Gun & Prepping News #74

Just some gun and prepping related links that I thought interesting or useful:

•  "The Concealed Carry Draw Stroke"--Lucky Gunner. Chris Baker begins:

    I believe the draw stroke is the most important physical skill you can learn for self-defense, but it doesn’t do you much good if you can’t put it into some kind of real world context. The typical violent attack happens unexpectedly at conversational distance with one, or maybe two attackers. So once you have the fundamentals down for basic gun handling and marksmanship, and then a good draw stroke, the second most important self-defense skill you can practice is following the draw stroke with multiple accurate rapid shots at close range.

    Now in reality, you might not have to actually fire after you draw, so we have to sometimes practice drawing the gun straight to a low ready position. For obvious reasons, it could be problematic if we were to develop an automatic reflex where we have to fire every time the gun comes out of the holster.

    But for those scenarios that do require shots to be fired in self-defense, most of them don’t involve technically difficult feats of marksmanship or complex gun manipulations. It can be fun to practice the coolguy tactical ninja stuff, and eventually it’s good to push yourself and work in progressively more difficult drills and maybe even get into some competition shooting. But it’s possible to focus too much on the so-called “advanced” technical skills at the expense of being really proficient with the simple gun handling and shooting skills that get people out of 90% of the lethal force encounters that actually happen to non-uniformed citizens. 

• More: "Presentation Perfection: Mastering The Draw Stroke" by Richard A. Mann, Gun Digest.
• More: "The Secret to a Faster Draw"--Warrior Poet Society. 
• More: "Brilliance in the Basics: The Draw Stroke"--KT Strategic. 

• "ATF Wait Times in 2026: The Post-Reform Reality for Suppressor Buyers"--The Truth About Guns. The key bit:

    According to Silencer Shop’s ATF wait time tracker, updated on March 16, 2026, eForm 4 approvals over the last 30 days have been exceptionally fast. The numbers break down by applicant type, and the differences are worth understanding before you file.

    Individual filers are seeing the fastest approvals by a significant margin. Individual eForm 4s are currently returning in a range of 1 to 31 days, with a median of just 5 days. Read that again. Five days. That is not a typo, and it is not an outlier. That is the median, meaning half of individual filers are getting approved faster than that.

    Trust filers are moving quickly as well, though slightly slower than individuals. Trust eForm 4s are showing a wait range of two to 49 days, with a median of 25 days. Corporate filers land in a similar window, with a range of 21 to 43 days and a median of 28 days.

    Dealer-to-dealer Form 3 transfers have become nearly instantaneous. eForm 3 approvals are currently being processed in as little as 27 minutes, with a median of 15 hours and a maximum of about 4 days. For context, a fast Form 3 used to mean a few weeks. This changes how quickly a dealer can get inventory on hand and ready for customer transfer.

• On a related note: "The Rimfire Report: ELEY Subsonic 38gr Hollow Point"--The Firearm Blog. This is pricey--for .22 LR--at nearly 20 cents per round. Short take:

It’s hard for me to recommend this particular load to anyone, given that it’s both less accurate and more expensive than CCI Standard. Out of the same gun, CCI Standard outperforms ELEY’s 38‑grain Hollow Point in virtually every metric that matters. The only advantage I can point to for ELEY Subsonic over its less expensive American counterpart is that it’s noticeably quieter and consistently produces a slower projectile in the same firearms.

In all fairness, it seems more than accurate enough for killing pests within 50 yards. 

• "March 2026 Drill of the Month: Baseline Assessment Drill"--Tactical Wire.  
• This looks fun: "You Need One: A DIY Bayonet for Your Fallout Service Rifle Build"--Shooting News Weekly. The author explains: 

There’s a bit of a cult following for AR builds that clone the service rifle from the video game Fallout New Vegas. While the parts are available to make a pretty nice rifle, the game bayonet remains elusive. Let’s look at how you can make a stand-in, at least until I can convince some company to start making these for real. And trust me, I’ve been trying.

• A source for the AR15 wood furniture.
• And the appropriately marked lower receiver (black) (plain).
• Something else that looks fun: "Everyman's Double Rifle: Pedersoli Kodiak Survivalist .44 Magnum"--The Firearm Blog.  Most of us cannot afford tens of thousands of dollars for a genuine double rifle from a high-end rifle maker. But while still pricey by my standards, this approximately $2,500 weapon mimics the double rifle, but in the more affordable .44 Magnum caliber. 
• "Fudd Friday: Why You Should Buy A .30-30"--The Firearm Blog. The argues that the .30-30 is far from obsolete:

    The .30-30 cartridge was introduced in 1895, more than 130 years ago, and it has come a long way since then. The original loading saw a .30-caliber, 160-grain jacketed bullet pushed by 30 grains of smokeless powder. The result was a 1970 fps load that had a flatter trajectory than blackpowder loads of that era, hitting hard enough to take down big game despite the smaller bullet.

    Cartridge technology has come a long way since the 1890s, but so has the .30-30. While the casing’s dimensions haven’t changed, the bullets sure have. Originally loaded with blunt-nosed bullets due to the limitations of tube magazines, typical to most lever guns, you can now buy .30-30 rounds with streamlined, pointed bullets that extend the rifle’s practical range well past the 100 yards (or less) that shooters once restricted the round to. One of those new Hornady conical bullets, the 140-grain version, is also lead-free, so it can be used in states that require such ammunition.

• "Guns And Reliability" by Will Dabbs, MD. Even the most reliable firearms can fail due to mechanical issues or user error. But ...

All this leads us to the most reliable guns around. A proper double-action revolver is just about fail-safe. A simple break-action single- or double-barrel long gun doesn’t have much to break either. The trigger/hammer mechanisms could theoretically burp, but they remain fully enclosed within the frame or receiver. So long as the ammunition is up to scratch, there is just very little left to fail. There are options aplenty in these platforms, and pricing spans the spectrum from surprisingly cheap to ludicrous. 

• "Concealed Carry Corner: How Much Ammo Should You Carry?"--The Firearm Blog.  The author says that he strives to have at least 20 rounds on him, but adds:

Some people online talk about having everything and the kitchen sink on their body just in case, but the reality is, you don't need everything under the sun. Instead of thinking you need everything, it's better to look at the bare minimum and what you need to get away from a dangerous situation. Some will argue you need 3-4 magazines on you with a baton, pepper spray and even flex cuffs, which is absolutely not needed. I think some people talk about carrying all these extra items because they fantasize about society crashing. Having a handgun and an extra magazine is more than enough to get you out of harm's way. If we are being realistic, you probably won't even need a spare magazine, but it's better to have one. 

• "Preparedness Has Gotten Boring. And I Think It’s A Good Thing!"--Guns Magazine. After the peak interest in prepping with COVID, the author notes:

    But lately, I’ve noticed you don’t see much talk about preparedness anymore. A check of online trend data verified my suspicion that far fewer people are talking about and searching for information on this important topic. So what gives?

    After lots of reflection and study, I finally realized it’s simple: fear and anxiety are just not sustainable because humans cannot remain in a heightened state of alarm indefinitely. In line with Col. Jeff Cooper’s Color Code, you can remain in a state of cautious awareness indefinitely, but once you psychologically elevate to alarm and eventually fear, you can remain for a short period of time before it all becomes too overwhelming. You have to simply give up and say, “To heck with it.” 

• "Home Defense Strategies: Fortify Your Home When SHTF"--Survival Frog. The primary points he covers:
• See them coming.
• Secure the perimeter. 
• Allow plants to do some dirty work.
• Set booby traps.
• Reinforce doors and windows.
• Don't forget other entry points. 

• "Long Term Security and Defense of your Retreat Location"--Max Velocity Tactical. An excerpt:

What is the threat? As a prepper hunkered down at your home, with food stores, the most likely threat will be from looters and marauders. These could take many forms from a simple beggar, through starving neighbors, mobs, tricks and deceptions, to a tactically organized group with weapons and equipment. The worst case is some sort of organized paramilitary style force with heavy equipment bent on forced redistribution. Therefore, remain flexible and have an emergency rally point and extraction route should you be overmatched. Know when you have no alternative but to bug out. You can make this decision if you have the information before the threat arrives and conduct the bug out in good order. Alternatively, you may be forced to make the decision as the attack progresses and have to ‘break contact’ and withdraw under enemy fire; this is one of the most difficult tactical maneuvers. Work on your leadership, decision making and decision points so that your response under the pressure of both time and enemy is optimal. Tied in with this is the need for clear rules of engagement and for the use of force appropriate to the threat.

• "Hearing Aids after SHTF"--Blue Collar Prepping. The author notes that modern in-ear hearing aids use zinc/air cells as a power supply, which are both not rechargeable and necessarily, because of their size, don't last for very long. 

    The largest common zinc/air cell provides 845 milli-Watt-hour (mWh) of power. Compare that to a standard AAA at 1850 mWh or a standard AA at 4200 mWh, both of which can be found in rechargeable forms, and you'll see it's time to start looking for a solution that uses a more common battery.

    A quick search on Amazon found this pocket amplifier. At less than $30, it fits in a pocket, uses AAA batteries, and boosts sound by 110dB (enough to be painful). This would be worth looking into if you need a backup for your in-the-ear hearing aids. There are several others like it on Amazon; just search for “pocket hearing aid.” If your hearing is poor in both ears, look for one that has stereo microphones and ear plugs to help with your ability to locate the source of a noise.

 He also suggests electronic ear muffs, although noting it would be less comfortable. 

• "How to Read a Compass"--Field & Stream.  A good overview of the basics of using an orienteering compass (the ones that are transparent to use over a map). 
• "Emergency Preparedness: The Minimum Amount of Food You Need"--Apartment Prepper.  The article discusses why to have some food storage, how much, essential food items, and storage tips. As to the "how much" the author writes:

 The minimum amount of food you should have in your emergency supply is based on the number of people in your household and the duration you want to be prepared for. Here’s a general guideline:

•     One Week Supply: When you are just getting started, at a minimum, aim to have enough food to sustain your family for a week. This is typically the initial period during which emergency services may not be readily available.

•     Two-Week Supply or more: Once you have a week covered, consider expanding your supply to cover a few more weeks. This ensures you can endure longer disruptions and recovery periods.

Weekend Reading #49

 Some longer and more involved reading for weekend:

•  First up is Greg Ellifritz's Weekend Knowledge Dump for this weekend. The first article he links to is "Carrying Isn’t Enough: What Our Data Reveals About the Gap Between Carry and Capability" from A Girl And A Gun. Although the survey data the article discusses is that of women who train and carry a firearm, I suspect that it also applies to men. And the main point of the article is that although women were doing well at getting training and regular practice, "[w]hen respondents were asked how often they draw from a holster, the consistency we saw in other areas of training began to break down." 

    Approximately 45–55% of attendees reported that they rarely draw from a holster. At the same time, 20–30% indicated that their home range does not permit holster work, limiting their ability to practice this skill in a live-fire environment. Another 15–25% shared that their draw practice occurs primarily through dry fire, without consistent live-fire validation.

    When these responses are viewed together, the conclusion is clear. Roughly 40–60% of Conference attendees, women who are otherwise consistent in their training, are carrying regularly but not consistently practicing their drawstroke. 

 I'm less concerned about "live-fire validation" of dry-fire practice of the draw stroke than the fact that half (half!!!) "reported that they rarely draw from a holster." And this is from a group that is motivated enough to train that they are attending a national conference for women shooters! Drawing and presentation is mostly a dry fire activity. If you are only practicing drawing at the range, you are fooling yourself about how long it will take you to develop proficiency. Moreover, I would guess that a significant portion of shooters don't practice drawing at the range from their concealed carry setup in clothing that matches what they typically wear during the week. Again, that is why you do your dry fire practice. 

    With that aside, here are some other articles and links in Greg's post that caught my eye:

• On the topic of dry fire practice, Greg links to a piece from Claude Werner on how he conducts dry fire practice when traveling. He has recommendations at to snap caps as well as a safety protocol that would probably be good to implement even if practicing at home.
• There is a new Range Master newsletter. The drill(s) of the month on this month are based on the 1986 Miami Shoot Out. There is also a snub-nosed assessment drill (SAD) for those using short-barrelled revolvers (or, I would add, any pocket sized pistol). Also some discussion of a better cardboard target. There are other tidbits and short articles, so check it out.
• An article on "What Is A Snub?"
• An article on "Targets and Better Hits" that goes over ways to improve your targets and improve the quality of your hits. 
• Some tips on what to do if you start having problems racking the slide on your semi-auto pistol. 
• "Gun Owner 101: Holster Selection"--a good article on selecting a belt and holster--or, more realistically, belts and holsters.  
• And an article, "Tangling With The Trigger" that argues that trigger control is more important than sight control. Which of course it is because it doesn't matter how good is your sight picture if you jerk the weapon off target when operating the trigger. 

There is a lot more, so be sure to check it out. 

Gospel Lessons: Why The Iran War Is Not Armageddon

I had noted recently that I did not believe that the current Iran conflict was the War of Armageddon because there were still too many other prophecies that had to occur before Armageddon that had not yet happened. In the video below from the Gospel Lessons YouTube channel, the author makes the same argument, but going into more detail. Rather, we are still in the wars and rumors of war phase. That does not mean that Armageddon might not come upon us quickly--remember how quickly the Soviet Empire fell apart--but that it is just not now. 

 VIDEO: "Wars and Rumors of Wars - Is the Israel Iran war the beginning of Armageddon?"
Gospel Lessons (10 min.)

The New American Based International Order

 Instapundit linked to X post from 10Δ of which it is worth taking note. He begins:

    3 weeks ago I argued the US goal in Iran is to seize the global oil spigot. Venezuela in January -> Iran in February. 

    Neutralize every supply channel outside the dollar system within 90 days. Achieve a compliant successor government and complete energy dominance.
    
    The oil thesis was the obvious layer. However, when you zoom out & view the last four years as a single sequence rather than isolated geopolitical events, the architecture of the grander US plan becomes visible.

He goes on to point out that the Ukraine War, destruction of the Nordstream pipeline, Syria, and Venezuela, all acted to cut off streams of oil and gas that lay outside the control of the United States. And now...

    If Iran falls & a successor government is installed that the US controls or influences (the Delcy model described weeks ago) then roughly 40 to 45 million barrels per day of global production out of 103 million is effectively under US control. OPEC becomes irrelevant because the US coalition is now the marginal producer. Now add the gas dimension & it goes beyond oil. 

    This war is solidifying the petrodollar system as it evolves into a hybrid petro/LNG-dollar. The old system was built on Saudi crude priced in USD. The new system is built on American crude plus American gas from the Gulf Coast, with no alternative supplier of comparable scale. The dependency is deeper because LNG infrastructure requires long term contracts & regasification terminals that lock buyers into supply relationships for decades. Europe & the Pacific allies (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, etc.) cannot pivot away as there is nowhere left to pivot to. They're now locked into the US energy system.

And its now just Europe and the Pacific. China and Russia are likewise boxed in. He concludes:

    Israel & the [Gulf Cooperation Council countries] are absorbing the kinetic cost of a conflict whose primary beneficiary, counter to the mainstream narrative, is actually America (First). Qatar offline for 5 years reprices the entire global gas market in favor of US exporters for the remainder of the decade. The Gulf states face years of rebuilding. Europe faces its 2nd energy crisis in four years. 

    Sure, the average American might face temporary moderate inflation & higher gas prices. But if you are the architect of the US empire & you view the rise of China & Chinese ASI as an existential winner takes all scenario, the collateral damage is acceptable cost.

    Whoever controls the energy corridors controls the monetary system. Whoever controls the monetary system & the energy supply simultaneously controls the compute infrastructure that determines which civilization builds ASI first.

    The US is seizing all 3.    

A New Front Opened In the Iran War--In The U.S.

• "Brother, sister indicted in alleged IED plot at Florida Air Force base tied to Iran war; 1 suspect in China"--Fox News. A pair of Chinese siblings have been indicted for planting an IED at the Florida CENTCOM base. 

    The FBI said Alen Zheng, who is believed to have planted the device, is currently in China. He is facing charges of attempted damage to government property by fire or explosion, unlawful making of a destructive device and possession of an unregistered destructive device, which carry a potential sentence of up to 40 years in prison.

    FBI Tampa also arrested his sister, Ann Mary Zheng, who is charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence, facing up to 30 years in prison.

 [snip]

 The pair's mother, who admitted to authorities that her son confessed to the plot, is currently in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody pending deportation for a visa overstay, but has not been criminally charged as of Thursday afternoon.

•  "No Biggie, Just Drone Swarms Shutting Down Our Nuclear Strike Command"--PJ Media.  

    “In the early hours of Operation Epic Fury last month, a deployed [flyaway kit of counter-UAS technologies] successfully detected and defeated sUAS [drones] operating over a strategic U.S. installation,” NORTHCOM chief Gen. Gregory M. Guillot reported to Congress last week.

    But 10 days later on March 9, Barksdale [Air Force Base] implemented a “shelter-in-place” order after another drone incursion, 2nd Bomb Wing spokesman Capt. Hunter Rininger confirmed last week that “multiple unauthorized incursions” have happened since.

    “Between March 9-15, 2026, BAFB Security Forces observed multiple waves of 12-15 drones operating over sensitive areas of the installation, including the flight line, with aircraft displaying non-commercial signal characteristics, long-range control links and resistance to jamming,” a confidential briefing obtained by ABC News said. “After reaching multiple points across the installation, the drones dispersed across sensitive locations on the base.”

    The same briefing claimed that the drones were far more sophisticated than anything consumers can buy off the shelf. 

[snip] 

    According to ABC News, later incursions "lasted around four hours each day and the drones used varied routes of ingress and deliberate maneuvering within restricted airspace," and Barksdale had to suspend [B-52] operations against Iran. It's safe to assume that Barksdale's defenses in some way failed.

Jeff Cooper's Defensive Pistolcraft Videos

I don't know if you have seen this, but a YouTube channel calling itself the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation has published a couple videos that are from a 1987 video tape series called "Defensive Pistolcraft" which was split into 4 volumes.  Each of the YouTube videos is about an hour and 48 minutes long. I haven't had time to watch them yet (they were only posted a couple days ago) but it looks like the first video has Volumes 1 & 2 and the second video has Volumes 3 & 4.  

 VIDEO: "Jeff Cooper's Defensive Pistolcraft Tape Series - Disk 1"
Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation (1 hr. 47 min.) 

 

 VIDEO: "Jeff Cooper's Defensive Pistolcraft Tape Series - Disk 2"
Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation (1 hr. 49 min.)

The Truck Gun

I recently was looking for articles discussing rifles for preppers and my search turned up several articles on "truck guns." Perhaps it shows my age, but in my lexicon a truck gun was a rifle that was carried--generally by ranchers or farmers--to deal with predators or other nuisance animals, or put down an injured animal. Because of its nature--riding in the gun rack in the back window of a truck for extended periods of time--and risk of it being stolen, it generally would not have been a particularly expensive weapon. Of course during hunting season, when I was kid at least, you would see shotguns or rifles show up in truck gun racks as well, but that was for purpose of transportation and not because the firearm resided in the truck. 

    In our culturally enriched, more urban world, the truck gun concept has reemerged, but in the role of self-defense. Although I came across one author that went with a traditional bolt action rifle, the weapon of choice seems to be a personal defense weapon (PDW)--typically a short-barrel rifle, rifle caliber pistol with a brace, or pistol caliber carbine--no different from those recommended for carrying in a day pack or gym bag. The goal isn't to have a long distance weapon but something offering more firepower--both in terms of the power of the individual round as well as higher magazine capacity--than a concealed carry pistol. 

    I can certainly see the allure. Years ago, there was a news story of some poor soul who had the misfortune to bump his SUV or Minivan--I can't remember which--into the motorcycle of a member of a large troop of motorcyclists that had jammed around the man's vehicle. They pursued him and eventually forced him to stop, got him out of the vehicle and beat him badly. One of the attackers was an off-duty cop. I thought of the limited capacity and power of my concealed carry pistol and considered how wonderful it would be to have something more powerful and with greater magazine capacity like an AR pistol to have in the vehicle. The issue is trying to both carry such a weapon in a low-key manner and be able to easily access it from the driver's seat. 

    The other issue is that old maxim: your car is not a holster. The spread of "shall-issue" and "Constitutional carry" laws have largely killed off the back window gun rack. But you still need to secure the weapon to keep it from being stolen. Yes, you can put locking storage into some vehicles that might be sufficiently secure; but if you don't have that option, you don't want to leave a weapon in your car. In that case, the "truck gun" turns into a "backpack gun" so you can move it into and out of the vehicle. 

    Anyway, just some of my thoughts on the idea of a truck gun. Here are a few articles where a couple authors describe what they did and some of their reasoning:

• "Vehicle Based Weapons – The Thinking Behind Truck Guns"--The Firearm Blog. After discussing the concept and describing his setup, the author concludes:

Truck guns are not a one-stop solution for every situation, but rather another tool at your disposal. If you have a vehicle-based engagement it’s going to still be faster to draw your pistol for those engagements. A truck gun can be a huge benefit and force multiplier in certain situations. These could be in an active shooter event or a situation where there are multiple threats coming after you. Like everything else in life, truck guns aren’t a solution for every situation, but rather is another tool you have at your disposal. ... 

• "Truck Guns, Part 1: From Stagecoaches to Tacomas"--The Firearm Blog. This article covers the general concept, the trade-offs you face with a shorter barrel, and what you want in a truck gun both as to the weapon and accessories.
• "Truck Guns, Part 2: The Stoner Legacy"--The Firearm Blog. This delves into AR-style platforms for use as a modern "truck gun". 
• "Truck Guns Part 3: Defense Fueled by Vodka"--The Firearm Blog.  This one delves into the AK platform and options for the modern "truck gun".

Wilder: Double Debt Bombs

In his piece, "The Double Debt Mountain of 2026," John Wilder discusses the problem of growing consumer debt coupled with growing government debt. An excerpt:

    Total credit card debt hit a record $1.28 trillion in 2025, up $44 billion in just three months.  That’s not a blip:  that’s paying for groceries on credit cards and only paying the minimum monthly payment.  Delinquencies on household debt overall jumped to 4.8 percent, led by the kids.  For people under 39, the transition into serious delinquency on credit cards is nearly double the national average.

    Surveys show 56 percent of Gen Z are forced to use cards just to make ends meet because prices keep climbing.  Sixty-six percent of Millennials say they rely on plastic to get through the month.  Thirty-five percent of Millennials are carrying more than $10,000 in card debt.

    Credit card debt, the gateway drug of insolvency.  Sure, payday lenders and “buy here, pay here” car places are the crack cocaine and meth of debt, but it all starts somewhere.

    Gen Z is running around $3,500 in average balances, while Millennials are pushing $7,000.  They’re not buying yachts or avocado toast, they’re financing groceries, gas, and rent.   

This is why, for most of history, usury was illegal. 

Evolution In Action -- Car Roof Twerking Fool Has Died

From the New York Post: "Half-naked twerking Texas spring breaker hurled from Jeep in viral video has died." 22-year old Michael Brown had been filmed twerking on the roof of a Jeep last week when the Jeep was involved in a collision. Brown may have thought it was funny to flaunt the law, but the laws of physics will not be mocked. "Brown was thrown from the vehicle when the alleged drunk driver of the SUV, Riley Rhoades, smashed into a Tesla during the chaotic joyride," and suffered a catastrophic brain injury. It has now been revealed he died last Friday from his injuries. 

First There Was Cocaine Bear, Now...

 ... there is cocaine shark! From the New York Times: "Cocaine-fueled sharks are on the prowl in the Caribbean — scientists blame partying tourists." 

    To see whether these marine marauders were under the influence, the team had reportedly analyzed blood samples from 85 specimens around Eleuthera, one of the Bahamas’ most remote islands. The subjects were drug-tested for both legal and illegal substances.

    Of the samples, a shocking 28 sharks spanning three species tested positive for drugs, the most common of which was caffeine. This was followed by acetaminophen and diclofenac, the active ingredients in the popular painkillers Tylenol and Voltaren.

    Meanwhile, two of the animals tested positive for cocaine, which researchers attributed to them chomping on drug packets that fell into the water.

    “They bite things to investigate and end up exposed,” study author Natascha Wosnick of the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, told Science News.

    This reportedly marked the first time cocaine had been detected in sharks in the Bahamas — trace amounts had previously been found in sharks in Brazil — and the first instance of the critters testing positive for caffeine anywhere on Earth.    

I see movie potential here.