Sunday, December 11, 2016

Alone Season 3 Pack List

It the most exciting Wilderness Survival Show, we watch 10 Survivalist compete for $500,000.  But what 10 things do they carry in their back pack?  What Numbers would you Carry?  Below are the most popular items that the 10 cast members carried, followed by the list that you are allowed to pick from.

 My Picks are 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, 25, 27, 31, & 33, shown in BOLD above.

INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Which 10 would you pick?
*Each participant must choose TEN total items from the following list. Selections are final. Once chosen, no items may be swapped out or replaced. These will be each participant’s unique tools used to survive in the wilderness on camera.
 
Shelter
1.     12x12 ground cloth/tarp (grommets approved)
2.     8 mm climbing rope - 10M
3.     550 para cord - 20m
4.     1 hatchet
5.     1 saw
6.     1 ax
Bedding
7.     1 multi-seasonal sleeping bag that fits within provided backpack
8.     1 bivy bag (Gore-Tex sleeping bag cover)
9.     1 sleeping pad
10.   1 hammock
Cooking
11.   1 large (no more than 2 quart) pot, includes lid
12.   1 steel frying pan
13.   1 flint or ferro rod set
14.   1 enamel bowl for eating
15.   1 spoon
16.   1 canteen or water bottle
Hygiene
17.   1 bar soap
18.   1 8 oz tube of toothpaste
19.   1 face flannel
20.   1 40 m roll of dental floss
21.   1 small bottle bio shower soap
22.   1 shaving razor (and 1 blade)
23.   1 towel (30” x 60”)
24.   1 comb
Hunting
25.   1 300-yard roll of nylon single filament fishing line and 25 assorted hooks (No lures)
26.   1 primitive bow with 6 Arrows (must be predominately made of wood)
27.   1 small gauge gill net (12' x 4' with 1.5" mesh)
28.   1 slingshot/Catapult + 30 steel ball bearings + 1 replacement band
29.   1 net foraging bag
30.   1 3.5 lb roll of trapping wire
31  Food

5 lbs of beef jerky (protein)
5 lbs of dried pulses/legumes/lentils mix (starch and carbs)
5 lbs of biltong (protein)
5 lbs of hard tack military biscuits (carbs/sugars)
5 lbs of chocolate (Simple/complex sugars)
5 lbs of pemmican (traditional trail food made from fat and proteins)
5 lbs of gorp (raisins, m&m's and peanuts)
5 lbs of flour (starch/carbs)
2 lbs of rice or sugar and 1 lb of salt
Food

32.  1 pocket knife
33.  1 hunting knife
34.  1 Leatherman multi-tool
35.  1 sharpening stone
36.  1 roll of duct tape or 1 roll of electrical tape
37.  1 small shovel
38.  1 small sewing kit
39.  1 carabineer
40.  1 LED flashlight
41.  1 pair of ice spikes

CLOTHING/APPAREL/PERSONAL EFFECTS (Everyone gets all of these)
*These items do not count towards the 10 special items, but may not exceed the approved quota for each.
·       2 safety tools (may consist of 1 air horn and/or 1 flare)
·       1 rules and regulations guide
·       1 backpack
·       1 camera pack
·       Camera equipment
·       1 emergency flare
·       1 satellite phone
·       1 emergency personal flotation device
·       1 first aid kit (military type – tourniquet, wadding, ace bandage, alcohol, plastic bag, etc)
·       1 small mirror
·       1 10x10ft tarp
·       1 10x10ft tarp (solely for protecting camera and equipment)
·       1 GPS tracking device
·       1 head lamp
·       1 emergency rations pack to include water and food

Here is what the Cast selected:

   
 

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Double Barreled Defense

www.stoegerindustries.com/double-defense-shotgun
The short-barreled double barrel shotgun with hammers is often called a coach gun or side-by-side shotgun.
This type of shotgun was once the preferred weapon to guard stagecoaches. Many years before the type was used in the Old West, the coach gun was used to guard European coaches from dangerous highwaymen. This coach gun was at times called the Blunderbuss.
Coach guns are formidable shotguns capable of defending the home. The pump shotgun and the self-loader are more complex, more expensive, and more difficult to train with. There is nothing simpler than the hammer-fired double-barrel shotgun save a single-shot shotgun.
I have seen many double-barrel shotguns at ready in the home or on the farm, and they are capable of dispatching unwanted pests and varmints as well as members of our protein fed ex-con criminal class. A different variant, the double-barrel striker-fired shotgun, was used by New York City cops until at least the 1970s.
The double barrel with two loads of buckshot was ideal for taking dangerous felons at gunpoint. With a powerful firearm and an instant second shot, coupled with excellent handling qualities, these shotguns filled a real need. A correspondent tells me his western police department kept double barrel shotguns in 20 gauge until at least the 1980s along with pump action 20 gauge shotguns. At close range making felony arrests in tight quarters, I am certain these were formidable firearms. The double barrel shotgun is an excellent all around shotgun for defense use and ideal for many of us.
This is a mix of birdshot and buckshot at 15 yards
 For personal defense, the double barrel handles quickly and points well. It isn’t well suited for tactical use by special teams, but for home defense the double barrel, particularly a short barrel coach gun, is ideal. Everyone’s budget and circumstance do not allow purchasing an expensive defensive shotgun. The double barrel is simple to use well. Simply break open the action and load the shells then close the action. To fire, cock the hammers and pull the trigger.
Each hammer is cocked individually. You may wish to cock them one at a time, or both at once in anticipation of firing. The modern Century Arms double barrel coach gun also features a handy tang mounted safety. I like this safety for use once the hammers are cocked; it is a good feature when moving in the home. Real safety is between the ears and involves keeping the finger off of the trigger until you fire. I recommend cocking only one hammer at a time until you are very familiar with the shotgun.
Hammers are cocked only when ready for action
The double barrel shotgun offers a formidable deterrent. From the images of old west guards riding shotgun on a stagecoach to the modern hammer-fired double, the double barrel has an unmistakable image and the threat of a double charge of buckshot. The modern hammer-fired double barrel has the advantage of simplicity.
The double barrel is also easy to train with. Another advantage is that with two loads, you can stage the load. A lighter load first and then buckshot for problems inside the home. The load may be changed quickly if the problem is a dangerous animal such as a rattlesnake just outside the door or a predator such as a coyote farther away. For those in an urban setting, the shotgun with proper loads makes for a good Brooklyn special. It is politically correct and legal where other types of long gun are not.
There is also the appeal of the shotgun as a low-key defensive shotgun that doesn’t have much negative connotation. The double barrel is about as politically correct as a shotgun can be. We wish we did not have to consider this, but sometimes we do. The double barrel is also fun to shoot. It is practical as well.
When all is said and done, the double barrel shotgun remains a formidable weapon for personal defense and outdoors use. These simple, rugged, and workmanlike shotguns are well suited to many traditional shotgun chores. These chores include serving as a go anywhere, do anything, all around tool for hunting, pest control, and personal defense
12 gauge has 2X the kick and payload of the 20 gauge
My personal Century Arms double barrel was ordered in 20 gauge. Available in both the hard hitting 12 gauge and the light kicking 20, I elected for the 20 gauge so everyone in the home could use the shotgun well. The 12 hits hard and may be your choice. The 20 gauge kicks about half as much as the 12 gauge and carried about 55% of the payload.
This is a neat little bead sighted shotgun that handles well. The hammers are not difficult to cock, and the triggers are crisp enough. The hinged action was stiff at first but became easier to use with a couple of trips to the range. The overall length is 37 inches, and the shotgun weighs about 7.5 pounds.
The double-barrel action is compact and allows for longer barrels while retaining a relatively short profile. The barrels are 20 inches long. The choke is open cylinder, well suited for home defense but not for hunting at anything past 20 yards with birdshot. Most of the shells fired have been Winchester’s 7 ½ birdshot. This is a great training load. The recoil is light, and the shotgun handles quickly and gets on target fast.
While I use birdshot for training, birdshot is by no means useful for personal defense. At best it will penetrate only a few inches of gelatin and would probably be stopped by winter clothing. On the other hand, Winchester’s #3 buckshot load holds 20 buckshot pellets. This load consistently offers a minimum of 12 inches of penetration in my testing and should cancel Christmas for the bad guys at typical home defense engagement.
With the open choke barrels of the coach gun, 15 yards is the limit for retaining a good pattern for best effect, which isn’t different from the average riot gun. For longer-range use, the Hornady 20 gauge Lite Slug is a great choice. Among a few high tech variants in 20 gauge slugs, this loading offers formidable effect at ranges longer than 25 yards. For home defense the Coach gun looks good. Affordable and powerful it is worth a look.
By Wilburn Roberts published on  
Republished from Cheaper Than Dirt Blog (highly recommended reading)

 JR COMMENTS - Facing a charging Grisly Bear, there is nothing I'd prefer to have more than a 12 Gauge Double Barreled Shotgun with either 00 Buck Shot or Slugs.  After having a 16 gauge growing up and later having a hard time getting ammo, I'm a little hesitant to buy a 20 gauge unless it was for a beginner or person with a small build and low recoil was important.
For additional information see the following links:
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Night Vision vs Thermal Vision

Photo from Trijicon.com

Quality is improving and prices are coming down for tools that provide a critical tactical advantage for night time security. Every Prepper needs either Night Vision or Thermal Vision to protect his home and family from well prepared night time Home Invaders.  With out Intruder Detection, you could just be building up supplies for thieves and murderers.  Granted you can Salvage for supplies and obtain lots of things, but something like this will be a rare find.

Experienced military personnel wear their Vision Enhancement on their Helmet.Having it on your weapon or a hand held model means you need to hold it up to your face to scan for threats.

Here are a few options you might consider based on your budget:
  1. Hand held Night Vision Monocular for under $175.  This is an excellent, top rated, low budget starter tool. As you can afford it, you will want something better later, but someone on your Security Watch can still use this while you use your new one or you can keep one in your Security Pack
  2. Flir Thermal Vision (handheld) for under $600.  With this, I can see large game moving at 200 yards and identify them at 75 to 100 yards.  I can see and identify rabbits, skunks and other small game at 50 to 75 yards much better than even night vision costing five times more.  There are many types of Thermal Vision that allow you to see with varying clarity and at different distances.  This Flir Link shows some good examples along with the IR Hunter link under the picture above.
  3. Yukon offers a low cost head mount Night Vision Monocular for under $300.  Its not the best, but is a good starter one.
  4. The top of the line Night Vision is the PVS -14.  It comes with a weapons and helmet mount for well under $4,000. 00
  5. The top of the line Thermal Scopes are the Flir RS 64 starting at $5,500 and IR Hunter Mark II for about $6,500.
  6. There lower cost models like the Flir RS 32 starting at $3,800. 
  7. Also recommended with each of these are a number of rechargeable batteries and a Solar Battery Charger or a small solar system and a regular battery charger.
Most well planned modern attacks are likely to occur under the cover of darkness making night vision critical for Security and for Actionable Intelligence.

For additional information see the following links: 
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Monday, November 28, 2016

Civil War

Nothing symbolizes the tragic American Civil War better than the fallen Confederate Flag.  This war cost the lives of about 750,000 Americans or 2.39% of our entire population over 4 years.  This is the highest in history on a per capita basis by far and should serve as a lesson to those of us today.

With the diverse difference of opinions between the few highly populated states and the others, Secession from the Union is a far better alternative to a Civil War. The obvious alternative to either is to get along and respect the rights of others, and if the Federal Government was not so strong and domineering, this might work if the original intent of the US Constitution was respected. Each state could determine their own beliefs and laws. But this is unlikely to work when citizens in one state want to force their beliefs on another state, or even on an individual. Lets look at some divisive issues.
  1. Should a person be forced to bake a cake for a Gay couple? Should a Gay couple have to go else where to get a cake baked?  Does the US Constitution say ..Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...?  Does the Gay couple have the right to force someone else to bake them a cake? 
  2. If I don't like guns or small worthless yappy dogs or big dangerous dogs, should the government regulate or ban them for everyone?  Does the US Constitution say ..the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed?  Does it say we have the right to keep a dog?  Oh, but guns kill people .... right but Abortion doctors kill over 20 times more than guns and all of them are defenseless babies, not criminals shooting each other like most homicides are.
  3. Does a woman have the right to abort/kill her baby?  Is it not her body and her choice?  Clearly she has the right to use birth control. What about the rights of the baby, who cannot fight for their rights? Why can't we exercise that choice up until the child is 18 years old, when they reach legal adulthood?  What is the difference in killing them a little before being born or after being born.  More babies are aborted each year than soldiers died in the Civil War, a war fought to protect the rights of those who could not fight for themselves, much like unborn babies.
Already some have quit reading this, or are stewing about the issues above. The point is that our opinions on right and wrong may be too diverse to remain as one country, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.  

Permitting some of these states with strong beliefs that differ from the majority of the states should be permitted to leave the Union. This is a far better alternative to a Civil War. IF Texas were to leave the US, they would be the sixth largest oil exporter and would not require an income tax and still have a balanced budget. In addition we could better control our future with out being ran over by another liberal, tax and over spend, big government (Washington DC) in the future.

Unfortunately, our Federal Government would not want to give up the power and control over any states and many people within them would agree it is better to stay a part of the US.  For those that receive more federal benefits than they pay in, it clearly is.  So we are stuck with a few highly infested states and cities with radically different beliefs from the rest of the country.

So what happens when people with radically different beliefs take to the streets to first protest which turns in to Rioting & Looting.What is next if this grows and gets out of control, going after those who voted for the opposing candidate, or politicians who support differing opinions?

At this point, we are on the edge of a major civil unrest, possibly a civil war. Republicans in California or possibly even Democrats in Texas may be in danger (although Republicans and Texans are far less prone to violent protests).  Muslims, Immigrants, Gays, NRA members,  may be persecuted. While the NRA members will be the ones best positioned to protect themselves, the others could be in serious jeopardy.

At this point, there is safety in numbers, so having a Neighborhood Security Plan might be a good idea.  Having made a few preparations against Terrorism could save your life.  A Home Invasion Plan is a good idea along with a number of strategically located guns and fire extinguishers. While violent protests are much less likely in the country, having a Country Home Security Plan could still be a good idea.

But matters could get far worse than just rioting and looting when Liberals and Conservatives start firing on each other, and even worse when the US Military starts firing on US Citizens.There is a group of Law Enforcement Officers and Military Personnel who take their Oath to Support the US Constitution seriously, and refuse to obey certain illegal orders; these heroic people are called Oath Keepers.  We can only hope that our Government will let States like California and Texas exit the Union before it comes to a civil war. After all, if they joined freely, they should be able to exit freely. 

For additional information see the following links: 
Blog Table of Contents;
Urban Survival Plan
Country Home Security Plan
Passive Layered Security

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Tuesday, November 1, 2016

First Aid


There are a wide range of First Aid kits so lets talk at a high level about what you need to have.  Some supplies may be Salvaged but it is best to plan ahead and have what is critical.  Here is what I suggest:

  1. Have a few small but good First Aid Kits with non perishable contents for personal use in your Auto, back pack, and at work.  Also have some small inexpensive kits as well as for Barter
  2. Then get at least one larger first aid kit preferably that is OSHA compliant.
  3. Be sure to have things like ace bandages, disinfectants, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, antibiotic creams, Listerine mouthwash - rotate them as they will expire over time (their Achilles heel). 
  4. A Trauma Kit and Surgical tools plus needles, dental floss, nylon (fishing line), silk or surgical thread for sewing wounds is good to have.
  5. Have a still to make your own disinfectant (alcohol) and purify water.
  6. Antibiotics are great but have a shelf life to keep up with; listed on this link are a few good ones that last longer.
  7. Some inexpensive vitamins which can help boost your immune system, especially when on a limited diet. 
  8. Get a good First Aid book (not e-book).  The American College of Emergency Physicians has a good ACEP First Aid Manual and The Survival Medicine Handbook: A guide for when help is not on the way, is another good book.  When there is no Doctor/Dentist are also good books.

For additional information see the following links: 
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