Gun & Prepping News #52

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

• Greg Ellifritz has posted a new Weekend Knowledge Dump. I haven't had time to go through the articles, but a few of the titles caught my eye including articles on weapon lights on a home defense pistol, an article apparently arguing that "good enough" for self defense training does not require you to be an expert, and an article critiquing the "run" part of the advice to "run, hide, fight" in response to an active shooter. 
• "Accessorizing the Small Frame Revolver"--Shooting Illustrated. Some advice on belts, holsters, and carrying reloads; as well as a practice drill to test out your carry set up and suggestions as to using dummy rounds. 
• "How to Pattern the Defensive Shotgun"--That Shotgun Blog (h/t Tactical Hermit). Why pattern? The author states: "Patterning a shotgun with your chosen buckshot load is akin to zeroing a rifle. The gun isn’t really ready for service until it has been patterned, and every gun has to be individually patterned, just like every rifle has to have its own zero." And there is this tip:

The shortcut for choosing a load. Pattern check at 15 yards. Usually this will give you enough information to know whether or not it is worth shooting another 20 rounds to see how the rest plays out. If the pattern at 15 yards isn’t worthwhile, then it probably isn’t worth pursuing.

• "Myths in Armed Self Defense"--Tactical Wire.  Rich Grassi offers up his thoughts on some "myths" concerning self-defense, including one that I have visited recently: using handloads for self-defense. His take:

    Defense ammo must have (1) ignition reliability, (2) functional reliability and (3) it must hit to the sights. After that, adequate penetration is good, decelerating in the target medium is likewise nice – but if it doesn't go “bang,” ties up in the gun, or hits “somewhere out there,” all that expensive bullet development and testing is a colossal waste of effort.

    In my considerable experience – I was a handloader many years ago – I prefer premium defense ammo from ammo factories. I’ve seen too many failures with personally loaded, professionally remanufactured and bulk-pack low-cost range ammo from big factories to use anything but the premium stuff.

    But, it’s up to you. What’s your life worth? 

• More: "EDC Tip: No Reloads for Self-Defense"--Shooting News Weekly. What caught my attention in this article had nothing to do with the debate on whether to use reloads but rather the author's comments concerning the sale of his first article to Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement magazine in 1993. He writes:

When it came to those who wrote for his law enforcement and self-defense periodicals, [Editor] Harry [Kane] had a strict rule, he didn’t print articles from anyone who had never carried a gun for living. At that time I was a combat veteran and was working full-time as a professional bodyguard.  

Although that was several years before I got my first CCL, I remember my frustration once I had a CCL in trying to find good advice for the civilian on concealed carry. All the articles on concealed carry seemed to have been written by ex-law enforcement who apparently never had to worry about their gun printing or a co-worker noticing it on the belt. This explains why there wasn't better advice for the civilian. 

• "FMG Books"--Revolver Guy.  FMG, the publisher of American Handgunner and Guns Magazine, has decided to end the print editions of its magazines, which got the author reminiscing about past columns and writers whose work he enjoyed and to the point of the article which was to note that FMG is publishing books--both physical and e-books--collecting some of the best articles of these past writers.
• "S&W 629 Mountain Gun Returns Better Than Ever"--Guns America.  From the lede: "Lipsey’s-exclusive S&W 629 Mountain Gun brings the classic 4 inch .44 Magnum back with smart upgrades like a gold bead Patridge front sight, Bear Hug stocks, and no internal lock." 
• "Unlikely Journey: The StG 44 in French Indochina and the Vietnam War"--The Firearm Blog. Frederick Forsyth's 1974 novel, The Dogs of War, is about a mercenary hired by a large mining concern to overthrow the government of a small, but mineral rich, African country so that the company can obtain a mining concession. Surprisingly, though, the actual battle where the mercenaries seize control of the country is only a small portion of the book. The majority of the book is about the logistics: getting supplies, arms and munitions; obtaining the necessary paperwork to transport the arms; and so on. One of the interesting things to me about the book was the prevalence, even as late as the 1970s when the book was to take place, of weapons left over from World War II. But that is basically what this article is about, although focusing on just one weapon--the StG 44. The world was awash in small arms after World War II, particularly arms captured by the allied nations, and they found their way into other conflicts in corners of the world far from Europe. 
• From my local news: "Woman charged after pointing gun at two people outside of Boise Costco, BPD says"--KIVI TV.  Nothing too exciting here: a 65-year old woman got into a "road rage" incident with another driver and pulled a firearm on him/her. Although the details are lacking, it apparently was a fight over a parking space. I can certainly sympathize since the parking situation is terrible at that particular Costco. Nevertheless, it is a good reminder that defensive firearms are to protect yourself (or loved ones) from an imminent threat of death or grave bodily harm, not as a dominance display in a parking lot. The woman was arrested and faces two felony charges for aggravated assault. 
• "Jacks & Saps and Timing" (Part 1) (Part 2) -- Tactical Professor.  These 2018 articles go over a class the author had taken on using blackjacks and saps, including, in the second article, information on timing--"knowing when and where [i.e., what distance] the tool can best be employed."  An excerpt from Part 2:

    ... The Distance to opponent is an important factor in our Decisions about when and whether to deploy any given weapon, whether it be a firearm, an impact tool, or personal weapon (hands and feet). John Boyd examined this relationship in great detail in the Aerial Attack Study. Updated version of Boyd’s Aerial Attack Study At a given range, the pilot of a fighter aircraft would execute previously determined decisions about where to position himself and which weapon was appropriate to use at that distance.

    Timing Errors are faulty decision choices based on the distance to the aggressor and positioning. One of the major issues mentioned in the class and then seen in the final evolution was going for In Fight Weapon Access (IFWA) too soon. When using an impact tool, the defender needs to be in a Dominant Position before attempting to draw the Jack or Sap. Going for it too soon allows either the aggressor to foul the draw or prevents the defender from effectively employing the tool. 

• "Pepper spray sees sales boom in North America, across globe"--News Nation. From the article:

    According to Polaris Market Research, pepper spray sales — which are already valued at over $42 billion — saw a massive shift resulting from “technological advancements in pepper spray and the presence of global players in the region.”

    “The U.S. market for pepper spray has gained substantial traction, a trend expected to persist throughout the forecast period, the analysis said. “Increasing investments in research and development activities for less-lethal self-defense weapons in the U.S. are anticipated to drive market expansion.”

    Not only in the United States, but also in Canada, Mexico, and Asia, the prevalence of crimes such as eve-teasing, rape, kidnapping, murder, and human trafficking has boosted the demand for pepper spray. 

I had to look up "eve teasing". According to Google's AI, it is "staring, stalking, passing comments, and inappropriate physical touch." 

• "Passing Special Forces Selection Requires Proper Foot Care and Boots"--SOFREP.  If you are like me, you are in no position--or shape--to be trying out for Special Forces. But the advice in this article on how to prepare your feet and boots, what socks to use, and other info to prevent foot injuries and blisters, is invaluable to anyone that might be hiking, hunting, or bugging-out.
• "How to Attach a Knife Sheath to MOLLE: A Comprehensive Guide"--Crate Club.  Discusses MOLLE-clips and using paracord. 
• "Glock FM81 Field Knife"--Survival Blog. This is a review of the FM81, which is the version with the saw blade on the spine of the knife for cutting roots when digging a foxhole or trench. A lot of people praise the Glock knives for their sturdiness and low price versus comparable knives from other companies. But this author wasn't so impressed:

But throughout my testing of the FM81, the longer blade was an inconvenience. It felt awkward and unnatural. I have decided that I would only be interested in carrying a longer-bladed knife under the most exceptional circumstances. If I found myself in exceptional circumstances, I would not mind carrying the FM81. But if I was carrying the FM81 into danger, I would want to carry it in a different sheath. It is my opinion that polymer is more suitable for handgun frames than knife sheaths.   

I have one of these knives, but I would have been happier if it did not have the saw back spine. Unfortunately, the version without the spine (the FM 78) no longer appears to be manufactured. And it can be hard to release the knife from the sheath--it is very secure, though.  

• "Use-by, Best-by, Sell-by dates, and What They Mean"--Modern Survival Blog.  The author notes: "The date stamp typically seen on foods (e.g. canned food) was never about public health. Rather, freshness. Or peak freshness. Consumers mistakenly believe it’s primarily a safety thing. However, it’s actually not…" He goes on to explain the meaning of the terms and using a FIFO (first-in, first-out) food storage and use plan. 
• "Winter Survival Kit Add-ons"--Modern Survival Blog.  The author provides the following suggestions:

•     Blanket (fleece or wool)
•     Emergency Blanket (Mylar foil type)
•     Lip Balm (regular Vaseline works too)
•     Hand and Foot Warmers (for when it’s wicked cold)
•     Gloves (well insulated)
•     Mittens can be warmer (though without dexterity)
•     Beanie Hat (warmer type, enough to pull over your ears)
•     Neck Scarf (multiple uses too)
•     Neck Gaiter (these really help!)
•     Face Mask (Balaclava)
•     Extra Socks (if existing pair gets wet)
•     Winter Goggles (big difference in cold/snow)
•     Road Flare (fast Firestarter)
•     Snow Shovel (vehicle)
•     Ice Scraper & Brush (vehicle)
•     Windshield Washer Fluid (‘cold’ variety)
•     Jumper Cables (vehicle)
•     Tire Chains (if applicable)

He also has some winter tips, so check out the whole thing.

• And since we are on the subject of winter preps: "The importance of tire chains"--KIVI TV. You'll want to watch the embedded video as it has someone with the Idaho Transportation Department demonstrating how to put on the chains. 
• "How to Regrow Vegetables at Home Using Kitchen Scraps"--The Late Prepper.  The author points out that "[m]any common vegetables like green onions, bok choy and celery regrow from scraps using just water and sunlight". The article goes into more detail on the advantages of growing from scraps, different food items that can be grown from scraps, a bit of the science behind it, and tips on how to do it. There is also an embedded video by the Dr. Mercola YouTube channel on the subject. 
• "Hedge Fund Billionaire Warns US Entering ‘Civil War’"--Newsweek. From the lede:

    Hedge fund manager and billionaire Ray Dalio has warned that the U.S. may be entering a new kind of “civil war” amid rising inequality and debt, as well as a breakdown in the global geopolitical order.

    In an interview with Bloomberg TV which aired this week, the founder of Bridgewater Associates said that the forces which “shape the world” were all now being disrupted, and that America served as a prime example of this.

    “We’re in wars. There is a financial, money war. There’s a technology war, there’s geopolitical wars, and there are more military wars,” he said. “And so we have a civil war of some sort which is developing in the U.S. and elsewhere, where there are irreconcilable differences.”