Survival Skills: Making Gunpowder, hold cash, saving money, Crypto Currency

Gunpowder
This is a good instruction on making your own.  I learned it as a kid but of course haven't found the need or desire to make it since then.  The idea that you can hold the precursor components and make it as needed seems nice, but in truth I'd rather store reloading components and develop that skill.

Hold Cash First
Cash, food, water, weapons and ammo, precious metals.

Saving Money on Prepping Gear
Buy second hand or re-purpose items such as clothing.  Buy at online auction sites, gun shows, flea markets, and dollar type stores for simple items like chemical light sticks.  You can often find these things for one third the price at a discount location.


Crypto Currency as we are crashing now - video

How Many Guns to Own For Survival

Consider The Ammunition First

I'd consider four types if you want to limit your purchasing.  You can buy the weapons that fill out this list.

Four Rounds to Consider:  .22, 9mm, 5.56, 12 or 20 Gauge.

.22 in rifle and pisol

9mm in pistol and carbine/rifle

5.56 in the obvious weapon, an AR-15 style weapon.

12 or 20 gauge in a pump shotgun

What ammunition type to get first. 9mm

What weapon to get first.
If I could only buy one weapon based on one caliber I'd go for a 9mm premium quality pistol. 

Reasoning: 

I would consider going with 9mm just to have a relatively low cost practice round that can fill all the categories you need if you find yourself limited by finances and need to stick to one caliber and two weapons, a handgun and a rifle.   You could get a 9mm carbine as the follow up weapon and stay with those two and only be limited to range  Sure, it's not for hunting or long range shooting but within the boundaries of self defense it is a great choice.  You can load up on that round in FMJ for practice and JHP for actual use.

Handgun Choice

If you want a gun recommendation try the Glock 19, the most popular of the Glock line and probably one of the most popular 9mm pistols ever built.  You can buy a used one and still rely on it.  I've purchased numerous used Glock pistols over the years and never had a bad one.  Of course, you can always just spend the extra dollars for a new one.

Work on your handgun skills.  You can always practice your rifle skills with a pellet rifle.  That might be the cheapest way to improve your long gun skills until you choose to pony up for the bucks to get the rifle, buy the ammo, and find a range to go to in order to practice it.

Carbine/Rifle Choice

The Kel-Tec Sub2000 is a great short range carbine with the added advantage that the price is around $400 and if you can buy one that uses the same Glock 9mm magazines that fit your pistol.  One thing to note is that you need the Glock 17 magazines and not the shorter 9mm Glock 19 magazine that holds 15 rounds.  Other than that you have successfully avoided a cost and logistics issue by having two weapon types that use the same Glock magazine.  

Your other options are the Beretta CX4 carbine at more than $750 or Hi-Point 995 carbine.  The Hi-Point is a very robust weapon and is reliable though heavy and less than $350 though the magazines aren't interchangeable with the Glock and are standard 10 rounds, though higher capacity versions may become available.

Ballistic Realities

The maximum effective range on a 9mm as an antipersonnel round is close to 150 yards though many would say 100 yards.  You'll have close to 200 ft lbs of energy left at 150 yards with a bullet drop of close to 3 feet.  It is workable for  close range small game but your main concern is self defense and anti-personnel.  Sure you won't outdistance a 5.56 or greater but your protection zone within 100 yards is solved.  Anything beyond that is realistically something you won't face in most instances and especially until the SHTF.

Bottom Line:  Get something and train with it. 

Self Defense: Capacity Rules, Chemical Spray Defense, .380 Self Defense

Capacity Rules
Magazine capacity is a big factor in a self defense weapon.    Read this article on ponder.   In the 9mm realm Glock Wins 33 round mags are hard to beat.  Kel Tec makes a carbine that uses the same magazine as the Glock pistol.


Chemical Defense 101
This is a great article.  He recommends  The Triple Action Police Mace Brand.  I'd have to agree since I have carried Mace Brand products for 40 years.  The flip top approach is intuitive and a great safety feature preventing accidental discharge unlike some if the other designs out there.

The manual safeties require too much thinking and fumbling that might not work well in a stressful situation.

380 Self Defense Rounds
If you want to carry a .380 it helps to know what round to use.  This is a great breakdown of the main JHP personal defense rounds available in this caliber.

The great thing about .380 is the low recoil and ability to fire from a small handgun and still manage that low recoil.

Sig P238: My favorite is the SigP238.  It is ultra compact but totally reliable with all American made ammunition I used including Hornady FTX.  It is also the most accurate shooting of all the guns I tried in this caliber due to the trigger and single action 1911 style function.


Glock 42: The Glock 42 is ammo sensitive and needs a firm wrist.  It might help to also add a grip overwrap if it is too small for your hand.  It is very accurate and light shooting.


Walther PK380: Other notable .380 guns include the Walther PK380.  Having owned one I can tell you it shoots reliably and very softly due to its large size.  It is very accurate but feels cheap in the hand and the reverse safety and hammer drop function is not something I want to get used to since it is dissimilar to most other guns that I own.

Colt Mustang:  Nice gun but you might as well get a Sig.  I don't like plastic triggers and reliability is iffy unless you put lots of work into it.

Hornady Critical Defense .380 Ammo Review 

How to Shoot a pistol

9mm is Good Again: FBI Now Says Go for 9mm, Gun Writers now Like 9mm, Lots of approval for the .380

 FBI says 9mm
Admittedly this is a two year old article but the wheels of government move slowly.  If you notice, now the gun press has moved back to the 9mm as a good round for self defense, though not all them.  Many writers who wouldn't have considered the 9mm up to the task now feel that with the momentum moving again toward less is more theory notice what some of us knew all along.  Simply, that 9mm allows more rounds in the magazine, punches a hole much like the vaunted .40 an .45 especially when expanding, and is much cheaper to use for practice.  Also, the price and selection of weapons in 9mm outnumbers all the others.  It is ubiquitous.  The funny thing is that even the .380 is getting some good press now though it's not my first choice for carry it does fill the need for weight and size when clothing limitations exist for concealed carry due usually to summer months.  It also has a superb reduction in recoil yet still punches a hole like the .38 or 9mm, but not as deep with the same expansion.  For that matter, I'm not against a .22 revolver versus carrying nothing.  Often just the presence of a gun will inhibit action from the aggressors and you can't defend against everything.

Just like the diet guidelines have changed every decade or so, the caliber guidelines for self defense and law enforcement handguns is changing again.

9mm vs .40 S&W

.38 Special - it was the standard for almost a century.  The limitation is lack of firepower/capacity versus the civilian options after 9mm semi-auto  pistols become common in various sizes.

9mm -  This is the same diameter as the .38 special but it has less lead in the bullet  but increased velocity making for more energy overall.  It is configured to stack in magazines and feed in a semi-auto pistol.  Limited  defensive loads prior to the 1990's and other perceived deficiencies came to the front after the Miami shootout.  They probably should have considered that rifles tend to beat handguns every time and armed FBI agents with carbines or shotguns in their vehicles in addition to sidearms.  Bureaucrats never see the obvious.  Good ammo might have made the difference as well.  The final item might have been to train them to fight injured since that seemed to be the final issue that caused the loss of the fight.

10mm - So then they picked the big boy gun but had trouble with control.  It had a strong recoil that some shooters couldn't manage well.  Concealment was probably an issue as well.

.40 S&W - This should have been the ideal compromise except for female recruits it was still too much to handle.  Some men found it a problem as well. 

9mm - Back to the past.  With improvements in defensive ammo it may end up being the ideal compromise to include trainees having an easy time with it.  +P and hotter ammo makes it closer to the .40S&W.

What Next?

5.7mm - Were it not for the size of the gun it has even better numbers all the way around.  Capacity 20-30 rounds.  Recoil is nil.  Accuracy is excellent.   Energy is high and penetration is sufficient. Weight is low.  Cost per round is no higher than .45.

.22 for Self Defense Update: 81 Year old man kills attacker

81 Year Old Defends Himself in his home in PA - One Career Criminal Retired Permanently

A little .22 did the job.  Don't feel under-gunned if you can't handle anything else.  It's better than a club or a kitchen knife.  Actually, I'd have all three in the house ready for use.  The nice thing about the .22 is that if it doesn't stop them you've made it known you are willing to resist.   That is much better than submission.  Just because it didn't stop them doesn't mean the fight is over.  Sometimes they run and sometimes the fight has just begun.

Why I carry other weapons Before a Glock 19

My biggest concern is not defeating the purpose of armed self protection by self inflicting damage to myself.  Therefore, I still act extremely cautiously when carrying a Glock.  In some cases depending on the situation I don't chamber a round and go with the old method used by the U.S. military before being turned into the newer approach called the Israeli carry method with a fast charging included as part of the presentation.

I have an M&P shield that I sometime carry concealed and it has a safety that I engage prior to holstering the weapon for safe holstering and then disengage once holstered, just an approach I take.

I also have an HKP30 that I carry when not concealed and on the nightstand.   It actually does conceal about as well as the Glock 19, but more comfortably, because of the rounded edges versus the squared up Glock.  It is absolutely reliable and with the double action trigger pull I do have that additional element of safety that is undeniably there to reduced risk of a Negligent Discharge no matter how much training I do.   It does weight a little bit more and requires a different skill set when it comes to training since it is double action and has the paddle mag releases on the trigger guard.

Others I have carried include a J Frame .38 and the Makarov that are retired now and only used for range fun.  I do sometimes like to have a J frame 8 round .22 Airlight in the pocket for no weight carry (approx. 10 oz. Loaded).

Full Disclosure:  I'm still a Glock guy and have been since they came out in the 1980's.  I just find myself thinking more and more about the downside of a striker fire negligent discharge on my ability to walk.

Gun Confiscation: Will you turn yours in rather than wait for the door kicking session.

This article says you turn them in voluntarily. 
He said it was to slap gun owners awake and good for him if he did wake a few up.

As for turn ins.  Do what makes you feel better, safer, and accept the accompanying fate.

Ammo will be the real concern since they can choke that supply off easier than guns.  Imagine a world of cars without gas.  Ammo shortages have already been implemented by the ruling class as a test most likely.

Have a few extra guns around that are way old and probably not trackable, and whatever you do make sure you have enough to feed them for an extended period of time.

I somehow agree that they probably won't go door to door initially, but rather will first keep adding groups of people who must lose their gun rights for various reasons, Veterans with PTSD, Medical Marijuana Users, Drunk Divers and then later seat belt violators, and alimony delinquents.  Eventually the list might include mental illnesses that are defined by believing in the Constitution or anyone who utters things that are not approved by the collective.

Finally, they might come after online commenters and bloggers who suggest any kind of resistance to overt actions by the government even if the resistance is only in the form of non-compliance to illegal edicts.

.22 Ammo still hard to find

You can get .22 ammo.  I found a local gun shop that always has it in stock but you will pay close to ten cents per round for it.

I found some .22 at Luckygunner and the price is .10 per round or more.

So the laws of supply and demand have made it available if you are willing to pay the price.

The problem is that the price makes .22 less desirable as a practice round when you can get into reloading 9mm and get your cost per round down to the same price or below it.  After almost three years of shortages and price disruptions the demand continues to be high for .22.  It is no longer the bargain it once was so my recommendation is to add pellet rifles and bb guns to the mix of training tools.

Ultra Low Cost Handgun Training with BB Pistols

Regular practice that allows for many thousands of trigger pulls is a great way to increase your handgun skills.  To afford such regular practice I recommend adding BB guns to the mix of live ammunition and dry fire training.

I've been doing this for years.  Daisy makes some of the best and most economical Co2 powered BB pistols on the market.  Just as important is that they are of the proper size, function, and trigger pull to allow presentation, rapid fire, movement, and multiple target engagement.

You can set up a training range in your backyard if you have enough space for safe firing.  What matters is that these guns allow shooting for considerably less than live ammunition and give you some level of satisfaction that dry fire drills can't give you.  Even laser training gets old after a while since no real projectiles leave the barrel.  With 6000 rounds costing less than $10 and Co2 cartridges going for 50 cents each you can enjoy an hour of shooting for less than 4.

My first try on this was with some of the reproduction bb guns like the Walther Copy.  It was an $80 gun with magazines that cost a fair amount and eventually after not too much use it failed.

One day at Wally World I came across a Daisy 15xt on sale for $20 and tried it.

At the time it seemed like a winner compared to what I had tried.  I went through almost half a dozen of these as they eventually failed usually due to gas leak problems.  With a 15 round capacity it gave you as many trigger pulls as your average 9mm full size pistol.  I averaged almost 100 rounds per Co2 though the last 15 rounds had to be fired at close range to the target.  It also fit in a number of holsters that I already had including the HKP30 Serpa.  It didn't fit perfectly but it did work.  I even started using this gun to dry fire to avoid so much wear and tear on my real handguns.

One problem with the 15xt was that the trigger pull was stiff and the edges of the trigger were sharp so blisters became a problem.  I think daisy has phased out this model in favor of a newer one with some of the issues resolved.

The new Daisy Power Line 415 is a winner.  It fits an HKP30 holster perfectly and locks into a Serpa.  It has an upgraded capacity of 21 rounds.  The trigger is smooth and relatively light.  The sights have been changed on the front to fiber optic so it is easier to see.  I get around 100+ shots per Co2.

You can find the Daisy Power Line 415  BB pistols Online for less than $35 at this time. 

Be advised that eventually these guns do fail.  Either something will break or more likely you'll get a Co2 leak.  Daisy has sent me extra seals when requested but sometimes the problem is the plunger that punctures the Co2 gets dull or bent and it can't be fixed unless you're a good mechanic or are willing to send it back to Daisy.  I have a stack of both the 15XT and the 415 that have failed, but in general I get many thousands of rounds through them before failure.  When that happens I just order another.    Maybe someday I'll get around to repairing them.

In the last few years I went through 60,000 rounds using this approach at a cost of $100 ($10 per 6,000 rounds) for the BBs and $270 ($18 per 40) for 600 Co2 cartridges.  This is a total cost for BBs and Co2 cartridges of $370 plus six BB pistols as they failed.  Combined cost is around $600.

Compare that to firing a .22 nowadays at 10 cents per round.  Cost of 60k rounds is $6,000.

Shooting 9mm  at 20 cents per round for 60k rounds.  Cost $12,000.

Do you see the logic here.

Here are the advantages. 

One tenth the cost of shooting .22 ammo and one twentieth the cost of 9mm.

Draw and fire training.  Presentation etc.

Moving and firing that is much safer but realistic enough.

If you want to master the movements this is an inexpensive way to go.

In addition to all of that you have a cheap way to plink and have fun.

(Warning:  Always wear eye protection when shooting bb guns as well as firearms.  As for targets, if you use metal targets make sure that they are located in a safe area with enough distance to take into account ricochets.) 

Practice Sessions

So here is the setup for easy loading so that when the bbs drop past the feeding hole on the pistol they are simply caught in the plastic tub.   A plastic container such as this old tennis ball can is better than the one the bbs come in.  You can pour them easily into your hand and when you accumulate enough in the tub it's easy pour back in the can. 

Have a tube of pellet gun oil to rub a dab at the top of every Co2 cartridge before you install it in the pistol.  It punctures easier, protects the gasket, and is easier to remove the Co2 when empty.

Notice the eye-guards.  Wear them every time you shoot.

I practice with two pistols and have two holsters on the same belt.  One at 3 O'clock and one at 5 O'clock.  You have more practice shots and train for draw and presentation from both locations. 

4 Co2s will get you at least 400 shots, 400 trigger pulls. 
Do that a few times a week and you'll see incredible improvement in your shooting skills.

Happy shooting.

Collapse: The Event Horizon is in view

How to read the Tea Leaves - This is Doomer Stuff

Planned Catastrophic Events

The elements are in place for a Black Swan event.  We have stretched out the recession by endless low or no cost money added to the money supply so that stocks are soaring, though this is now predictably becoming erratic in preparation for a rout that has become mainstream so you can expect it soon enough.  When, who knows, and if I did I'd have a huge pile of money instead of a moderate amount I worry about disappearing into the steam of a bank bail in if we have a Greek Style money event.  But I ramble on.  We've all heard this before and who knows for sure what is ahead.  One thing you can absolutely count on is that your money if you have any will be worth less next year than it was this year since inflation is ongoing and hidden from view unless of course you buy food, vehicles, energy, and anything that requires labor to create or accomplish.

Crime, Bio-war, and Terrorism

You can't make this stuff up and don't need to since it is right in your face.  We have an Administration that has opened the floodgates for anyone anywhere in the world who can make it here any way they can is likely to be able to stay and collect benefits.  Were that the only problem associated with open borders, well we might be able to cope with it at least temporarily until we wait out the vermin in charge of this disaster.

Crescent Moon on Ascendance

Unfortunately there are many other nightmares to consider that are part of this unfolding that include many terror cells that are welcoming new recruits fresh in from the battlefields of the Middle East pouring in as refugees.  While the Crescent Moon Presidency welcomes in Muslims from around the world persecuted Christians are given no consideration at all, regardless of color.

Criminals are Welcome

Drug gangs and cartels have a free run across the border right now so murder and risk of murder is up.  If you release captured illegal alien criminals back into the population just to ramp up the stress levels in society then you know the plan doesn't include your safety.  One big outcome of this is that when the crime levels get out of control it stands to reason that the police will be expected to become much more aggressive and the Feds have just the thing as they Federalize most police agencies.

The Masque of the Red Death Part Deux

As part of this menagerie of misery we are heaping upon ourselves comes TB, Zika, Ebola and a wild assortment of other deadly diseases.  One can only hope that the Washington elites get their own share of this pestilence while those of us out here beyond the pit of the Washington Beltway (Mordor,) sit here in anger and amazement at the shortsighted madness these fools are committing.

Death Comes A Calling - Terrorism

If you need a pretext to justify total control over a society what better way than to import insane believers of a creed that thinks beheading, rape, and deceit are all fine ways to live.  Once you have these dangerous elements in your country you of course will have counter reprisals from citizens and this will justify attacking and controlling the citizenry more so than even the original offenders, the terrorists.  If you need an example of this just look at Germany where so called Ultra right wing groups  are attacked by the police and they are classified at extremists simply because they like the country the way it was before bringing in monsters that hate everything Germany stands for but said monsters want the free stuff. 

 (notice there are never ultra left wing groups according to the media, itself an ultra left wing group)


We are seeing many moves in this direction where criminalizing political speech is current around the world, and is becoming an issue here in the USA.  The ultra left is working on it.   When the first American city goes up in flames through riots or a nuclear event that will be all the Federal forces need to drop the hammer on freedom of movement and all other things we are used to believing is normal.  All of this is courtesy of open borders and multiculturalism brought to you by our media masters in charge and the ultra left intent on destroying the USA.


Recommended Response:  I'll give you my usual set of tips which you will probably find on many Prepper and Survival sites under different names and order.  

Here they are, the 4 Gs.

Guns - hardware and ammo.
Groceries - Food and Water.
Geography - Where you live.
Gold - cash, silver, and of course Gold.

Kryptonite for the Left - A gun channel on cable.

I had to laugh when I heard about it.  A sports channel is one thing, but a guns for sale channel is heaven.    Check it out.

The left with go Bat Guano crazy over this and especially the number one Bat Guano crazy politician who is prattling on about something must be done about gun ownership.  Ah, such small pleasures as knowing the angst about to be rendered when the channel goes live.

Why Own Guns

 I've put together a compilation of articles and essays regarding why to own a gun.  Most of these include sound reasons for gun ownership and will possibly give you the ammunition needed to win an argument on the benefits of gun ownership.  More importantly, this may give you the reasons you might need to arm yourself.

Chuck Woolery Video on the Right to Bear Arms

Here is one of the best philosophical arguments I've seen that mirrors my own beliefs and encompasses some of the best thinkers on the subject of personal rights and duties as applied to gun ownership.  Why the gun is civilization.


Here is another one from Calguns on why guns are necessary for a civilized society.

76 Reasons to have a gun.

Reasons to Own a Firearm

Why Own a Gun

Why I Own a Gun - Joke of the Day

About.com - Why Own a Gun

Why own a handgun

Here is how they want to get rid of your gun rights. 

Black Friday Sales Set Record

Choosing A Pistol

 Here is a great site I found on choosing a pistol.
http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-the-Right-Pistol-%28Handgun%29


If you want my quick and simple weapon recommendation for a handgun of choice I'd go with a Glock 19 for 9mm or a Glock 23 if you want to have a .40 S&W.

These two weapons are built on the same platform and can function as weapons for concealed carry or as a primary service weapon that you might have on your nightstand.  So if you intend to go with only one weapon I'd choose one of these two.

9mm will give you more practice time if your funds are scarce while the .40 will offer more stopping power depending on the round used.

One other main benefit of the Glock is the availability of the Advantage Arms .22 adapter that will give you trigger time at 1/3 the cost per round.  I've found that I need to use CCI mini-mags in this adapter to get reliable function but that still leaves you paying approx. 7 cents per round versus 21 cents per round.

Ballistics 101

Here is a great website for getting ballistic information on all types of ammunition.  Check it out.

http://www.ballistics101.com/

Improvised Ammo Cans

The price of military surplus ammo cans continue to increase so I've looked for other options for ammo storage. The main ingredient for successful storage is to limit moisture. Temperature concerns aren't as critical as long as temperature extremes aren't ongoing. My main focus is to avoid temperatures past 110 degrees for extended periods of time. Experience has proven that storage in non-climate controlled areas like sheds or other outbuildings is less important that simply keeping the ammo dry. Putting the ammo in sealed containers with moisture absorbers like silica desiccants is the way to go.

Water bottles once dried out can act as a great dry storage container and it's easy to drop a silica pack in with the ammo and seal the top for airtight and watertight storage. With plastic bottles the main thing is to avoid sunlight to limit UV deterioration of the plastic.

I've used this method for years and tested the ammo and found no problems. Think of it as an expedient battle pack.