Azweaponcraftprepper

Our New Youtube Channel

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Our company has just launched a new Youtube channel called Prepper Base 1. Eventually all of our enterprises will migrate to this brand name, including Azweaponcraftprepper. We just launched our channel 4 days ago and have two videos so far. One a welcome, and one a boost for this blog. But we are excited about our forthcoming content, and are working on new videos on a daily basis.  So check it out here and subscribe to see our future content. You will be glad you did!

OK Miss Corona, now what?

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I have been away from the desk for some time now dealing with business issues, but it has given me the opportunity to draw some conclusions as I watched this pandemic go on.  There are some lessons to be learned. Just a few of my thoughts.

Panic buying.

Experienced preppers saw this coming, but it is a good object lesson. If so many people began panic buying in a relatively mild SHTF scenario, imagine their mental mindset if a extremely serious crisis occurred. The run on toilet paper is a classic example. Totally illogical. This virus had nothing to do with needing more toilet paper. But when talk of quarantine began immediately, people panic bought what they though they might need quantities of. And it is a snowball effect. Enough people panic bought to clear the shelves, and then other people assume they need to panic buy the same items so as not to not be left out. On and on until serious shortages occurred. The same with firearms and ammunition. People who had never considered buying a firearm before suddenly went out and bought what was available, and cleared the shelves of ammunition, as well as reloading supplies. I was in my local Cabelas recently looking for reloading powder. One of the sales associates told me that they had people come in, grab whatever ammo was still available, and then asked if they had any firearms chambered for it.  The also had signs on the reloading bullet shelves stating “This is not loaded ammunition. These are only bullets”. ????????????????? Obviously a WHOLE lot of new buyers. A new breed of “Last minute preppers”.

Economic  Effects and Government Restrictions

The stay at home directives, especially the drastic and illogical ones in Blue states, has had a paralyzing effect on the economy. This is worldwide as most of you know. The tremendous loss of jobs created a three trillion dollar “stimulus” bailout. Where do you think this money is going to come from? Printing presses and borrowing. This is going to have a serious effect on the dollar with predictable consequences.  The loss of jobs has slowed down our supply train distribution creating shortages of essentials such as meat. Government over reach in many areas is starting to generate increasing push back from citizens  who are watching their businesses and lives being destroyed. Civil disobedience of government is growing, even with armed protestors showing up at state capitols. Churches are beginning to defy government “no assembly” rules increasingly.  With corresponding government push back. As the rules loosen in some areas of the country, if we have a spike in Covid-19 cases, expect government restrictions to increase, with increasing citizen push back. This can, and probably will lead to serious situations, primarily in Democrat controlled areas. At some point, people (at least a large number of them) are simply not going to stand for it any longer, and will prefer to take the risk of catching a virus with a 99% survival rate, to watching their lives dissapear.

My Conclusions

I don’t have a crystal ball, but these are my conclusions. We are looking for increasing economic stressors going forward. Many of the unemployed will no longer have jobs to go back to.  Look for increasing calls for more government control , possibly including mandatory vaccinations. With corresponding citizen push back and increasing civil unrest. Shortages of essential items will increase with corresponding price increases. I’m not trying to be doom and gloom, but that is just how I see it.

My Recommendations

Be prepared for the worst case scenario. GET OUT OF DEBT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Continue your preps based on your perception of the situation in your local area as well as world wide.  Form Mutual Assistance Groups with like minded citizens. Find alternative means of income, especially if you are currently unemployed and living on the $600.00 a week federal unemployment assistance which will run out at the end of July.  Mitch McConnell has stated that it will not be renewed. Educate yourself, and practice your prepper skills.  And have faith in God.

For a good read while you are spending all this time at home, try this.

And finally, stay safe, trust in God, and never forget that self reliant people can always survive any challenge.

 

 

 

A Good Knife Maker

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The knife is the primary survival tool. If you find yourself in a survival situation and can only have one tool, it needs to be a knife. Why? Because you can make things with it.  You can make a fire, make a shelter, make weapons. A good knife is essential.

There are a lot of independent knife makers in the country. One of them, Todd Schexnayder of Hahnville Louisiana is one of them. Todd and I are served on the Army Pistol Team  together, and he does great work.  I have attached pictures of some his work for your review. If you are interested in his work, he can be contacted at  tschex01@yahoo.com. So if you like what you see, drop Todd a line.

You can see more of his work on his Facebook knife works page at  https://www.facebook.com/tschexnayder2/media_set?set=a.756809087687266&type=3

 

 

 

 

Top Survival Guns Every Prepper Should Own

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This a guest post from author Norman Bobby. His site can be located at https://gunandshooter.com/

When you look at the subject matter around preppers and firearms, you find some obvious pillars of importance. Preppers need continuity; reasonableness (which may not be a word) and efficacy.

In the grand scheme of things, that means more often than not, you go with tried and true firearms that are easy to maintain; built incredibly well and shoot a very popular caliber and that’s that.

In this article. We wanted to take a look at the market with a fresh set of eyes, not to overlook the obvious choices on purpose but to see if there are any additions that need to be considered by the prepper community in their quest for the perfect firearm.

A quick note: 15+ years ago, the author would not have included a 5.56 gun on this list, and instead opted for a .308 rifle either in bolt action or in semi auto, but with the proliferation of the 5.56 ammunition at low pricing; the obvious status of the AR clone as a mainstream firearm and the clear advantages of improvement in stopping power through understanding of ballistics and improvement in technology and engineering, that has changed.

It’s just not as ideal anymore to recommend a larger caliber weapon. When given the apocalyptic scenario most preppers envision as “worse case” can easily be handled by a more abundant, easier to handle caliber.

 

Remington 870 or substantially similar pump action shotgun in 12 gauge

Tough as nails; made to spec in the millions of volume; for decades; and relies on one of the most popular and readily available and inexpensive cartridges in the history of shooting. That is a pretty good place to start for the Remington 870. But that’s not all…it’s easy to handle; can be used for long-range hunting and can handle every game animal from birds to caribou if given the right ammunition; mindset and conditions.

The trick to succeeding in the Prepper market from a gun perspective is offering capability without compromise. You’d need to be judicious with your ammunition purchasing but it can be done without negatively affecting whatever type of animal you want to hunt.

It’s also a short-range winner and will stop any human threat.

The Remington was an arbitrary choice when looked at from a realistic perspective, but you could insert Mossberg 500/590 or Winchester or whoever you prefer there easily.

That also comes with some need for explanation: it wasn’t an ONLY arbitrary choice, choice. It was the best from a historical performance perspective that was still readily available to the public at good price points.

Remington 870 because of aftermarket support; historical performance and maintenance.

 

Ruger 10-22

The workhorse of the modern Prepper’s gun stash, the 10-22 is accurate; proven historically, amazingly timeless in its aesthetic and build quality and inexpensive. It also shoots .22 LR cartridges which have been proven in awkward scenarios that they can be used for all manner of needs.

Hundreds of thousands of rounds have been shot through most of the available 10-22’s that span more than a single decade of use from a manufactured date perspective.

It’s cheap to outfit; everyone makes parts for them and the maintenance is best in class.

The high capacity, but still accurate platform makes it a must have in your home.

Having a Ruger 10-22 in your possession during a major event means your heavier firepower won’t have to be used and you will be optimizing bullet/cartridge usage during times of need.

You can reasonably take small game to over 100 yards with it; it’s unbelievably easy to maintain and it won’t stop working if you shoot too many rounds through it. Literally thousands of aftermarket parts exist for it; and everyone and their brother owns one. Besides, aren’t .22’s the best way to dispatch zombies anyway?

 

Kel-Tec PMR 30 (or their new .22LR variant)

This is a bit of an odd inclusion here, but the utility and overall novelty of the gun thus far pushes this into an unconventional list and makes you maybe wonder if the author has lost his mind.

The Magnum variant is concealable, offers great stopping power and hunting capabilities and is inexpensive relative to other market offerings that give substantially similar results.

It’s innovative and fun to use and despite having had some difficulties at launch it seems to have those problems ironed out now. The option to have a magnum 22 on your side or for small game hunting is fantastic, and yet, the rounds aren’t hard to come by in an emergency and it’s relatively easy to expect that a decent chunk of the population might have guns chambered in .22Mag and that you can scavenge ammo somewhere in dire situations.

You can also single shot .22 LR with the gun.

Glock 19

It’s probably a generation 5 Glock 19 too. As blasphemous as that may be to the seasoned prepper type, it just makes sense. Yes, you will not have the proliferation of parts on the market given many of them have changed in Gen 5, and you probably don’t get the benefits of the previous generation’s mag well designs, but you do get a gun that’s built nearly perfectly from a functional perspective and the good far outweighs the bad.

Rather than the 17, get the smaller framed variant which still takes nearly all Glock 9mm mags; shoots the ubiquitous and readily available 9mm Luger and can be handled by basically anyone from child to adult.

Proven reliable; durable; and made into the millions of copies this is a gun that won’t easily be outdone in your arsenal. It is also easy to maintain; inexpensive and accurate; reliable, and beloved by millions, so finding a part or service for the gun will be easy.

 

An AR15 clone

We aren’t going to waste time telling you about a specific AR clone. That’s boring and unnecessary, when it’s already likely you own one or you are contemplating ownership. It’s a foregone conclusion that it’s the most popular gun in America, and the very reasons it makes sense is that predictable boringness that comes from the AR 15 marketplace.

  • Great caliber dynamics; readily available; cheap to shoot
  • Modular; customizable easy to work on as an amateur
  • Millions of parts floating around that bolt-on/drop-in
  • Shoots accurately to 350 yards and can easily stop human targets as well as slay game animals up to about 400 lbs. if done right

If you call yourself a prepper and you don’t have an AR-15 yet, you’re probably behind the curve. Catch up.

 

Honorable mentions:

A 308 rifle of some sort and a lever Action .45-70 of some type.

Both of these guns are not nearly as practical from an ongoing basis, but if you’re in the market for a group of prepper guns, these should probably occupy some time in your thought process if nothing else. Both offer moderate to intermediate shot stopping potential on targets that exceed the 350 lbs. range.

The rounds have been around for a very long time and you’ll be able to find them on the shelves of any sporting goods store, and 25% of American Gun owner’s closets.

They are understandable guns and built to endure heavy recoil and punishment over time, especially since they are both former U.S. Military calibers.

They aren’t ideal if you compare them to the above list, but they make sense of you want to cover the endpoints; or you’re looking for something else to spend your prepper gun dollars on. And by the way, stocking up ammunition and parts for these guns will run you a hefty premium, so those dollars would be spent quickly.

Conclusion

Buy guns that are easy to maintain and don’t suffer from ongoing problems; offer chamberings that are obvious and which can pull double duty as needed.

Luxury Camping with a Cabin Tent

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This is a guest post by Tadej Kozar. His website can be found at https://campingtentlovers.com . Although geared for the recreational camper, it has some good information for survival for groups.

Today we will talk about a type of tent that is a perfect shelter for a group of people or families. Cabin tents are one of the most popular large tents available on the market. These tents have walls so it is easy to move inside the tent and also do activities without bending.

If you want to have enough space on a camping trip you should read on to see how this type of tent can change your way of camping. You can also set it on your backyard and invite some friends to have a backyard party around the grill.

Let’s see how a cabin tent can help you to have a pleasant outdoor experience.

Tent’s features

I will cover some features of a mentioned tent which you should know about before buying it.

Large space

Cabin tents are known for its large space and several rooms. In general, tents have just one room where you sleep. However, cabin tents are made for families who need more space and privacy. Think about going camping with the kids. I am sure you would love to have some privacy and your kids as well (especially if you have teenagers).

Tents that look like a cabin can also have more than one door for an easy entrance and exit.

You can pick a tent regarding the numbers of occupants. For example, if you have a 4 member family then you can pick a cabin tent for 4 campers. These types of tents can occupy from four to twelve people or more so choose the one that will have enough space for all of you.

Still, I recommend that you don’t limit yourself with an exact number of campers. A four-member family should pick a five or six-person tent as there is never enough space.

Heavier than other tents

These spacious tents are heavier than hiking or backpacking tents due to its largeness and a number of tent poles. So this is a shelter that isn’t appropriate for one-night camping or if you want to go outdoors on foot.

However, they are perfect for going in nature with a car or some other transportation vehicle.

Setting it up

These tents are not as easy to pitch as pop up tents of course. Setting up a cabin tent takes time and it is the best that you involve other campers to help you with this task. I recommend that you pitch the tent at home before going to the wild.  This way you will be sure that there are no missing pieces and will be confident to have a shelter when you come to the campsite.

Season camping

On which season are you going to camp? It is important to know if your tent is a 3-season or 4-season tent. A cabin tent is luxurious and feels like a home in the wild but still, you should pick the one that is appropriate for a camping season.

Camping in the spring, summer, and autumn isn’t so demanding as the weather is milder than in winter. In this case, you could look for a tent that is a 3-season tent. A 4-season cabin tent is a little bit different as it should have a higher hydrostatic head, is waterproof and water-resistant.

An all-year tent is heavier as it should withstand the heavy rain, snow, and strong winds. If you decide to go outdoors in winter don’t compromise on a tent’s price and get a 4-season shelter.

Large windows

Tents with a cabin style have large windows in general. This is another great feature that reminds us of home. Large windows will give you enough light through the day and an opportunity to watch the animals. When you want to have more shade, you can close them as they have this ability.

A tent with screen porch

Cabin tents are made for a camping experience so campers can feel like at home. With this in mind, tent manufacturers make cabin tents with a screen porch. A porch is a wonderful feature to have as it will enable you to have a meal with your loved ones and enjoy watching nature. Get a folding table and chairs and place them here to enjoy throughout the day.

You can open the mesh of the porch or close it at evenings when mosquitos come along. It can be used for storing your camping equipment or personal items as well. This way you will have enough space inside the tent for sleeping and resting.

A Cabin Tent – Your Luxurious Outdoor Home

Dear camper, I am sure that on this point you have enough knowledge to know if this type of tent is what you are looking for. Cabin tents are large tents that are best to use for families or a group of people who won’t move a lot.

Think about tent’s features and how your camping trip will look like. If you want to have a long and relaxing vacation in nature with your friends, family or other campers, you should give a cabin tent a try.

For a large selection of tents for more that two people at great prices, check out Amazon here

 

3 Reasons Why You Need Archery As A Prepper Skill

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This is a guest article by John Lewis, a blogger, survivalist and outdoor enthusiast. You can follow him over at Epic Wilderness.

Archery is a sport which does not cost you too much money, but still gets you physically and mentally fit. Many people are now moving towards archery equipment for hunting and survival because the cost of getting archery equipment is much lower than getting a firearm.

While you are in archery, the gear that you may need to invest in include bow stabilizers and bow sights. If you want to check out this gear, you can check out this blog here. This gear is tailored to get your aim right to that you can shoot your target accurately as many times as possible.

So, still thinking whether you want to acquire archery skills in your self-reliance journey? Here are 3 reasons to consider while making that decision.

Reason 1: Using it to hunt

Hunting in general is an important survival skill by itself too because you may need to obtain food sources while you are bugging out. If you have archery skills in the bag, it can help you hunt fish, bear or deer depending on your preference.

Also, bows are much more effective for hunting because of the low-level noise that it makes. For guns, you need silencers to make the noise bearable. Otherwise, the amount of noise you cause would catch unnecessary attention. Especially when you are hunting, if you are not careful enough and cause too much noise, your game will be aware of your presence and react accordingly.

But even for bows, you may want to invest in bow stabilizers to reduce the amount of noise that you make while shooting. Trust me, this is a worthwhile investment.

Even if your bow is not strong enough, you can aim to get small game like rodents and rabbits. Another aspect you can look into is to bowfish as well. To bowfish, you can add a line to the arrow but make sure that the line is sufficiently strong to carry weight.

Reason 2: Being able to build it yourself

This reason would be more in reference to practicality. When you are caught in a really bad disasters, we can reasonably assume that all supplies and equipment would be gone. Your access to bullets and firearms would be limited which means the next best ranged weapon to protect yourself would be your archery gear.

You can use a boot knife to craft wood that is strong enough such as oak or lemon trees into the base of your bow. Next, you need to utilize items like ropes or fishing lines to make your bowstring. If you are in the wilderness, you can use vines or strong fibrous stems and make it into your bowstring.

While things like sticks can be used to make arrows and stone chips can be the broadheads. If you want sharper broadheads, you can try to use glass by breaking a window or some glass bottle.

The goal is to make a bow and an arrow into something that can shoot accurately and consistently. Not to mention being able to make powerful shots too!

Reason 3: It is cost-effective!

So, there are two ways how getting archery gear is cost-effective. First, your archery gear is more versatile. The arrow can be used as a drill to help you with kindling a fire. The string for the bow can be used for other purposes such as a fishing line, to set traps or help build your survival shelter. This is in comparison with other gear of course.

Next, arrows can be reused again and again, until the fletches come off or the arrow-point becomes dull. To do this properly, you may want to choose an arrow which is made from durable materials. Usually, the body of an arrow is made from wood or carbon which are usually enough to sustain force.

You may also want to learn about the various arrow tips that are available such as using blunt tips for small game. People would get arrow-tips which are pointed with larger broadheads to do more lethal shooting.

Conclusion

After you are convinced about learning archery as a survival skill, it is time to delve into getting the best kind of gear. In looking out for a good stabilizer there are several things to consider including getting one with the perfect length and weight, ensuring that it is made from sufficiently durable stuff and ensure that it is adjustable (depending on your preference of course).

Getting the best gear would not end it all yet. You still have to find out how to utilize this gear to make your shots consistent and accurate. You have no choice but to practice shooting consistently and find out what works! If you have any other ideas you would like to share, feel free to comment below!

 

Schrade SCHKM1 Machete

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Like most preppers, I am constantly re evaluating my gear.  And you should too. Situations and needs change.  I still live on the edge of Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert. And up to now, my basic brush blade has been my Nepalese Kukri.  But some of my plans have changed, and I decided I needed a full bladed machete. I have always like the Kukri blade design.  This type of blade was believed to have been first used by the ancient Greeks as a cavalry sword called a Kopis, itself derived from an agricultural tool.  It it is also suspected that this design was introduced into Nepal during Alexander the Great’s invasion of India. Whether it was or not, this is an outstanding blade design. I decided to go with it when selecting a full blade machete.

It is important to understand the proper role of the machete. It does not replace a good ax or hatchet for chopping thick wood. It is designed to clear brush, cut smaller items of wood, and is useful as a close combat weapon.

I studied the reviews of the various models in this design and settled on the  Schrade SCHKM1. I am glad I did. The blade is full tang and constructed of 3cr13 steel. This was a  good choice because it has a good hardness but is soft enough to withstand constant high impact use. The blade came nice and sharp. The Kukri design allows for powerful chopping strokes. It has a blade length of 13.3 inches (33.8 cm) and a weight of 1 lb 6.6 ounces, and the blade is 1/8 inch thick. It is full tang. The holes in the blade are to lighten it and serve no real functional purpose unless you want to imitate the main character in “The Book of Eli”. I haven’t had the chance to put it through hard paces yet, but did trim some branches off  a Palo Verde  tree that was blown over in a recent monsoon storm. I like the balance and heft. The blade is thick powder coated and the handle is what Schrade calls their safe-t grip. It is rubberized and non slip. The handle has a front quillon which is extremely ergonomic and safe.

The scabbard is in itself well designed. Double stitched and designed to be worn on your belt with leg straps, slung over your back, or attached to your ruck. It also comes with a quality sharpening tool in a detachable pouch as well as a ferro rod fire starter.

If you are looking for a lightweight, well designed machete of the Kukri design, this would be a good selection. Available from Amazon.

 

 

4 Essential Oils to Add to Your Survival Kit

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Editor’s Note: This is a guest article by Trysh Sutton of Pure Path Essential Oils. I am in the process of expanding and upgrading my SHTF medical capabilities, and this is a brief but concise article that explains the contribution essential oils make to your medical planning.

When it comes to holistic health, there is nothing more beneficial and powerful than essential oils. Adding them to your survival kit is an easy way exponentially increase its versatility, without having to include several new, bulky items.

The wide range of uses and benefits they provide will help you to truly be prepared in ways you may not have considered to be important until now.

Here are the top four essential oils that everyone needs in their survival kit.

Lavender

This oil is probably the first one you should buy for your survival kit because it is widely believed to be the most versatile essential oil, and with good reason.

Lavender is known for its host of benefits, from its antimicrobial properties to wound healing. Using lavender oil for cuts and scrapes will not only clean the wounds, but help to speed up the healing process.

Another huge benefit it provides is relieving pain. Whether it’s chronic or temporary pain, lavender can help to reduce the pain so you can move effectively without being distracted and limited by the discomfort.

Furthermore, when SHTF, there may come a moment when you or someone in your party will be under extreme stress which can cloud mental clarity and severely impact your ability to survive. Inhaling lavender oil will help to reduce stress and have you thinking much more clearly so you can make the best decisions for you and your family.

Peppermint

Peppermint oil is another essential oil that needs to be added to your survival kit to prepare you for everything that’s going to come your way.

For one, it is an incredible pick me up that is used by many athletes to boost their performance during competitions. Inhaling peppermint oil improves your breathing significantly and allows more oxygen to enter your lungs, drastically improving the performance of your muscles when you need them most. So if you’re feeling mentally or physically exhausted and need a quick boost, peppermint oil should be your go to.

Additionally, it has been shown to relieve nausea in minutes when inhaled so if you have someone prone to nausea in your party, that’s just another reason to keep a bottle in your kit.

Orange Oil

Orange essential oil has antiseptic properties that makes it an ideal cleaning solution for wounds, thereby reducing the possibility of infection.

Like lavender, it is also an excellent intervention technique for dealing with pain, confirmed in a study by Arak University. In the study, it was found that inhaling orange oil significantly reduced pain in individuals with fractured limbs.

Clove Oil

Clove essential oil is an amazing insect repellent which can be very useful when setting up camp in an area where mosquitoes and other insects are plentiful. Combine this oil with a carrier such as coconut oil or jojoba oil and apply to the exposed arm and leg areas.

FInal Word

Essential oils are compact, easy to use hacks that can help you in long list of ways when SHTF. Whether you need to clean a wound, reduce pain or boost your energy levels, adding these oils to your survival kit will allow you to make the best out of any situation that arises.

 

Book Review: Forsaking Home By A. American

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Editor’s note:  This article is by guest author Jack Billington. Prepper fiction is becoming more popular in the prepper community. I will continue to occasional do reviews of it. I think it is useful,(besides the entertainment value) to analyze the scenarios and the player’s responses to see if they are realistic.

I just finished reading Forsaking Home, the fourth installment of the Survivalist Series by A. American. I really enjoyed the first three books in the series and was excited to see how things would work out for Morgan Carter and the rest of the gang. While I was not disappointed in the least, I was surprised how some of the events played out in Forsaking Home. It was not what I expected, although all of the loose ends from the previous three installments were tied together in this book which was a relief and a disappointment. I am glad to know how everything works out for Morgan and the cast of characters but I am bummed that things may have come to an end. I don’t know that this is the last book in the series or not. Things could be done for Morgan Carter but maybe Mr. American will let us know how the rebuilding of the United States goes eventually.

 

The first three installments of the Survivalist Series revealed the challenges that Morgan Carter faced after the collapse of the electrical grid across the United States. After a long journey, he finally made it back home to his family and made some great friends, and terrible enemies, along the way. Nothing could have prepared him for everything he has faced but between the relationships forged and the preparations that he did make, he is in much better shape than most. As the days continue on, Morgan, along with his friends and family, is forced to try harder and harder to provide the food, security, and hope that is necessary to continue to thrive. This is all on top of the DHS’ attempts to smother any resistence they get from those who do not want to conform to the government’s new rules of martial law, etc.

Forsaking Home takes us along as Morgan continues to try to keep his family and group alive and together in their newly established oasis by the river while Sarge and his self-titled band of misfits try to pull together an operation that will take down the DHS camp that is holding Jess and her friends captive (in the name of their own good of course). While things continue to be chaotic, there are many who wonder what the future holds and whether or not they will even survive to see. I think that compared to the previous three books there was perhaps a little less excitement overall but the story was still very captivating and I appreciated the realism in the behavior of the characters and the facts contained.

There were some great take away points that I highlighted as I was reading the book that I wanted to remember to share.

Point #1 – People will fight to the death for the food needed to survive (there may not be a greater truth).

Food is freedom. Control the food, control the people. While a lot of people don’t see it that way, if you think about our current situation, it really applies. How many people do you think have gone to the [DHS] camps because they are hungry?

Point #2 – The skills of the generations that came before us are what made their survival possible and their lives better. Knowing these skills could be the key to future survival if the grid did go down.

There’s decades of skills lost that would make our lives easier. The rush to make life easier, more convenient, overshadowed those skills, and we’re paying the price now.

Takeaway # 3 – The idea of preparing for the unknown is not crazy. Obviously the electrical grid has not collapsed but if it ever did (and it’s possible), it will be those who prepared who will survive.

You guys remember that show Doomsday Preppers? I used to watch that and laugh at those people. I thought they were all so crazy. But they were right. Everyone called them crazy, but they’re probably the best off out of any of us.

Among these points and the additional practical skills and knowledge that is shared in the book, one of the other things that I appreciated was the inclusion of a few characters that had used their bikes with trailers to travel and move their belongings after the majority of vehicles became useless. This is something that can be a useful tool for a prepper, not only as an alternate form of transportation but as a means of exercise and maintaining physical fitness for long term survival.

I truly enjoyed all four of the books in this series and can honestly say that I was anxiously awaiting the release of Forsaking Home. A. American continued to do a great job in the latest installment with the characters and the storyline. It is easy to relate to all of the characters and how they feel and function but there were definitely some that I almost feel like I had met before. As an example, Sarge and crew easily remind me of my time in the Army and several of the Soldiers who I worked with, not only in attitude but in the shenanigans department as well. For those who are interested in the Survival/Post-Apocalyptic Fiction genre or have thought about checking it out, the Survivalist Series by A. American would be well worth your time. Just make sure to order all the books at once because you will go through them quickly.

The Survivalist Series can be found through your local book retailer or online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Powell’s Books.

Author’s bio: Jack is a home security counselor & self-defense instructor. On Secret Storages, he writes about different shooting accessories: hearing protection, holster, glasses, etc.

Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion (RSDL)

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rsdlA beginning Prepper will start out focusing on the basics: Beans/Bullets/Band Aids. And hopefully the training that goes with them. As time goes on and experience increases, he hopefully becomes more adept at identifying those threats that have the potential to cause him harm, and to start mitigating them. And expanding his equipment and supplies.

At some point you have to decide if a chemical/biological/nuclear threat scenario is something you need to concern yourself with. And that you need to equip for. Some preppers will, some wont.  I covered protective masks some time back.

Emergent BioSolutions  makes a product they call Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion. It has been used by the United States Government as well as other agencies. They sent me one of their packets, but I have decided not to open the packet. I will rely on published data instead. The purpose of these kits is to decontaminate your hands, arms, face, neck, and inside your protective mask in the event you are contaminated with a biological warfare agent. The agents that it will effectively neutralize are:

  • Tabun
  • Sarin
  • Soman
  • Cyclohexyl Sarin
  • VX
  • HD (Mustard)
  • T2 Toxin

 

The kits come with two packets, one blue, one green. The blue one is a training packet o71eettDhP0L__SL1500_nly. The green packet is the real deal.

Steps1Steps2Steps3Steps4

The kit comes in a cardboard box with instructions.

So, do you need to invest in this product? Only you can answer that. I think that the threat of a localized terrorist biological attack is a legitimate concern. These packets are extremely light weight, small, fit easily in a shirt pocket, and by all accounts, effective. The negative side is that they are expensive at $50.00 a kit.

You can see a good You Tube video and learn more about this product here.

You can by the kits on Amazon

Survival Hax Ferro Rod Fire Starter

/ jlm990 / 3 Comments

81ySwXPWKyL__SL1500_It is a common prepper mantra that redundancy is critical. Try not to ever rely on only one method to accomplish the critical. Fire making is a critical survival skill, and you should always have at least three methods on hand to start a fire.

A ferro rod should be in your survival kit along with other options such as lighters or matches. There are a lot of them out there. Sometimes you get them free as part of another item or set. Sometimes they are individually free-standing.  But they are everywhere in various sizes and grades of efficiency. When Survival Hax  asked if I would like to review theirs, I said sure. They import a number of reasonably priced but quality made survival item, and I have reviewed a number of their items before, all with good results. But I was wondering what could make a ferro rod fire starter worth $20.00. When the package arrived and I opened it, I found out.

This thing is BIG! The ferro rod is six inches long. In seriously cold weather, with most ferro rod fire starters you would need to take your gloves off to properly manipulate them because of their size. Not this rod. It is big enough that you should be able to manipulate it in extremely cold weather with mittens on. THAT is what makes a ferro rod fire starter worth $20.00.

In addition to the large size of the rod, it comes with an excellently designed striker, which has a serrated half-moon striking surface. It is long enough to get good leverage and create a good shower of sparks. It also functions as a bottle opener and hex wrench.

Attached to it is a small waterproof capsule with cotton tinder inside. Although a bit small, it suffices for the intended job. Especially with the amount of sparks you can generate on the large rod. Personally, I keep cotton ball impregnated with Vaseline in old medicine plastic cases for my tender.  Holding the whole set together is a large roll of 550 cord, which has a small whistle on the end.

This is an outstanding fire starter. The size allows you to use it effectively even with thick gloves on, and it is of high quality. If you are only going to have one ferro rod fire starter, this one should be it!

Available at Survival Hax or Amazon

7 Best Survival Gadgets for All Your Outdoor Needs.

/ jlm990 / 1 Comment

This is a guest article by Anthony Maldonado

There are plenty of outdoor activities. Some want to practice outdoor sports, some enjoy just running in nature, some want to go for hunting and some would enjoy just a picnic in nature or camping under the stars. It is very healthy to spend some time in nature. That way we clear our mind from the negative thoughts and release all the negativity. Our muscles relax and our lungs fill with fresh air. With the everyday use of the technology and working all week-long, we try to reconnect with our roots and spend some time in nature in order to recharge our batteries and have plenty of energy for the tasks we have to do. Most of the people want to use the free time they have to spend some time in nature with their friends and family and have a good time. They decide for some outdoor activity and enjoy the benefits they get from spending some time in nature.

Before deciding on any outdoor you  need to prepare and take the equipment needed in order to avoid some impediments that will ruin your time in nature. In this article, we offer 7 best survival gadgets for your outdoor needs.

  • Gadget number one – Personal water filter – There is no life without water, so you need to take plenty of water with you when you spend some time outdoors. Sometimes it happens that you run out of water, so the personal water filter is a must have  gadget with you when spending some time outdoors. Our bodies need to be hydrated so that they can work properly. This tool can be found online or in many shops. It is not very expensive. With the personal water filter you can drink any water you find near you. The filter filters the water and after that the water is safe or drinking. So, when you consider some outdoor activity make sure you do not run out of water or just take the personal water filter.
  • Gadget number two – A flashlight and a battery charger – During  darkness, you will need a flashlight with you. When spending  time camping or maybe doing some other outdoor activity you should have a flashlight and some batteries for it. Rechargeable batteries  will need a battery charger in case the ones you have do not work. A solar battery charger will be perfect for charging your batteries for your outdoor needs.
  • Gadget number three – A lighter – Whether you smoke or not you definitely should have a lighter with you. It is very useful  not only for lighting your cigarettes but also for starting a fire. You may need to get warm or you can use the fire as a source of light.
  • Gadget number four – A hand warmer – When your hands are cold you are unable to perform the activities you need to do. When our hands are warm we are able to do important tasks. Hand warming devices are easy to use; they are re-usable and can be used 12 hours straight. They make your hands warm faster than using gloves.
  • Gadget number five – Sun oven – This might be a more expensive gadget, but it will definitely serve you if you want to spend some time outdoors and prepare the food in nature by yourself. This oven uses the sun lights as energy and heats up to 200 degrees Celsius. You can prepare some food using this oven and enjoy your time outdoors.
  • Gadget number six – A gun – This may not be something that will come to your mind when you want to spend some time relaxing in nature, but it is something you must have with you. There are many animals in nature, especially in the woods. Animals see people as a threat and they just want to protect themselves so you need to have a gun with you in order to defend yourself from the possible danger.
  • Gadget number seven – First aid kit – When spending some time outdoors, you must have a first aid kit with you in case of accidents, or maybe if bitten by an insect, if you cut yourself accidentally and so on. Also have some disinfectant swith you and bandages in case you got wounded. You never know what may happen. It is better to be prepared.

Author-Bio

Anthony MaldonadoAnthony Maldonado has over Thirty (30) years of experience in the field of hunting, sports and self-defense related fields. Now he keeps on doing it through teaching others about how to prepare and DIY. He is an expert in the area of DIY. He is presently working at his tenbesttipz.com