Home Blog Page 247

MAGs: Make a Contingency Survival Plan

By
Charley Hogwood
-
0

Contingency-Survival-Plan

A mutual assistance group (MAG) is an exercise in readiness, flexibility and sustainability. Though we may have certain scenarios in mind where the proverbial fan fails, we cannot guarantee what might actually happen.

In order for your group to truly be prepared, it should adopt an all-hazards approach with contingency survival plans. This is not to say you shouldn’t be ready for a total grid down apocalypse or financial crash. Just take some time to consider some of the other possibilities that could, and regularly do, happen hundreds of times every year.

Contingency Survival Plans: Key Terms

First, there are a few terms to know:

  • A Hazard is something that has the potential to negatively impact you.
  • Your Vulnerability is how susceptible you are to the hazard.
  • Your Risk is the level of probability that the hazard will affect you. What are the chances it could happen?
  • The Impact Analysis considers the probable outcome of the event as it relates to you. How could this hazard impact your life?

Contingency Survival Plans: Trigger Points

Now that we have identified our immediate hazards, let’s see what kind of outside influences could set a disaster event into motion.

In our globalized society, events that happen great distances away can have direct or trickle down effects on anyone, anywhere. By paying attention to your news sources, you will be alert for geopolitical or natural events that might disrupt supply chains for everything from food to fuel.

Developing Contingency Survival Plans

There are several steps to formulating a contingency survival plan. Done in the proper order and well considered, these steps will get you within throwing distance of your objective.

To increase the odds in your favor, you will need to refine the contingency survival plan until it works. Then maintain it just as you would with any other piece of equipment. Once you have the basics down, revisit the plans that require a higher priority and reinforce them.

Formulating The Basic Contingency Survival Plan

  1. Identify the Problem – Begin by using one of the natural hazards gleaned from your hazard analysis.
  2. Form a Team – Who will be the players in this plan? What is the leadership and chain of command?
  3. Understand the Situation – What is the hazard and how does it affect you? What are the consequences should this occur?
  4. Determine your Goals and Objectives – What do you want to happen? What is the ultimate objective.
  5. Identify Courses of Action – This is where you say how you will deal with each contingency with specific plans of action. Who will do what, what will they do, how will they do it, what will they use to get it done and when does it need to be done.
  6. Identify Contingencies – If it can go wrong, you may want to prepare for it.
  7. Prepare The Plan – Write it down and distribute the plan to all the players. If there is any sensitive information involved, apply some sort of protocol to protect it.
  8. Implement and Maintain the Plan – Now is the time to take the plan for a test drive. This is where you perform a training session to practice the plan. Remember to use the Crawl, Walk, Run method to reduce confusion. When a problem is found, make note or stop training until it is resolved. Make sure any updates to the plan are distributed as needed and all old copies are destroyed.
  9. Update the Plan as Needed – If anything changes such as conditions, personnel, contact information, technology or equipment, update the plan. At the very least be sure to update annually.

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series from Charley Hogwood of P.R.E.P. on mutual assistance groups.

Concealed Carry: The Mind is the Weapon

By
Jim Schlender
-
0
Massad Ayoob teaches his popular MAG 20 class. Photo courtesy Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World, Vol. II.
Massad Ayoob teaches his popular MAG 20 class. Photo courtesy Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World, Vol. II.

Massad Ayoob’s Armed Citizens’ Rules of Engagement class gives those who carry concealed plenty of food for thought.

The topic of concealed carry has been on my mind a lot lately. That’s not only because we just wrapped up our annual Concealed Carry special issue, but also because I just returned from 20 hours of intense instruction at Massad Ayoob’s Armed Citizens’ Rules of Engagement class.

Ayoob has made a lifelong career out of educating professionals and common folk like you and me about every aspect of using firearms for self-defense. While his competitive shooting resume ranks him with the best of the best, Mas is perhaps best known to the general public for his landmark book, “In the Gravest Extreme: The Role of the Firearm in Personal Protection,” published in 1980. He followed that up last year by partnering with us at Gun Digest to publish Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense.

This column appears in the 2015 Concealed Carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Click here to download the full issue.
This column appeared in the 2015 Concealed Carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Click here to download the full issue.

Ayoob’s Armed Citizens’ class is an exhaustive extension of the material in these books, and if I had to summarize their purpose in one word, it would be this: think. All of your hardware knowledge and range time are pointless if you don’t know and appreciate the consequences of using a firearm for self defense.

Mas led off one portion of the class with this: “The mind is the weapon. Everything else is supplemental.” Be honest: Have you spent as much time training your mind for a lethal-force encounter as you have working on your shooting skills? If, God forbid, you need to fire in self defense, are you prepared to deal with the aftermath? I can’t begin to place a monetary value on a weekend learning about things like the true definition of justifiable defense; the actual meaning of Stand Your Ground; when the Castle Doctrine applies; 10 myths of self-defense; the Reasonable Man Doctrine … I could go on, but that would require dumping a 70-page packet of my notes on you.

Instead, seek out the best training and information you can find. Read what you can find from qualified experts and authors (hint: they’re not often found on Internet forums). And if you can find your way into Massad Ayoob’s classes and courses, so much the better (MassadAyoobGroup.com). Like your favorite concealed carry firearm, you may never have to use it. But if you do, you’ll be glad you have it.

deadly-forceAlso Check Out:

Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense

Among the topics discussed, this guide will help you understand any legal and ethical issues concerning the use of lethal force by private citizens. You’ll also learn about the social and psychological issues surrounding the use of lethal force for self-defense or in defense of others. In addition to exploring these issues, Ayoob also discusses the steps a responsible armed citizen can and should take in order to properly prepare for or help mitigate a lethal force situation. Learn more

Gun Buying Demand Surges for the Colt Python

By
Brian McCombie
-
3
High polished Colt Pythons. Photo from Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World.
High polished “Double Diamond” Colt Pythons. Photo from Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World.

Colt Python revolvers and all other Colt wheel guns are in big demand across the nation, with prices skyrocketing.

The situation is no different at Collectors Firearms, said owner Danny Clark, with some of the iconic Pythons he offers going for as much $4,000 apiece. Colt Diamondbacks also come with a hefty price tag—up to $2,500.

Actually, Clark said pre-1980 double-action revolvers in general have seen a surge in collector interest, including those made by Smith and Wesson (S&W). An S&W Model 29 revolver, for example—yes, none other than the “Dirty Harry” wheelgun—is bringing in up to $1,800 apiece, several hundred dollars more than just a few months ago. The classic S&W Model 25 revolver is also being snapped up, with collectors paying up to $1,500 for one.

Danny Clark — Collectors Firearms, Houston, Texas, Collectorsfirearms.com

Colt Pythons Spark Bidding Wars At the Most Recent RIA Gun Auction

Frequent and exciting bidder battles punctuated the most recent firearms auction at Rock Island Auctions (RIA), noted RIA owner Pat Hogan, and resulted in $11.6 million in total sales.

The biggest battle of the day two took place over a first-year production Colt Python revolver, serial No. 170. Bids climbed outside of the typical range for a Python as two phone bidders squared off. When it was all over, the final bid stood at an astounding $17,250!

Day two saw a good many Pythons cross the auction block to a flurry of bids. Two Angelo Bee engraved revolvers were snatched up for $8,050 and $7,475, respectively. A 1958 production Python achieved $7,475, while over two dozen of the revolvers pulled down over $3,000.

Preparedness Tips for Families of Divorce

By
Jim Cobb
-
0

Preparedness-Tips

Preparedness Tips and Survival Plans for Split Families

With around 50 percent of all marriages in the United States ending in divorce, and with a high percentage of those split families involving children, more and more preppers are faced with the possibility of those kids being in another home when disaster hits.

It is important to consider this when making your survival plans. While you may liken conversations with your ex to be even less desirable than a root canal performed with rusty tools and no laughing gas, you still need to sit down with him or her and discuss who is going to be responsible for what, should the worst come to pass.

Preparedness Tips for Families of Divorce: Who Gets the Kids?

For example, if an event happens, who will pick up the kids at school? Will that always fall to Dad, no matter what? Or, will it be whichever parent has custody that week? All other things being equal, I suggest that task be assigned to whichever parent is routinely closest to the school and can therefore get there the quickest.

As a follow up to that, while it is probably assumed the children will go to the parent's home after being picked up, what if that location is not safe? There need to be plans in place as to where that part of the family will go, how they will get there, and how long they will wait for everyone else.

Preparedness Tips for Families of Divorce: Make a Plan

What you might consider doing is determining two different backup locations. Call them A and B. Location A is the primary backup, B is the secondary. Should the home be determined to be unsafe for some reason, everyone is to meet at location A.

Once there, the family will wait a predetermined length of time and, if no one else shows up (or that location also becomes unsafe), they move on to the second meeting place. Give thought as to where a message could be left as well, such as under a specific potted plant or in a mailbox.

Preparedness Tips for Families of Divorce: Consider the Ex

One way to stay in touch with family when a disaster hits is with a two-way radio. Remember, cell phones often go out of service. One such recommendation would be DeLorme inReach satellite communicator for constant contact.
One way to stay in touch with family when a disaster hits is with a two-way radio. Remember, cell phones often go out of service. One such recommendation would be DeLorme inReach satellite communicator for constant contact.

Then, there's the subject of physical preps – water, food and supplies – necessary to provide for basic needs throughout the duration of the crisis.

In speaking with preppers at conferences, a situation where both parents are preppers is the rare exception. In fact, I've known more than a couple people for whom the marriage break up was at least partially due to beliefs about disaster readiness.

In any event, the reality is that if your former spouse doesn't actively prep, you might need to do double duty, so to speak.

If your budget allows, consider investing in some extra food and gear and ask your ex to keep it at their house. Stress that you aren't asking them to be financially invested in this, they merely need to give up a bit of closet space.

While you, as the “prepping parent,” may feel compelled to do anything you can to get your ex actively involved with prepping, it is far better to be able to convince them to let you stage supplies at their home than it is to feel like you've won the larger argument about prepping in general.

Photos: 5 Best Survival Handguns

By
Ben Sobieck
-
0

Check out these photos of the five best survival handguns as selected by readers. Did your favorite make it?

Best-Survival-Handguns-Living-Ready

This roundup of five of the best survival handguns comes courtesy of readers like you. In the What's In Your Bug Out Bag? book, readers explained their choices for best survival handguns. These five came up often, so they're highlighted here.

Best Survival Handgun: Browning URX .22 Pistol

This .22 pistol is a pleasure to shoot. An ergonomic design means even new shooters can quickly plant .22 rounds on target. The lightweight URX makes for the perfect all-around sidearm.

Best Survival Handgun: Glock 19 Gen 4

What's there to say about Glock pistols that hasn't been said before? They have their fans and detractors, but the 19 offers a 15-round capacity that won't let you down in a pinch.

Best Survival Handgun: Taurus Judge

Love it or hate it, the Taurus Judge is synonymous with survival. Load it with .45 or .410 rounds. That versatility matters when the weight of a tactical CQB long gun just isn't feasible.

Best Survival Handgun: Ruger Mark II

This is another .22 pistol that built its name on reliability. Since being introduced in the '80s, the original runs of Ruger Mark II pistols are still in service. That says a lot.

Best Survival Handgun: Walther PK 380

The Walther PK 380 holds nine rounds of .380 ACP in a compact package. It's a great option for self-defense and concealed carry purposes.

True Drowning Story: Why Mental Preparedness is Everything

By
Ben Sobieck
-
0

Drowning-Story
Reader DJnRF (David Jacobs) replied to the recent post about coordinating family members in a tough survival scenario with a true story about multiple drownings. It was too insightful to pass up, so it's being featured in a post.

Warning: This isn't an easy read, but it shows why mental preparedness is so critical when a split second decision needs to be made.

I had a friend here who was a sergeant of police in the department. He had been in his job over 20 years. One weekend he, his brother, and his nephew went on a fishing weekend at a nearby lake. It was early spring in very nice weather.

While out on the lake on Saturday, the sun disappeared and high winds began to blow with a coming storm. The temperature dropped from the mid-60s to the mid-40s in just a few minutes. Due to wave action on the lake they were returning to the shore and their camp.

Somehow, about 30 feet from shore, the boat overturned. All went in the water.

When the 17 year old nephew did not immediately surface, both my friend and his brother began to search for him.

The water temperature was still in the upper 30s from the winter. With only thinking of saving the boy, all three jumped in and ended up drowning. It was later found that the boy had gotten tangled in some weeds underwater and drowned.

Both my friend and his brother drowned because of hypothermia from the cold water. The cold water caused the condition very fast so that neither man could even control their own bodies to swim to shore.

Emotions caused their deaths. With proper knowledge and training, these men could have saved themselves, called for extra help and possibly even saved the boy. Instead, they made victims of themselves, and made it impossible to save the boy.

Learn, and train before any emergency. Remember, it is not what you have in your prepared supplies that will cause you to survive anything. It is what you know. What you have can just make your survival easier. If you do not have the proper knowledge, training, and ability, do not use your emotions to make a victim of yourself as well.

Tips for Using Glow-in-the-Dark Paint at Home for Survival

By
Ben Sobieck
-
0

Glow-in-the-Dark-Paint

Living Ready contributor Vincent Zandri hit on a bright idea last month with his article on using glow-in-the-dark paint for emergency lighting around the home. During a blackout, or just in dark spaces, glow-in-the-dark paint could illuminate critical areas or objects.

LivingReadyOnline.com reader superfluities left an excellent comment on Zandri's article about the best ways to use glow-in-the-dark paint for survival. What follows are some tips for using glow-in-the-dark paint for survival.

Pick the Right Glow-in-the-Dark Paint

The problem with glow in the dark paint/powders (GITD) is the quality varies wildly on brightness and length of glow. Powder that needs to be mixed into paint, like Glow Inc., works well but has a grainy texture to it.

The less grainy option is pre-made glow-in-the-dark paint, but the shelf life isn’t long. It tends to dry out in the can, similar to what happens with fingernail polish. GITD items have lifespan, too. As they get older they don’t work as well.

Consider How Glow-in-the-Dark Paint Recharges

The problem with using glow-in-the-dark paint for a survival situation is it has to be charged with bright light. You would need to expose it to direct sunlight for some time to get a lasting effect into the night. That might not be possible depending on the situation.

Prime with White Paint First

Painting an item white – preferably flat white – first will enhance the glow and help the particles absorb more light when charged. Bright Sites brand gun site paint is very good, but is priced and sold in a quantity for coating gun sites, not tents.

Choose Light Green Colors

For the brightest glow, always go for the lightest green color of glow-in-the-dark paint. A red/blue/orange glow will be only half or less as bright as the traditional light green glow color.

Determine How Glow-in-the-Dark Paint Will Be Used

In my opinion, the strength of GITD stuff is when you get up at 3 a.m. to stoke the fire, and you can see your coated flashlight laying next to you or the GITD tent ropes.

Building on those comments was reader apupster2, with this sage warning about using glow-in-the-dark paint around the home.

I would be cautious about painting areas around your home. You are essentially “painting the target.”

If blackout conditions are needed at night and you have painted your driveway and sidewalks and they are glowing in the dark, you’ve just advertised your home as a potential target.

In my opinion, it's a nice concept with regards to safety (seeing the pavement at night to prevent falls) but doesn’t make much sense in a strategic sense.

MAGs: What is Activation Planning?

By
Charley Hogwood
-
0

Activation-Planning

Mutual Assistance Groups: What is Activation Planning?

When a mutual assistance group (MAG) or other group of people “activate,” it's usually when a disaster or specific event has been identified. Activation takes people out of their routine and into a predetermined disaster plan.

There are two common ways to approach activation planning.

Activation Planning Method #1: We’ll See You When You Get Here

In this method, the mutual assistance group announces an activation, and the members follow their self-devised bug-out plans with little help from the group. Keep in mind that some people will not immediately respond to an activation for a variety of reasons.

Activation Planning Method #2: We are Coming for You

A second method would have the overall group more involved in the activation process. In this scenario, mutual assistance group members are more closely located to each other and the retreat or the primary meeting location.

When a group-wide activation is announced, a pre-planned course of action would occur. If needed, teams could be mobilized to gather other members and/or other families who need help getting out.

I encourage all families to use similar planning and processes as the group at large to create an air of familiarity and understanding among all members, big and small.

Most importantly, keep it simple and easy to remember. Use words everyone understands. Make every effort to standardize terms and definitions in all plans to reduce confusion.

Levels of Activation (Samples)

•    Normal Operations
•    Training
•    Enhanced Readiness
•    Mobilize to Primary
•    Mobilize to Alternate 1
•    Self Deployment

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series from Charley Hogwood of P.R.E.P. on mutual assistance groups (MAG). 

Demystified: Ferrocerium and Mischmetal Fire Starter Rods

By
John McCann
-
0

Ferrocerium-and-Mischmetal-Fire-Starter-Rods

I would like to attempt to clarify the confusion often surrounding the terms “ferrocerium” and “mischmetal” when it comes to various fire starters.

My wife, who speaks fluent German, voiced confusion to the term mischmetal as it relates to ferrocerium. She explained that the term mischmetal is from the German word Mishmetall, meaning mixed metal, and that since a ferrocerium rod is made of a mixture of metal, by definition it is a mischmetal rod.

So I did a little digging and she is right. But the terms have taken on their own vernacular by the survival/fire-starting community. The terms are used to distinguish the difference between two types of fire-starting rods or tools.

What are Mischmetal and Ferrocerium?

A mischmetal, also known as cerium mischmetal, is an alloy of rare earth elements, namely those from the lanthanum series. The resultant mischmetal by itself is too soft to use as a flint, such as used in a lighter.

Therefore, it is blended with iron oxide and magnesium oxide. The resulting man-made material is called ferrocerium — probably because of the addition of the iron (ferro) and the mischmetal (cerium), hence ferrocerium—and will produce sparks to ignite tinder when scraped by a sharp edge, usually a piece of steel.

The scraper is called a striker. For years, this was the only type of spark-producing fire-starting device that came in a rod form, and was termed a ferrocerium rod or a mischmetal fire starter.

The New Mischmetal Rod

Enter the twenty-first century and a desire for a hotter fire starter rod. A new fire starter rod is introduced and it is called a mischmetal rod. I know, I know, but what can I say.

This rod allows the user to obtain both a sufficient ignition spark and an ample shower of hot burning flakes of magnesium used to ignite tinder.

Without getting too technical, this is done by lowering the iron content and increasing the magnesium content. The increased amount of magnesium, relative to the decreased iron content, results in a softer rod.

The pieces that are scraped off are larger and, after being ignited by the sparks, continue to burn after leaving the rod.

Which One is Right for You?

There you have it. For the purpose of this book, a ferrocerium rod (also known as a ferro rod) is harder and gives lots of sparks, but the sparks don’t continue to burn.

A mischmetal rod gives large burning chunks of magnesium that continue to burn after leaving the rod.

I, being old school, still prefer the ferrocerium rod. It is hard and, in my opinion, lasts much longer than a mischmetal rod. A ferro rod only gives you sparks, but hot sparks, and they have always been adequate for me to ignite tinder. The sparks are fairly easy to aim into a tinder pile.

I have found that the large burning pieces of magnesium scraped off the mischmetal rod are more difficult to aim and the rods wear down in a much shorter time than a ferro rod.

However, when the hot burning pieces of magnesium do find their way into the tinder, they burn longer, and will even ignite a piece of paper (a ferro rod won’t do that).

To make an intelligent decision, experiment with both and determine which is best for you.

Disaster Survival: When is it OK to Steal?

By
Ben Sobieck
-
0

Disaster-Survival-When-is-it-OK-to-Steal

Disaster Survival: Pitting Reality Against Morality

It's easy to sit on a moral high horse while times are good. But when disasters strike, there's a guarantee that theft will follow.

It's not always career criminals smashing and grabbing. Sometimes it's people in tough situations getting critical supplies using the only option available. There's a fine line between “looting” and “scavenging for necessities.” Where you fall on it will depend on how you answer this question: When is it OK to steal?

To put this into context, Living Ready asked readers on its Facebook page to think about the following scenario:

It's been three weeks since your utilities went out following a major disaster. Your water supplies are almost gone, and your family is literally dying of thirst. You know your neighbor has more than enough water stockpiled in a nearby garage. You know you could sneak in and take some with anyone noticing. Would you steal water for your family?

Disaster Survival: Is It Ever OK to Steal?

The responses went in a surprising direction. The consensus was that bartering should be the first course of action. Using skills learned ahead of time to purify water was also referenced. It goes to show how important it is to be educated about survival situations before they happen.

“No, I would not steal my neighbor's water. I have many skills. I have plenty of other stockpiled goods. And if my neighbor was attempting to cut me off from water on purpose and flat out refused to share or trade, I'M STILL NOT STEALING OR TAKING HIS WATER. If there's no local water and I cannot drill into the aquifer, then it is time to migrate. But I will tell every thirsty migrant I pass along the way about my ex-neighbor's easily accessible stockpile of water…and the newly empty home next to him.” – William Major

“Steal, no. I would, however, offer to trade him something, whether it be useful items, labor to turn his yard into a garden, or taking a few security watch shifts at his house so he can get some things done or get some sleep. And if he refused any of those things, I'd be heading out to the nearest water source – no matter how far or difficult it was.” – Carrie Bartkowiak

“No. Stealing is not the way to gain an ally, but to ensure they are an enemy. Ask, trade, beg or find some way to work together.” – Jeff Tremblay

“Get some sillcock wrenches for your urban bug out bag, you can tap exterior water outlets on commercial buildings. Also learn how to collect and purify water using charcoal and sand filters. Better then stealing!” – Regis Johnson

“If it was a matter of life or death – yes! Then I would have enough to live on for a few days while I search out for water for my family.” – Deborah L. Earl

“If it's okay to steal water from him, then it is OK to steal everything else he has. May as well just kill him, too. If it's for my family, that makes it OK, doesn't it? And people wonder whats wrong with our society. Sheesh.” – Darrel Gill

“Until it happens, people can say ‘I wouldn't,' ‘I can't' or ‘that's wrong.' But look at how emotional parents gets over something stupid. Now add in stress, fatigue, anger, frustration and hunger. Then watch the morals and society fade away.” – Rusty Mallett

What would you do in that situation? Leave a comment below.

How to Perform Chest Compressions

By
James Hubbard
-
0

How-to-Perform-Chest-Compressions

How to Perform Chest Compressions: Step-by-Step

1. Kneel beside the person with both of your knees close to the person’s chest. Lean over the chest.

2. Place your hands on top of each other and position the base of your bottom hand over the middle part of the breastbone. Position your elbows and shoulders directly over your hands.

3. Use your weight to compress the chest, leaning your entire body weight down on your arms to apply pressure. Do not bend your elbows (like they do on TV). Compress the chest down at least 2 inches (5cm; yes, that’s also a lot more than they do on TV).

4. Compress at a minimum rate of 100 times per minute. The rate is the same as the beat of the Bee Gees’ tune, Stayin’ Alive.

5. Compress until help arrives. If you’re using an AED, it will direct you when to compress and when to stop.

6. If you don’t have an AED, stop and quickly recheck for a pulse or other signs of life such as breathing or responsiveness every two minutes. If someone is with you, take turns performing compressions.

7. If no help comes and you don’t get a pulse or other sign of life, there will come a time when continuing is fruitless. Stop if you become exhausted. It’s extremely rare to revive a person unless you have an AED or can transfer her to a medical facility. Even then, it’s pretty uncommon, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you’ve done your best.

Why Chest Compressions? Why Not CPR?

Current thinking is that artificial respirations, such as those used in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), aren’t effective when performed by non-medical personnel.

The treatment does little to improve the overall recovery of someone whose heart has stopped beating.

It’s more useful and efficient for a nonmedical person to spend her time on proper chest compressions.

Recommendations do change from time to time depending on new data. The best way to keep up with the latest recommendations, and also to learn how to properly perform CPR, is to take a hands-on course.

Call your local hospital, the American Red Cross or your local chapter of the American Heart Association to enroll.

Gun Painting Trick: Use Gaffers Tape

By
Ben Sobieck
-
0
Gaffers tape doesn't leave a sticky adhesive when removed. It's perfect as a wrap to use for gun painting. Changing camo patterns for the seasons is a piece of cake.
Gaffers tape doesn't leave a sticky adhesive when removed. It's perfect as a wrap to use for gun painting. Changing camo patterns for the seasons is a piece of cake.

Gaffers Tape: Perfect for Preserving Gun Parts

Gaffers tape is awesome stuff for camo gun painting. Personally, I try to avoid painting my equipment, preferring to keep it in original condition. Parts and accessories sell better if they’re not painted.

Gaffers Tape vs. Duct Tape

Why gaffers tape and not duct tape?

Gaffers tape has been used by the film industry for decades for temporary securing of wires, equipment, etc. It's actually fabric, so it's dull/matte. That's different from duct tape, which tends to be shiny.

But the biggest advantage to gaffers is the non-messy adhesive. It does not leave a sticky, gooey mess like duct tape but still adheres very well.

This allows you to experiment with colors and patterns without getting your weapon covered in paint. Also, changing the camo with the seasons is easy. Just rip off the old tape and apply a new layer of camo paint.

Method #1: How to Use Gaffers Tape for Gun Painting

Wrap the gun parts in tape, then apply paint. Easy as that.

Method #2: How to Use Gaffers Tape for Gun Painting

Lay strips of gaffers tape on sheets of wax paper, spray them with paint and wrap them onto the gun.

Where Not to Use Gaffers Tape for Gun Painting

One place I don’t use tape of any type is the gun barrel.

During hunting, my barrels usually don’t get hot enough to reek havoc with tape adhesive, but there are occasions when more than a couple rounds are fired.

I usually use camo fabric to wrap the barrel instead. Colored chalk could break up the barrel profile, too.

Where to Get Gaffers Tape for Gun Painting

Gaffers tape is found in a variety of colors and widths. Hardware stores and online retailers carry a lot of gaffers tape, but I prefer Amazon because of the feedback ratings to avoid a poorly made version.

5 Causes of Hypothermia Not Related to the Cold

By
James Hubbard
-
0

Causes-of-Hypothermia

There's much more to hypothermia than the air temperature. Here's are five hypothermia causes that don't involve the thermometer.

Causes of Hypothermia: Getting Wet

When you are wet, you get cold a lot quicker, and at higher temperatures, than when you are dry.

Wet clothes conduct heat about five times more rapidly than air. When you are immersed
in water, you conduct heat 25 times faster than when you are surrounded by air. Your body temperature can get dangerously low in any water below about 91°F (33°C). Of course, the colder the water, the faster your body temperature drops.

Hypothermia-related deaths occur annually in boating accidents and the like, which explains most of the hypothermia deaths in Florida and Hawaii.

Causes of Hypothermia: Alcohol and Drugs

These substances dull your senses (especially if you pass out, to point out the obvious), so you don’t realize you’re cold until it’s too late.

Alcohol also dilates (increases the size of) surface veins, so your blood flows closer to the surface of your skin, releasing body heat that is normally kept in your core for your vital organs.

Causes of Hypothermia: Trauma

Trauma can wreak havoc with body temperature regulators. Also the victim might not notice how cold she is getting due to pain or an impaired mental status.

If you’re treating a trauma victim, remember to cover the victim with a blanket or whatever is available. Also get the person out of wet clothes.

Causes of Hypothermia: Age

As you age, your temperature regulators don’t work as well. The decline can begin even as young as age 65.

Children under age three have more skin surface versus body mass. Heat escapes through the skin, so they lose heat faster. In addition, the cold has a tendency to sneak up in on both these age groups before anyone notices.

Causes of Hypothermia: Chronic Diseases

Hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s, heart disease and severe infections are examples of the many problems that affect your body's heat regulation. People with these issues can't fight off the cold as well as people without health issues.

3 Reasons to Make Your Own Survival Kit

By
Elwood Shelton
-
0

Make-Your-Own-Survival-Kit

There are many types of commercial survival kits available on the market today. Some of these kits are well made. Some are sufficient. And some are lacking in serious survival components.

Although many of these survival kits provide the basics, the quality of the components must fit the selling price of the kit.

In other words, the components may not be chosen based on the quality of the item but on the price of the item. The total price of the items in the kit must fit within the overall selling price that allows the kit to be affordable.

I’m not opposed to commercial survival kits, but there are three reasons I prefer DIY survival kits.

#1 Reason to Make Your Own Survival Kit: Quality

Oftentimes a commercial kit does not provide the highest quality of components. I have always felt that you should spend as much as you can afford on components for your personal survival kit.

After all, you might depend on your kits for survival, and therefore, this is no place to be frugal.

#2 Reason to Make Your Own Survival Kit: Insight

I believe that a survival kit should be designed on an item-by-item basis. In this manner, you are familiar with the individual components.

By packaging your own survival kit, you also know where each item is in an emergency. When you buy a kit that is prepacked, you lose the flexibility of choosing a container that offers you the space for those extra items you desire.

If you do purchase a prepackaged survival kit, be sure you become familiar with it before you need it.

#3 Reason to Make Your Own Survival Kit: It's Easy

Lastly, as you will learn from reading my new book, Build the Perfect Survival Kit, 2nd Edition, making your own personal survival kit is not difficult. You can choose your own
container and components, and customize it for your needs.

Managing Survival Resources in a Mutual Assistance Group

By
Charley Hogwood
-
0

How-to-Barter-for-Survival-Resources1

One of the biggest hurdles for a mutual assistance group to get past will be allocation of survival resources.

The two most common problems regarding survival resources will be:

  1. Do we combine all the incoming basic load supplies into a common storage system?
  2. Do we have all members remain responsible for their own basic load of supplies?

Depending on the mutual assistance group makeup, there are a couple of ways to handle allocation of survival resources.

Survival Resources and the Diverse Group

If the mutual assistance group is diverse with several or many families, I suggest everyone bring a baseline set of supplies.

Members would be responsible for their own food stocks and feed themselves. Medical supplies and personal equipment can also be maintained within the individual families. If there is a need for additional survival resources by other mutual assistance group members, it would be up to the family to decide whether to share.

Note, there should still be community production efforts, such as agriculture, water collection, firewood collection, etc. Community efforts should be divided fairly with respect to distribution.

Survival Resources and the Big Family

If the mutual assistance group is one large, combined family, you may be able to combine supplies. It is still a good idea to secure everything, especially food.

Just as with the diverse group, you will have communal tasks and production of resources. It may be more difficult to get family to participate with chores, just because family rarely likes to take orders. Even so, crops, meats and other sundries should be doled out fairly and evenly.

Bartering for Survival Resources

Survival is far more than wandering the hills eating wild plants and bugs or living in a bunker until the war ends. There are extremely few people who can live totally self-contained. Even the most rugged of mountain men must ride into town to trade their furs for supplies or purchase feeds, building materials, parts, tools, etc.

The goal of a mutual assistance group is to create a self-reliant community of sorts. But for the skills and supplies not on hand, a way to obtain them must be found.

This is pointed out to get you thinking about surpluses. If you have extra of something, you may be able to barter with neighbors or in a community somewhere. In a world where food is in short supply, having extra may be better than holding precious metals.

The trick to bartering for survival is to establish a fair value of the items in hand. For example, a basket of fresh vegetables may be an even trade for a slab of fresh meat. A day of labor may be a fair trade for a couple of meals.

I'm not going to discuss bartering in-depth, but there are some things we suggest you do not do. It is never a good idea to trade ammo, weapons or other dangerous items with strangers. It is also not a good idea to offer toxic, contaminated food or equipment to an unknowing trade partner.

 

Make a TSA-Approved Carry-On Emergency Kit

By
Andy Tran
-
0

Airline travel is complicated, even more so if you plan on being prepared in flight and at your destination. Sometimes traveling light is a necessity and checking bags isn’t in the cards. Sometimes the airlines can misplace your bags for a day or more.

Regardless, it’s a good idea to have some items in your carry on that are approved for TSA.

Carry-On Emergency Kits for Before the Plane Ride

Emergency Carry-On Kit
Don't keep this kit in your luggage. Bring it with you on the plane in case the luggage becomes lost. Because that will be the day you really need it, according to Murphy's Law.

During my last trip to West Virginia, we hit a deer not 5 miles from an international airport, totaling the car with the airbags deployed.

I have since added my tactical flashlight to the mix, since the deer ran off into the night (a nice 8-pointer, might I add). We were able to drive to a garage (with a deployed airbag, and one headlight), no thanks to roadside assistance.

So having an emergency kit ready to go in the carry before the plane ride is a good idea, too.

TSA-Approved Carry-On Emergency Kit

This list of items is put together for someone planning on spending a good amount of time outdoors. I have given some alternatives for someone wishing to pack a bit less, or don’t plan to venture outside too much once they reach their destination.

  • Field Trauma Kit, including athletic tape, extra Advil, Benadryl, and extra Quikclot
  • 75 feet of paracord (550) (or 50 feet to go light)
  • Lighter (tinder can be made out of gauze and Chapstick in a pinch) with zip tie around button
  • Tactical flashlight with adjustable brightness and a strobe function. A carry pouch is nice to tether onto equipment so that you don’t lose it, and so that you can easily pull it out of your bag.
  • Spare batteries with the terminals taped off with either gaffers tape or electrical tape. Duct tape residue can make them worthless. Check the expiration date.
  • Signal mirror (mine is in a duct tape case with Velcro) Polycarbonate mirrors are lighter weight and won't break with rough handling, but they don’t last as long as their glass counterparts, nor do they transmit as much light from the sun.
  • Signal whistle
  • Two (2) space blankets
  • TSA-approved multitool, such as the Style PS from Leatherman.
  • Small LOKSAK (for smaller items, and can be used to flush wounds)
  • Large LOKSAK to carry it all in
  • Two (2) Nalgene bottles with duct tape (or gorilla tape) and paracord loop, or an MSR Dromedary if going to a hot climate.
  • One (1) glacier cup
  • Water filter or purification tablets

Dealing with the TSA

The first thing to know about TSA is that items that are questionable, yet permitted, are judged based on the appearance of the person carrying them. I have carried a tactical pen on 10 or so flights. On the 11th flight, I was told it was prohibited, and TSA proceeded to take my boarding ticket and ID, then had a sheriff run me through the system for warrants. (Great news, I'm not wanted for any crimes!)

This sort of special treatment is usually reserved for people carrying illegal items. Things like the Bic lighter and the multitool should be declared at the x-ray machine (along with your keys and coins) to make the screener’s life easier, and to cut down on your time through security.

1...246247248...436Page 247 of 436

MUST READ ARTICLES

Get The

Magazine

Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing.

Subscribe Now

Get The

Newsletter

Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com.

Sign Up

Get The

Book

Get the 79th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book.

Buy Now

Information

Subscriptions

Resources

Business