Gun & Prepping News #6

Some articles related to firearms, self-defense, and prepping that I found interesting for one reason or another:

• "GUN BLUNDER Horror moment judge accidentally SHOOTS contestant in the bum at point-blank range after ‘not putting safety on’"--The U.S. Sun. After giving a presentation on firearm safety at the Bydgoszcz Shooting Club LOK in Godawa, Poland, the Range Officer took a loaded shotgun to a table to perform a safety check. As the RO put the shotgun on the table, he discharged the weapon into the buttocks of a man standing only a few feet away (yes, he had carelessly been holding the weapon so it was pointed at a couple of other men standing by the table). There is a video of the incident at the link.
• "Is the .380 Good for Self-Defense? Everything You Need to Know"--The Truth About Guns. A bit of a puff piece, but he does go over five advantages (or reasons to consider using .380) and offers some tips on selecting ammo. One thing he mentions is the importance of testing your ammo for reliability in your particular gun. I would note that many older .380 pistols were designed around FMJ ammunition and will not reliably feed hollow point designs (I've had similar issues with a WWII era 1911, so it is not something limited to just .380 pistols). 
• Speaking of the 1911 pistol: "Ammo Awareness: .45 ACP"--NRA Family. An overview of this cartridge including its history and some reasons why you might consider the cartridge for self-defense.
• "The Fundamentals of Undersize Bullet Accuracy"--Shooting Times. The author shoots 9mm bullets (.355 diameter) out of a .38 Special revolver (intended for .357 bullets) to see if there is a change in accuracy. Short take: he found no overall change in accuracy.
  
• "How To Build A Custom 10/22 Rifle At Home"--American Rifleman. This is an older article (2019) but it goes through the process and the parts the author used. Note that the author is completely building the kit from parts, not modifying an existing 10/22. The receiver is one from Brownells featuring a Picatinny rail. 
• More: "DIY Custom Ruger 10/22"--Guns Magazine. A similar article, but from 2023, and lacking the detail of the one above. Nice photos, though, and some history of the 10/22.
  
• More: "My Daughter’s First Custom 10/22 Rifle Build"--NRA Women. This article is also from 2023 and provides a level of detail comparable to the 2019 article above.
• "The Viability Of The Vertical Foregrip"--American Rifleman. The author tries to answer the question of why use a vertical foregrip, mostly focusing on the AR platform, and concludes: 

The answer comes down to updated shooting styles and comfort for carry. If you use the VFG like a handstop rather than an actual grip, it works great. Reaching forward and pressing the rear of your palm against the VFG offers a consistent and secure hand position every time. The VFG also helps ease wrist strain when carrying a rifle for hours on end. These days, a VFG is inexpensive and worth trying out for your needs. Start by placing it just behind your normal support-hand position on the handguard and try it out. Adjust it forward or backward from there as necessary.

• "AR-Platform Rifles Becoming More Common Afield"--American Hunter. An excerpt:

Forty-one percent of surveyed hunters used an AR-platform rifle at some time for hunting, according to the findings of research conducted by Responsive Management for the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) [in 2023]. When asked a similar question during a 2014 study, the rate was only 25 percent. Fifty-one percent of the hunters who do not currently use an AR said they would if it were legal in their state.

• "Pro Tip: Buy Radios And Learn to Use Them Before You Buy Another Gun"--Shooting News Weekly. The article focuses on handheld radios. It goes over the pros and cons to these radios (versus, say, using a cell phone), the different frequencies, and then delves a bit deeper into the Baofeng UV-5R. The author also recommends that book, The Baofeng Radio Revolution which appears from the cover blurb to be oriented toward the prepping/survivalist community.
  
• "I walked 10,000 steps with a weighted backpack every day for a week – here are five reasons I’m not stopping"--The Independent. As the author notes, "[s]imply add weight to your walks to amplify the intensity and challenge your heart, lungs, legs, core and more. This can boost your fitness and build strength throughout your body – not a bad return from a pop to the shops, or any similar short jaunt." This seems to be a good primer on rucking, including how to get started, weights and accessories. Of course, with cooler weather, you could put on your body armor under a jacket (so as to not raise eyebrows) and get both the benefit of the exercise and chance to work with your gear.
• "The Medical Books in My Prepper Library"--Organic Prepper. I believe Greg Ellifritz mentioned this article a couple of weeks ago and had a couple additions to the list. I have a few of these books. I would note, however, that there are better anatomy guides out there than Gray's Anatomy. Really, only students seem to use that book anymore. I have a Gray's Anatomy, but a couple months ago I was poking through the anatomy books at a used bookstore and found a couple that had better and more illustrations. 
• "Insect Deterrence & Removal"--Blue Collar Prepping. A few different options--natural and man-made--for deterring insects both inside the home and in the garden. One of the more interesting to me was using Diatomaceous earth (he recommends food grade) inside the home. According to the article, it contains silica powder that will cut through the exoskeleton of insects as they move across it, but is safe for humans.
  
• "Nine Vegetables That Are Healthier for You When Cooked"--GetPocket.com. Not just if they are cooked, but sometimes depending on how they are cooked. But if you want the short answer, the vegetables are: asparagus, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, brassica, green beans, and kale. It might be useful if you are trying to maximize the nutritional value of your food. The article concludes with this advice:
  

For all vegetables, higher temperatures, longer cooking times and larger quantities of water cause more nutrients to be lost. Water-soluble vitamins (C and many of the B vitamins) are the most unstable nutrients when it comes to cooking because they leach out of vegetables into the cooking water. So avoid soaking them in water, use the least amount of water when cooking and use other cooking methods, such as steaming or roasting. Also, if you have cooking water left over, use it in soups or gravies as it holds all the leached nutrients. 

 

Or cook the vegetables in a stew or similar in the first place.