The Survival Retreat

Keeping Your Prep's Below the Radar is your Greatest Survival Tool - Information Security is the Only Real Security You Have

2012-04-16T08:20:00.009-07:00

Keeping your prep's low key and under the radar can be your greatest tool in increasing your chances of survival. You could have the best shelter or survival retreat in the world but if everyone knows where it is, it probably won't make a difference in a real emergency situation. If your entire neighborhood see's you carrying in two dozen cases of big boxes labeled "MRE's" or the Home Depot truck shows up at your house and drops off two skids of concrete blocks and a pile of 50 pound bags of concrete mix, it doesn't take much for everyone and I mean everyone to know what your doing does it?Information security is the only real security you have if you think about it. No matter how prepared you are you can't hold off an army for ever. Imagine the "government" taking your supplies or weapons for the greater good. Has a bit of a socialist/communist bent to it doesn't it? Not that something like that could ever happen here, that's like saying America would elect a socialist as a president.

Don't blow this off, believe me people give away a lot of information and don't even think about it when its happening. Consider the guy who likes to shoot, not just handguns but rifles. When I go to the range which is a regular occurrence, I try to load my vehicle by going out my back door instead of walking off my front porch carrying two or three obvious rifle cases. Why would anyone flash to the world, "hey I have guns"? Yet I see it all the time. It's almost like people can't help themselves or something, it must make them feel good. How many people do you know that buy whatever it is and then they tell people they are ready for "X"? I know them and so do you. Telling people about your latest purchase is accomplishing what exactly? Do you talk about your preps and tell people how you are storing up whatever it is your putting away for that special day? Why would you do that? The point I'm trying to make is simple, if people don't know you have it, they won't try to take it (whatever "it" is ) from you. A good example of what I mean just happened to me this past weekend. I went to the range with an employee of a sister company, we started talking and I found out that the owner of both organizations had been buying weapons like FNH Scar's for some time and had more than just one or two. I commented on it and the other employee replied that it shouldn't surprise me because XXXX always has a plan for everything, he probably has a secret room under his house. OK, so now I want to see the room.

Don't kid yourself, if things get bad and people get hungry they will come to where they know there is food, if they have to get through you to get the food they will. If the electrical grid goes down, do you really think you won't stand out with your lights blazing away and your generator humming like a tractor? If resources get scarce and others know you have whatever they are looking for you will become a target, count on it. For those of you who live in more rural areas of the country you are not going to be immune from this. People aren't stupid, they know food grows on farms hence they will make their way to farmland sooner or later. If you live in a nice suburb your not immune either. If society collapses it won't be limited to just urban areas, don't fool yourself. Keeping your preps and other supplies out of plain sight and out of mind of other people is the only practical way for most people to make it through a crisis. If you are part of a committed group, fine. If you are talking only to your family and they are helping, fine again. Now obviously you will need to share information in order to coordinate everyone's efforts. The same could be said for your neighbors, if they are working with you fine, if they are just going along with you that's something else completely. Don't think that your neighbors or your neighbors neighbors won't steal from you because they will when they get hungry or tired or cold.

I am a firm believer in being prepared. I have weapons, ammunition, water, food and other supplies I think myself and my family would need in a melt down. What I don't do is discuss this in detail or for that matter much at all with anyone. Take the scenario I mentioned above, this person lives in an upper class area and no doubt went to much trouble to build a "safe room" in his house, he has weapons and other stores and it was all just compromised by an employee who talks too much. Obviously telling me won't hurt anything but if the employee told me how many other people did he tell? His family which is the next door neighbor of this man is comprised of former teachers who are very anti gun. I have met his family and believe me if something bad happens they are the definition of clue less. How long would it be before they are knocking on this mans door? If something happened in the area would they tell the police or military about their neighbor with all the guns and a secret underground bunker? Would you really want to find out if it was you?

There are a lot of things you can do to improve your overall security like varying the sources you purchase your items from. Unload some of them at night or out of sight. Keep your stores out of plain view so someone looking in the window or walking in your front door can't see a room full of food stores or a gun safe sitting out in the open. Pay cash as much as possible to cut down on the records of your purchases. Have items shipped to alternate addresses such as a job or a family members house. When buying over the web have the items held at Fed Ex or UPS so you can pick them up and they don't end up on your front porch for hours in the middle of the day in boxes marked "Be Prepared.Com". If you buy rifles don't toss the boxes out in the trash, bag them first so people don't see those nice white rifle boxes that say "Ruger" all over them. Just as a side note, these boxes most times have the serial number of the gun you purchased taped to the outside so they are easy to read. Just saying.

As I started out saying, keeping your preps below the radar is your only and really the best security you can have in an emergency. Lets hope you don't live through one to see if I'm right.

Could You Survive if the Power Went Off Right Now? Do You Have a Plan to Get Everyone Home Safely When it Does?

2012-04-09T08:41:00.007-07:00

What would you do if the power went off, right now? I mean right now without warning? Are you at work or maybe your spouse is, or better yet maybe your kids are at school or at a friends house? Now what? Have you made the type of emergency scenario plans that include everyone knowing where to go should there be an emergency and you can't communicate with each other? Remember you would not have your cell phone or for that matter not even land line phones. Do you and your family have plans that would allow you to all gather at a safe place in a crisis? If an EMP attack took place how would you react and how would your family fare? The odds are there will not be some type of early warning tipping you off to get ready, it will just happen and how you react could well determine your own survival not to mention the very people whose survival you worry most about.

In the military it would be called a rally point. For most people they simply call it home. The issue at hand is could you and your loved ones all get there in a safe and timely manner in an emergency situation? What could be worse than having a terrorist set off a dirty bomb or worse, in an area near you and you are not with your family and you have no way to communicate with them? I don't know of much that could be. The only real answer is to plan in advance for such an occurrence. An EMP attack is a very real concern just ask our own congress. Could you get home without a vehicle? How long would it take and will the people at your home know you are coming and it could take a day or two? Remember after the 9-11 attacks how people were walking around looking for loved ones putting up posters trying to find them? The same thing happened after Hurricane Katrina. Your plans need to include realistic time frames and what actions you would take once those times has elapsed.

When making plans like this you must keep a few important things in mind. First and foremost is that normal rules no longer apply. I simply mean that once something catastrophic occurs the daily norms of society cease. Accept the fact that either the police or military will have road blocks and check points set up to control specific areas that could be affected or traffic flow in and around those areas. Look for those roadblocks to expand in size and distance as time elapses from the original incident. When it comes to children, do you know your child's schools evacuation and relocation plans because they most certainly have one? Where will your children be taken in an emergency? How long do you have before the school can get the buses there to start evacuating? If you plan on seeing your children in the next few days or maybe even longer you had better know the answer to that question and start making plans on getting there before the buses so you can get your child yourself. If you can't beat the buses how long will it be before you can get to the school's selected evacuation location to pick up your child? One good idea for younger children is to have a written emergency contact list in your child's book bag or back pack so in an emergency if the school can't access their computer system for the information you at least know your child has it handy.

You need to consider yours and your spouses own travel concerns in this type of situation, adults may be better able to deal with problems but having a realistic plan doesn't know what age you are. Don't plan on having cell phones and communications come back in a hurry. Develop plans that make provisions for not being able to communicate with your spouse or loved ones. If you travel a great distance to work or you already know that certain areas are to be avoided in this type of scenario perhaps having a safe stop over or hold over point along the way makes sense. If you are like most people they will be trying to get home, if you can't walk that distance in a day or less, finding a safe place to be able to think, rest and reorient yourself along the route is almost mandatory. If you live by your GPS sitting on your dashboard you are in a world of hurt. An EMP would render them useless. Have a backup map in all your vehicles so you can at least navigate your way to your destination. Many maps can be had that not only cover major roads but they have very detailed local streets and in some cases even dirt roads.

Establish ahead of time what your plans would be and then make sure everyone in your group is on the same page, establish a phone number for everyone to call that is not local. This number can serve as a communications center for you and your family when on the move and you can't reach each other. You would be able to set up check in times and thus get information relaid to one another about your condition and location. Many times you would be able to reach people outside of an affected area much faster, even if they are in another state or the other side of the country. A family member or trusted friend located in what you believe is a "safe" area should be picked out ahead of time, two would be better. Set up a phone tree and make sure everyone knows their part. This phone tree works in reverse as well, they may be calling you instead of you calling them. This is one of those numbers you would have in your kids stuff at school.

Now we know that everything went dark and you get stuck, I'm sure you have your car packed with your 72 hour bag and its ready to go, right? That bag should include a way to hydrate yourself, feed yourself, treat yourself should you get injured or sick, keep yourself warm and dry and last but not least, protect yourself. Be realistic in evaluating your ability to get home period. If you know you live in a vulnerable area setting up an alternate location is a must. Again, everyone in your group should know the plan including this alternate location site. When picking a secondary location make sure you can gain access safely and quickly otherwise the best spot in the world won't work. Having a bunker buried under twenty feet of concrete is great, but the idea that it is 150 miles away ain't so great.

How many of us really knew 30 minutes before the planes crashed into the towers in New York it was going to happen? What I'm driving at is you will always be reacting to events out of your control for the most part. No one is going to get a call saying grab your family and head to your bunker 30 minutes before the bomb goes off and even if they did could they actually accomplish it in 30 minutes? The odds are in a crisis you will find yourself trying to get home worrying about your loved ones and not being able to get in touch with them. Having a good solid workable plan in place will do at least two things. One it will greatly increase your chances of survival as you will be prepared to deal with an emergency when it occurs. Second it will greatly increase your chances of survival because you will know what everyone else is doing and it will let you concentrate on YOU surviving.

Dick Morris asks What Obama is Setting in Motion with His Executive Order on National Defense Resouces Prepardness - Dictatorial Powers?

2012-03-23T09:57:00.005-07:00

In this video by Dick Morris he pretty well sums up Obama's move to get in place a law that allows him to enact martial law without going through congress and questions what his true intentions are. As Morris makes clear these are dictatorial powers.

Obama now has the ability to detain American citizens indefinitely without trail as he signed the Defense Authorization bill on January 1st. Also as Morris pointed out no other president ever did such a thing even in war time, this basically suspends your constitutional rights. Morris goes on to ask what purpose Obama's executive order signed on March 16th regarding National Defense Resources Preparedness really has since this order would allow him to take control of transportation and food industries as well and possibly federalizing the oil industry.

Again, for people who prepare for the worst and hope for the best this should be sending a pretty clear message as to where this administration is looking at going if it needs to. One last thing Morris pointed out that makes a ton of sense. Obama may feel he is going to loose come November, in which case he is more dangerous now than he ever was. Talk about a threat to your survival, this is it in spades.

Obama Wants Control of Your Food & Water - Even in Peacetime, His Executive Order on National Defense Resources Preparedness Makes that Clear

2012-03-19T09:28:00.007-07:00

Breaking down the Executive Order Obama signed on Friday March 16, 2012 I think is in order simply to get the facts out before the administration can spin them. This order is truly a declaration of martial law waiting in the wings to be implemented. The Executive Order called "National Defense Resources Preparedness" has several critical points at issue, not the least of which is what type of powers the order is giving the government in what it calls "potential threats to the security of the United States", remember that phrase. The order signed by Obama differs from orders signed by previous presidents in a few key ways, not the least of which is its broad definitions and when the actions can be implemented and who is deciding on what is a national emergency or a threat to national security. I'll give you a hint, it's the same guy who signed the order. This order appears to be more directed at a scenario of domestic economic turmoil than it is anything else. How prepared are you?

The key issue here is that this order specifically authorizes these actions during "peacetime and in times of national emergency". This is a key phrase since it is authorizing actions during peacetime, something different from previous executive orders issued by other presidents. In order to understand this you need to be aware that the first such order was signed by then President Truman, Executive Order # 10421 dated 12-31-52, was followed by President Nixon on 10-28-69 with Executive Order # 11490. Ronald Reagan signed an updated version in Executive Order # 12656. The key here is that these presidents were operating under the threat of a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. The last time the order was updated was by Bill Clinton in June of 1994, this was Executive Order # 12919. Again, none of these men signed anything saying peacetime in it, yet Obama now feels he should. You need to worry about why that's so important that it needed to be changed and included more than just the content of the order itself.

The differences are stark when compared with the previous orders issued by former presidents, even Clinton. First is that Obama has not even given his Executive Order a number, meaning it is unassigned. Second, this order signed by Obama is as I said above, specifically authorizing actions under peacetime conditions, none of the others did. This order gives the federal government power and control over areas such as "Food Resources". Nice term isn't it? Per the definition in this order "Food Resources" means the following: Means all commodities and products, (simple, mixed or compound), or complements to such commodities or products, that are capable of being ingested by either human beings or animals, irrespective of other uses to which such commodities or products may be put, at all stages of processing from the raw commodity to the products thereof in vendible form for human or animal consumption. Food resources also means potable water packaged in commercially marketable containers, all starches, sugars, vegetable and animal or marine fats and oils, seeds, cotton, hemp and flax fiber, but does not mean such material after it loses its identity as an agricultural commodity or agricultural product.

In simple English this order covers all food and water fit for humans to eat and drink. It further covers what it calls "Food Resource Facilities", which without giving you the entire run down means anyplace anywhere that produces, stores, grows, processes or distributes food stuffs. It also give the federal government control over all means and modes of transportation. The issue is a simple one, in war time this type of order is designed to ensure the country survives, remember this order started during the Cold War, keep that in mind. Even during the Cold War no other president changed the order to include "peacetime". This is truly a federal martial law plan in its basic form. It authorizes the federal government to seize and take control of items and materials for its own uses or as it determines they need to be used. The problem is that it also gives Obama the power to decide what is a national emergency or a threat to the security of the country, which is when the plan can go into action. When this plan does take affect the government can seize items in the name of the greater good or for the preservation of the government and in this case the federal government gets to determine what that is and when its needed. So much for private property rights.

We are talking about a peacetime event here. If you ever wondered why people are stockpiling supplies, this is one prime reason. You have an order signed by the sitting president getting the country ready for economic turmoil more so than it is for terrorism or nuclear war as his predecessors had. It clearly shows what the Obama administration is worried about. It also clearly gives the federal government the authority to take what it feels it needs. That would be a good enough for me to start making plans and completing my preparations as soon as possible. What about you?

Stag Arms Executive Survivor's Kit or ESK - It's Like a Bug Out Bag in a Pelican Case

2012-03-16T05:49:00.007-07:00

You know the more and more you look large companies are getting involved in the survival market. Stag Arms is now doing the same type of thing with a new product they introduced this year. It's called the Executive Survivor's Kit or ESK. Everyone has heard of Stag Arms and their AR-15 platform rifles, now they simply put one together with good components from other makers and created a kit. The kit itself doesn't really contain anything new but it is a nice offer from a weapons manufacturer who obviously recognizes that much of the public is getting concerned over their personal safety, with good reason by the way. This kit is not cheap, about $2000.00 and has a limited distribution so it won't be turning up at your local Wal Mart. Please also keep in mind that the ESK is not made to go into combat with as it has limited supplies, it is also not the TEOTWAWKI gold medal winner. This is however a great starting point for those not so inclined or those who can't put together their own kit. It's more of a bug out bag in a Pelican case.

The Stag ESK is pretty nicely done for something coming from a non-survival supplies company, and before you say something, that does make a difference simply because of their view which changes their approach. The kit is made up of a Stag Model 2 rifle and for optics it comes with an EOTech 517 sight, these sights are a top of the food chain item when it comes to holographic sights. This combination is a great foundation, my personal "trunk" gun is a Stag Model 2 topped with an ACOG and I have seen my 14 year old daughter putting 28 rounds into a golf ball sized target at 50 yards with ease. The rifle itself is not the most expensive AR-15 I own by a long shot but it works well and has never failed. The rifle comes set up in a Pelican case, again this is another top of the line product. The case comes complete with spots for two 30 round magazines which they include, now while I can say that two magazines is not enough this goes back to a "non-survival" company. The case has spots for fours batteries which they also include as well as a spare parts kits. The parts kit I must admit is a bit of a mystery. While having parts to repair your weapon is a smart idea this entire kit is set up for at most being trapped on your way home or work or for someone who is on the road headed to a survival retreat.

Included in the kit is a Gerber multi-tool, a Otis cleaning kit, a flashlight a small first aid kit and here is a nice touch, an MRE. They have also set aside a space in the kit for three boxes of PMC 223 ammunition and a sling. Again, this kit is not a kit to keep you alive and in the fight for more than a short period of time, but with a few changes you could turn it into a really nice set up for in your vehicle. The first thing that comes to mind is more magazines and more ammunition. No matter what the idea is a great one and Stag knows or at least believes it will be a winner with the public. This kit is after all called and Executive Survivor's Kit so as such it is more geared toward someone who is not a "gun" person and who is looking at a one stop answer to being unarmed or needing more than a handgun for protection while on the road. The key to keep in mind is the "on the road" part. If you are at home or in your survival retreat you can and should have much more substantial supplies and equipment than just what is offered in this kit.

What is nice is to see a company such as Stag who no doubt sells plenty of AR-15 rifles as it is, work on a project to address the needs of people who are looking for and may require a solid form of protection. I will grant you that if you are a prepper or involved in the survival mindset this kit may seem pretty primitive with its limited amounts and choice of contents. But no matter the kit is a positive first step for people who may need something simple because they either can't or won't figure out how to build or put together their own set up. Stag should be commended for doing something proactive that can actually help people in a time of need, more companies should consider doing the same.

The Ultimate Bug Out Bag May Be Here - The 5.11 Tactical COVRT M4 - A Survival Product Worth Looking At

2012-03-11T08:19:00.008-07:00

Could the 5.11 Tactical COVRT M4 be the ultimate bug out bag? The short answer is yes. As a survivalist web site we hear from all kinds of people, some of them "experts", on what should be in your bug out bag. But, when it comes to the bag itself no one ever really has a good or for that matter complete answer. Assuming you are prepared or are readying yourself to be able to evacuate in an emergency you no doubt have considered the use of firearms in your trek. While not all preppers will carry a weapon the vast majority will and this is where the COVRT M4 really comes into play.

Bug out bags are just that, a bag you can carry with you that will carry supplies and gear needed for at least three days, 72 hours or there abouts. The conflict always comes in when you need to carry a weapon and your back pack at the same time. The idea of being able to simply walk down any street or road you feel like while carrying a long gun in your hands during a time of crisis is just foolish and if you think you can you really have no idea what your talking about and are living in a fantasy world all your own. If society melts down the police and military will be deployed, make no mistake about that. Imagine walking down an alley in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina with an assault rifle in your hands. What about taking a shortcut through an alley during the L.A. riots? No, you would never have an issue with law enforcement or the military would you? What about the average person looking out a window and here you come strolling down the sidewalk carrying your rifle, would they take you as a threat? Now if that average person is prepared they may very well end up grabbing their own gun and pointing it at you. The 5.11 Tactical COVRT M4 bag attempts to address these issues and more. This bag isn't perfect but its the best I have seen so far.

The bag itself which comes in two colors, blue and dark gray, is about 32" tall and 12" wide and is carried on a single large over the shoulder strap. The bag's main compartment is designed to hold an M4 carbine muzzle down and the stock collapsed. There is another outer compartment that is about 20" tall for carrying other gear such as meals or first aid items. The front of the should strap is designed to take large pouches almost in military form following the MOLLE system. The optional front pouches can even be had to hold a fighting sized handgun. The bag itself can be swung around to your front and the weapon can be drawn if needed without actually taking the bag off, a nice feature to be sure. The muzzle of the rifle is held in place by what they call a muzzle trap which is built into the bottom of the main compartment. The bag also has a stabilizing side strap should you want to use it.

If you pack this bag correctly you can still get your three day supply out of it and be carrying an assault rifle all in the same pack at the same time, not bad. The rifle is kept concealed from view but is ready in a few seconds should you need it. According to 5.11 Tactical the bag was designed for tactical law enforcement and military teams to be able to move around while attracting as little attention as possible. Attracting little to no attention is a survivalist dream. Yes it is true that if someone really takes the time to study you walking down the street they may think to look in the bag because of its sheer size. Yes it is also true that you can't pack everything in it you would like to have in a normal bug out bag. So is this bag absolutely perfect for the task? No. Having said that though I haven't seen anyone else try to take on the issue of moving in the open with a battle rifle being kept out of sight in something other than what is obviously a rifle case. The rifle is not being seen in a threatening manner as it is not in your hands and this does not look like a rifle case to the untrained or uneducated eye. The other issue is that the bag is not cheap, it has a list of $149.95 but can be found most times for about twenty or twenty five dollars less.

Being able to carry your weapon and other needed supplies and gear at the same time in one bag make the COVRT M4 a winner until something else comes along to take its place. It is definitely a survival product worth looking at.

The Zombie Apocalypse Has Brought More Attention to the Survivalist Movement than Anything Since 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina

2012-02-27T06:11:00.006-08:00

Lets be honest, the entire Zombie Apocalypse thing as been a big help to the survival movement as a whole. The Zombie craze started a few years ago and really took off with the 2012 end of the world scenarios. While it's all more or less play acting a lot of good has come from it all. The Zombie invasion if you will, has brought attention in many cases to real world survival concerns that has reached millions of people who otherwise would not give the whole idea a second thought. The Zombie Apocalypse has brought more attention to survival than anything since 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

The idea of a Zombie Apocalypse occurring and people having a way to survive it isn't really all that bad if you think about it. If people prepare for the Zombie attack they no doubt would be able to withstand much more realistic scenarios such as a Pandemic, a major Natural Disaster or Terrorist attack. Again, being honest much not all by the way, of the material printed in various Zombie survival guides are based on sound tactics. A good example is defending your survival retreat, or for that matter keeping a low profile so you don't need to. The concept of being able to defend yourself with more than just firearms or knowing when not to engage an enemy and slip away undetected are also valid points for real world survivalists.

Storing away supplies to include food and weapons, having a plan to escape cities and major urban areas are included in those survival guides as would need to be done in the real world. The Zombie books list what type of gear people should have and from some of what I have read they offer some examples of good advice. Having plenty of ammunition and spare magazines is yet again another example for the real world. The entire Zombie Apocalypse scenario is most times built around a virus that spreads like wildfire and then what follows is a breakdown in services and society in general. A real Pandemic could do that as our own CDC points out. A breakdown in society is nothing more than what happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina or in the L.A. riots. Being prepared for those things is not such a bad idea is it? If you are ready for the walking dead then you should be ready for anything less. The collapse of government means the end of the handouts and people needing to be more self reliant, survivalist traits to be sure.

One thing you can't over look is the amount of interest in the Zombie craze. This interest many times overlaps with survival and general preparedness topics and interests and skills. The honest truth is that while Zombies are science fiction being prepared to take care of yourself and becoming less reliant on government in general can't be seen as anything but a good thing. Getting people thinking about "survival" in a crisis or bad times, again can't be seen as anything but good even if it starts out by finding ways to fight off the living dead. As a matter of fact getting people thinking about survival period is a great start and normally the hardest thing to do. So in the end people may actually benefit from the whole thing, even though it's not very realistic, if they prepare for that event then everything else should be a cake walk.

Just remember to aim for the head..................................

Now Would be a Good Time to Watch for Ominous Signs from Abroad - A Terrorism 101 Refresher Course

2012-02-23T15:41:00.007-08:00

So what happens when Israel gets tired of waiting on Iran to develop a nuclear weapon and they decide to slow the Persians down a bit? I can tell you what happens, oil and gas prices go sky high in a flash. What happens to the American economy when that occurs? Well....................you know the answer. Now might be a good time to finish those prep's you started but lost interest in. The funny looking little guy here in the lab coat may be one of the biggest threats to your survival yet. Now might also be a good time to watch for ominous signs from abroad.

Lets not forget that if Israel goes after Iran, Syria will not doubt get involved and the next stop on that train will be for the United States simply if for no other reason than Obama is weak and wavering and just like animals the Iranians know it so they will push until something breaks and goes past the point of no return. Which brings us to our next problem, terrorism inside the United States itself. The Iranians have made it very clear they will use Hamas and Hezbollah to strike at the U.S. and our interests at home and abroad. Are you getting the picture yet? We need to be more vigilant now than ever, according to our own Pentagon Israel is looking at an early summer time line to stop the Iranians. Look for the warning signs like a large deployment of U.S. military assets or a sudden clamping down on information coming from Washington or the Pentagon. The main stream media won't help you a bunch with this but you need to find the signs anyway to survive.

This scenario is so real the Department of Homeland Security is working around the clock to prevent it. Billions are being spent and what we have to show for it are open borders which we know have been used to traffic Middle Eastern men who have radical beliefs and associations, to include the mentioned Hezbollah and Hamas, not to mention Al Qaeda, into the country at which point they have vanished. It's a good bet they are not here to see the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone.

When working on your survival preparations keep these things in mind and keep personal security at the forefront. Without it nothing you do really matters. If the oil market goes wild down comes most everything everywhere, including in America. Without fuel trucks can't run and resupply stores, in three or four days they run out of groceries and then what? Panic is what. The first time you see a riot on television outside a grocery store will be first indication we are headed for trouble. If you don't already have your supplies by then it will be too late. If you see in the news anything that appears to be indicating the Israeli's have moved in a military manner against Iran don't wait for the next news break, put your survival plans into operation and let everyone else catch up. If you live in a large urban area that would be the clue to get out of town to your survival retreat.

If the shit hits the fan in the Middle East start by avoiding large crowded areas, stay away from national monuments and oh yea, nuclear power plans as well. Watch for issues with air travel security and keep other mass transit systems in mind like trains and buses. Terrorists don't only attack planes, look at Israel for a demonstration on how to blow up a bus full of people. It's been over ten years since 9-11 and people have lost the sense of fear they had for terrorism. The problem is that terrorism and terrorists haven't lost its/their desire to kill you. Just a little food for thought since we haven't covered it much lately. Kind of like a Terrorism 101 refresher course.

Gun Show Gossip and Rumors - Huge Sales

2012-02-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

As most of you know I work part time for a class three gun dealer and have for a few years now and as such we ( meaning I) do many of the larger gun shows in our area. What I have noticed at the last couple is that the demand for weapons is so great its better than it was before Obama took office in late 2007 and early 2008. Whats more its not just any weapon, it is primarily revolving around personal or self protection weapons and now more and more people are moving away from just the traditional handgun to shotguns and rifles. Not bolt action hunting rifles either. I like hearing and seeing what customers have to say, it's like keeping your ear to the ground so to speak. Even after record sales in 2011 people are stilling coming in and buying and asking for more.

Gun show gossip and rumors normally have a leading edge indicator in them if you can sort things out a bit. For example, the economy is still in the bucket and but people are finding money to buy weapons of all kinds. You can almost feel the pent up demand that has been building for months. With the holidays out of the way and income tax refunds floating around people are spending their money on guns.

Every year about this time sales pick up a bit, normally from the post holiday let down. This year though its huge. We just finished a show outside of Philadelphia this weekend and we literally ran out of forms to complete the transfers. All of the dealers were reporting record sales. It was much the same two weeks earlier, that time in Philadelphia. Another indicator is that we normally have a few people come in from states like New York and New Jersey and try to buy guns, the past couple shows it was like a tidal wave of these people. What this shows to me is that even though they know they can't own the weapons they want to buy in their respective home states because of anti gun politicians and laws, large numbers of these folks are willing to try and they want the guns pretty bad for some reason.

Add to that we have had several cases were law enforcement officers from those very same states are in trying to buy weapons. That in most cases can give you a real good feel for what they are seeing or feeling on the streets. The sad part is we can't sell to them either. Now what I guess I am leading too is that plenty of Americans are feeling something bad may be horizon even if they can't put their finger on it they just know its there. Let's be honest here, these people aren't out there buying weapons for the December 2012 deal or some kind of crazy Zombie apocalypse, I think the vast majority of them are scared about what they see happening in places like Greece and know we are only a step or two away.

As I said, keeping your ear to the ground is never a bad thing, you never know what you may hear.

It Seems The Main Stream Media has Just Discovered Survivalist's or Preppers - This after Five Decades

2012-01-23T08:22:00.000-08:00

So are your grandparents the original "preppers"? Maybe not your grandparents, maybe just your parents? I have seen the attention the "prepper" or survival movement has been getting lately in the main stream media and it's almost like they are stunned or shocked that people are actually concerned about their well being. It is starting to look like being a survivalist isn't such a bad thing after all. How does seeing "yourself" being talked about on Yahoo or being the subject of a television show make you feel?

For some reason the main stream media in the past few months has discovered the entire concept of survival or preparedness. The truth is that for the past five decades the survival movement has been there, just under the surface. Go back to the early 1960's and the Cold War. The Soviet Union's attempts to put nuclear missiles in Cuba should ring a bell. How many of you had parents or grandparents that stored away things in a basement or cellar? Mine did. The survival movement is more of a mindset than anything else, the media just hasn't figured that out yet. You need to make up your mind and then get your preparations going, how far you go depends on a number of factors that include money and resources, time, space and most importantly the type of incident you are preparing for to start with.

For most of us money dictates what and how much we can buy or store away. You need to budget your money and plan wisely to get the most bang for your buck. Things like time and space can limit your ability to prepare properly. If you don't have the space to properly (properly being the key word here) store your supplies you may end up being limited on certain things or just simply skipping over items because you have no place to put them. Time, think of it this way. During the Cuban Missile Crisis how many people do you think started digging a shelter in their back yard or started stocking up the family basement? Can you count that high?

The media seems amazed that otherwise "normal" people are survivalists or preppers. They seems stunned that millions of people now think they need to prepare to take car of themselves in a time of need and not depend on the government in one form or another to do it for them. I think the main reason is simple of you think it out. The main stream media is if nothing else very liberal and tilts way left. Liberals are big government people. They believe that government needs to be involved in every part of a persons life. Government provides housing, food, medical care, education and so on. In an emergency they naturally believe government is the answer. Preppers or survivalists tend to see things the other way. They see themselves as needing to be prepared to handle things for themselves should they need to.

I just find it amusing that millions of Americans have been doing something, anything for decades and the media has just caught on. People need to keep going ahead and doing what they are doing, sooner or later the masses may catch up.

Are Gas Masks Really Worth Having? If Anarchist Protesters Can Wear Them Why Can't You?

2012-01-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

Are gas masks really worth having? Good question isn't it? If they are such a valuable tool then why does the government at all levels, advise against having and using them? If you have decided you want a gas mask then consider the following before making your purchase. Also, the government recommends the particulate filter masks you can buy at a hardware store, like the NP95 units. Did you ever wonder why? If anarchist protesters can wear gas masks why can't you?

To start with the condition of the mask is critical. Buying a used or surplus mask that does not seal correctly will only get you killed in a crisis when you need it. Buying anything via the web is always a risk, unless you know the organization you are buying it from and can trust the source. Most times you would be better served buying it in person so you can handle it and see for yourself that the mask will seal and work properly. Finding a new surplus mask should not be too difficult, the key here is buying one that accepts standard NATO canister filters. Both the Israeli and South Korean masks are generally at the top of the list when considering such a purchase. The reason is simple, these nations live with a constant threat of terrorism including the use of NBC (nuclear, biological & chemical) weapons.

The mask's themselves are designed to keep a person from inhaling particulate matter or gases. People need to understand that the masks will not protect them from radiation. The military uses gas masks in conjunction with chemical suits to provide full body protection in an NBC environment. Even in full MOP gear a soldier would not be protected from radiation such as from fallout from a nuclear detonation. The suits will protect the wearer from chemical and biological weapons and the mask is part of that protection. Wearing a mask alone will only protect a person from inhaling things, don't let the television fool you to death.

The type and level of protection of the filter is another critical issue. When buying military grade gas masks, or for that matter civilian law enforcement units keeps in mind that not all filters are created equal. For example, a standard NATO canister filter is good for about fours hours of service in an NBC environment. Once the filter has been used, regardless of for how long, replace it as soon as possible with a new unit. Keep in mind that if you are exposed to something like say a chemical agent, ensure you are wearing a good quality pair of rubber gloves before removing the mask if at all possible. Whatever threat was present may still be there, residing on the mask, touching it could prove to be just as deadly has breathing it in.

As for the government recommended face respirator's you can buy at a hardware store, here is the truth. The government has decided that most civilians can't be taught to put on and use a gas mask as is done in places like Israel, so they have decided that having people cover their faces with some type of filtering material will offer a level of protection from many biological threats such as Anthrax. This is true to a certain degree and keeping debris out of your lungs is always a good idea. They will not be of any service whatsoever is a chemical situation however. Even moving up the food chain and buying the paint sprayer versions of these masks will do no good in a chemical attack. The idea after 9-11 was to give people some protection and also to provide people with a level of comfort, they would at least have something making them feel prepared. It is the same idea behind the "72 hour" kits that we all know will do very little in a real emergency were 3 days is not a realistic time frame in a real crisis scenario.

Once you have bought the mask make sure you test fit it and adjust the straps so that if you need to put it on in an emergency it is ready to go. If you buy more than one make sure each person does the same and mark the masks so everyone has the right one since they all need to be adjusted for proper fit to an individual. Having a gas mask can be a big help, a life saver in fact. Understanding what it can and can't do is almost as important as having one.

Does the Sig P238 Make the 380acp A Viable Self Defense Option?

2012-01-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

We all know the limits of the 38acp cartridge and we all know the limitations of most of the weapons that chamber it. The question I am asking is that with the Sig P238 being the pistol, has the 380acp become a viable self defense option? My opinion is that it has.

Looking at the 380acp in general you find in order to make the round effective you need to go to more modern hollow point bullets like the Golden Saber, the Hydra Shok, the Silver Tip or the XTP. Looking a little deeper you find that the 380acp really took off in popularity a couple years back even though it had been around for decades. Pistols like the Walther PPK were famous and icons in and of themselves. What really got the round to take off was the introduction of small pocket pistols chambered in that caliber. The 380 got a big boost with the flood of polymer pistols that hit the market that could weigh in under 9 ounces and fit in a PDA case on your belt. The limitations also came along. Stopping power, accuracy, reliability and lets be honest, most of the little plastic guns were not all that nice to shoot.

The 380acp is rightly seen as a backup gun round, a second gun or a better than a stick gun round. The newer higher performing rounds didn't always work well in many of the pistols and you needed to test and test some more to make sure your gun was reliable with whatever round you opted for. Accuracy was nothing to talk about either, some of the little guns didn't even bother to put sights on the slides, they thought people would be pointing at a close target. What makes the Sig P238 different is that you have a small pistol, weighing under 15 ounces with very good to excellent sights( mine has night sights), that is very accurate and can reliably fire the best of the ammo available in 380acp.

That combination changes things a bit in my opinion. The truth is that the 380 is no stopping giant no matter what you do to it. With good rounds it becomes usable. The Sig offers more rounds and a more compact pistol than carrying a 2" 38spl, it is more accurate and the stopping power of the newer 380acp ammo is on par with the best of the 38special ammunition. The pistol is faster to reload being a semi automatic and is much more pleasant to shoot than the average 2" 38 revolver. The P238 is smaller than it's cousins like the P232 and hence is easier to conceal. The P238 is lighter than say a PPK or PPK/s and since it is single action has a much better trigger than either.

I have a P238 and have found it to be utterly reliable and at 5 to 7 yards will shoot a baseball sized group rapid fire all day long. My test for a carry gun has always been that if I can't do the classic rescue shot, head shots on a target without a doubt, at 7 yards I normally won't carry the weapon. This pistol makes that possible which is something most 380acps can't say. As a matter of fact the P238 is such a hit that Colt is bringing back the Mustang which they stopped making two decades ago. My thought is that while being far from optimal, the P238 takes the ability to carry a 380acp pistol and feel comfortable doing it to a hole new level. With 7 or 8 rounds of Golden Saber on tap, knowing you can put the rounds into the target at will goes a long way. Even a cracked out fool with stop if hit in the face with a Hydra Shok. Think about that, having a pistol that fits anywhere, you can wear it all day without issue and it can actually keep you safe without compromising everything else to do it, not a bad deal at all is it?

Do You Follow Your Own Advice? Maybe You Should

2011-12-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

So you end up giving advice to all kinds of people about survival related topics. OK, but do you follow your own advice? Think about that before you answer. Sometimes the people who know the most don't actually practice what they preach. If your advice is that good maybe you should follow it to.

Consider this, everyone talks about how you should have a "bug out" bag or kit ready to go and what should be in it. People may have even asked you about what they should or shouldn't have in their kits and you may have given them great answers. But, is your bug out bag ready to go? Does it have all the stuff in it you told them to have? What about in your vehicle, is your personal car kit ready?

Here's one, we all know about carrying a weapon and how people should do it if it is legal for them to do so. We all know you need more than the magazine in the weapon. How many extra mags do you carry everyday? If your primary carry weapon in a revolver, are you carrying a speed loader for it when you go out? Try this one. The gun you carry everyday, is it a 380acp pocket pistol or less, like a .22? Advice flies out telling people that 380acp's and alike are only backup guns, but is that all you carry normally because its easy to do?

When you look at food and water and other supplies, are you stocked up for at least six months to a year which is what all the survival "experts" recommend? Do you have your evacuation route planned and mapped out and if you do when is the last time you checked it?

What I'm driving at here is that many times people overlook the obvious. The "physician healing themselves" phrase comes to mind. You may have all the knowledge in the world and you may give great advice when you are asked for it. But as is taught to police officers and firemen, if the rescuer needs rescued then you aren't helping anyone when you show up at the scene of an incident. This is no different. Being able to help others survive does no good if you end up dead because you didn't follow your own advice.

Merry Christmas to All and To All a Good Night..................

2011-12-23T14:22:00.000-08:00

Have a very Merry Christmas this year. Keep in mind that no matter where you are and no matter what you are doing, that the season is about the birth if Christ and not the politically correct version of a holiday for everyone. If you are serving in the military and can't be at home know that millions of Americans are with you this holiday season in spirit and you are in their prayers.

Keep on planning, preparing and have a great holiday. God Bless..............................Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

A Few Travel Tips to Help Get Your Vehicle Ready before You Hit the Road this Holiday Season

2011-12-20T10:23:00.001-08:00

This is the time if year that many people load up the car and take off on their trip to Grand Ma's house. For people who are survival minded and even for those who are not, traveling by vehicle presents special challenges especially in winter weather. Consider also that the holiday season is the perfect time to someone to wreak havoc on peoples lives, not to mention the increased stress which many times leads to violence. I have complied a few holiday travel tips you might want to consider before you hit the road. There is more to it than just having a blanket, although that can be nice too.

First, make sure you have a map of where you are going. Don't even start thinking about relying on your GPS to get home in an emergency, its fine for normal travel but you can't depend on them if something goes wrong. Many people don't know that the federal government can simply turn the system off if they wish. Think worst case scenario, an EMP and even if your car is still running your GPS won't be. Also consider that you may need to find alternative routes home or other destinations. Or you could end up on roads you have no idea where they go to or if they lead to where you are trying to get to, or worse there is an area or section of road you are trying to avoid and you can't find a way around it. A map is the best answer. Invest in a good map and keep it in your vehicle, just in case. Consider that you may need to go someplace you have never been before, without an address a GPS does you no good, get a map. While your at it, get a compass.

If you don't know where you are traveling and aren't familiar with the roads in the area never get below half a tank of fuel. Getting stuck on the road is bad, getting stuck on the road with no gas is horrible. Bottom line, if you don't know the roads or route you have selected, get fuel. Lets be honest for a second, if you have a truck bed to put it in, an extra five gallon gas can full of fuel is always nice. The sad part is if you have an SUV or other vehicle where it can't be attached outside, don't try to put it in the passenger areas, its just not safe. Even though you may maintain your vehicle as needed, always have at least one extra quart of oil and a gallon of coolant on board. For winter travel make sure you have some kind of shovel, the folding military surplus units work fine. Jumper cables, cell phone chargers and any other portable device charger you may need should be packed. Don't forget the ever present flash light, check the batteries as well.

Under ideal circumstances your car kit would have a tarp, a blanket or two, if you have the room an extra winter coat would be a good idea as well. Having some food, even if it is only MRE's can make the difference. If you have a weapon in your car make sure it is fully operational and you have spare ammunition. Speaking of weapons, make sure you are complying with whatever laws may apply in the jurisdiction where you are going as well as traveling through. A good car kit should have a well stocked first aid kit inside. Having items such as a face mask of some type is something to consider as well, the NP 95's work well. Try to have at least one good sized cup that can be used to drink from, in a pinch even an old soda bottle can work to melt snow in or catch rain water.

Consider having a key secreted somewhere on your vehicle, again rather safe than sorry. Stashing money in a car is a risky proposition although there can be some value to the concept if it can be hidden well enough and accessed easy enough when needed. One last thing. Try to have as much of this packed into a pack or a bag you can carry if you need to. The items specifically for the vehicle can stay there but clothing, food, weapons and so on need to be able to be carried. Keep in mind that the last thing you want to do is to leave your vehicle if you have a choice, rescue always finds cars sooner than people on foot. If you get stuck in the snow and you have made contact with someone stay put if at all possible, the vehicle becomes your igloo. If you have a radio antenna tie something red or orange to it, if you don't have an antenna use a roof rack. Buy yourself a small thermometer like the ones people attach to their coats when camping. If the car stops, being able to know the temperature anyway is also very helpful in making judgements on staying with your vehicle or leaving it.

Look, this is the holiday season as I said. Go out and have a Merry Christmas and don't worry about every little thing happening. What having your car prepared does is make that possible. Most of this stuff is the same thing you should have in your vehicle everyday and maintaining you vehicle is an everyday project you should do to keep it in good running order, not just at holidays. If you know you are as prepared as possible within reason, you will have a better holiday and a safer one as well.

The Question Becomes: Are We Giving The Bad Guys Technology and Ideas to Hurt Us?

2011-12-12T12:02:00.001-08:00

We have all heard about the U.S. military drone that has gone down in Iran and is now being studied by most of the people in the world who mean us harm, but have you heard about the "model" plane that crashed into a Federal Building? A three foot model plane crashed into the side of the federal building in Waltham Massachusetts, the only reported damage is to a solar panel. This is not the first time nor will it be the last time this kind of thing happened. The question becomes: Are we giving the bad guys ideas and technology to hurt us? I think the answer is yes.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security claims that there is no evidence of foul play, however a few months ago a man from Massachusetts was arrested for plotting to fly a remote controlled model airplane packed with explosives into the Pentagon. That sounds to me a little more like a drone or a flying bomb than just a model plane. Just when you thought it was safe to go outside again, bamm boom, here comes a new threat to your survival and well being, people with remote controlled model aircraft. No doubt somebody in the Federal Government is looking at ways to register remote controlled planes now.

We can't forget the raid that killed Bin Laden. Everybody was so busy celebrating him being killed they kind of overlooked the story about the tail section of the Black Hawk helicopter that fell into the hands of the Pakistani government who was kind enough to let the communist Chinese study it for a while before they gave it back to us. That tail section was part of the stealth section of the helicopter. The drone the Iranians now have is said to be the same type that we used to help hunt and then kill Bin Laden in Pakistan. This drone again was using the best of our stealth capabilities which the Iranians are now proudly showing off. Just these two missteps alone have cost the United States god only knows what when it comes to our stealth capabilities which is one of the biggest advantages we have. When you consider that car bombs are now used regularly in Mexico by the drug cartels and ambushes of police are not uncommon either, how long will it be before it starts happening here?

The survivalist concept most people have in mind doesn't involve things like drone attacks by remotely controlled aircraft. Honestly why would it? It seems that our own government may inadvertently be giving away technology that may be turned around and used on Americans at home. That's a survival challenge I'll bet most of you weren't thinking about.

Why Would Anybody Have an Underground Bomb Shelter or Bunker? The Question Should Be Why Don't You Have One?

2011-12-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

Why would you have an underground bomb shelter or bunker? That is what you hear all the time as people tell you that you are crazy and paranoid. But, are you really crazy keeping in mind paranoid people have enemies too? The concept they are referring too is often what is called "Sheltering in Place", as compared to a more mobile theory commonly called "Bugging Out". If you opt for the sheltering in place mode one thing is for certain at that point, if at all possible and by all means, having an underground shelter is the way to go. The entire idea of sheltering in place goes a lot farther with a "shelter" to do it in. I don't care where you build it as long as you can reach it in short order in time of emergency. I think we should be asking why don't you have one instead of why would you have one.

The concept of hiding things and people in and under the ground has been around for as long as man. The modern view is drawn along the lines of what most people think of starting around World War 1, but as I said it is a very old concept. During the first and second World Wars underground shelters really came into their own. The Nazi's bombing most of Europe gave people an opportunity to see what worked and what didn't when it came to building a bomb shelter, that changed of course with atomic and nuclear weapons coming on line. Bomb shelters had to be deeper and stronger to resist the blast waves let alone the protection people now needed from the radiation associated with the weapons. As we know the Cold War is over and now we face a terrorist threat associated with smaller nuclear weapons being used on a limited basis. As we covered, the need for the home bomb shelter or underground bunker has changed and some have concluded they are no longer needed at all. This is were they are wrong, the shelters serve valuable roles in more ways than many may believe.

If we take a realistic look at potential threats that may come our way what becomes apparent are the many uses for underground home bomb shelters. Yes, to start with you still have a threat of a nuclear weapon being used, even though it is on a smaller scale. The shelters would provide protection against such an invent including the fallout that will result. If we have a civil unrest situation that is localized, shelters provide a priceless place to hide your supplies and if needed even yourself depending on how well the shelter is hidden. Take this a step further, maybe things really get bad and you end up using the shelter for more than just your normal items you have stored away, maybe it becomes the place for anything of value including people should you need to keep them out if sight for a period of time. The idea of having a safe and secure place to store you guns and ammunition has an appeal all its own as well. If the shelter is constructed properly long term storage of weapons could be a huge plus. One other nuclear related item, an EMP attack is considered one of the most damaging types of terrorist attacks that could be launched on the United States. While having items underground alone will not prevent possible damage from an EMP, it does go a long way to mitigating the effects should one take place.

Even if you have a nice well hidden survival retreat somewhere off the beaten path, having a underground shelter there makes sense. The greatest, best hidden, best stocked retreat in the world will do little to keep you safe when the fallout starts coming down like rain and you end up dead from radiation, even after you made the trek to your preplanned site. Also keep in mind that someone might find your retreat, having a bunker that is not apparent could mean your survival if it keeps your supplies safe so they are there when you need them. This situation becomes much like a shelter under your home, you have a safe and secure place to keep all the things you will need to survive a crisis when you arrive at your retreat if you have prepared properly. Cabins or homes in the mountains provide no better protect from fallout and in most cases not as good as your home that you live in daily. Consider also that they are unoccupied the vast majority of the time and others may find this out simply by stumbling onto the site. Which I guess brings us to security for your shelter. Don't tell the world what you are doing, half the value in these bunkers is the fact no one knows they exist. If people don't know they are there they won't go looking for them, this includes friends from the government, even though they are only there to help.

I guess the point of this entire exercise is to get people to understand that having a bomb shelter under your home isn't so bad. Even after the idea of the Cold War getting hot went away there are still plenty of uses for them. Also keep one thing in mind. The word "bomb" in relation to bomb shelter is a bit deceiving. There is no home bomb shelter that can withstand a nuclear weapon, the only question is how far away from the point of detonation you are and how much of the blast wave hits you. The shelters people have in and under their homes even when done correctly are fallout shelters. They are designed to protect the occupants from radioactive fallout, not from the blast waves of a nuclear explosion. As an aside, the old civil defense shelters built by the government during the Cold War had a minimum protection factor of 40. That is forty times the reduction in the amount of radiation that would hit your body as compared to standing exposed outside. Most modern shelters if done right can provide a protection factor of between 500 and 1000. These can be built in your back yard or under a garage floor or even in a concrete basement if done correctly.

Lets start over, why don't you have a bomb shelter anyway?

Survival Weapons Really Only Have Two Purposes - Are Your Weapons Up to the Task?

2011-12-04T06:32:00.001-08:00

When you open up the topic of survival firearms almost everybody has their favorite weapon they want to talk about and they think is the best choice. Rifle, shotgun or handgun everyone has their picks. No matter whether it's Glock, Sig, Colt, Remington, Ruger, Walther, Kimber, you name it, somebody out there thinks its the ultimate weapon for survival. Sometimes the choices people make are made out of whats on hand or what they can get at the right price to fit their requirements. Maybe it is being made out of necessity. Whatever the case is, type or brand x is what they are using. All of that is fine but for a person really interested in survival they must keep in mind that the weapons they choose have only two purposes, the ability to protect them and the ability to gather food. Other than those two purposes, nothing else they do really matters. Are the weapons you choose up to the task if needed?

When is comes to survival firearms which as I said can be almost anything a person chooses, they will be graded or held accountable for only two purposes, defense and food. Weapons are bought for many reasons, some like to go out on a Sunday afternoon and shoot at targets, or others like shooting sporting clays. Some people are precision shooters with match grade weapons, both handguns and rifles. Some people just like to collect them for whatever reason, they may be historically significant or they may have owned one long ago when they were younger. Others collect firearms as an investment vehicle. The reasons for owning guns is varied but as I said, the reason behind buying or having firearms you intend to use in a survival capacity is pretty limited. The first reason for having them should be obvious, protection. If society collapses for whatever reason you choose to assign as the cause, you will need to protect yourself and your loved ones. If you have prepared and have supplies on hand to help you get through the rocky times you can ill afford to have someone take them from you which they will do when things get scarce. The other reason for protection is just plain outright assaults on people who find themselves in harms way. Maybe you are out looking for something like gasoline and you find yourself in an encounter with a group of people who want what you have or they simply don't like you maybe because of your color or the vehicle you are in. It really doesn't matter why they want to hurt you but they often will, hence the need for protection.

As for gathering food this is an area that many overlook, especially those in more urban areas. If you live in the country or a rural setting you may already be a hunter and this comes as no big surprise and you probably already have hunting weapons. Gathering food can be done in a urban setting pretty well actually if people know how to do it. All kinds of small game can be found in most areas, having the weapons to take that game could be helpful. The key is that nothing else that a weapon does matters in a survival role. It may be the most accurate weapon in the world, but do you really need that in a TEOTWAWKI scenario? The obvious answer is no. The weapon may be one of only a handful ever made, but is that going to matter when everything goes to shit? Again, no. The gun could be the old revolver your grandfather gave you that he had since the 1920's , but does it shoot safely and do you have ammunition for it? Keep in mind also that handguns are primarily defensive in nature and not meant to go out and assault a fortified position with. Handguns offer you the ability to be armed while doing daily tasks such as shopping and even in a worse case scenario, being armed anytime a person goes outside the survival retreat that they have secured for themselves. If you know you are going into harms way get a rifle if possible, they offer range and firepower (if you have picked the right weapons that is) that could save your life.

Survival weapons need to be dependable, durable, accurate enough for the desired purpose and should be weapons that can use common magazines and ammunition. Having the perfect rifle in 460 Weatherby Magnum is fine for sport shooting and knocking down a Moose, but do you have 500 rounds on hand? Can you get that ammo at Wal-Mart? The other thing you need to keep in mind is that I am talking about survival for the vast majority of people, there some people that live in very remote areas and they may already have very different firearms needs. For them dealing with a hoard of people may be a pretty remote possiblity, however no matter where you live you should keep safety in mind at all times, more so when people get desperate. Survival weapons many times cross over with hunting weapons for many people so the concept of being able to protect yourself and gather food with the same weapon probably isn't that hard to grasp. For those out purchasing weapons with survival in mind try to either dedicate your weapons to one or the other purpose or buy weapons that do both tasks well. You can hunt with a 223/5.56 caliber rifle and take most medium and small game without issue. If you like 308/7.62 better it opens up the larger game animals. The famous 12 gauge shotgun has a shell loaded for almost everything, birds, small game all the way up to Bear, don't forget all the specialty shells made for the 12 gauge such as armor piercing, door breaching rounds and even pepper spray and flare rounds.

If you already have a gun collection going just make sure that the weapons work and you have the correct ammunition and enough of it on hand for them should you need them. Almost anything can be pressed into service if needed and while not being the most desirable weapon for that purpose it will sure beat sticks and rocks. Just remember, if the gun you want to use as a survival weapon can protect you well and gather food if it needs to, it will probably work out well should you ever need to put it to the test in a real world scenario.

The Idea Behind a Survival Retreat is to Help You Survive, It Won't do that If You Can't Reach It

2011-12-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

Planning is the key to survival, realistic planning that is. You make plans and then start out on your preparations in an effort to reach whatever goal or level you have set for yourself. Along the way your plans may change for all kinds of reasons, money and/or time not the least of the good reasons. When planning to either set up or create your survival retreat you need to keep in mind your overall goal and what you are preparing and planning for. What I mean is that if you plan your survival retreat around a civil decay it may look different than one built around a nuclear exchange. Some things don't change like having enough supplies no matter where you have them, my iusse is you being able to reach and use your supplies when you need them. The amount of those stockpiles and the type could vary depending on what you are planning for and how long in duration you believe the situation may last. But one thing is for certan, you need to be able to get there to use them.

A survival retreat is designed to help you do one thing mainly, survive. If your retreat doesn't do that your plans have failed before they got off the ground. People talk about relocating across half the entire nation so they can escape from a perceived threat. Many talk about society melting down and a complete collapse of the government in general or maybe even a breakup of the country. Now I am not about to tell you it can't happen but is that really what you are preparing for? Could we, the United States, have a situation in which civil disorder is rampant? Yes. Would that situation get to the point were if you really wanted to survive intact you would need to abandon most the Eastern half of the country? Probably not. Lets go this way, could we have a nuclear attack on the United States? Yes. So having said that you prepare for this attack. If such an attack should occur we would probably not have much warning if any, think terrorist strike. In your preparations for this attack you have built an underground shelter that is stocked and equipped with air pumps, food water and other supplies that could last for months. I admire your will power. The real question becomes can you get to your retreat before the bomb goes off? If its not pretty close, real close, you better evaluate your ability to use what you have built.

To better illustrate what I mean consider this. I watched a program on television a few months back about Cold War shelters. The show featured an underground shelter built for JFK in Florida. This shelter while hardly ideal was located very close to his vacation site, right across a very small waterway. The shelter was no where near what he would have been using in Washington D.C., but he wasn't in Washington D.C. a lot of the time and planners knew he probably wouldn't be able to get there so they had this much smaller shelter built. As I said it was hardly ideal by any means but they knew he could reach it and use it in a crisis, which is obviously the idea in the first place. Planning for your survival retreat should be no different, you need to be able to use it. Having a great backwoods retreat set up in the Northern mountains of Utah is wonderful and may be a great location for such a thing. You may even have a private plane and a license to fly it. But if you live in Pennsylvania getting to your retreat will be nearly impossible in an emergency. Nothing will be flying and driving across the country will take two to three days in good times, let alone after a major crisis.

If you live in an area where you don't feel good about building a retreat or shelter look to locations that you do but keep in mind that you need to be able to reach them in bad times. Roads may be blocked or closed either by traffic, damage or military or law enforcement personnel. Consider the travel time, you don't want to be on the road and have fall out start coming down while you are sitting stuck in traffic. Can you get there on one tank full of gas/fuel? If not where will you be able to get fuel along the way. Keep in mind that the longer the trip to the site the more detailed planning that will be required of you. Do you travel while working? Can your loved ones reach this location without you? Are the threats along the way serious, like during an collapse of society or roiting will you be able to safely drive to the retreat?

There are many issues to consider when making your plans regarding a survival retreat. The retreat itself, the stocks and supplies you will put in it and so on. But, while making those plans keep in mind the old saying about "The best laid plans of mice and men". Be realistic in developing your plans. Also having a good retreat or shelter that you can use is better than having the perfect shelter you can't reach. As I said above the primary reason for having a survival retreat is survival, it won't help you do that if you can't get there in one piece.

Science Fiction Meets Reality - Hornady's Zombie Max Ammunition

2011-11-29T16:59:00.000-08:00

This post could be called "Science Fiction meets Reality". OK, for all you Sci-Fi fans out there a major ammunition manufacturer has heard you. Shows about Zombies are pretty popular, as are the video games and the books. Now Hornady has gotten into the act with their "Zombie-Max" ammunition, certified to kill zombies. Science fiction or not, this stuff is cool. Did I just say cool?

To be honest this is kind of a neat idea for the shooting public. This is the first time that I can recall when a major player in the shooting industry came out with a product aimed right at the heart of pop culture. Talk about expanding the base, here it is. This could bring a new group into shooting sports just by exposing people to the idea. The ammunition itself comes in all the major and popular calibers, 9mm, 40S&W, 45acp, 12 gauge, 7.62x39, 7.62x51/308 and 5.56/223. I think they even have a 380acp round on the way. The bullets themselves are called z-max which obviously stands for zombie max. The truth is the ammo is loaded with either a ballistic tip in the case of the rifle ammo and a polymer expander in the case of the handgun rounds. Under normal circumstances these inserts and tips would be red, but for this ammo I tend to call it snot green keeping in the zombie theme.

The ballistics are pretty good and in keeping with Hornady's standards. The 9mm round is a 115 grain bullet moving at 1135fps. The 45acp, my favorite for zombie stopping (people too), is a 185 grain bullet propelled to 1000fps. In 7.62x51/308 they opted to use a match weight load at 168 grains. The only round not loaded in brass is the 7.62x39 which is loaded in a steel case which reminds a person of their Steel Match rounds. Its has a bullet weight of 123 grains, standard AK-47 fare. The ballistics for each round are printed on the boxes, again keeping in the standard Hornaday practice.

One thing is for certain, zombies or not, this ammo is going to be a collectible item if Hornady doesn't keep it in production. Even if they do and you buy some, its kind of neat walking around telling people you have z-max ammo in your weapon. When they ask what that is you can tell them you are prepared for the zombie apocalypse, even if it doesn't really exist.

The Surefire 60 Round AR-15/M-16 Magazine, The Higher High Capacity Mag - You need At Least One

2011-11-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

If you are the owner of an AR-15/M-16 type rifle, Surefire has come out with it's higher high capacity magazines that could really give you a tactical edge. In this case the magazine I am talking about is the 60 round version, although they do offer one with a 100 round capacity. Surefire is marketing these magazines mostly to the military and law enforcement agencies right now but they can be had if you look hard. Obviously it also works on any rifle that uses the standard M-16/NATO magazine such as the H&K 416. You don't need a bag full of these but you need at least one, the one in the weapon.

The magazine is itself is nothing revolutionary in and of itself except Surefire did it first. It is a stagger feed design that allows holding 60 rounds of 5.56mm in a space just a bit longer than a standard 3o round unit and less than the 40 rounders out there. It is a metal mag, not polymer like most of the newer designs. The magazine itself only weighs in at 6.4 ounces empty and is just a bit over 8.7 inches long and features a black no tilt follower. When loaded with 60 rounds it weighs 2 pounds give or take an ounce. The one thing to keep in mind about this Surefire unit is that it actually works and works well, unlike many of the cheaper non mil-spec 40 rounders you find many times for sale. One other plus is that it is not as bulky to have hanging below the rifle as the 40 round units.

As I said this magazine works, in either full or semi automatic fire it worked just fine. The biggest advantage here is that if you have your weapon loaded with 60 rounds going out the door your staying power in the fight is much greater as is your ability to fight/fire your way through an ambush or entry where the opponent has possibly surprised you or your team. I would not want to be carrying six of these under normal circumstances but having the first magazine in the weapon holding twice the firepower of a normal mag is a nice feeling and a nasty surprise for someone who engages you. For the survival minded person it won't be hard to see the attraction. One or two of these loaded and ready to go would certainly give you the ability to hold off a good sized group should you find yourself in a scenario that requires it. Imagine having two or three people in your group being able to deploy this kind of firepower, especially from behind cover.

If you have a weapon capable of fully automatic fire than this magazine is almost a must have, since you now know they exist. To be honest the Surefire magazine is not cheap, it has a retail of $129.00. As I said above, they are really working the military/government/law enforcement route right now. The mags themselves have been out for a few months now and are just starting to turn up in the civilian marketplace, unfortunately few can be had for a discount. This unit is not cheap but is reliable firepower that can be had simply by putting it in the magazine well of your weapon. When an option like this presents itself you really need to think hard about taking advantage of it, it could be a life saver in the right circumstances.

Safety in an Urban Area, Its a Different Kind of Survival

2011-11-25T07:01:00.000-08:00

I found a video which I thought may be helpful for some people, it is about being safe in an urban environment and is put out by Stratfor, a security and intelligence organization. The timing for the video is good since we are talking about the Christmas season and the streets and malls will be flooded with thousands of extra shoppers. Safety in an urban area is a different kind of survival than you may be used to, but it is unfortunately a sign of the times.

Many of the issues covered in the video by Fred Burton, are things many people never think about. One good tip is carrying something in your hand you can use to defend yourself. No, don't walk down the street with a pistol in your hand but you could carry a keyring with pepper spray without much trouble. A good item as he pointed out in the video is a flashlight, lights that produce over 75 or 80 lumen's can temporarily blind someone allowing you to escape, or better yet, lights with strike bezels not only blind but allow you to use it as a very effective close in defense weapon and can cause a great deal of injury and pain.

Concepts like looking around you before you withdraw money from an ATM or being on guard when you enter or pass by allies or parking lots are things we all know we just don't do or don't think about. Urban areas have special security challenges especially for those of you are not normally in that environment. A little reminder now may help people avoid a big problem later like someone getting hurt or worse. It's sad to say but we live in a world where we need to worry about things like this, whether we like it or not. Stratfor did a good job putting this together, have a look for yourself.

Are Your Bug Out Funds as Ready To Go as You Are?

2011-11-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

When it comes to having what I refer to as an "emergency fund" or "escape money" what I am really talking about is having an amount of money hidden away that is to be used in a crisis. Understand the crisis I am talking about is not needing a new pair of shoes or a new shotgun. I am talking about a situation in which for whatever reason you can't get money from a bank or an ATM. The real question is: Are your bug out funds as ready to go as you are? Because believe it or not even if the banks aren't working you will still need money. Gold, silver, cash, ammunition, food, you name it, it may all end up being cash at some point. Are we looking at an economic collapse? A terrorist attack? A Hurricane or a nuclear detonation? I can't see the future but if you prepare for the worst anything less is a blessing. Even for those of us who have a decent shelter setup in our homes there may come a time when we need to leave, or that everything around us stops working.

In this type of scenario you may need to flee your residence or bug out because for some reason, whatever that is, you can not shelter in place such as during a pending hurricane. If a hacker crashed a particular banks computers and it happened to be your bank, or if suddenly banks ran out of cash, then what? Where does that leave you? If we had an EMP attack where are you going to get money to live on or for a hotel room or even gasoline for your car? These are the types of scenarios I am talking about. Understanding that, what are some of the best little tricks to accomplish this? Even being in your shelter in your home or cabin doesn't mean you won't at some point need money of some kind.

Well for starters we need to determine how much money you need. If you asked yourself how much would it cost for you to drive 250 miles away and stay in a hotel for a couple days, don't forget food in there, how much would that be? Remember you are not looking to stay at the Hilton. If you need two tanks of gas, two nights in a hotel and food for you and maybe a child or two, could you do that with $500.00? Probably. So lets go with the five hundred dollar figure. To start with make sure you have this money spread out in large to small denominations. Having a few five dollar bills, then more in tens and then some twenties and finally may a fifty or two and then maybe a hundred dollar bill would be a good mix.

The obvious is that if you pull up to a gas station and need gas, you and everyone else by the way, you don't want to hand the cashier a fifty dollar bill for thirty two dollars worth of gas. When the attendant tells you he doesn't have any change, then what? You need the gas so you have no choice and you just lost eighteen dollars. Think of this happening with food, a room, you name it in a crisis people do bad things to other people like ripping them off by raising the prices or not having "change". You also don't want to display large bills as this will no doubt attract attention to yourself and that is something you won't want. Try letting another person in your group hold some of the money if you have to bug out and take turns paying for things if you need to.

Another neat little trick is the pre-paid debit cards. Go out and buy a couple in whatever amount you like, Visa or MasterCard, and put them with your emergency bug out money. Avoid the American Express cards unless you have no other choice as many merchants don't take them because of fee's and delays in getting their money. Walking up to a gas pump or a cash register with plastic at times doesn't draw as much attention as paying with cash. Keep in mind the type of situation you are in, if the power is out or financial networks are down these cards won't work either. Another idea is to have money hidden away at the location you are planning on retreating to should it become needed. The same rules apply here, have enough money to do what you think you will need to for a set period of time. The longer the time frame obviously the more money you will need.

Don't overlook bartering materials such as gold and silver coins, ammunition, clothing, gasoline and even food if you have it to spare. All of these things could be in demand in a collapse or a TEOTWAWKI event. Some of them may be worth more than cash depending on the situation. One last thing, you can hide money in all its forms in places like your survival vehicle or even your bug out bag, just make sure that if you do hide money away that you feel real good about where you are putting it. Having $300.00 in your cars bumper only works to your advantage if you have the car with you. Obviously more money is good but don't let that get in the way of you getting started, make sure to include having some funds available in your planning for the worst of days.

The Walther PPQ - It's More than an Upscale Glock

2011-11-20T15:10:00.000-08:00

The Walther PPQ is a pistol you should consider if you like striker fired polymer weapons. For someone interested in a defensive pistol either at home or for daily carry the PPQ has a lot to offer. Why am I even talking about the pistol in the context of a survival web site? The answer is that a firearm that works well in a survival setting is much more attractive if it can be used everyday. It is also much easier on the wallet than having two different series of weapons, unless of course that is your goal which is fine too. This pistol is more than an upscale Glock.

The Walther PPQ is imported into the United States by Smith & Wesson but I need to tell you right up front this pistol is a step up from their current lineup as far as I am concerned. The PPQ comes in either 9mm or 40S&W, in 9mm it features 15 round magazines with 17 rounder's being optional. In 40S&W it holds 12 rounds. One nice feature many people don't know about it that the pistol will use the older Walther & Smith & Wesson P99 magazines and holsters. The PPQ comes in at a price above both the Glock and Springfield XD's although it compares well to the XDM in terms of price.

One thing is for certain, the Walther is a shooter. The first round out of the box I fired was dead center on the little "x" in the 10 ring on a standard B-27 target. This pistol will absolutely shred the center ring of a silhouette at 20 to 25 feet doing rapid fire drills including double and even triple taps. The pistol has a very crisp trigger that while very similar to a Glock seems just a bit nicer to manage in rapid fire. I will guarantee head shots with this weapon at any realistic distance are no trouble at all. The Walther comes with three interchangeable back straps and a very nice set of adjustable three dot low profile sights. As for size it is almost a twin to a Glock 19/23 which is my favorite size in Glock wear since I have all kinds of goodies for my Glock pistols and feel comfortable carrying them I know what size I like best and this is it.

I fired it, my daughter fired it and she came away with the same conclusion I did. This is one shooting pistol that has a good trigger and a great feel in your hand. Now to be sure there are some down sides to these guns, like the cost which is running about $100 more than for a Glock and standard Springfield XD. To be honest I like the feel of this pistol better than either of those and I can tell you they can't out shoot this pistol at the range. As for reliability, I ran into no issues during the break in, neither did by 14 year old daughter. Who by the way was able to shoot this pistol for the first time and at 25 feet never leave the 9 ring with a round. Which is more than accurate enough should she ever need to defend herself in our home should the case ever come to that.

I won't be getting rid of my Glock's anytime soon but I have added this pistol to the collection. I would not hesitate going into harms way with it in the least and am waiting for a holster that I have ordered so I can start carrying it daily. For a survival weapon you could certainly do far worse, on the other side I think it would be hard to do much better.

How Many Spare Magazines for your Pistol Do You Carry? - Please Don't say None

2011-11-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

The question always comes up when I'm working at a gun show. People buy a particular handgun and the first thing they ask is how many magazines come with it. Makes sense but then no matter what you tell them, one, two or three they hardly ever buy spares. The real disturbing part is that for the most part when and if they carry the pistol they don't carry an extra magazine with them. I love the comments like: "If I can't hit them in the first 14 rounds it won't matter". The sad part is that most don't realize the concept behind carrying a spare magazine or two, for that matter most have never even thought about it. The truth is they could just get dead fast. The question is how many spare magazines for your pistol do you carry? Please don't say none because you don't need them.

The idea of needing to fire more than x amount of rounds is not the concept people need to worry about. Obviously hitting the target comes into play here, but hitting the target which is not as easy as people think when being shot at, doesn't mean you will never need to reload your weapon. Shooters out there know that many malfunction drills end up requiring you drop the magazine from the offending weapon as a way to clear the weapon and get it back in service. If you drop the magazine in the weapon you need something to put in it's place, hence another magazine. Don't even start talking about my weapon never jams or I will just pick up the one I took out, yea sure while you run for cover and hope the magazine wasn't the cause of the malfunction in the first place which they are many times.

From a tactical standpoint consider this, you have two kinds of reloads, a speed reload and a tactical reload. A speed reload speaks for itself, you are doing it as fast as possible and not seeking or do not have cover as an option since your weapon has run dry. The second type is the tactical version, the preferred version by the way, this is simply getting to cover and reloading your weapon assuming you fired it no matter how many rounds you think you fired. By reloading from cover you can top off your weapon and save the partially used magazine for possible emergency use later if needed. This entire concept goes out the window if you don't have at least one extra magazine to start with.

Many times people ask how much ammo or how many extra magazines is too much? My answer goes like this. The average police officer in the United States carries one in his weapon and two more on his belt while in duty in uniform. Now consider that if he or she gets into a gunfight they also have a radio with people on the other end who will be coming to their aide in a hurry. In plain clothes, off duty or as a civilian carrying a weapon they don't have that duty belt on but the concept is still the same, only more pressing if off duty or a civilian since you won't have that lifeline in your hand to call for help.

Everyone needs to make a realistic determination has too how many spare magazines they need to carry but one thing is for sure, the answer isn't zero!