Summer is the perfect time to build a winter car survival kit. Don't wait until cold weather hits. Put it together now while there's still plenty of time to gather materials.
Here are items every winter car survival kit should contain. It's not exhaustive, but it should get you thinking about the things you'll need if stranded.
Booster cables. These could be for you, but also so you can help others.
A collapsible snow shovel. Good to have in case you have to dig yourself out.
Extra flashlight. Check the batteries often. Batteries lose power quicker in cold climates. You might also consider snap light sticks, or a flashlight with some manual power source (hand crank or shake).
Road flares. If possible, also use a road hazard reflective triangle. These will help warn other vehicles if yours is stranded on a roadside at night. Remember, flares can be hazardous. Use caution and follow the appropriate safety warnings.
Fuel line de-icer.
Door lock de-icer.
Windshield-wiper fluid.
Extra antifreeze.
Extra clothing. These would include pants, gloves, an older pair of boots and a hooded sweatshirt.
Blankets.
Wool socks.
Extra turn signal bulbs.
Basic tools.
Non-perishable, high-energy food. Candy bars containing nuts are a good choice. Keep these in a mouse-proof container.
Cell phone charger. Either for your cell phone battery or a device that can charge your phone independently.
Tin can. Like a coffee can. This can be used for melting snow into water. Don't count on bottled water being liquid during an emergency.
Lighter or waterproof matches. Always a good idea.
Knife. This is the tool with a million uses. Keep it handy.
Tip: Put clothing and blankets in vacuum sealable bags. This will save space in the trunk.
More Survival Kit Tips
For even more survival kit ideas for emergency situations, check out Build the Perfect Survival Kit. It's available at a great discount from GunDigestStore.com.
This is a lucky shot. No nerve damage. The bullet did not strike any bones. The officer will make a full recovery. But it is a cautionary tale about holstering your pistol. Entry wound is on the left.
When you are buying a CCW holster and a cover garment look for the little things that can hang up and possibly cause an unsafe situation. You will be glad you did.
The two key elements of concealed carry are, of course, “concealed” and “carry”. To effectively carry you need a holster. To effectively conceal you need cover garment. When those two get tangled up you can get holes in your body where holes should not be. Nobody wants that. Here is an abridged version of a report sent out to alert Law Enforcement Officers of a potential for disaster posed by the most innocuous of items… the draw cord on your pull-over cover garment. I am taking pains to insure all references to where and to whom this happened are removed.
In June 2012, a group of LEOs was participating in firearms training at the range with the department’s issued pistol and ammunition. The officer was using a .40 S&W caliber SIG P229 DAK. The ammunition was department-issued Federal Premium 180-grain HST. The holster utilized was a right-handed Blackhawk Serpa CQC concealment paddle-style. The officer was wearing a light-weight wet weather jacket due to rainy conditions on that day.
After having fired several rounds during the course of fire, the officer was in the process of holstering when the pistol discharged through the open portion of the bottom of the holster. The round entered the outside of the right upper calf and exited the outside of the lower calf and was stopped by the ground (grass/dirt surface). The round did not strike any bone or the ankle or foot. There was not excessive bleeding and it was later found that there was no serious nerve damage. The officer is expected to make a full recovery. Once first aid was rendered and EMT’s had arrived at the scene, an examination of the pistol in the holster revealed that the trigger was depressed to the rear of the trigger guard (see photograph). A plastic cylinder-shaped draw cord adjuster attached to the wet weather jacket the officer was wearing was lodged against the front of the trigger. The plastic draw cord adjuster had become caught inside of the trigger guard during the holstering of the pistol.
You can see in this photo the trigger is fully depressed by the draw cord lock trapped inside.
It should be noted that this type of draw cord adjuster is the type commonly found on many jackets. The one that became lodged was for the side/waist adjustment cord. Just a reminder to trainers and shooters. We train to keep our eyes up on threat when holstering. When holstering with this type of clothing and using the support hand to clear the holster, ensure that the support hand doesn’t get covered by the muzzle. Keep the support hand and clothing well above the top of the holster and bring the pistol in below them.
This situation could have ended much worse. I was at a range where a shooter did much the same thing while trying to holster his Glock with his finger inside the trigger guard. Massad Ayoob tells a story of shooter getting off two rounds in such fashion because he didn't realize the “cause and effect” and once the first round went off he really wanted to get that pistol safely into the holster, so he pushed down again!
This is no laughing matter. Learn to holster carefully. As cops, we holster with our eyes on the threat in order to transition to
This little piece could have cost an officer the use of his leg.
handcuffing or some other activity. You civilian CCW holders should not holster until you are certain the scene is safe. That usually means when police arrive. At that point you may be directed (loudly) to place your gun on the ground while police sort out the situation. Do so without hesitation because responding officers don't know who is the bad guy when they arrive at a “shots fired” call.
So, when you are buying a holster and a cover garment look for the little things that can hang up and possibly cause an unsafe situation. You will be glad you did.
According to Military Times, “The US Army's PM Soldier Weapons has put out a sources sought request over on FedBiz [Federal Business Opportunities, a government agency] looking for sources to manufacture a complete weapon system or reconfigure some or all of the existing 7.62 x 51mm M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) currently available in the Army's inventory.”
The Army has put out specifications for a shorter, lighter rifle than the current SASS. According to the bid document, the Army was “looking to build or convert 125 rifles per month with a capability to ramp up to 325 rifles per month.”
“Reading between the lines, 325 rifles a month is more than they'd need to outfit scout/sniper teams. At that rate, figuring a multi-year contract, that's enough to outfit the DMRs [Designated Marksman Rifle units] Army wide. The logical conclusion is that the Army is looking to replace the venerable M14's latest configuration [called the Enhanced Battle Rifle or EBR] with something more familiar to the current grunt that's smaller, lighter and more easily maintained than the EBR.”
Learn More About Military Firearms
The fascinating histories behind military firearms is explored in the Standard Catalog of Military Firearms book. Its rich information includes reference and pricing information for a wealth of military guns.
Britain’s ageless Short Magazine Lee Enfield was given a replaceable bolt head, to adjust headspacing.
Headspace, measured from the bolt face to the cartridge stop in the chamber, is set during barrel chambering and installation.
The barrel nut on Savage 110 rifles is a clever way to make headspacing easier and cheaper. British SMLE rifles have replaceable bolt heads that varied slightly in length, for a quick field fix of improper headspace.
Excess headspace causes hulls to stretch unduly ahead of the web. A split, and spilled gas, can result.
But as a handloader, you control effective headspace, because in sizing cases, you determine the relationship of cartridge to chamber. Even when the barrel is properly reamed and expertly installed, errors in case preparation and loading can introduce headspace problems.
Once I was sizing cases for a wildcat 6mm cartridge, the .240 Hawk. I set the die to full-length size, to ensure the cartridges would easily fit the chamber. My first shot blew gas from all crevices of the stout Remington 700 action.
The case showed a circumferential crack forward of the belt. Because the loads were not stiff, and because the bolt lift did not indicate high pressure, I fired another round. Same result. I compared sized cases with the fired cases. The sized .240 hulls were shorter by nearly .1 inch.
So I unscrewed the sizing die until it hung 1/8 inch shy of contacting the shell-holder. The first case sized at that setting wouldn’t chamber. Lowering the die incrementally and trying the case at each setting, I finally closed the bolt.
At this point, the die and shell-holder were .1 inch apart. Unlike most commercial dies, this one reduced case length excessively when flush with the shell-holder. It made the case .1 shorter than the chamber.
When I fired those first rounds, the striker drove the case forward .1 inch, and the rear of the case backed up .1 inch against the bolt, pulling the brass apart just ahead of the web.
Full-length sizing compresses a cartridge case; firing stretches it. Think about what happens after repeated bending of the tab on a soda can. To prolong case life, neck-size only, so the brass moves little upon firing.
Because a cooling hull shrinks after firing (otherwise it wouldn’t easily extract), there’s no need to further reduce its dimensions unless you plan to use the ammunition in another rifle that has a slightly smaller chamber.
“Improved” cartridges are blown-out versions of rimmed or rimless rounds, here the .30-06. The .30-06 Improved (left) has the same headspace measure. Standard ammo can be used in an Improved chamber.
The only other reason to full-length size (or to use small-base dies that squeeze cases down even further) is to feed autoloading or lever- or slide-action rifles with little camming power. Some hunters full-length size the cases they’ll use on a hunt, to ensure easy chambering.
Neck sizing is a particularly good practice with belted cases, because chambers for these hulls are often cut generously up front. The critical dimension, after all, is the distance from bolt face to belt face – .220 to .224, “go” to “no go.” If you full-length-size belted magnums, you may be shortening the head-to-shoulder span considerably each time—which means the case stretches a lot at each firing. Eventually (sometimes soon), you’ll notice a white ring forming around the case just ahead of the belt.
If you insert a straightened paper clip with a small “L” bend at the end and feel around the inside of the case, you may detect a slight indentation forward of the web. The white ring signals a thinning of the case there and the case will separate if you keep full-length sizing the case.
Rechambering rifles to Improved, or sharp-shouldered, cartridges should not change headspace measurement. The reduced body taper and steeper shoulder angle provide greater case capacity, but the datum point on an altered shoulder should remain the original distance from the bolt face.
That’s why you can fire factory ammunition in an Improved chamber safely. True wildcats that require case forming in dies must sometimes be given a false shoulder to serve as the chamber stop before firing full-power loads.
Headspace is a length measurement. It has nothing to do with diameter. After long use, reamers cut slightly smaller chambers than when new. New reamers or those used aggressively can bore oversize chambers. Headspace can change over time. With each firing of your centerfire rifle, some compression of the locking lugs and lug seats occurs.
The elasticity of the steel keeps headspace essentially the same. But many firings with heavy loads can drain that elasticity and cause a permanent increase in headspace.
A rifle with hard lugs and soft seats and generous headspace can eventually develop so much headspace that a field gauge can be chambered. At this point the rifle is unsafe.
Since 1944, Gun Digest has been considered “The World's Greatest Gun Book.” That's because it's full of gun information.
The new 2013 edition stays true to the tradition of excellence in firearms literature and gun information. It features in-depth articles about antique guns, testfire gun reviews on the latest guns, gun collecting secrets and roundups of what's new from leading manufacturers. Its gun information is unrivaled by any other book!
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It's no secret that I'm a fan of the bolt-action rifles made by GA Precision — especially the company's military reproductions like the M40A1 and M24. Even so, the company's take on the AR-10 style precision rifle, the GAP-10, is well worth a closer look.
Admittedly, I'm forever taken with bolt action rifles. But after watching this video, it's hard to miss the fact that precision rifle makers have so perfected their craft that these days one can quite literally have his cake and eat it too.
Long gone are the days when you faced the proverbial fork in the road, forced to choose between fast shots and surgical accuracy. Today you can have both.
Of course, GA Precision didn't get to the finish line first on the idea (though they seem to be working against the grain of companies placing priority on modularity versus sheer accuracy, starting with the barrel and building the gun around it).
However, it is notable that the GAP-10 is available with an array of custom options: Shortened mags for prone position shooting, factory-applied Cerakote colors like tan or Flat Dark Earth (FDE), Mag-Pul PRS buttstock and a variety of muzzle breaks and barrel lengths.
GAP-10 Specs
Caliber: 308 Win, 260 Rem, (others available)
Action: G.A. Precision GAP-10, upper and lower
Barrel Type: Bartlein stainless 5R barrel
Barrel Length: 16.5 to 22 inches
Stock: Standard A2, (Magpul PRS optional)
Finish: Hard Anodized black aluminum, Matte Cerakote on barrel and gas block (other colors special order)
When 600 million people lose power, who should be responsible for being prepared to get through it: Individuals or government? That question is being asked as India experiences the most widespread blackout in history.
As the video report above shows, a power grid failure in the northern part of the country caused a blackout affecting a population equal to North and Central America. By comparison, the video notes that the most disruptive blackout in United States history affected 55 million people in 2003.
The difference between the two events isn't as much a matter of population as it is economy. The average GDP per capita in the U.S. is roughly $48,000, according to the CIA World Fact Book. In India, it's closer to $3,800.
Despite India's population being four times that of the U.S., it consumes 600.6 billion kWh of electricity per year. That figure is 3.741 trillion kWh in the U.S.
This means people in India had fewer resources to set aside for blackouts, yet didn't lose as much on the personal level when the power went out. It was the large, socialized pieces of infrastructure that took it on the nose. As the video showed, scores of people were stranded waiting for public transportation, their only option for travel.
The opposite happened in the most recent blackout in the U.S. (read about it here). The power outage affected a fewer number of people, but they had much more to lose at the personal level. Individuals generally relied on their own energy consumption to get through the day.
The power went out in both cases, yet there is a major difference. In India, individuals lacked the resources to set aside for emergencies. In the U.S., the average person had much more to put in reserve. This begs the question about where the responsibility of preparedness falls. Is it the individual or is it government?
For example, is it up to individuals to store potable water for emergencies or is government responsible? Should individuals in India, where rolling brownouts are common, anticipate these events and prepare for them? Should people in the U.S., where wealth allows for individual preparedness, still expect an effective government response to disasters?
It's this author's view that there is only the illusion of a middle ground when it comes to blackout preparedness. Large-scale electricity production is a socialized function heavily regulated by government. Private companies sanctioned to perform this work are not beholden to individuals, only to the governments that approved their monopolistic existence. That would seem to place the burden of blackout preparedness on government.
However, government disaster relief services only go so far. Literally. Help has to be shipped in from other places. That's going to take time. It could be hours, days or weeks. The response to Hurricane Katrina is one example.
The same is true of any place in the world. Yes, there will be governments preparing for disaster. No, it won't be a perfect response. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security.
The reality is individuals are responsible for their well-being, and need to be prepared to the furthest extent they're able. True, people in developing countries, such as India, are at a disadvantage when it comes to preparedness. But the core principles of survival are as true today as they were thousands of years ago.
In the end, no one is going to help you but yourself.
Build a Survival Kit, Make it Through a Blackout
When Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trucks roll into town to offer relief, no one will hand you a pack and say, “Here's the survival kit I made just for you.” It's up to individuals to be prepared by building their own survival kits. Learn how in Build Your Own Survival Kit.
When selecting a survival shotgun, the author recommends a pump action that can be tucked in tight to the operator. A model like the one above is reliable and easier to use.
Survival shotguns aren't just re-purposed tactical shotguns designed for CQB (close quarter battle), as Scott Wagner details in this article on survival guns.
Editor's Note: The author offers some great tips for selecting a survival shotgun in this article. Keep in mind you're not likely to find a literal “survival shotgun” for sale. Survival shotguns are sporting or tactical firearms purposed for preparedness.
The shotgun has some marvelous advantages for the person who is preparing for civil unrest. Most of you don’t remember this, but the short barrel versions used to be known as a “riot shotguns” back in the day when it was still okay to shoot lead, rather than rubber, pellets at people causing mass property destruction and injury to others. The shotgun may have fallen into third place status for law enforcement use, but it certainly has a lot of use left as a survival gun.
Advantages of a Survival Shotgun
One of the advantages of the survival shotgun is the variety of ammunition available.
1. Survival shotguns are useful for mid-range and CQB (Close Quarter Battle) defense of one’s home from about 25 yards in to what I call “eye gouging distance.” The close range power of a 20- or 12- gauge shot shell cannot be denied.
2. Survival shotguns are versatile. They can be located with 00 buckshot for defense against large angry mobs or large angry animals, or with hunting loads for taking small game in an emergency.
3. The appearance of survival shotguns are worth noting. They are large bore, and the sound of a pump action being operated has always been intimidating to the bad guys.
4. Ammunition is universally available. There are an extreme variety of loads: buckshot, birdshot, rifled slugs, sabot slugs, duplex loads, signal flare rounds, rubber pellets and projectile-free stun rounds. There are also low-recoil rounds for those shy to buckshot and slug offerings.
5. In its pump action format, which I prefer, it is extremely reliable, and takes little maintenance under normal conditions to operate.
6. A quality, survival-ready shotgun is priced far lower than nearly any brand new AR.
Survival Shotgun Disadvantages
The author recommends carrying a pistol in addition to a survival shotgun. Click the image to read an article about choosing survival pistols.
1. Survival shotguns have limited effective range with a shot or slug. Sabot rounds will indeed be more effective farther out, but they require a rifled barrel to reach their accuracy potential, which in turn, inhibits the patterning of shot rounds. Buckshot runs out of serious steam at around 40 yards, and the accuracy potential of rifled slugs runs out around 100 yards.
2. Magazine capacity is generally limited, unless you attach some huge competition magazine system, which destroys some of the portability of the weapon. I would stick with an 8-round magazine at most. Practice your loading and reloading technique. Also practice drills where you transition from an empty shotgun to a high-capacity pistol until you can get your shotgun reloaded.
Top Survival Picks
I favor pumps over semi-autos. There are some great tactical autoloading shotguns out there. Benelli is among the very best in recoil or gas operated-styles (I particularly like the recoil operated M2 Tactical), but they are pricey and a bit more complicated in operation. That is why police agencies never went to semi-auto duty shotguns en-masse, and limited their issue to specialized units like SWAT.
Here are my top 3 picks for survival shotguns:
1. The Ithaca Model 37 Defense Gun, either the 4 or 8-shot model with the walnut stock. Anyone notice that wood is actually natural camouflage? These are real Ithacas (not foreign-made knock-offs) manufactured in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, on CNC machinery with hand craftsmanship at a reasonable price. The Model 37 was the favorite of the LAPD and NYPD, to name a few. It is fast-pointing, has only one entry point for shells. This minimizes penetration of dirt.
2. The Mossberg 590 A1 with M4 collapsible stock is rock solid. It sports mil-spec reliability with fixed rifle-style sights and ambidextrous tang-mounted safety. Too many shotguns have way too long a pull for most individuals, especially with the way my shoulders are these days. I like being able to keep the stock short and tucked in tight. It’s a classic survival shotgun.
3. The Remington 887 Nitro Mag Tactical is the very best in pump shotguns from Remington. A pump action for the 21st Century, its Armor Lokt protective polymer finish makes it nearly impervious to the elements or being knocked about. It was a standout when I tested it for my book, Gun Digest Book of the Tactical Shotgun.
The Zombie Annihilator from Yankee Hill attaches to the end of the muzzle of a "zombie gun."
I have a simple explanation as to why I approve whole-heartedly of the zombie gun phenomena sweeping the industry. Are you ready for it? Here it comes: Zombies are fun. Fun gets and keeps people interested. Fun sells guns.
Anyone that is really, and I mean seriously, worried about a zombie apocalypse should seek professional help. There are plenty of other real threats out there to fear. But the whole zombie thing, from shooting matches that feature zombie themes, to zombie ammo and accessories, to flashy zombie guns are all just plain fun.
And if it gets people shooting and keeps them shooting I’m all for it.
So, what got me going on this today and not last month when MTM came out with the zombie box or a couple months before when Hornaday came out with zombie ammo or even a couple years ago with the zombie shoots up in St. Cloud, MN?
I don’t know. I saw the new Zombie Annihilator from Yankee Hill and the promise that it will, “…make the undead roll over in their graves… for the last time.”
I love Yankee Hill stuff and it created a top-notch zombie-killing machine.
Zombie guns often come with customized sights, like these limited-edition bio-hazard engraved QDS models.
The rifle is topped with limited-edition bio-hazard engraved QDS sights. The muzzle is finished with the new Annihilator Flash Hider that eliminates over 99 percent of muzzle flash and adds a new dimension of cool to the end of any firearm because if you look closely at this monster, you will agree you don’t want the business end of that stuck in your forehead.
All these extra features would normally make for a very expensive custom rifle, but suggested retail price of the Zombie Annihilator is $1,550.
So yes, I like the zombie craze. Keep it going. Tell us here at Gun Digest what you like best of all the zombie stuff out there. Have some fun with it. Remember, a lot of what we do is “recreational” shooting.
If you need more information on the Zombie Annihilator, please visit www.YHM.net.
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Put your zombie gun to use in a 3-gun competition.
Until the undead rise from their graves, your zombie guns are best put to use in competitions. The new Complete Guide to 3-Gun Competition is the place to start. You'll learn why this sport is growing fast and how to get involved.
Milwaukee police officer Cassandra Benitez testified that when she first looked into Sutterfield's car from the passenger side with a flashlight, she did not notice the 9mm Glock on Sutterfield's hip, despite being extra alert to a possible weapon after seeing a National Rifle Association cap on the back seat.
Benitez testified that her training told her that the presence of NRA gear makes it more likely the person might have a gun.
Open carry is a right, but every right comes with responsibilities
Yes this is taken out of context… the back story is that MPD officers rolled up on a car sitting in front of a business late at night. The driver of the car was there to use the free Wi-Fi offered by the business. She had a laptop open and operational. She had a gun on her hip (carried openly in accordance with Wisconsin Law). She also has a history in the area, after winning a settlement from the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield for false arrest when she openly carried a gun into a church there. No charges were filed and the City of Brookfield paid her $7500 for troubling her so.
So, at about 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 11, 2011, Milwaukee police spot a car parked in the parking lot of a coffee shop using the Wi-Fi. (Oh how I wish I could say it was a pro-gun Starbucks, but I don't know for sure.) Officer Benitez and another officer approached the driver of the car who was sitting there, computer open, looking at the internet, because they said the scene looked suspicious. I'm a cop. I know about Terry Stops. This likely qualifies. I mean, it's 12:30 a.m., the business is closed, an occupied vehicle sitting in the parking lot deserves a look. And, for me, a “look” includes getting identification from the driver to see if there are any active warrants, probation or parole (for burglary maybe?) or anything else. Now here is where things get odd and confusing and a little common sense BY BOTH PARTIES makes them better.
The cops say they want to see some ID, the driver of the car refuses. Now, in some cases, it is your right to refuse to talk to the police. If you are walking down a sidewalk minding your own business, even late at night, and cop says, “Hey, can I talk to you?” You can say, “No.” and just keep on walking. That's because you have a right to be there and walking on a sidewalk is what people normally do on sidewalks. But if something is out of the ordinary, then things change. Is this a high-crime area? Are you in the area when it is typically not occupied? Are you doing something people don't ordinarily do at that place and time? There is some latitude here. Police officers can make a Terry stop if they have reasonable suspicion to believe that a crime “has been committed, is being committed or is about to be committed.” That is broad latitude, but it is the law. So the questioning is OK. It is also OK to ask for a driver's license as proof of ID because, a reasonable person would expect that that someone sitting in the driver's seat of a car in a parking lot drove it there. So, to insure that the driver is legally licensed to drive, it is reasonable to gather that information. It is perfectly legal to run the plate because that is out in plain sight. So, from the plate you get the name of the registered owner. This reinforces the idea a police officer can reasonably ask the person behind the wheel for ID to check out if that person is legally driving the car. It could have been stolen but not yet reported.
Instead of saying, “Yes, officer, here is my driver's license, I believe I am here legally and I have a legal firearm with me.” The driver refused to identify herself and locked the doors to her car. If you really want to arouse suspicion from a couple cops do that. Now you have gone from “routine contact” to “things are getting odd.” The citizen only opened her doors when a supervisor arrived and threatened to break the windows of the car to extract her. Tensions are rising and the only thing the cops really know for sure is there is a gun in the car.
It is a mixed up situation. The officers said her weapon was concealed. The citizen said it was not. The jury believed the citizen. But it all could have been avoided with some common courtesy, something all to often lacking today.
I am upset that MPD officers are trained to be on high alert because they see an NRA emblem. But I will always err on the side of officer safety. Certainly I will be more concerned if I see an MS-13 tattoo or an Insane Clown Posse emblem, but I will make note of an NRA emblem on a traffic stop. If I see a gun, or if the citizen tells me he or she has a gun, I have what I think is a very good opening line. “You don't reach for yours and I won't reach for mine. Put your hands where I can see them and don't move them unless I tell you to.”
As concealed carry advocates everyone reading this blog agrees that we carry guns because never know when someone will decide to turn criminal. You can't tell by looking and words are often not truthful concerning criminal intent. So put yourself in the place of these officers, thinking as you and I think as CCW holders: We never know when a crime will happen. Criminals come in all shapes and sizes and we know for sure there is a gun present at the scene and it is not under our direct control. If a gun is present, I am vigilant, aware, yes, even nervous. I want to take steps to keep the situation safe. That means knowing who I am dealing with, where the gun is and where the person's hand are at all times.
In the end, the citizen won the court case. But did she win the larger battle? She still got arrested that night. She could have avoided that. She insured that even more police officers will look at Open Carry advocates as over-zealous clowns simply trying to prove a point. Think about how you as a gun owner interact with police. Sure, you know you are a safe, law-abiding, normal citizen, but the cops don't. And you should not be offended by that because you understand and believe that no one can predict when someone will turn criminal. If you believe that, why shouldn't cops? Most of the people I've arrested looked normal, right up to the time they did something stupid.
The one thing I am glad to see with this case is that it ended in the courts, not on the streets. If you have a dispute with a police officer on the street. If you honestly believe you are doing nothing wrong, the place to prove that is in the courts, not on the street. Don't argue and scream and fight with cops on the street, do it in court. If the cop is wrong, the cop should be punished. In this case, the officers were wrong and I hope they get some additional training about what constitutes legal open carry. But I also hope the citizen learned that a little diplomacy could have kept the situation from getting out of control.
This is a complicated case. As a cop, if an armed subject starts refusing to cooperate the pucker factor increases greatly. As a citizen, I find it disturbing that an NRA emblem is now grounds for high alert. A little common courtesy could change that.
Other great books for those who carry concealed handguns:
Wilderness survival isn't predictable enough for there to be “Do XYZ and you'll live”-type rules. But there are hard, fast rules for outdoor survival that should prevent you from winding up worse off.
1. Send Your Itinerary to Someone Else
Always leave a detailed itinerary of where you are going and when you plan to return with someone you trust. If you change your schedule for any reason, please be sure that tell someone of that change.
2. Unless You're With Someone Else, Don't Go
Never go into a wilderness area by yourself. Unavoidable accidents can and do happen.
3. Remember that Weather Can Change
Make sure that you take with you and wear the proper clothing. Remember the weather can and will most likely change.
4. Vacate your location? Never
If you do get lost or stranded, stay in one location. Rescuers will find you if you have followed rule No. 1.
5. Information is a Good Thing
Learn how to use a compass or a GPS, take a map of the area and orient yourself to the area before you trek off into any wilderness.
6. Very Important: Survival Kit
Always carry a personal survival kit with you at all times in the outdoors. A survival kit in the hands of someone who does not know ahead of time what is in it, or if it is not with you on your person, or how to use the contents when and where needed can do more harm than good. So take the preparation time at home to make and pack your own personal kit. Also invest the time beforehand to understand the life saving use of every item in your personal survival kit.
7. Always Keep Your Cool
The greatest and most important of all survival tools is your brain. If you should become lost, stranded or separated from others, keep your cool. The most important wilderness survival element is to not panic. You will survive.
8. Let Yourself Have Time to Plan
The time to think about survival isn't in a tight spot. Give yourself plenty of time to plan, prepare and pack for the worst. You're reading this article right now, and that's a good start.
Put these rules together and what do they spell? S-U-R-V-I-V-A-L
More Wilderness Survival Tips
These outdoors survival rules give a bird's eye view of survival. If you're ready to dig deep, check out Stay Alive! Survival Skills You Need by John D. McCann. Using full-color photos and thorough instructions for the best shot at wilderness survival.
Survival knives come in many shapes and sizes these days. But history has selected a handful of designs that stand the test of time. One of them is the khukri (koo-kree), a knife that got its start in Nepal. Its familiar curve almost resembles a metal boomerang, and it'll want to push out of your hand just like one. The curve moves the weight forward and down. As generations of workers, soldiers and regular folks can attest, the khukri is perfect for chopping and slashing.
Fast forward to today. The TOPS CUMA Tak-Ri 2.0, designed by Waysun Johnny Tsai, updates the khukri as a modern tactical and survival knife. This video reviews why it's a good choice for your collection of survival knives.
Gun Digest Recommends
It's never a good idea to carry only one survival knife. But it's also not a good idea to carry too much gear. The CRKT Crawford N.E.C.K. is the perfect solution. Wear it on a lanyard around the neck while taking care of business with the TOPS CUMA Tak-Ri.
Sources have informed Gun Digest that long-time firearms writer Jerry Ahern died July 24, 2012, at age 66. He contributed many articles to Gun Digest, as well as firearms books and even a survival guide. His fiction work included a series of novels called, The Survivalist. He was also an analyst of current events. Ahern's final blog post on his personal website addressed the Arab Spring. Read his full obituary, including memorial services, here.
A selection of his work includes:
Gun Digest sends its best wishes to the Ahern family.
Colt Defense LLC will manufacture more than 10,000 new .45 Close Quarter Battle Pistols for the Marine Corps' elite special operations. This new contract for the 1911-style pistols will phase out the M45s currently used by the Corps.
As reported by Military.com, “The July 19 [2012] contract, which has a total value of $22.5 million, brings an end to the Corps' exhaustive search for the top .45 caliber, 1911-style pistol to replace the fleet of worn-out Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, or MARSOC, M45 pistols.”
“We picked the best-performing pistol,” said Charles Clark III in the article. Clark oversees infantry weapons requirements at the Corps' Combat Development and Integration office in Quantico, Va. “There were three candidates that made the final round of consideration.”
Clark did not discuss the competitors.
In addition to Colt, Springfield Armory's Full Size MC Operator and Smith & Wesson's 1911 design were also considered, according to Military.com.
The new Close Quarter Battle Pistols will be very similar to the M45s they are replacing this fall. They will have a rail for mounting lights, a custom trigger, a manual safety, improved ergonomics and glowing Tritium sights for low-light conditions.”
Headspace gauges for the belted .375/338 are sized for bolt-to-belt measure. Wear of the chambering reamer (right) can diminish the size of chambers over time, affecting headspace.
Headspace is one of the most critical measures in your rifle. A quick definition: the distance from the face of the locked bolt to a datum line or shoulder in the chamber that arrests the forward movement of the cartridge. The term originated when all cartridges had protruding rims, so the measure was initially taken only at the head. Now it includes other spans.
The Reising submachine gun uses the .45 ACP cartridge, which headspaces on the mouth.
Headspace is measured from the bolt-face to the mouth of a straight rimless hull like the .45 ACP, whose mouth stops against a small, abrupt shoulder at the front of the chamber. In a belted magnum, the stop is the leading edge of the belt, in the back of the chamber. On a .30-30 case it’s the front of the rim. The datum line for rimless or rebated bottleneck rounds like the .270 and .284 lies on the shoulder. Semi-rimmed cartridges theoretically headspace on the rim, but sometimes (as with the .38 Super Automatic) the rim protrusion is insufficient for sure function. The case mouth then serves as a secondary stop. The semi-rimmed .220 Swift has a more substantial lip; but most handloaders prefer to neck-size the Swift, so after a first firing, the case actually headspaces on its shoulder.
If there’s too little headspace, the bolt won’t close on a chambered round. Too much headspace can shorten case life, even cause case ruptures and dangerous gas escape.
When you pull the trigger, many events follow. The blow to the primer crushes shock-sensitive priming mix, which detonates. The explosion shoots flame through the flash-hole in the primer pocket, igniting the gunpowder. The resulting gas expands rapidly, stretching the ductile brass case. The thin case wall up front is ironed against the chamber wall, but the solid rear section around the primer pocket stays close to its original diameter, slightly smaller than the chamber. Gas pressure shoves it back against the bolt face. Still expanding, the gas thrusts the bullet out of the case.
Because cartridges vary slightly in dimensions, and each must chamber easily, the chamber must be a tad bigger than the average case. If there’s too much distance between the bolt face and the point in the chamber that stops the forward motion of a cartridge, however, you have excess headspace.
Big-bore rounds are belted (.375, left), rimless (.416 Rigby) or rimmed (.470 and .500 NE, right). The belted and rimless were meant for magazine rifles. Rimmed rounds work best in hinged-breech doubles.
Until the thick case head moves rearward to meet the bolt face, the bolt face isn’t supporting it. The striker has pushed the case to its forward stop. Excess headspace causes excessive stretching. After repeated firings, the “work hardened” case becomes brittle as well as thinner just ahead of the web. It no longer stretches easily and can crack at the web, or even separate.
A cracked case is dangerous because it spills powder gas into the chamber. That gas jets through the tiniest corridors at velocities that can exceed bullet speed. It may scoot along the bolt race, through the striker hole, into the magazine well. It can find your eye faster than you can blink.
Gunsmiths measure headspace with “go” and “no go” gauges. The “go” gauge is typically .004 to .006 shorter than the “no go” gauge for rimless and belted cartridges. The bolt should close on a “go” gauge but not on a “no go” gauge. Theoretically, if the bolt closes on a “no go” gauge, the barrel should be set back a thread and rechambered to achieve proper headspace. However, many chambers that accept “no go” gauges are still safe to shoot. The “field” gauge, seldom seen now, has been used to check these (mostly military) chambers. It’s roughly .002 longer than a “no go” gauge.
Explore more cartridge and ballistics data in the new Cartridges of the World, 13th Edition. Click the cover.
Minimum and maximum headspace measurements are not the same as corresponding minimum and maximum case dimensions. For example, a .30-06 chamber should measure between 1.940 and 1.946, bolt face to shoulder datum line. A .30-06 cartridge usually falls between 1.934 and 1.940. Case gauges perform the same check on cartridges that headspace gauges do in chambers.
An obvious difference: case gauges are female and don’t indicate headspace. They simply show whether a cartridge will chamber in a rifle that’s correctly barreled. Headspace is a steel-to-steel measure. Altering case dimensions changes the relationship of the cartridge to the chamber. Reducing head-to-datum line length of the round can result in a condition of excess headspace, even if the firearm checks out perfectly.
A cheap belt will not serve you well as you carry a concealed firearm. It will twist and droop.
The Blackhawk Pistol Belt uses an internal stiffener to insure your pistol stays tight and close to your body. These carbon-fiber and lizard skin finished belts give you the same appearance as any other 1 1/4 inch dress belt that is made of premium materials, with the added benefit of a reinforced spine to keep your gun where it belongs.
Don’t let your CCW down with a bad gun belt. If you wear a pistol, get one of these belts.
Click here to order one of these concealed carry belts from GunDigestStore.com at a great price.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
Summer is the perfect time to build a winter car survival kit. Don't wait until cold weather hits. Put it together now while there's still plenty of time to gather materials.
For even more survival kit ideas for emergency situations, check out Build the Perfect Survival Kit. It's available at a great discount from GunDigestStore.com.
