bought five boxes of Sellier and Bellot#4 buckshot
• Bought five boxes of “tactical” rifled slugs
• Ordered another copy of The Encyclopedia of Country Living, 40th Anniversary Edition (my old copy was worn out)
• Ordered this sign to go along with this one at my entrance gate – helps to keep unwanted visitors away.

Finally, saved enough to buy my “barn” – it’s 9X16.

Well that’s about it for me – what about you, what did YOU do to prep this week? Let us know in the comments below…

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

What did you do to prep this week? Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

Ruger SR22

This is a guest post by JP in MT and entry in our non-fiction writing contest.

Ruger SR22 vs. Walther P22

Last year, with a collection of Browning Buckmarks, I decided I wanted a 22 LR pistol in a smaller, lighter package. The pistol would have to be able to mount a light, use a sound suppressor, be reliable, preferably with adjustable sights, and use my preferred brands and types of ammunition. After some research I narrowed my search to the Walther P22 and the Ruger SR22.

I picked up the Walther first. It came with a threaded barrel (all the 3.5” models come this way), although additional parts were required to actually mount the suppressor (about $30). It had an under-barrel rail to mount the light, available green fiber-optic front sight. Repair parts were fairly available, as were spare magazines (really on-line only for me).

Last week I picked up a Ruger SR22. Again this model came with a threaded barrel (most do not come this way), but also the additional parts to mount the suppressor. It had an under-barrel rail, and parts and magazines are available. No new front sight yet, but I’m sure it will be. Again, I will have to do on-line ordering of parts and spare magazines. Biggest difference up front is the price; about $85 more for a new Walther (although I have seen some on the used market). So, cost is about $415-460 for a new Walther and $335-370 for a new Ruger.

I have a shooting partner with Arthritis issues in his and his wife’s hands so the 22 LR pistol has been a well looked at option for a carry pistol for both. Mostly I will be carrying mine in the field, along with at least one other weapon. In both cases the weight is an issue.

With ammo, these guns had to reliably use our “standard” 22 LR ammo: Aguila 60 gr sub-sonic, Winchester 40 gr HP Power Point, Remington 36 gr HP sub-sonic, and Federal 36 gr HP (our preferred bulk buy load). Based upon previous tests of our battery of 22 LR firearms, including the Ruger 10/22, these are our “preferred” ammo types. As with the standard Ruger 10/22, both these pistols come with a standard 1/16” twist rate.

Specifications:

• Ruger SR22 Walther P22
• Barrel: 3.50” 3.42” (5” available)
• Length: 6.40” 6.30”
• Height: 4.90” 4.50”
• Width: 1.29” 1.10”
• Weight: 17.50 oz 15.10 oz
• Specifics, Walther P22:

Un-official test results at the range. Both weapons operated without a single misfire, failure to feed, or failure to eject with all of the standard ammo. Both weapons cycled reliably with the 2 brands of sub-sonic ammo (some won’t cycle the action). Accuracy, while not measured from the bench (the range is currently unavailable to me) was from a 2-hand hold, in a secure semi-seated position and from a supported standing position (the 2 that I will use most commonly). Results were generally within a 3” circle at 10 yards. I also fired some Remington High Velocity, CCI Stingers, PMC Zapper, Remington Thunderbolt, Winchester Super Speed, and unbranded Russian cartridges. Both weapons functioned with all of the above, with zero additional failures.

I put about 200 rounds of all brands through both guns. Again no, non-operator induced malfunctions.

Likes, Ruger. Boy did this box come filled. It not only came with everything I needed to use it with a suppressor, it came with replacement magazine bases, a zippered case, and long padlock that is actually usable for something besides a cheap gun lock.

Walther P22

The grip can be changed out by sliding the old grip off and sliding a new one on (provided). This operation is a bit sticky the first time or tow, but gets easier with time. Since the DW and I liked the original one, we have not changed to the optional one. This grip is slightly longer and has a slightly larger diameter than the Walther. All of us (4) preferred the feel of this over the Walther. The gun feels slightly heavier, more substantial. Think of the feel of a Walther PPK/s only in steel and plastic vs. all steel.

The trigger reach is slightly shorter on the Ruger, a plus for us with shorter fingers. When loaded and cocked, both pistol’s trigger was far enough back to be comfortable.

Dislikes, Ruger. As I said it is slightly larger and heavier in feel. This becomes a personal preference. Both guns suffer from a need to remove the suppressor adapter to remove the slide for better cleaning.

Likes, Walther. It is a little smaller and lighter. It comes in a fitted plastic case. It has been around for a while and you can convert it to a 5” barrel if you like. There are more accessories, including specifically made laser sights and different fiber-optic sights available on the secondary market. I found an aftermarket company that makes good quality replacement magazines for one-half the cost of original manufacture’s ones. There is also a holster that holds a suppressor and a spare magazine. Although I can make it work for the Ruger if I want, it’s currently not available in that configuration. (This holster fits my personal requirements for the use of the gun, including mounting a light to the pistol.)

The Walther can also be carried with the safety on, a round in the chamber, and the hammer back (Condition One). The Ruger has the hammer down with the safety on. As a matter of personal preference (and a 1911 aficionado) I like Condition One. But most Double Action Pistols don’t allow this so for most people it is an unknown issue (the Taurus 92/96 and the CZ 75B are the only ones that come to mind). And in my intended uses this should not be an issue.

Dislikes, Walther. The magazine release is different from a convention pistol. It is incorporated into the rear of the trigger guard. It works, it’s just different.

Summary. Either weapon would serve the purpose that I was looking for. Both were very “portable”. For me and mine we found that the slightly longer grip was just enough to make it more comfortable. The same with the diameter of the grip the grip, although the Walther has an adapter (included) it only makes the grip longer, and the “fatter” filled my Med-Large hand better. If bought new, the Walther P22 will cost you a little more (about 15-20%) but I have seen gently used ones at the gun show for $350 (once as little as $200). The Ruger is too new to show up used yet (short of a personal financial issue, new-to-the-market guns that don’t have “issues”, rarely show up for a couple of years at gun shows).

Personally, it looks like we will be having Rugers replacing Walthers at my house.

This is an entry in our nonfiction writing contest – This contest will end on June 29 2013  – prizes include:

• First Place winner will receive - A $250 dollar gift certificate courtesy of LPC Survival that is good for $250 off anything on their site, A WonderMill Electric Grain Mill courtesy of Kitchen Kneads, and a $150 gift card for Winchester Ammo from LuckyGunner.
• Second Place winner will receive – Two Emergency Seed Banks (stored in military ammo cans) with over 33 varieties of non-hybrid garden seed courtesy of The Survivalist Blog.net from M.D. Creekmore’s personal seed stash. A $260 value.
• Third Place winner will receive -  a one year subscription to Personal VPN service courtesy of unspyable and a copy of my book 31 Days to Survival: A Complete Plan for Emergency Preparedness.

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

Ruger SR22 vs. Walther P22 : What You Should Know Before You Buy Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

Please explain your answer in the comments below.

btw if you have an idea for a great poll question please email it to me… thanks.

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

Friday poll: What is your preferred home defense weapon? Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

by Michael Snyder Economic Collapse Blog

The middle class American worker is in danger of becoming an endangered species.  The politicians are not telling you the truth, and the mainstream media is certainly not telling you the truth, but the reality is that there is nothing but bad news on the horizon for workers in the United States.

In the old days, when the big corporations that dominate our society did well, that also meant good things for American workers since those corporations would need more of us to work for them.  But in the emerging one world economic system that our economy is being merged into, those corporations have other choices now.  For instance, the big corporations can now choose to limit the number of “expensive” American workers that they employ by shipping millions of jobs to the other side of the world.  And from their perspective, it makes perfect sense.

They can make much bigger profits by hiring people on the other side of the planet to work for them for less than a dollar an hour.  If they can get good production out of those people, then why should they hire Americans for ten to twenty times as much, plus have to give those Americans health insurance and other benefits?  Another major factor in the slow, agonizing death of the American worker is technology.  We live during a period when technology is advancing at a pace that is almost unimaginable at the same time that it is steadily becoming cheaper and cheaper.

That means that it is going to become easier and easier for companies to replace workers with robots and computers.  As I have written about previously, it is being projected that our economy will lose millions of jobs to technology in the coming years.  Yes, some of us will still be needed to help build the robots and the computers, but not all of us will.  And of course the overall general weakness of the economy is not helping matters either.  The American people inherited the greatest economic machine in the history of the world, and we have wrecked it.  Decades of very foolish decisions have resulted in the period of steady economic decline that we are experiencing now.

America is simply not the economic powerhouse that it once was.  Back in 2001, the U.S. economy accounted for 31.8 percent of global GDP.  By 2011, the U.S. economy only accounted for 21.6 percent of global GDP.  That is a collapse any way that you want to look at it.

Today, American workers are living in an economy that is rapidly declining, and their jobs are steadily being stolen by robots, computers and foreign workers that live in countries where it is legal to pay slave labor wages.  Politicians from both political parties refuse to do anything to stop the bleeding because they think that the status quo is working just great.

So don’t expect things to get better any time soon.

The following are 10 amazing charts that demonstrate the slow, agonizing death of the American worker…

#1 Wages And Salaries As A Percentage Of GDP

As you can see, wages as a percentage of GDP are hovering near an all-time record low.  That means that American workers are bringing home a smaller share of the economic pie than ever before.

#2 Average Annual Hours Worked Per Employed Person In The United States

We are an economy that is rapidly trading good paying full-time jobs for low paying part-time jobs.  The decline in average annual hours worked that we have witnessed represents the equivalent of losing millions of jobs.  There has been an explosion of “the working poor” in the United States, and this trend is probably only going to accelerate in the years to come.

#3 Manufacturing Employment

As you can see, there are less Americans working in manufacturing today than there was in 1950 even though the population of the country has more than doubled since then.  The United States has lost more than 56,000 manufacturing facilities since 2001, and yet our politicians stand around and do nothing about it.

#4 Employment-Population Ratio

This is one of my favorite charts.  It shows that there has been absolutely no employment recovery at all since the end of the last recession.  The percentage of working age Americans that have a job has stayed under 59 percent for 44 months in a row.  How much worse will things get when the next major economic downturn strikes?

#5 Labor Force Participation Rate

This is how the Obama administration is getting the “unemployment rate” to magically go down.  They are pretending that millions upon millions of Americans simply do not want to work anymore.  As you will notice, the decline of the labor force participation rate has accelerated greatly since Barack Obama entered the White House.

#6 Duration Of Unemployment

The average amount of time that it takes an unemployed worker to find a new job has declined slightly, but it is still far above normal historical levels.  It is a crying shame that it takes the average unemployed worker two-thirds of a year to find a new job, but this is the new economic reality that we are all living in.

#7 Delinquency Rate On Residential Mortgages

Since there are not enough jobs for all of us, and since our wages are not rising as rapidly as the cost of living is, a whole bunch of us are falling behind on our mortgages.  As you can see, the mortgage delinquency rate has only dropped slightly and is still way, way above typical levels.

#8 New Homes Sold

American workers also don’t have enough money to go out and buy new homes either.  Yes, new home sales have rebounded slightly this year, but we are nowhere near where we used to be.

#9 Consumer Credit

Millions of American families continue to resort to going into debt in a desperate attempt to make ends meet.  After a slight interruption during the last recession, consumer credit once again is growing at a frightening pace.

#10 Self-Employment At A Record Low

Since there aren’t enough jobs for everyone, why aren’t more Americans trying to start their own businesses?  Well, the reality of the matter is that the government has made it exceedingly difficult to start your own business today.  Taxes, rules, regulations and red tape are choking the life out of millions of small businesses in the United States.  As a result, the percentage of self-employed Americans is at a record low.

As all of these long-term trends continue, the middle class will continue to shrink, poverty in America will continue to explode and government dependence will continue to rise.

The numbers don’t lie.  Today, the number of Americans on Social Security Disability now exceeds the entire population of Greece, and the number of Americans on food stamps now exceeds the entire population of Spain.

We are in the midst of a horrifying economic collapse, and the next major wave of that collapse is rapidly approaching.

Are you ready?

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

10 Amazing Charts That Demonstrate The Slow, Agonizing Death Of The American Worker Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

1. Worst case EMP scenario? Half in U.S. dead : “During a CME, billions of tons of highly charged particles are ejected to interact with Earth’s magnetic field, causing radio blackouts and the shutdown or destruction of vulnerable electrical grid systems and sensitive electronic components. NASA estimates that a direct hit to Earth from one of these enormous flares  would have a catastrophic impact on the nation’s critical infrastructures over a  very wide geographical area. In the first year alone, NASA estimates, such a disaster could cost just the  U.S. upwards of $2 trillion. It also would take from four to 10 years to recover  – if that even would be possible – and affect the lives of some 160 million  people, threatening starvation and death.”

2. U.S. defenseless to ‘back door’ EMP attack : Former U.S. ambassador Henry Cooper, who headed the Strategic Defense Initiative under President Ronald Reagan, has warned that the United States lacks any defense against a “back-door” attack by an enemy using a long-range missile with a nuclear warhead.”

3. Sledgehammer of cyber warfare? EMP attack : “They will hit us with everything – computer viruses, sabotage of critical communications nodes, kinetic strikes on key information systems and a nuclear EMP attack.”

4. Most Americans: I’m immune from disaster : Whether it be the threat of terrorism, an electro-magnetic pulse attack, a flood, a tornado or fire, most Americans apparently believe they are immune. That’s according to a new poll by Zogby Analytics said that only one American in four is concerned that a disaster of some kind will affect his or her community.

5. The Nickel-Hoarding Billionaire : At the time of the mega-purchase of 20 million circulated nickels in 2011, the coins contained 6.8 cents apiece in metallic value per planchet. Nickel and copper have dropped since that time, and the current melt price is just under face value according to the Coinflation web site. Since Bass paid face value for his nickel hoard, there was no downside risk.

6. Tess Pennington’s new cookbook “The Prepper’s Cookbook: 300 Recipes to Turn Your Emergency Food into Nutritious, Delicious, Life-Saving Meals” looks like a real winner and I recommend that you get a copy today. You can visit her website Ready Nutrition for more details or buy her book here.

7. Potential flu pandemic lurks : “A new study from MIT reveals that there are many strains of H3N2 circulating in birds and pigs that are genetically similar to the 1968 strain and have the potential to generate a pandemic if they leap to humans.”

8. Officials Prepare For Another Flu Pandemic — “Just In Case” : “There’s been a buzz of activity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta since scientists got their first samples of a new bird flu virus from China four weeks ago.”

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

Friday miscellany Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

This is a guest post by Mike and entry in our non-fiction writing contest.

Not too long ago M.D. asked the group if he could get some product reviews, and he had a list with suggestions for review. In the list was the Ruger Mini 14, newer style. I got mine about 4 or 5 months ago, and I guess that qualifies as new, or at least the newer style.

What’s different from the previous versions? I don’t think any of the internals changed. Really, the difference is in the sights and the barrel. You can tell a new one from the old one because the new one will have a barrel that’s thicker towards the receiver then it tapers in. The old style has a barrel that’s the same length all the way down.

I guess I should start with why I got a Mini 14 in the first place. There are several reasons for me. I wanted something in the .223 caliber because it’s a common round, because I wanted something I could coyote hunt with, and because all you AR owners in the states seem to be having so much fun with the .223! For me though, an AR-15 was out.

We have a class of weapons known as ‘restricted’ in Canada, and the AR-15 is on that list. That means I couldn’t take my AR out in the field and hunt with. I could only double lock it while transporting it to an approved range and only with something called an ATT, or authorization to transport.

Not to mention that we still have a registry for restricted weapons, but out long gun registry was scrapped. I got my gun license and my first rifle just after the long gun registry was scrapped so my name appears on none of the old copies, and I want it to stay that way.

For non restricted long guns in .223, there were a couple of options. There was the Kel Tec SU-16, a Remington pump .223, and I believe you could get a VZ 58 chambered in .223. I wanted a semi auto, so the Remington was out. I was leaning towards the Kel Tec SU 16 or the VZ 58 for the reason they took AR magazines (you could get a magwell adapter for the VZ) and in Canada there’s a loop hole where as long as a magazine is labeled ‘pistol’ you can use a 10 round mag in a semi auto, otherwise you are restricted to 5 rounds. In the end though, I went with the mini for two reasons:

1. Reliability was not in question with the mini 14. They are many things, and reliable is one of them. The Kel Tec received mixed reviews on quality and longevity and I just haven’t seen too many VZ’s around.
2. The pedigree of the Mini 14. The first time I ever laid eyes on an M1 Garand I fell in love. My love continued to the M14 and the fact the mini 14 used the same mechanicals as the M1 and M14 just in a scaled down and smaller caliber means I love the mini 14 too. Besides, John Garand was a Canadian, and you got to have some national pride. Right?

So, if any of you don’t know what a Ruger Mini 14 looks like, here is a picture of mine:

So, exactly how does the mini 14 perform in my opinion?

Sights:

One of the things with the new mini is it has new sights, so I thought I’d talk about them. It comes with a non adjustable front sight and an adjustable peephole rear sight. Both sights have ‘blades’ on either side to protect them from glare. I’m just guessing at that function, but it seems reasonable. Now, when they work, they work fantastic. But then they don’t’ work so well. Here’s a tip if you decide to buy this rifle. The rear sights will shake itself loose in less than 50 rounds. It’s mounted on a post and secured by one bolt. It will shake itself to the right or left and that’s where you’ll shoot. The first thing you need to do is remove the screw (takes an Allen key), put a dab of the blue lock tight on it (not the red stuff, unless you want trouble) then tighten it back down. Once the lock tight sets you won’t have that issue. The sights also have windage adjustability with screws on either side of the post that use the same size Allen key as the securing bolt. To adjust left or right you must adjust BOTH screws otherwise it will leave a gap and the sight will shake itself around when firing. It’s a good idea if you want it right in the middle to ensure you snug up both screws or it will shift on you with the vibration of shooting.

I will make a note on the scope mount, as you can see I do use a scope. I like the scope mounts and included scope rings. Each scope mount has a tab that goes into a notch in the provided mounts, making a very solid and secure mount.

Accuracy:

It’s not a tack driver. It never was a tack driver. For anyone who buys this thing and then is upset they can’t hit the middle of the target at 1000 yards probably shouldn’t be buying guns at all. The Ruger Mini 14 is called a ranch gun for a reason. It’s made to be a low maintenance reliable gun that you carry around with you in your pick up truck around the farm in case some varmints need killing. I would say though, it’s more accurate than just that. I took a 50 yard pistol target and put it at 100 yards, and that’s where I sighted my scope in. I sighted the scope in and then put a fresh target at 100 yards and took 10 shots (resting the barrel on a block). Two of the 10 hit right in the middle of the target, the rest were scattered around the middle (more low than high) but I’d say the whole group was about 2”. Sorry, I did not take a picture to show you, but I can say that any of those shots would have been in the kill zone of coyote, and definitely a deer. So sure, it’s not a tack driver, but it’s plenty accurate, more than enough, anyways.

Stock and Construction:

The stock of this particular unit is made of a black polymer. You can also get wood if you like. The polymer is light but I feel it’s very strong, and it does not feel cheap at all like a Remington 597 or a Kel Tec. I guess there is a huge difference between polymer and plastic. I’ve had it knocking about the woods on many occasions and it still looks new. The ergonomics are good, the rifle stock fits nicely in my hand and I get a proper cheek weld when sighting down the iron sights. This may change with a very large or very small person. I’m about average height and build and I feel they did a very good job with ergonomics for the majority of people. You can get a blued stock or a stainless steel. I really like the stainless steel. If TSHTF when gun oil and supplies are low, stainless will resist rust much better in the absence of all the awesome gun cleaning and gun oils we have access to now. Sure, it’s shiny and reflective, but you can easily take care of that with some dirt if you really needed to.

The gun easily comes apart by flipping it over, putting a screw driver or punch in the hole in the trigger guard and pushing up. The trigger group comes out and then you can simply remove the stock from the gun. It’s not complicated inside but I will advise to be careful when taking it apart. There is a large return spring along the underside and when you take it out, the part that holds it in that’s closest to the trigger assembly is held in by a loose pin. Turn the receiver either way and it’ll come out and you’ll lose it and you kind of need that little loose pin to keep your spring in place.

Magazines:

I would absolutely love it if Ruger used AR mags. But, they don’t. They use proprietary magazines. In Canada, they are almost impossible to find in anything other than the factory 5 round configurations. Not that it really matters, as we can only put 5 rounds in a semi auto mag at a time up here. I do have a couple of factory 20 rounders that are pinned to 5 (and those pins come out the minute TSHTF and WROL!) but they were $50 a piece. There is only one supplier that regularly gets these magazines, and they get a shipment in about 3 or 4 times a year and the magazines are sold out within a day or two.

Also, the magazines are a bit of a pain. You have to rock them in like an AR mag but it’s not as smooth. It’s easier with a longer mag as you can get a good grip on it. The factory 5 round disappears into the stock, which is something I actually like when shooting the rifle. It’s just tricky to get them in. If you don’t’ angle them in just so, they get stuck and then you’re in for a bit of a struggle. Also, I have one 5 round mag that goes in fine each time and another that’s more finicky. Now, I’ve never had a feed failure yet, so that’s a good thing. I still wish they used AR mags.

Ammunition:

The receiver is marked as .223 caliber. Not Remington .223, .223 caliber. This means that you can feed .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO. I can tell you I’ve fed all sorts of different types of ammo through this gun. American eagle 55 grain FMJ. MFS stainless 55 grain FMJ. MFS 62 grain soft point, and 55 grain hollow point. American eagle tracer rounds. Unidentified 5.56 military surplus I picked up at a local gun show. It eats it all, and it eats it all without complaint. It’s not picky and that’s the way I like it because lets face it, .223 is getting pretty scarce. With the mini 14 you can horde whatever you can get your fingers on and not worry about it.

Shooting:

As a gun enthusiast, I have to say hearing the sound of that receiver closing and chambering that first round is just awesome. It makes that typical gun sound you hear in the movies, or perhaps in a well maintained AR-15. Just beautiful. If fires as slow or as fast as you pull the trigger. I’ve emptied the magazine (5 rounds, I’m a Canadian) in what I swear was less then a second with almost no muzzle climb. I’ve put about 1,000 rounds through it so far and have not had a jam or misfire. The barrel does tend to get pretty hot, but it doesn’t seem to affect the accuracy of the gun at all.

Aftermarket:

As far as aftermarket parts for this rifle, it’s on the same level with the likes of the 10/22, Remington 870 and AR-15. You can get all sorts of stocks in all sorts of configurations. Scopes, mounts, flash suppressors or muzzle breaks (if you need a muzzle break with a .223 caliber you should really start working out). I mostly prefer my rifle stocks to be rifle stocks, but if you want to make this thing tacticool, the only limit is your wallet.

Conclusion:

I think the Ruger Mini 14 is a well built and well made gun. It does exactly what it’s advertised as. It’s a ranch rifle, a field gun, a reliable little buddy that will go into the bush with you and come out none worse for the wear. Sure, the magazine situation kind of sucks, you have to ensure when you field strip it a tiny little pin that’s very loose and 100% necessary to the operation of the rifle doesn’t take a walk, and you have to monkey with the sights to get them to work properly. I paid $830 for the rifle brand new, and I can more than live with those quirks for a gun that is that price and has the kind of reliability that the mini has. I don’t have to worry what ammo I put through it, it’s not picky. I don’t have to worry if it gets rained on, I just wipe it down when I get home and it’s good to go store if I don’t feel like cleaning it that day.

The charging mechanism is smooth, it doesn’t seem to jam and it’s accurate enough. I even think that the rifle is pretty, but beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

From what I’ve read, the mini isn’t as accurate as an AR-15 but it’s a lot less expensive and apparently more reliable. Reliable in that you don’t need to clean it as meticulously to maintain that reliability. I’m sure that will cause arguments from the die hard AR people, but if it’s true than that makes the mini 14 a better TSHTF gun.

I don’t regret buying it, and I think I’ll be keeping it. If you ask me if I recommend it, yes, 100%, but the choice is yours.

This is an entry in our nonfiction writing contest – This contest will end on June 29 2013  – prizes include:

• First Place winner will receive - A $250 dollar gift certificate courtesy of LPC Survival that is good for $250 off anything on their site, A WonderMill Electric Grain Mill courtesy of Kitchen Kneads, and a $150 gift card for Winchester Ammo from LuckyGunner.
• Second Place winner will receive – Two Emergency Seed Banks (stored in military ammo cans) with over 33 varieties of non-hybrid garden seed courtesy of The Survivalist Blog.net from M.D. Creekmore’s personal seed stash. A $260 value.
• Third Place winner will receive -  a one year subscription to Personal VPN service courtesy of unspyable and a copy of my book 31 Days to Survival: A Complete Plan for Emergency Preparedness.

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

Product Review – Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle (New Model) Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

How to build a chicken tractor video 1

How to build a chicken tractor video 2

How to build a chicken tractor video 3

How to build a chicken tractor video 4

How to build a chicken tractor video 5

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

How to build a chicken tractor (videos by bctruck) Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

by Michael Snyder Economic Collapse Blog

When is the economic collapse going to happen?  Just open up your eyes and take a look around the globe.  The next wave of the economic collapse may not have reached Wall Street yet, but it is already deeply affecting billions of lives all over the planet.

Much of Europe has already descended into a deep economic depression, very disturbing economic data is coming out of the second and third largest economies on the globe (China and Japan), and in most of the world economic inequality is growing even though 80 percent of the global population already lives on less than $10 a day.

Just because the Dow has been setting brand new all-time records lately does not mean that everything is okay.  Remember, a bubble is always the biggest right before it bursts.  The next major wave of the economic collapse is already sweeping across Europe and Asia and it is going to devastate the United States as well.  I hope that you are ready.

The following are 10 scenes from the economic collapse that is sweeping across the planet…

#1 27 Percent Unemployment/60 Percent Youth Unemployment In Greece

The economic depression in Europe just continues to get worse with each passing month.  According to the Daily Mail, the unemployment rate in Greece has nearly tripled since 2009…

Greek youth unemployment rose above 60 per cent for the first time in February, reflecting the pain caused by the country’s crippling recession after years of austerity under its international bailout.

Greece’s jobless rate has almost tripled since the country’s debt crisis emerged in 2009 and was more than twice the euro zone’s average unemployment reading of 12.1 percent in March.

While the overall unemployment rate rose to 27 per cent, according to statistics service data released on Thursday, joblessness among those aged between 15 and 24 jumped to 64.2 percent in February from 59.3 percent in January.

#2 Detroit, Michigan Is Insolvent And Is Rapidly Running Out Of Cash

I love to write about Detroit because it is a perfect example of where the rest of the country is headed.  They have just gotten there first.  At this point, Detroit is essentially bankrupt, and the new emergency financial manager is saying that Detroit may totally run out of cash next month…

Detroit may run out of cash next month and must cut long-term debt and retiree obligations, according to emergency financial manager Kevyn Orr’s preliminary plan to save Michigan’s largest city from bankruptcy.

Orr’s report says the cost of $9.4 billion in bond, pension and other long-term liabilities is sapping the ability to provide public safety and transportation. He listed cutting debt principal, retiree benefits and jobs among his options.

“No one should underestimate the severity of the financial crisis,” Orr said yesterday in a statement. He called his report “a sobering wake-up call about the dire financial straits the city of Detroit faces.”

#3 Economic Despair In France

France is going down the same path that Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy have gone.  The following is an excerpt from a recent article in the Economist…

HELDER PEREIRA is a young man with no work and few prospects: a 21-year-old who failed to graduate from high school and lost his job on a building site four months ago. With his savings about to run out, he has come to his local employment centre in the Paris suburb of Sevran to sign on for benefits and to get help finding something to do. He’ll get the cash. Work is another matter. Youth unemployment in Sevran is over 40%.

#4 7,000 Abandoned Buildings In Dayton, Ohio

All over the upper Midwest, there are formerly great cities that are dealing with thousands of abandoned buildings.  Dayton, Ohio is one example…

Like many urban cities in recent years, Dayton still finds itself knee-deep in abandoned, dilapidated properties as the result of the foreclosure crisis and economic downturn five years ago.

Boarded up buildings that appear to be on their last legs litter the city as it attempts to recover.

Kevin Powell, the city’s acting manager of housing inspection, says officials plan to use $5.2 million — half from the state’s Moving Ohio Forward program and a matching grant from the city’s general fund — to raze 475 abandoned properties by the end of September.

That will scratch the surface of an estimated 7,000 abandoned property problem that is growing.

#5 Overwhelmed By Squatters In Spain

In Spain, unemployment is rampant and people have become incredibly desperate.  In fact, in some Spanish cities you can now find entire apartment buildings that are being overwhelmed by squatters…

A 285-unit apartment complex in Parla, less than half an hour’s drive from Madrid, should be an ideal target for investors seeking cheap property in Spain. Unfortunately, two thirds of the building generates zero revenue because it’s overrun by squatters.

“This is happening all over the country,” said Jose Maria Fraile, the town’s mayor, who estimates only 100 apartments in the block built for the council have rental contracts, and not all of those tenants are paying either. “People lost their jobs, they can’t pay mortgages or rent so they lost their homes and this has produced a tide of squatters.”

#6 The Collapse Of Chinese Power Consumption

Energy consumption tends to closely mirror economic activity.  That is why the recent collapse of Chinese power consumption is so alarming.  The following is from Zero Hedge…

According to CLSA’s Chris Wood using NEA data, China’s monthly power consumption (the most accurate proxy for underlying economic strength according to the current premier) growth slowed from 5.5% YoY in Jan-Feb 2013 to 1.9% YoY in March, the slowest growth rate since May 2009 (as discussed in-depth here).

#7 Horrible Economic Data Coming Out Of The Second Largest Economy On The Planet

The economic data that has been coming out of the second largest economy on the globe has been quite alarming recently…

For starters, China’s recent economic data, as massaged as it is to the upside, is downright awful. China’s PMI numbers were the worst in two years. Staffing levels in the Chinese service sector decreased for the first time since January 2009 (remember that year).

China’s LEI also shows no sign of recovery. If anything, it indicates China is heading towards an economic slowdown on par with that of 2008. And if you account for the rampant debt fueling China’s economy you could easily argue that China is posting 0% GDP growth today.

#8 One Out Of Every Five U.S. Households On Food Stamps

Back in the 1970s, about one out of every 50 Americans was on food stamps.  Today, even though we are supposedly in the midst of an “economic recovery”, food stamp enrollment continues to soar to new highs.  The following is from CNS News…

The most recent Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) statistics of the number of households receiving food stamps shows that 23,087,886 households participated in January 2013 – an increase of 889,154 families from January 2012 when the number of households totaled 22,188,732.

The most recent statistics from the United States Census Bureau– from December 2012– puts the number of households in the United States at 115,310,000. If you divide 115,310,000 by 23,087,866, that equals one out of every five households now receiving food stamps.

#9 Child Hunger In America

Those that work for the big banks on Wall Street may have no problems feeding their children, but overall there is a rapidly growing child hunger crisis in America today.  Just check out the following statistics from one of my previous articles…

*For the first time ever, more than a million public school students in the United States are homeless.  That number has risen by 57 percent since the 2006-2007 school year.

*In Miami, 45 percent of all children are living in poverty.

*In Cleveland, more than 50 percent of all children are living in poverty.

*According to a recently released report, 60 percent of all children in the city of Detroit are living in poverty.

#10 The Tremendous Suffering Of Hundreds Of Millions Of Desperately Poor People That We Never Hear About

There are billions of people around the globe that are deeply suffering but that do not have a voice.  We usually never hear about the desperate poverty that these people are living in, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t exist.  The following statistics that Stephen Lendman recently compiled should shock and alarm you…

At least 80% live on less than $10 a day. Over three billion people live on less than $2.50 a day. More than 80% live in countries where income disparity is increasing.

The poorest 40% of world population has 5% of global income. The bottom fifth has $1.5%. The top 20% has 75%.

According to UNICEF, 22,000 impoverished children die daily. They “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”

An estimated 28% of children in developing countries are underweight, malnourished and/or stunted.

How can so many people be living like that in a world with such wealth?

Sadly, things are going to get much worse.  The economic and financial systems of the world are rapidly breaking down, and in a few years these are going to look like “the good old days”.

And a growing number of people are starting to realize the direction that things are headed.  For example, according to a survey that has just been released, 48 percent of all Americans believe that the best days of America are now behind us.

So what do you think?

Are our best days behind us, or are they still ahead of us?

Please feel free to post a comment with your thoughts below…

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

10 Scenes From The Economic Collapse That Is Sweeping Across The Planet Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

1. Iran to chair U.N. arms control forum : “Iran will preside over the United Nations arms control forum this month, despite the fact that it is under U.N. sanctions for illicit nuclear activities and routinely supplies arms to the terrorist organization Hezbollah in violation of international law.” What?

2. IRS targeted groups that criticized the government : “At various points over the past two years, Internal Revenue Service officials targeted nonprofit groups that criticized the government and sought to educate Americans about the U.S. Constitution.”

3. False Flag-O-Meter reaches the red zone: Why a government-orchestrated distraction event is highly likely to occur in the next 7 days : “This is a short but urgent warning: A false flag event, an act of war, a bombing or some other headlines-grabbing orchestrated event is very likely to occur in the next seven days precisely because the Obama administration is under intense fire right now and needs a quick distraction. In stage magic, it’s called the “art of misdirection.” In politics, it’s called the “Clinton method.”

4. Parents have no ‘right’ to homeschool their kids, says Justice Department : “Individual liberty is being burned at the stake, as governments set fire to people natural rights. This time it has everything to do with homeschooling.”

5. New SARS? Deadly virus can likely pass person-to-person, WHO says : “World Health Organization (WHO) officials said on Sunday it seemed likely a new coronavirus that has killed at least 18 people in the Middle East and Europe could be passed between humans, but only after prolonged contact.”

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

Tuesday miscellany Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved

“A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” Proverbs 27:12

Before we start I would like to thank Brenda C for her support via our voluntary subscription service ($5.00 per month). And Mike Q for his one time donation via PayPal. Thank you both.

Okay, lets see…

Oh ya…my small batch of 25 ITEOTWAWKI – And I Feel Fine CD’s have all been sold. I will get those mailed out to everyone who ordered next week – thank you. I’m looking into getting one of these to make the process quicker and easier. As it is I do each CD one-at-a-time, and it is a slow process.

What else…

As you all know I’m not worth much when it comes to designing banners, headers and other graphics, so I’m turning to you all once again with a potential design project. I need a 250×250 banner designed that will be used to advertise The Survivalist Blog.net on other related blogs and websites.

If you’re talented at graphic design feel free to give it a shot, I’m sure anything that you design would be better than what I can do myself… If I use your design I’ll send you a grab bag of survival related books and DVD’s that are valued at $100 or more for your effort… Thanks for your help.

Okay, now what did I do to prep this week…

Worked in my garden as usual for this time of year – also my back went out also usual for this time of year…

Received several products from companies in exchange for my mentioning them here… including, 100 + Sniper Exercises, The Poor Man’s Wilderness Survival Kit, Barbed Wire, Barricades, and Bunkers, Glock – The Rise of America’s Gun, Viva Labs Curcumin Complex and a Justice Cap (cap designed to defeat video surveillance).

As you know I’m a big fan of the “Scout Rifle” and own the Savage Scout - well this week, I also bought the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle to even out my “collection”. Now I’m broke but have a new rifle to love and hold… so it’s all good as the kids say…

Well that’s it for me this week – what about YOU. What did YOU do to prep this week? Let us know in the comments below… Well we’re all waiting…

Originally at: The Survivalist Blog.net

What did you do to prep this week? Copyright © TheSurvivalistBlog.net • All Rights Reserved