Meme of the Day: I'm Helping

 

    Today's meme comes from Active Response Training's Weekend Knowledge Dump which has links to lots of great articles on firearms and self-defense related topics. 

    And some more firearms, self-defense and prepping articles you might enjoy:

• "CMP Acquires Surplus Ammo"--Shooting Illustrated. The CMP has sourced some surplus 22 LR, .30-06 and .30 Carbine ammo which will be made available for sale to CMP customers.
• "Tip to Make DCC Clips Easier to Live With from Gypsy EDC"--Jerking the Trigger. 

Gypsy EDC, an excellent knife and sheath maker based out of Idaho, recently posted a tip that makes removing DCC clip equipped items like sheaths and holsters from your clothing much easier. This tip makes use of a credit card to shim the clip, allowing it to slide off your clothing almost effortlessly. This may be especially useful for shorter DCC clips or those with limited grip strength.

The article links to a video showing how to do this. 

• "Evaluating The Savage 24C 'Combo Gun' As A 'Survival Rifle'"--Mason Dixon Survivalist Association. Combination guns generally combine two or more calibers of rifles, or a one or more rifle calibers with a shotgun barrel, into a single weapon. They are more popular in Europe than in the U.S., and the ones you come across in the U.S. are typically a two-barrel combination with a rifle barrel over a shotgun barrel. The model featured in the article is a .223 Remington rifle barrel superposed on a 20 Gauge shotgun barrel, which is a useful combination for survival purposes. As the author notes, this model is no longer made but used models are floating around. (I've noticed that these type of rifles--other than .22/.410 combinations for survival--are rarely made and, even then, only in small batches). I think the key take-away from the article is not really the information about the particular weapon, but the author's distinguishing between a "survivalist rifle" and a "survival rifle". He explains:

    As you’ve noticed from the title, I used the term “Survival Gun”, instead of “Survivalist Gun”, to describe the rifle we’re talkin’ about. What’s the difference between a “Survivalist Gun” and a “Survival Gun” in my book? A “Survivalist Gun” can be used for everything from taking game to defending your retreat, to being used in a role as an “Infantry/Guerilla” weapon. As an example, the PTR91 can be used for small (with the .22LR kit) or big game, in defense of your Retreat or as a “Guerilla Gun”.

    A “Survival Gun” has one primary purpose. That purpose is feeding the owner in a situation where they have been separated from civilized society, whether it’s a Without Rule of Law scenario, or a plane crash. A secondary purpose of the “Survival Gun” is defending the owner from predators, whether it’s of the two legged or four legged variety. If possible, the “Survival Gun” should be as compact as possible, while still retaining it’s ability to perform the primary function well.

• "The Long Term Budget Shotgun: The H&R Pardner 12 gauge; the Chinese Made Remington 870 with a Humpback Receiver"--Civilian Defender.
• "The Eternal Carbine Cartridge"--Shooting Illustrated. A look at seven .30-30 loadings which were selected as a cross section of what is available for use in that venerable caliber, including some effective on heavier game.
• "SAAMI Specs of the 360 Buckhammer (360 BHMR) Cartridge"--The Firearm Blog. This is a rimmed, straight-wall cartridge designed for lever action rifles so such rifles can be used in jurisdictions which limit hunting to straight-walled cartridges.
• "The Smith & Wesson J-Frame: A Short History"--American Rifleman.
• "DuraMag's New 20-Round SPEED Mags with 30-round Contour"--The Firearm Blog. DuraMag is offering a 20-round AR magazine that follows the curvature of 30-rounders rather than being straight like the typical 20-round magazines. Why a 20-round magazine when 30-rounders (or more) being available? Well, they are easier for shooting prone or off a bench, and they are less likely to catch on something. 
• "Hunters Supply" by Roy Huntington, Guns Magazine. The author gives a shout-out to the Hunters Supply Cast Bullets company. As he relates, "[b]ased in New Mexico, they make just about every cast lead bullet weight and style you can imagine, from .25 caliber on up to the biggest you’d ever need. They also cater to the amazing world of high performance air guns with cast slugs for the big bore air rifles."
• "The Carry Handle Corner: Retro And Clone AR-15 Compendium"--The Firearm Blog. Retro ARs and carry handles were apparently a thing at this year's Shot Show.
• "While the Media & Anti-Gun Orgs Hail Lucky Gunner Settlement as a Big Win, the Lawsuit Achieved Essentially Nothing"--The Truth About Guns. The article begins: "Following the 2018 shooting in a Santa Fe, Texas high school, Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety sued ammunition retailer Lucky Gunner in an attempt to skirt the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms act. After years of lawfare litigation in a failed attempt to bankrupt the ammo seller, the lawsuit was settled this week." The settlement requires Lucky Gunner to “maintain an age verification system at the point of sale for all ammunition sales," which they had always done anyway.
• "Origin Story: Concealed Carry From The Dark Ages" by Will Dabbs, MD, Guns Magazine. Dabbs details his decision to get a concealed carry permit back in the 1990s and his early experiences, firearms he used, and so forth.
• "The Century-Long Evolution of the U.S. Army Helmet"--Notes From The Bunker.
• "Partisan Logistics"--American Partisan. The author argues that military logistical practices will largely be irrelevant to partisans because of the lack of standardization and a supply chain. An excerpt:

To begin with, partisans need to exam the force structure they have on hand and then determine what kinetic activities (missions, tasks, projects, martial or otherwise) are realistically achievable by the available group. Most American partisan groups at this time, and this is an assumption on my part since there isn’t a directory, are probably not much bigger than a section or platoon in military terms. There are no Partisan Battalions, Brigades or Divisions I have seen or heard of. There are no support personnel assigned and no industrial base oriented specifically to those groups either. Given this, there is nothing to be gained by studying company trains or the practices behind them. This is a simple exercise of how many humans show up and what do they come with. Don’t worry about standardization of gear, common calibers, shoe color, anything. Who and how many showed up. This creates a very important data point going forward. The size of the supported element, the beginning of force structure. This will change but gives the partisan leader a start.

• "Tertiary Prepper Skills – Reconnaissance"--The Prepper Journal. The author notes: "For the sake of this article, this tertiary prepper skill is going to be focused on utilizing old-school reconnaissance teachings to get back to the basics and not have to rely on technology, other than a comms system."
• "Just Say No to Flex Culture"--Everyday Marksman. The author explains: "The 'flex' is showing off equipment or activities to make someone look more impressive, especially when compared to 'the poors.'"
• "Five reasons to own a .22 rifle"--Survival Common Sense. 
• "Survival Hiking Kit"--Survival Cache. The author points out: "A hiking survival kit is going to look a lot like other kits but the survival gear for hiking is going to need to be tailored for the region you will be climbing through and concentrated on outdoor survival skills as well as signaling and rescue."
• Useful information: "Portable Battery Power Station Generator Run Times For Appliances"--The Modern Survival Blog.
• "Solar Golf Cart!?"-- Modern Survivalists. A post-TEOTWAWKI motorized vehicle. See also, from the same authors, "DIY - How to Convert an Electric Golf Cart to Solar Power - Part 1".
• "10 Things To Do First When Bugging In"--Urban Survival Site. A good checklist. The author's advice (in a nutshell): (i) get home fast; (ii) gather intel of what's happening; (iii) communicate with those that didn't make it home yet (or other loved ones); (iv) gather last-minute resources; (v) ensure access to water, light and heat; (vi) secure the home, by which the author means not just hardening the home against crime but also stockpiling food and water (if you haven't already done so); (vii) make sure pets are inside and livestock are penned or sheltered; (viii) review your emergency plan and plan for the next 24-48 hours; (ix) make sure your home doesn't stand out; and (x) consider back up "bug-in" plans as well as bug-out plans. I have to say that items (iv) and (vi) are things that really should be done before hand since one of the benefits of prepping is that you will not have to be one of those making the last minute rush to the store if a storm is coming, for instance. I don't know how effective you can be at (ix) either since, in my experience, the prepared will stand out simply for the fact that they have lights in the evening when no one else does--make sure you have blackout curtains or pieces of cardboard that you can use to cover windows so the light doesn't escape, I guess.
  
• "A Prepper's Guide to SHTF Dental Care"--The Organic Prepper. Not just the why but also a bit of the how, including recipe for homemade toothpaste, advice on cleaning your toothbrush, a few mouthwash recipes, and more.
• "Alone…"--SHTF School. Selco maintains that a "lone wolf" survival strategy is a bad idea, but acknowledges that sometimes a person may have no other choice. This article is aimed at the latter people.
• "The Effects of Sleep Deprivation"--The Prepper Journal.
• "Skillset Fight Club: Defending Yourself In A Bathroom Brawl"--Skillset Magazine.
• "Prepper’s Pantry: Oil"--Blue Collar Prepping. Different types and uses of cooking oils.