Gun & Prepping News #94

Some links that may be of interest: 

• "Gun-toting granny chases off shoplifting suspect: ‘I want to shake her hand’"--New York Post. This is more of a cautionary tale. The "granny" apparently saw a shoplifter leave a Ross store in Tucson and decided to confront him with a drawn gun. The shoplifter wasn't impressed and left with his goods. But here is the thing to remember: whether you agree or not, in almost all jurisdictions, you cannot threaten to use or use deadly force to protect property. Thus, as the article mentions:

    Tucson criminal defense attorney Louis Fidel said there are circumstances under which a person can display or use a firearm to prevent certain crimes, but shoplifting isn’t one of them.

    “It really depends on the details, but there is a statute that authorizes people to display or use a firearm to prevent certain crimes,” Fidel told KOLD News 13. “Shoplifting is not one of those crimes.”

    Fidel warned that pointing a firearm during the confrontation could potentially result in an aggravated-assault charge involving a deadly weapon.

The article mentions that no arrests have been made and the Tucson police are still investigating the incident. The police aren't going to care about the shoplifter but they will care about an aggravated assault with a firearm, so undoubtedly the one they are going to try and nab is the elderly woman.

• "CMP to Sell 100K Military M14 Rifles: What We Know"--Rifle Shooter Magazine. So now we know that there will be a not-insignificant number of these rifles, the price will be "under $2,000" and they will be sold as they are checked and converted to semi-auto only. 
• "Is the Beretta 92 Still Relevant?"--Shooting Times. Most of the article is about the history and features of this iconic firearm. But the article eventually answers the question posed in the title about why it is still relevant:

The fixed barrel on the 92 offers inherent accuracy and makes it a smooth cycling, soft shooter. The magazine design is one of the best ever conceived. It takes to a suppressor well. The 92’s reputation was earned serving law enforcement and the military. The pistol is customizable and in a constant state of evolution, adapting to the new shooter needs. The Beretta 92 is and always will be relevant as long as there is a need for a proven, reliable, performance driven pistol.  

Even though they are larger and heavier than what you might want for everyday carry, they make excellent handguns for home defense--the "night stand gun" or something similar.  

• On the subject of home defense pistols: "Home Defense Basics: A Beginner's Guide"--Handguns Magazine. Richard Nance covers firearm selection, ammo, lights, safes (for storage of the firearm) and making a plan. He also provides detailed advice on clearing a house. On the latter point, Nance begins:

If you can’t account for everyone, your job will become far more difficult. Clearing a structure, even one you know as well as you know your own home, is extremely dangerous. But if a loved one is unaccounted for, you won’t have any choice but to make your way to them as quickly and safely as possible. Unfortunately, quickly and safely don’t always go hand in hand.

• "The Mummy's Revolvers: The Story of the French M1873"--Firearms News. A look at the revolver used by the character Rick O'Connell in the 1999 blockbuster The Mummy. The article notes:

Adopted by the French Army in 1873, the Chamelot-Delvigne revolver was France's first standard-issue double-action military revolver. It represented a significant step forward from earlier percussion and pinfire handguns and reflected France's position as one of the world's leading firearms innovators during the 19th century.

• "Tips on Shooting Uphill/Downhill Angles"--Rifle Shooter Magazine. 

    Over the last 40 years I have no idea how many words I’ve written on figuring the correct hold when shooting uphill or downhill. The concept is simple, and I’m sure we all know it: Uphill or down, the effect is the same, and as distance and angle increase, the strike will be higher in relation to your level-ground zero.

[snip]

     There is something else you need to consider as well, and it may be more important. Finding a steady position for uphill/downhill shots is much harder than on level ground.    

The author notes that he normally shoots off a pack, but at steeper angles a bipod helps. He discusses this in more detail.  

• "Carry Confidently: 5 Essential CCW Tips for Women"--Handguns Magazine. Although the article's author obviously intends to focus on women carriers--and there are some tips specific to women--most of the tips and suggestions are useful for men starting out concealed carry or still trying to figure out how it works. The author begins:

    Choosing to carry is not just buying a gun. It is building a system. That is where a lot of women get stuck.

    For years, women were treated like an afterthought: shrink the gun, paint it pink, and call it "for women." That advice is lazy.

    After working with new students, I hear the same question all the time: "I bought a gun... now what?" My answer is usually: now we figure out the setup.

    What works for your body, clothing, and lifestyle? What can you carry consistently? The best setup is not the one that looks good on paper. It is the one you can actually use.

She covers holster selection, how body shape and lifestyle impact your carry setup, making your wardrobe part of your carry system, carry position, and training. 

• "A Precision .22 LR Can Help You Shoot Better. Here’s How You Can Build One on a Budget"--Outdoor Life. 

    Using a 22 as a practice or training rifle provides two big benefits. First, the mild little cartridge that’s propelled by just a pinch of flakey gunpowder has minimal recoil. When we discuss recoil in the context of improving your shooting, we don’t mean it as a measure of how hard it kicks — because it doesn’t. We are talking about sight picture disruption and, while the .22 LR does produce some, it’s very little. The lack of that distraction can help you focus on improving fundamental skills like trigger control, but also gives you valuable practice staying in the scope and spotting impacts — something that will benefit you both in competition and hunting.

    The second big benefit is that the round’s affordability allows lots of real shooting practice, and actual shooting gives you downrange feedback that dry firing can’t. Quality, and I mean quality, .22 LR ammo is pretty expensive, but still cheaper than most centerfire stuff. My rifle shoots affordable ammo, like CCI Standard Velocity, well enough for practice. 

• "Carbine Drill: Fight to Your Feet"--Green Ops. A drill that starts with you laying on your back, then to sitting, then to kneeling, and, finally, to standing. 
• "Guest Post: UHDPE Ballistic Plates"--Blue Collar Prepping. When combined with a layer of ceramic, it can make relatively inexpensive Level IV plates, while being much lighter than steel along. The author adds:

If you can carry the extra weight, I’d also recommend a "training" or "fitness" metal plate (it doesn’t necessarily need to have a ballistic rating) to save your chest the pain of blunt trauma after being shot, and to keep you in the fight since backface deformation (how deformed the side of armor closest to your skin becomes after being struck by a bullet) allows for potentially lethal injuries. ...

• "Be Ready, But Be Careful About Scripting Your EDC Gear Too Tightly"--Shooting Wire. An excerpt:

    For instance, I recently watched a video put out by a large gun rights group where the presenter showed off the contents of his “get home bag.” The purpose of this bag, he said, was to help him get back home no matter what might happen.

    In the bag, he had a half-dozen AR-15 magazines, three smoke grenades and a tactical tomahawk. That’s it. No way of procuring water, nothing to create a shelter, just a bunch extra mags for his truck gun, some smoke grenades for concealment and evasion…and a tomahawk.

    Clearly he had scripted out a scenario in his head where the only dangers he’d face on the way back home would be man-made and not something more mundane like inclement weather. 

• "How Much Rice and Beans Per Person Per Day for Survival"--Modern Survival Blog. The author begins:

Quick Answer: For a basic survival calculation using a 2:1 ratio by dry weight, plan on about 0.8 pound of dry white rice and 0.4 pound of dry beans per person per day. Together, they provide roughly 2,000 calories.

The author provides a table showing the amount per day, for a 30 day period, and for a year for a single person when assuming that this is to provide 100% of your 2,000 calories diet. But there is also an interactive calculator where you can calculate the amounts for more people, for different lengths of time, and the percentage of the diet (e.g., perhaps you anticipate only using the beans and rice for half of your caloric intake). 

• "Vehicle Leak Identification"--Blue Collar Prepping. Some tips on identifying types of leaks and where the leaks are coming from. 
•  "How to Tie a Bowline Knot: The Most Useful Knot to Outdoorsmen"--Outdoor Life. Why learn this knot?

    A bowline can be tied in cord, line, or string of any diameter, though it was designed for use with thicker ropes. It’s a loop knot, and the beauty of it is that it can be tied in seconds. It won’t slip under heavy strain when tied correctly. Even after it’s subjected to high tension, it can easily be undone. The bowline also allows you to create a loop of any size, which makes its applications practically innumerable.

    You may need it to quickly secure your boat to a dock piling or stump when cleats aren’t available. You can use it in a pinch to drag an ATV stuck in the mud out with your truck. You may need it to help pull a buddy out of a ravine after a bad fall. Sound extreme? Of course it does, but the point is that the simple ability to create a loop in a length of rope that you can trust to bear a heavy load is something every outdoorsman should know. With fewer than 10 minutes of practice, you’ll be able to tie a bowline with your eyes closed. 

• "How to Tie a Slip Knot: The Incredibly Simple Knot That Every Outdoorsman Should Know"--Outdoor Life.
• "Learn How to Tie a Square Knot, the Fastest Way to Join Two Lengths of Rope"--Outdoor Life. 

Acknowledging Mistakes As A Learning Opportunity

In "The Near Miss That Changed Everything" at Backpacker magazine, the author writes of a rock climbing trip with a friend where that friend made a mistake that nearly cost her (the friend's) life. Rather than laugh it off or ignore it, the two acknowledged what had happened and even discussed it with a guide that had also seen the whole thing. The author writes:

    When I first started adventuring, I was sure that if I ever told anyone about the mistakes I made—forgetting to bring water on long hikes, starting up alpine summits too late, refusing to turn back in bad weather, almost getting hit by rockfall—my adventure partners would think me incompetent and never want to do anything with me ever again. So, for years, I kept all my mistakes secret.

    Apparently, so did everyone around me. It was a vicious cycle: Because I never heard about other people messing up, I was certain that I was the only one capable of failure. That made me even more embarrassed and secretive. It was isolating, and it fed my insecurities.

    But on this morning, perched high above Boulder, trading stories with these two women, I finally understood that no adventurer is 100 percent competent all of the time. I also realized that in keeping my mistakes to myself, I’d failed to fully absorb their lessons. After all, it’s hard to learn from things you don’t let yourself think about.

    In this ad hoc group debrief, we were able to talk through all the factors that had contributed to my friend’s slip: her lotion-greased hands, the hot weather, our reckless speed, and our failure to pause and recalibrate when we entered a no-fall zone. This was a kind of debrief I’d never had. Instead of justifying her fall as a random freak accident—or reassuring herself that it was skill and not dumb luck that had saved her—my friend listed her mistakes one at a time. Then, she learned from them. In sharing that process with us, she likely saved not just her own life going forward, but ours, too. 

Gun & Prepping News #72

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

• One piece of advice you see over and over from trainers is to make use of a shot timer to accurately record your performance. But cost and size is an issue. TFB reports, however, that Walker's has released an affordable SHOTSYNC timer that you wear on your wrist that has a microphone and accelerometer to detect shots with the data going to an app on your smart phone to record and display data. MSRP is $59.99 and, per the article/press release, it ships for free when ordered directly from Walker's. 
• "PSA AK-47 GF3 Review: The Best Budget AK?"--The Truth About Guns. This is a bare-bone AKM (minus cleaning rod for some reason) with polymer  that runs $600 to $700. But it is reliable according to the tests.
• "Century Arms AP5: Semi-Auto MP5 Homage?"--The Truth About Guns. Made on tooling sold by HK, this is probably as close as you can get to a genuine HK product without having HK stamped on it. MSRP is still $1599.99, though. 
• Some firearm history: "The Story of Gunpowder"--The Armory Life.  An excerpt:

    While crude explosives date to ancient China, the English Friar Roger Bacon is credited with the first description of gunpowder in 1249. Rudimentary firearms soon followed. From the 14th century to the late 19th century, black powder furnished the high-pressure gas that hurled all manner of projectiles, from rocks to jacketed bullets, at animals and adversaries. Its varied blends of fuel and oxidants all contained saltpeter (potassium nitrate), charcoal and sulfur. In 1846, an Italian, Ascanio Subrero, discovered nitroglycerine. A clear, oxygen-rich solution of nitric and sulfuric acids plus glycerin, “nitro” could quickly rearrange itself into stable gases. No need for spark; a bump would set it off. In 1863, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel and his father, Emmanuel Nobel, learned how to put this volatile, explosive compound in cans. Still, it punished inattention. In 1875, after it leveled Nobel’s German factory, Alfred developed the relatively docile Dynamite.

    By then, the Swiss chemist Christian Schoenbein had discovered that cotton treated with sulfuric and nitric acids burned so fast, it turned to ash without igniting its bed of black powder! Efforts to throttle it and carelessness proved costly. John Hall’s guncotton plant in Faversham, England blew up. Stateside, German immigrant Carl Dittmar lost his New Sporting Powder factory to an explosion that erased much of Binghampton, New York. Some accidents tallied more victims than survivors.

    In the 1890s black powder gave way to nitrocellulose-based smokeless. Single-base propellants contained no nitroglycerin. England’s cordite, named for its spaghetti-like strands, was initially a double-base powder, with guncotton, nitroglycerin, petroleum jelly and acetone. Addition of nitroguanidine in the 1930s made it a “triple-base.” 

 The rest of the article is about modern powder developments. 

• "Building a Backwoods Carry Kit"--The Armory Life. Because it is a gun blog, the first half of the article is, of course, about what handgun the author carries--a Springfield XD-M Elite OSP 10mm--and the belt and holsters (he also includes a chest holster) he uses to carry it. But the latter half of the article goes over other gear he carries: a basic med kit for traumatic injuries; a tactical flashlight and a headlamp; a knife and multitool; an Exotac FireROD V2 Ferro Rod, supplemented with waterproof tinder and lighters; a Grayl GeoPress Purifier (he carries both the titanium and the regular model); compass, cell phone, and a portable power bank to recharge the phone; and, finally, a Grayl Mission EXP Daypack into which he can pack everything.
• On a related note, a 2022 article from Cheaper Than Dirt on "Best Guns and Gear for Hiking." The author writes:

    I have been hiking, camping, and hunting practically all of my life. I suppose the term “spelunking” might also apply to some of the caverns I’ve traversed. I have usually had a firearm with me, unless I was overseas, and generally not felt in any danger from assaults. The weather, injury, and cold are more likely to be a danger.

    Just the same, there have been times when I was glad to have a firearm. Beginning the research on this report, I found only a dozen or so murders along the Appalachian Trail during the past 45 years. That isn’t many, but is pretty important if you are the one at risk, and there are many more trails and open areas around the country, including the Adirondacks and the Rockies.

Firearms While Hiking?

    There is cause for concern. As an example, one of the sick monsters I read about during my research shot two men on the trail and is now out of prison after 15 years. If that isn’t motivation for you to carry a firearm, I don’t know what is.

    Folks traveling in pairs have been killed. In a particularly tragic case not far from my home, a young woman was murdered by a dangerous ex-con. The woman was skilled in martial arts. Her dog was later found wandering the trail. While a canine is an excellent warning system or alarm, very few are useful for protection, and if they are formidable against humans they are often too dangerous to have around the family. A hardened human can kick a 60-pound dog to death, and you as well. That leaves us with the firearm. We’ll also look at other means of protection. 

And there is always the possibility of stumbling across other criminal enterprises in the woods or remote areas. And its not just people you have to worry about: there is the possibility of bear attacks, increasing numbers of attacks by mountain lions, and I just saw a video recently made by a man walking his dog along a trail who encountered a pack (!) of coyotes, where about four of the coyotes pushed forward along the trail causing the man to retreat and then they suddenly encountered 3 or more that had circled around behind them. 

More:

• "What Is A Kit Gun And Why Do You Want One?"--Ammo Man School of Guns.
• "The Ultimate Trail Guns: Handguns"--The Writing Gunsmith.  
• "The Best .22s For the Trail"--CCI Stories.  
• ".22 Trail Gun Shootout – Auto vs. Revolver"--The Sportsman. 
• "Sampling .22 Kit Guns And Trackers"--The Gun Mag.  
• "Is This the Ultimate Backpacking Rifle?"--Meat Eater.   

VIDEO: Dealing With The Dark On The American Frontier

A couple stories of how Daniel Boone dealt with a couple dangerous incidents that occurred at night.

VIDEO: "Daniel Boone In The Dark On The Frontier"
The Deerskin Diary (11 min.)

VIDEO: A Simple Tarp Shelter

The producer of this video demonstrates putting up a quick tarp shelter in just a few minutes using the tarp, a trekking pole, and a handful of stakes. With just a bit more time, additional stakes and lines, he is able to make the shelter a little more sturdy and roomier.   

 VIDEO: "Why Tarps are Great : Explained by a Simple Tarp Tent Shelter"
Sort Of Interesting (9 min.)

Another Failed Bear Spray Incident--This Time From Greece

From the Daily Mail: "Chilling video shows final moments of hiker as bear charges at him before he plunges to his death down a ravine in Greece." Basics of the story is that two hikers happened across the bear, which became aggressive and attacked one hiker (the one that died), who used pepper spray on it. It then turned and charged the second hiker, but his dog interrupted that attack and the second hiker was able to use his spray. It then turned back toward the first hiker and charged again. Apparently the first hiker tried to run away and went over the edge of a ravine and fell to his death. 

VIDEO: Making A Bedroll Correctly

 Instructional video on the correct way to roll up a bedroll. 

VIDEO: "Pack Your Backpack Smarter: The Bedroll Method"
The Gray Bearded Green Beret (8 min.)

VIDEO: Urban Camping Set Up

 A video from a guy in the UK showing how he selects a spot for his urban camping and his setting up his camp. Given the vagrancy laws in the United States, I don't think someone could be so open about camping like this here in the States. (Steve Wallis' channel has a lot of videos about stealth camping if that interests you). But I like to see how people set up a camp and what equipment they use. For instance, using an umbrella to act as a windbreak seemed a good way of making equipment pull double duty in a secondary role. 

 VIDEO: "Finding a Safe Place to Sleep: Urban Homeless Camping Routine"
Homeless Kiwi In London (15 min.)

VIDEO: Hobo Heater

A lot of old fire place and stove designs used heating a mass (of rocks, clay, etc.) as part of the design because that mass would re-radiate heat over an extended period of time. It beats having to wake up every hour or so during the night to stoke a fire or add more wood. This uses the same principle by heating up sand in a bucket that, it appears, has enough heat for a small tent or shelter. 

 VIDEO: "1930s Non Electric Hobo Heater – DIY Survival Heat Source!"
WayPoint Survival (13 min.)

Gun & Prepping News #42

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

• "Passings; and the Loss of Faith"--Tactical Wire. The first bit concerns the passing of competitive shooter, Dave Harrington. But the bulk of the article is about how easy it is to lose faith in a firearm that, whether the fault of the firearm or the shooter, fails that shooter. Although the P320 is not specifically mentioned, I have to wonder if that was the motivation to write the article.
• Speaking of the P320: "Industry Carousel"--Shooting Wire. Discussing the arrest of someone in connection with the death of the Airman killed by (with?) his M18, and generally warning about jumping to conclusions without sufficient evidence. He also discusses some other Internet gun rumors that are false, including the rumor that Glock was going to cease civilian sales. 
• "Top Selling Guns | July 2025"--Guns & Ammo.  Interestingly, the P320 was the #2 top selling new semiauto pistol (the #1 spot went to the P365) and #1 in the used semiauto pistol category. But another one that surprised me was that the Ruger Mini-14 was #2 on the new semiauto rifle list (#1 was the Ruger 10/22) and #2 on the used semiauto rifle list (#1 again being the 10/22). 
• Some firearms history: "Guns of the Cold War: The Beretta M9 Pistol"--Shooting Wire. Of course, you can't discuss the M9 without discussing why the U.S. switched from the .45 ACP to the 9mm, which the author begins with. He then discusses the requirements the military had for a 9mm handgun in the 1980s, its adoption and, most interestingly to me, that the adoption of the M9 also lead to changes in how the military trained soldiers to use handguns. Apparently with the 1911, there was little training beyond shooting accurately. 

    That all changed with the M9. The Marine Corps came up with an M9 pistol training course. Instead of paper bullseye targets, we engaged OD green human-sized silhouettes. We loaded our guns, holstered them in the new Bianchi OD green nylon holsters and all of our shooter drills began with drawing our pistols.

    We actually had movement drills where we walked forward while shooting. To modern shooters with training experience that might seem mundane, but it was a BFD back then. We also practiced sweeping the safety off and then de-cocking when we returned to the holster. No armorers were standing over our shoulders watching us.

    Also, just as important, we started carrying our M9 pistols with a round chambered from the 15-round magazine and the safety lever engaged. Our duty load-out for the M9 was now two 15-round magazines as opposed to three five-round mags with the 1911. We still performed the 50-round Qualification Course at least annually with the M9, but we were far more skilled and competent with the M9s than we ever were with the M1911A1s, particularly in regards to tactics. 

• "Home Defense: Why You Should Use an AR-15"--SOFREP.  The primary reasons are that, with the right ammo, it won't over penetrate; the higher magazine capacity makes it better for dealing with a group of home invaders; and it is easy to shoot. Not mentioned is that the blast will probably really mess with your hearing unless you have ear protection or a sound suppressor.
• "Practical Testing of the Cooper Scout Rifle Concept"--The Shooter's Log.  The author discusses the general requirements for a scout rifle, but also notes the importance of the shooter's abilities in operating such a rifle:

Some writers inaccurately note a precision accuracy requirement for a scout rifle. This was not true, as Cooper’s definition was a rifle and shooter capable of field accurate 4-inch groups at 200 yards. This is not particularly accurate for today’s modern factory rifles from the bench. However, delivering that accuracy in the field under less than optimal situations is a bit harder. From the specs, any of these rifles should be capable of this accuracy, but let’s see if I am.   

He then tests his ability using the Ruger Gunsite rifle in .308, a Ruger American Compact in .308, and a Ruger Mini-30, as well as describing his targets and course of fire. Significantly:

The Mini-30’s performance shocked and stunned me. The Mini-30 was the clear stopwatch winner. This was true, even though I had to send a couple extra rounds downrange on the 200-yard target for two runs and one extra shot on the 100-yard can on what would have otherwise been a perfect run. With all the extra bullets downrange, two of the runs were under 30 seconds, and one was under 40. It required the highest round count but delivered the best times.

• "Skills Check: Rifle Check In"--Shooting Illustrated.  A drill to test/practice recoil control. As the article notes:

For us, “Drill Practice” is isolating an individual part of a skill and focusing intently on improving or mastering said skill. The  overall goal with good drill practice is to maximize one’s improvement while minimizing overall effort. Success equals consistency over time. 

• "Shotguns vs. Drones: A Clay Shooter’s Guide to Defeating Enemy Swarms"--Soldier of Fortune.  The best shotgun was the new Benelli Defense M4 AI Drone Guardian shotgun, which was designed for shooting down drones; the best ammo was that loaded with military-grade tungsten; and to be really effective, you needed an RF detector and night vision (preferably thermal). It also discusses the best way to train using clays. There is a lot more, so read the whole thing.
• "The Ins And Outs Of Pepper Spray"--Shooting Illustrated.  "Because," the article notes, "there are some self-defense problems which require something other than 'BANG!'" An excerpt:

    Self-defense pepper sprays are popular and increasingly employed by people for backup or as an alternative in certain locations. Their performance varies, though, so we nagged a pair of experts and convinced them to spill their secrets. Depending on the version, that chemical irritant can jettison downrange as a gel, stream or fog. FN America even makes a pepper-ball system that allows law enforcement to deny access or disperse crowds. Deciding which one is the right system is not easy. In fact, experts don’t agree.

    “Typical stream or gel-type sprays often quote extended ranges, but they need to be aimed to hit a target—face/mucous membranes,” said Michael Hess, vice president of Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP), a company that entered the pepper-spray market in 1995. “Not ideal in the hands of untrained civilians, especially under massive stress. Our system employs a cone-shaped mist—we call it an ‘OC Shield’—that is designed to create a cloud between would-be victim and assailant. Rather than needing to hit the assailant in the face, the bad guy needs to move through this OC barrier.”

    David Nance, CEO of SABRE, the company established by his father in 1975, that is now the largest pepper-spray manufacturer in the United States—disagrees. “Our recommendation is stream or gel because it reduces if not eliminates cross contamination/wind blow-back. Gel sticks to the attacker and does not atomize like traditional pepper spray—it only affects what it directly contacts, which is a preference among many users. Fog is designed more to create the loss of breath sensation.” 

• "How To Use An Israeli Bandage To Stop Traumatic Bleeding"--Modern Survival Blog. If you don't know what is an Israeli bandage, it is a compression bandage used to control bleeding, with a plastic closure bar to hold it tight and in place once wrapped around a limb. The article describes it as an "all-in-one design combines a sterile dressing, elastic wrap, and pressure applicator, making it ideal for military personnel, first responders, hikers, and anyone preparing for emergencies." The article discusses why you should carry the Israeli bandage, its history, unique features, how to use one (including an embedded video), advantages over traditional bandages, real world applications, and training and availability. 
• No: "We Asked Gardeners If Diatomaceous Earth Really Kills Ticks, and They All Said the Same Thing"--The Spruce.  The article notes that diatomaceous earth can kill ticks in dry, sheltered areas but is generally ineffective in outdoor settings. Instead, the author recommends planting lavender, rosemary, mint, and marigolds; make your yard less inviting to rodents and other animals; and keep your grass trimmed short and remove old leaves and brush. 
• "Take a Moment to Breathe"--The Firearm Blog.  No, this article is not discussing breath control when taking a shot. Rather, it is discussing the importance of filters and gas masks in times of disaster or an emergency. As the author notes:

In any emergency—natural disaster, civil unrest, or toxic environmental exposure—gas masks and filtration systems are not luxuries; they are lifesaving tools. Without breathable air, survival and self-defense become impossible. The false pretence [sic] brought on by motion pictures that a bandana or medical mask will provide sufficient filtration may suffice on the silver screen, but reality has a different and ugly agenda waiting for those naive enough to attempt such thoughts. A small investment now will pay dividends later. 

It is a rather detailed and lengthy article, so be sure to read the whole thing.

•  "Discover The Best Waterproof Boots For Any Adventure"--Modern Survival Blog. A discussion and review of Muck Boots, a genuinely water proof boots widely used by farmers and hunters. They come in different heights and are available in camo for hunters. The article doesn't mention prices, but I see them locally starting at about $80 or $90 per pair and going up, depending on the features and height of the boot. 
• "A Guide to Solo Camping: Know the Safety Rules Before You Go"--Survival Life.  Although the article discusses each in more detail, the rules are: 

1. Inform Someone Else Of Your Plans
2. Choose Campsites With Service or Supervision
3. Pack for Safety, Not Just Comfort
4. Secure Food and Lock Up Your Gear
5. Protect Yourself From UV Rays and Insects 

The author also includes some additional advice for solo camping. 

• "How to Be a Prepper While Living on the Road"--Urban Survival Site. The author views living on the road (i.e., out of a camper, trailer or van) as a middle ground between "bugging in" and "bugging out" and discusses the pros and cons, and offers some tips. 
• "Pack Your Memories Into Your Disaster Bag"--The Atlantic.  While the author acknowledges it is important to pack survival items and financial documents, she also discusses the importance of mental health. Thus, she suggests packing a few personal mementos like family photographs, journals, or items with sentimental value. For instance, she writes:

This April, when a 1,000-year storm drenched South Florida, my father and older sister were among the thousands of people abruptly hit with severe flash flooding. They made it out physically unscathed, but many of their possessions were reduced to waterlogged piles of debris. Among those ruined mementos were sets of baby clothes, which my sister had painstakingly preserved for the future but forgotten during the rush of the flood. More than half a year later, she’s still grieving them. “Stuff is stuff,” she told me. But those pieces of clothing had been in the family for decades; she had worn them, and so had her 2-year-old. She just wished, she told me, that she could have held on to those outfits, “and my daughter could have had them for her kids.” 

• "Lost man spent 9 days living off dirty pond water until rescuers spotted ‘HELP’ carved into rock"--New York Post. 

    Andrew Barber, 39, was finally found Friday when a helicopter spotted his sign — as well as “SOS” on the ground — more than a week into the search sparked by his truck breaking down in a remote part of British Columbia’s vast Cariboo region.

    The trained survivalist — who ironically has “I am still here” tattooed on an arm — was found sheltering under a makeshift mud lean-to next to the signs, rescuers said.

    “He sustained some injuries and was severely dehydrated. We found him at the right time,” Staff Sgt. Brad McKinnon of the Williams Lake RCMP told the Vancouver Island Free Daily. 

Not sure why the man was so dehydrated if he had access to plentiful water--diarrhea, maybe? 

Gun & Prepping News #35

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

• An excellent video going over considerations and procedure to determine the best ammunition to stockpile for your SHTF rifle. Since the right ammunition will depend on what your particular firearm likes, the process is the important part. 

 VIDEO: "Choosing the Right Ammo for Your SHTF Rifle"
Black Flag Civilian (19 min)

• "Motor Oil Vs. Gun Oils"--Athlon Outdoors. The author tests various gun oils and 5W-30 synthetic motor oil (Mobil-1 Synthetic Motor Oil (5W30)). The gun oils tested include Rem Oil, Hoppes CLP, EEZOX, Vendetta Apex, and Milcomm TW-25b Grease. Tests included heat tests, rust tests, and then a range test. The motor oil performed best in the heat test. The Rem Oil was the worst in the rust test, while Vendetta Apex also performed poorly. The others did fine. And his range observations:

 Rem Oil, Hoppes CLP and Hoppes Black are rather thin and needed extra helpings of product to run correctly. This resulted in oil getting sprayed everywhere and coating my shooting glasses and the window of any installed optics. Though thin, the EEZOX performed with ZERO malfunctions and minimal (but some) overspray. Vendetta Apex worked as advertised and went on smoothly; it had zero overspray. Considering the trouble some of the thinner oils had with the ammo, I wasn’t expecting much from the Milcom TW25b grease. It performed quite well in this test and a little went a long way. Since the Sig Sauer P365 X Macro is my carry gun, it came to the range pre-lubed with the Mobil-1.  As expected, it handled the 40-round test like a champ.

• Some articles on pocket pistols, or, as one author succinctly put it: "small pistols that are specifically designed to be easily concealed in a pocket." But just because you can stuff a handgun n a capacious pocket on a coat or trousers doesn't make it a "pocket pistol." IMHO, it is a handgun that can be fit into the inside pocket on a suit coat or sports jacket (I'm not saying that is the best way to carry, but it is a quick and easy test of whether a firearm is sized such that it would work well as a pocket pistol). I consider the Walther PPK (not the PPK/s) with a flush fitting magazine to be the largest you can go and still be a "pocket pistol" and, frankly, even it is pushing the limits. It is 4 inches tall with the flush magazine and 6 inches long. Some firearms on the envelope will qualify with flush fitting magazines, but be slightly too large with extended magazines. I consider the Ruger LCP Max or Sig Sauer 238 to be a better fit for a "pocket pistol".
  

• "Pocket Pistols Past and Present"--American Rifleman.  
• "Are Pocket Pistols Good for Conceal Carry? Pocket Carry Pros & Cons"--ValorTec. 
• "The 'Why' of Pocket Carry"--American Fighting Revolver. 
• "The Pocket Pistol and Lessons Learned Toting Them"--Guns America. 
• "The Truth About Pocket Pistols -Mini, Micros, and More"--Cross Breed Holsters. 
• "That’s Metal: .380 Pocket Pistol Shootout"--Guns.com.
• "The Five Best Pocket Pistols For Deep Concealment"--Safariland. 
• "Pocket Pistol Primer: Mastering Small Self-Defense Guns"--American Rifleman. 
• "The Best Coat Pocket Defensive Pistols"--Active Response Training.  
• "Duty Pistols vs. Pocket Handguns: Key Self-Defense Differences"--ValorTec.
• "The Pocket Pistol"--Gun Culture 2.0.

• ".30-30 Winchester — History & Ballistics"--Athlon Outdoors. A quick summary of why the author believes it to still be a viable cartridge:

The .30-30 offers a good balance of close-range killing power and low recoil in a typically lever action package that is fast to operate, light to carry, naturally ambidextrous. The thirty-thirty nominally uses a 150-170 grain round nosed or flat point bullet (with some exceptions). Loads like these are how the round got its start, and it remains the go-to bullet design since they can be safely loaded tip to tip in tubular magazines. While the .30 isn’t particularly high velocity by today’s standards, that flat point bullet is surprisingly effective at achieving straight-line penetration and dumping blood. Some hunters swear by it over more pointed projectiles. 

• "Concealed Carry Corner: Off-Body Carry With Viktos Concealment Bags"--The Firearm Blog. The author notes:

During the hot months, having a larger firearm can be way more fatiguing than during colder times throughout the year. When your body starts to sweat, it increases the skin’s sensitivity, which allows the contact with your gun to rub your skin. These sensitive areas can result in hot spots, creating a ton of discomfort. Having your firearm in a discreet carry bag can be the answer to being properly armed while remaining comfortable all day long.

The author reviews the CCW Counteract bags from Viktos, one being a backpack (roughly a day pack sized item) and a sling bag which is probably more practical for most people; but he discusses the pros and cons of each size of bag.

• "Combat Textiles Adhesive Grips Review"--The Truth About Guns. These are pre-cut adhesive pieces for various firearms. Per the article, "The grips are made from 1000D Cordura fabric backed with 3M 300lse adhesive tape. They’re cut for each firearm, so you have a perfect fit for your gun, unlike some more generic grip solutions for polymer frame guns." They are also offered in a variety of colors and patterns. 

     It isn’t all looks though. The Cordura fabric has a texture to it that does improve your grip. It’s secure without being overly rough. It works especially well when it’s wet too.

    So for foul weather or sweaty hands it’s a definite bonus over the polymer of many frames.

• "Schumer targets Trump budget bill on gun silencers deregulation"--Axios. Per the article, "Schumer will argue removing silencers from the National Firearm Act violates the requirement that provisions in the bill be budget related," but Republicans will argue that it is budget related because of the loss of the $200 tax on such items.
• "16 Attorneys General Sue Trump Administration To Block FRT Settlement"--The Truth About Guns. So the government lost the lawsuit over its banning of forced reset triggers. But in settling all issues in the lawsuit, the federal government agreed to return all of the FRTs that were illegally seized from owners. But 16 liberal states are trying to intervene to block the return of these triggers.
• "Backcountry Hiking Survival Guide"--The Armory Life. The author first discusses tips so you don't get into trouble in the backcountry. Noting that many of the rescues conducted are not for people that get lost, but that have health issues, he recommends that you realistically assess your physical fitness and abilities and limit your hiking trips to match those abilities. Next, understand the area you are hiking into such as potential hazards and weather (not just what is forecast but what could pop up). Finally, set yourself up for success:

Hiking with a buddy or group is always best, but if you’re dead set on conquering the wilderness alone, there are a few steps you can do to make that solo trip safer.

• Know where the service range of your phone is — don’t assume that your phone will work if you need to call for help
• Leave a detailed plan with a trusted family member or friend that includes where you’ll be and a map of the area with clear marks on where someone should attempt to look for you if they need to
• Have an expected ETA set up so that if you aren’t back or haven’t spoken with your contact by a certain time, they know something happened and can call for help
• Have at least a general plan in your head of how you’ll handle various things that could go wrong — even something as basic as rolling your ankle can become a big deal

• "The Ten Warning Signs: A huge change is coming" by Ted Gioia, The Honest Broker. The author believes that our knowledge system is collapsing, citing the following ten signs:

(1) Scientific studies don't replicate.
(2) Public distrust of experts has reached an intensity never seen before.
(3) The career path for knowledge workers is breaking down—and many only have unpaid student loans to show for their years of training and preparation.
(4) Funding for science and tech research is disappearing in every sphere and sector.
(5) Universities have lost their prestige, and have made enemies of their core constituencies.
(6) Plagiarism is getting exposed at all levels from students to corporations—and all the way to Harvard's president. But the authorities just take it for granted.
(7) AI is imposed everywhere as the new expert system. But when it hallucinates and generates ridiculous responses, the authorities (again) take this for granted.
(8) Science and technology are increasingly used to manipulate and exploit, not serve.
(9) Scandals are everywhere in the knowledge economy (Theranos, Sam Bankman-Fried, collapsing meme coins, COVID, etc).
(10) We hear constant bickering about “fake science”—from all political and ideological stances. Nobody talks about “true science.”

First Lethal Bear Attack In Florida

 "Massive black bear mauls elderly Florida man and his dog to death — in the state’s first deadly attack on record"--New York Post. The exact sequence of events is unknown, but there is evidence that the bear had entered the dead man's residence.

Gun & Prepping News #21

 Just some articles that caught my attention for one reason or another: 

• First up, don't forget to visit Active Response Training's website for the Weekend Knowledge Dump from this past weekend.  Lots of great linkage including Greg Ellifritz's thoughts on different brands of pepper spray, a review of a knife using a G10 blade (i.e., non-metallic), a comparison between M855 and M193 5.56 ammo, the best shotgun ammo for home defense, an article on mounting standards for red dot sights (including the different "footprints"), and more. I will note as to the latter article that you need to read the fine print before you purchase a red-dot because even if a red-dot is listed as working with a particular footprint, it may use an adapter plate to do so. 
• Speaking of red dot pistol optics: "Burris FastFire C Pistol Optic"--Guns Magazine. It uses an RMSc footprint, and the MSRP is $276. 
• And speaking of defensive shotgun ammo: "Federal’s Flite Control vs. Hornady’s Versa-Tite"--That Shotgun Blog. You might think that because Hornady uses virtually the same shotgun wad as Federal, you would get similar patterning, but that isn't the case:

The Hornady load, even though it has the same basic wad design, does not shoot nearly as tight as the Federal Flite Control. I think this is largely due to using standard lead pellets, a higher muzzle velocity, and lack of buffer material. Even though the wads of both loads probably fall off the payload at about the same distance, odds are the Hornady pellets have more deformation than the Federal pellets. This causes more fliers, and explains the uneven pattern density. 

On the other hand, "Federal uses a copper plated shot and fine buffering material to keep the shot from deforming when it is accelerated down the barrel of the shotgun."

• "UPDATED: A Deep Dive into Cases Where Civilians Stopped Active Shooters. Did they accidentally shoot bystanders, get in the way of police, get their gun taken away, or create other problems? How does it compare to police who stopped these attacks?"--Crime Research.  Key bits:

    ... During the ten years from 2014 to 2023, there were 180 active shooting cases (as defined by the FBI) where a concealed handgun permit holder stopped an active shooting attack. We decided to do a deep dive to see how many cases there were out of those 180 cases where a concealed handgun permit holder accidentally shot a bystander (one case, 0.56%), got in the way of police (zero cases, 0.0%), had the handgun taken away (one case, 0.56%), and got themselves killed (two cases, 1.1%). What was more common were cases where the permit holder was injured in saving the lives of others (44 cases, 24%). Fifty-eight of those cases were instances where a mass public shooting was likely prevented. ....

    While civilians with concealed handgun permits stopped 51.5% of the active shootings in non-gun-free zones, police stopped 44.6% of the cases (124 arrested or killed by police, 32 committed suicide when police arrived = 156/350 = 44.57%). Interestingly, police officers were much more likely to lose their lives or be wounded in stopping these attacks than armed civilians. Twenty-seven officers were killed in 19 attacks (7.7% and 5.4%, respectively). That is 5.94 times the rate that permit holders were killed. One hundred officers were wounded in 48 attacks (28.6% and 13.7%, respectively). That rate is 17% higher than for civilians. In four cases, the police shot and killed the wrong person — twice they accidentally shot fellow police officers (Prince George’s County Police Department District 3 Station on March 13, 2016 and Borderline Bar and Grill on November 7, 2018) and twice they accidentally shot civilians (Galleria Mall in Hoover, Alabama on Nov. 23, 2018 and Highlands Ranch, Colorado on May 7, 2019). The bottom line is that the rate of police shooting the wrong person is very low, though it is slightly more than twice the rate that civilians shoot a bystander (1.14% versus 0.56%). The police accidentally shot other police officers at very slight higher than the rate that civilians shot bystanders.

• "The Pros and Cons of Cross Draw Carry"--Galco Blog. An excerpt:

    In a variety of situations, cross draw is much more comfortable than a strong-side hip holster. Reaching across the torso is easier when seated than reaching for the strong-side hip.

    Bodyguards, long-distance drivers, people who use wheelchairs, and anyone else who spends a good amount of time sitting may prefer cross draw to other holstering methods.

    Outdoorsmen and hunters may prefer the crossdraw position because it keeps the handgun clear of other gear like pack straps and rifle stocks.

    Older shooters who have joint problems often also like crossdraw holsters, because of the lesser shoulder rotation required to draw compared to a strongside holster.

While there are benefits, be sure to also consider the downsides discussed in the article. I've used crossdraw and have liked it. But it is a method for an untucked shirt, a sweater, or a closed jacket.

• "SPECTRE’s Vega IB333: One Year Review"--Commando Bond. This is a somewhat different blog on concealed carry and EDC in that the author has modeled his EDC equipment and practices off of the James Bond films. In this particular post, he reviews a soft suede leather IWB holster apparently manufactured (at least at one time) by Vega, and which was used by Daniel Craig's version of James Bond in a few movies. It's rare to see long term product reviews, but the author notes after a year of wearing this holster it seems to have held up pretty well and is generally comfortable, although he is not a fan of the plastic clip. However, I noticed in a subsequent post that he switched to a Kydex holster that he wrapped in suede to make it look like this holster but would not have issues with the mouth collapsing when trying to reholster.
• "GLOCK 43X Handgun, Maximum Concealment & It Shoots – Review"--Ammo Land. Apparently a reprint of an article originally published in 2019. The reviewer gave the 43X high marks. Of course, at the time of the review only 10-round single stack magazines were available. There are now some third-party 1.5 stack magazines available that boost capacity to 15 rounds, including the PSA Dagger Micro 9mm 15 Round Magazine which has the advantage over its competitor of not needing a different magazine catch installed. 
• "Colt Python 2.5 Inch – Cadillac Of Snubs"--Guns America Blog. An excerpt:

Range time with the new Python was a lot of fun. Given that it weighs 35 oz., it soaked up the recoil of the .38 Special rounds with ease. Magnums were another story! Unlike the previous models, the new 2.5” Python comes with service stocks that follow the contour of the frame. These were too small for my hands, and when shooting, my middle finger knuckle took a beating against the back of the trigger guard. I reached out to my friend, John Harrison, who was kind enough to loan me an original Tyler T-Grip adaptor.  

The author also carried out some gel tests of different ammo. As between Hornady’s Critical Defense 125 gr. FTX and Critical Duty 135 gr. Flex Lox, both in .357 Magnum, the Critical Duty round performed better, with the nose of the Critical Duty projectile collapsing in on itself. As between the Hornady Critical Defense 110 FTX load and Federal’s 120 gr. +P Punch JHP, both in .38 Special, the Punch had more expansion.

• "Open Carry v. Doofus Carry"--Tactical Wire. An analysis of a recent video that made the rounds of the internet showing someone that openly carried a pistol in the back pocket of his jeans; and who, of course, had it promptly snatched away.
  
• "How Has ATF Weaponized Its Facial Recognition Capability Against Lawful Gun Owners?"--Shooting News Weekly.  

This major revelation [the use of an ATF facial recognition data base to quickly identify Thomas Matthew Crooks] follows years of speculation that the ATF has been expanding its surveillance infrastructure well beyond its intended role.

•     In 2023, leaked documents exposed that the ATF was working with state and local governments to deploy facial recognition at gun stores, shooting ranges, and firearm-related events.
•     The FBI has also admitted to using facial recognition on concealed carry permit holders in multiple states—often without a warrant.
•     The ATF’s “Zero-Tolerance” policy against gun stores has resulted in thousands of gun dealers losing their licenses—often for minor paperwork errors—further consolidating government control over firearm transactions.

This means law-abiding citizens exercising their constitutional rights may be secretly added to watchlists—without probable cause or due process.

• "Historic Pocket Pistols: The World’s First Concealed Carry Firearms"--Outdoor Life.  A look at some early pocket pistols (keeping in mind that coat pockets were often more capacious than now) such as the Queen Ann's flintlock pistol, the Henry Deringer percussion cap pistol, the later Derringer pistols, and the early Browning semiautomatic pocket pistols; as well as early regulations on pistols and concealed firearms.
• "The Horror of Cow Attacks: ‘I Told My Husband to Leave Me to Die’"--The Guardian (via Get Pocket). This may be more of an issue in the UK which apparently has laws allowing hikers to traverse privately owned fields. In any event, it clearly dispels the notion that just because an animal is "domesticated" and an herbivore, it is not dangerous. I haven't had any issues when I've come across grazing cattle (knock on wood) but I definitely keep a weather eye out for any issues if they are nearby. Unfortunately, whether its out of curiosity or their associating it with people, cattle seem drawn to gun fire; or, at least, they do not seem afraid of it. I have, on occasion, had to move to a different target shooting location because of cattle wondering too near. 
• "The 5 Best Portable Power Stations of 2025"--Popular Mechanics. The author notes:

    While gas generators are useful, especially as full backup power for your home, but portable power stations are often the more convenient, more portable option. These large generator-sized batteries are more versatile and have a lot to offer: For starters, they're quieter. If you are hosting a party or tailgating, the noise of a gas engine won't drown out the conversation and music around you. Or if you're recharging essential electronics at night while camping, a quieter environment obviously makes for easier sleeping.

    You can also run a power station indoors, unlike a gas- or propane-powered portable generator. If you are trying to power a small appliance in your house during an outage, you can plop the power station right next to it. 

• "Pro Tips For Your Car Camping Adventure"--Country Living (via Get Pocket). From the article:

While regular camping is more common, car camping in your SUV has been trending now more than ever. During the pandemic, people made more summer travel plans around road trips as they avoided airplanes to flatten the curve. If you’re planning a road trip, consider car camping. Benefits include saving time (you’re not pitching a tent at every stop), avoiding hotel rooms, and being able to store your belongings right in your car. If you’re experienced or if it’s your first time, here’s what you should know before you go on a car camping adventure.  

The author then discusses some tips on selecting a vehicle to use, recommends sleeping with your head toward the front of the car, goes over a list of essentials to bring, taking advantage of the car carrying everything to pack a more comfortable bed, cracking windows at night for ventilation (as well as tips for keeping the bugs out when you do), and more.

• "Pemmican Recipe: How to Make This Nutrient-Dense Trail Food"--Outdoor Life. Some background on Pemmican, how to make it (including different ingredients you can use), etc.
• "Article 94"--Dive Medic. Some rumors and thoughts about possible coup discussions among top military brass prior to Trump's inauguration and applicable portions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
• "What would REALLY happen if Russia nuked Britain and the US. DEEP DIVE"--Daily Mail. Fairly in-depth look at one possible nuclear attack scenario. Sort of like a big infographic with information on the submarines, missiles, etc., as well as how Russia could sneak its submarines from port to a launch location, how the attack might be carried out, how Britain (or the U.S.) might react or try to defend itself, how the President would be saved, the alert and advice that would go out to civilians, and a bit on the aftermath. 
• "Flu is out of control in the United States: Could a long-term immunosuppressive effect of repeated mRNA Covid shots be part of the reason? Don't expect the media to ask"--Unreported Truths.

    Most people do not know that the “m” in mRNA Covid jabs doesn’t really stand for “messenger.” It stands for “modified,” because the RNA in the jabs is not identical to the RNA in nature.

    mRNA is a thread of four types of “nucleotides,” simple carbon-based molecules linked in a long chain. But the mRNA in Covid shots contains a slightly different kind of nucleotide, one that tamps down our immune systems and makes them less likely to recognize the vaccine as a foreign body and attack it.

* * *

    But even after the clinical trials of mRNA Covid shots in 2020, which covered more than 70,000 people, we had no way of knowing if the downregulation that the shots produce might somehow in the long run lead our immune systems to be less aggressive against other foreign invaders, such as flu. How could we? We effectively ended the trials in early 2021 by giving mRNA shots to almost everyone who had received the placebo in the trials.

    Nor could we know if giving people a third, fourth, fifth, or even more “booster” mRNA Covid shots might cause immune dysregulation in ways that the first two shots did not. How could we? The companies ran much smaller and shorter trials on the third shot and have barely run any on subsequent boosters.

    What we do know now is that mRNA shots cause an unexpected shift towards a less effective form of antibodies against Covid in people who have received at least three.

Gun & Prepping News #19

Just some articles that caught my attention for one reason or another: 

• It's Friday, so time for another of Greg Ellifritz's Weekend Knowledge Dumps. In this issue he links to articles on training (and encouragement to spend our precious time and money on improving the fundamentals), magazine springs and maintenance, self-defense for children, why you need to practice using your sights even though you likely will not see your sights in a stressful situation, a sort-of-sling bag for carrying a firearm (it puts the firearm over your chest), a disappointing result from Hornady defensive shotgun loads, and more. For those of you worried about armed conflict and civil war between different groups, you might want to check out the article entitled "Guns are not just for conservative white men." Everyone is arming up.
• Speaking of the possibility of armed conflict: "Terrorists in Uniform"--Active Response Training. Take note of this comment by the author:

I have a friend who worked on an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in one of the largest cities in the USA.  His unit investigated regular burglaries of dry cleaning businesses for years.  In these burglaries, the only items taken were police uniforms that officers had dropped off for cleaning.  This has been happening for almost 20 years and you don’t hear a thing about it in the media.  We’re ripe for an attack of this nature.

• "Despite ATF’s Pistol Brace Ban Being Vacated, the Rogue Agency is Still Trying to Jail People Who Use Them"--Shooting News Weekly. The difference is that the ATF is now taking the position that any type of pistol brace attached to any type of handgun turns said handgun into an NFA item.
• "Building A Budget Battle Shotgun"--Guns Magazine. The author describes how he took a $262 Mossberg Maverick Security 88 shotgun and accessorized it to bring the total cost up to just under $1,100 including red dot sight, weapon mounted light and sling. 
• "KelTec PR57 Rotary Barrel 5.7x28mm Pistol at SHOT Show 2025"--Ammo Land.  This seems to be an interesting and outside the box solution to a lightweight concealed carry pistol with a more than adequate magazine capacity for 99.9% of the situations where a civilian would need to use a handgun. And it can mount both a pistol optic and a light. But KelTec, while offering innovative products, often falls down in execution, especially as to availability and reliability. But this should be an interesting weapon to follow.
• "The 3 Golden Rules of Defensive Carry" by Richard Mann, Outdoor Life.
• Rule No. 1: Defensive Carry Means Having a Gun (i.e., a gun on your person).
• Rule No. 2: Nothing Is Certain (i.e., your shot(s) may not be disabling).
• Rule No. 3: Carry Whenever Possible (i.e., you really need to have a gun on your person).
  
• "Rifle Roundup: Military Armaments Corp MAC-5 Pistol With A Sightmark Optic"--Shooting Illustrated. This is an H&K MP5 clone retailing for around $1,100. 
• "The 5 Best Gun Cleaning Solvents"--Field & Stream. And they are:

•     Best Overall: Hoppe’s No. 9 Gun Bore Cleaner
•     Best Non-Toxic: CLP by Sage & Braker
•     Best for Rifles: Hoppe's M-Pro 7 Gun Cleaner
•     Best Spray: Ballistol Multi-Purpose Gun Oil
•     Best Cleaner and Lube: Break Free CLP

• "British 3D Gun Printer Walks Free"--Impro Guns. An excerpt:

... A jury heard how 19 year old James Maris had assembled the FGC-9 9mm semi-automatic carbine using a 3D printer he received for Christmas as a fun technical curiosity, having developed a fascination with firearms after watching The Royal Armouries’ Youtube channel. Judge Lady Hood ruled that it was acceptable for a young man to have an interest in firearms and that no harm was intended by his hobby. ...

• "Viktor Bout: The Merchant of Death"--Guns America. Bout is one of the most notorious gun smugglers in history. He was the primary inspiration behind the title character in the 2005 movie Lord of War.  Bout was eventually arrested by Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the U.S. in 2010. He was convicted and imprisoned in 2011. President Biden, however, traded Bout to the Russians in order to win the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner. 

Viktor Bout returned home to a hero’s welcome. He voiced support for the invasion of Ukraine and promptly entered politics, winning a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ulyanovsk Oblast. Now he also appears to be hawking AK74 rifles to the Houthis in his spare time.

• Some firearms history: "Innovation from Isolation: The SS-77 Machine Gun"--The Firearm Blog. During the apartheid era, South Africa was subject to an arms embargo requiring it to develop its own weapons. One of these was the SS-77 machine gun--a general purpose machine gun that eventually went into production in 1986. It, in turn, spawned a light machine gun version using 5.56 mm. 
• "How to Make Lard Bread"--Organic Prepper. This is a bread recipe that is a variant of an Italian bread called Casatiello, but using lard or bacon fat in place of the eggs and butter.
• "18 Practical Ways to Use the Ashes from Your Fireplace"--Organic Prepper.  Everything from pest control to uses as an abrasive in cleaning to even removing skunk scent from a dog's fur. Check it out.
• "How to String a Fishing Pole: A Step-by-Step Guide"--SHTF Preparedness. The author also has a companion piece on setting up a fly rod.
• "The Magnetic North Pole Has Officially Changed Position"--Science Alert. 

"Magnetic north has been moving slowly around Canada since the 1500s but, in the past 20 years, it accelerated towards Siberia, increasing in speed every year until about five years ago, when it suddenly decelerated from 50 to 35 kilometers [31 to 22 miles] per year, which is the biggest deceleration in speed we've ever seen."

• "Everything You Thought You Knew About Tetanus is Wrong"--Popular Science (via Get Pocket). 

But counter to what rusty nail warnings might have you believe, the disease has nothing to do with iron oxide, the chemical compound more commonly known as rust. Rather, tetanus is a product of the bacteria Clostridium tetani, which is in dirt, dust, and feces—in other words, everywhere. It can enter your body through puncture wounds, yes, but also through superficial cuts, bug bites, surgical procedures, and any other rupture to your skin. It can come from stepping on a rusty nail, or tending the soil in your garden. That's why it's so essential to track your booster shots: You need one every decade, not just when you rip your palm open on a rusty chain link fence. Waiting for a classic tetanus injury won't work when anything could, in theory, be a tetanus injury. 

The article notes that tetanus has a 10% mortality rate in the U.S., and probably worse in areas with more limited medical care.

• A tale of survival: "My Wife and I Tried to Walk Home in an Arctic Storm. We Almost Died"--Outdoor Life.  The couple was living, at the time, in Point Lay, Alaska, working as school teachers. Because the town was so small--they indicate that they could walk from one end of town to the other in minutes--they one day decided to hoof it from their house to the school, a distance of only a 100 yards. Unfortunately, a blizzard hit and school was cancelled, and they eventually tried to make it back to their house through the blizzard. 

We bundled up and stepped outside. We were nearly blown off our feet by the blizzard. Winds blasted in excess 75 miles per hour, with gusts close to the century mark. With windchill, the temperature was close to 120 degrees below zero. 

They almost didn't survive the 100-yard trip back to their house. An interesting story, so check it out.

• Sort of like bugging out on foot: "History Friday: The Handcart Saga"--Chicago Boyz. For a brief period of time, Mormon pioneers crossed the plains and Rocky Mountains pushing handcarts rather than using horse or oxen drawn wagons. 

During the 1840s and 1850s, wagon train pioneers heading west to California and Oregon usually transported family, goods and required supplies in wagons most often pulled by two or three pairs of draft animals. That was also the means most often utilized in the first decade of emigration by LDS converts and believers to Utah. However, by the mid-1850s straitened circumstances and shortages of funds hampered efforts to bring LDS emigrants to Utah, while at the same time an enormous backlog of converts built up in the British Isles and on the Continent. Hundreds had come by ship to the East Coast, and then by train as far as the Mid-West – but then, how would they make the last 1,300 miles? Brigham Young conceived the notion of light two-wheeled carts, pulled by the converts themselves on the last leg between the railhead at Iowa City and Salt Lake City. Each cart company would be accompanied by a few regular wagons, carrying supplies, bedding and tents. And most wagon-train emigrants in earlier years had walked much of the trail anyway … so there was a cheaper solution for LDS believers, eager to get to their Zion. 

I don't have the exact statistic at hand, but the survival rate seems to have been much better for these handcart companies than for Oregon Trail pioneers in general. According to the National Park Service, 6-10% of all emigrants of the trails succumbed to some form of illness. But, "[n]ot counting the Willie and Martin companies, pioneers who traveled by handcart experienced a 4.7 percent mortality rate." And the overall mortality rate among all Mormon pioneers was only 3.5% (including not only those that died on the trail, but that died within a year of arriving in Utah). It would be interesting to see a study of why the Mormon pioneers fared so much better than the average. Was it just the fact of stopping in Utah instead of pushing on to Oregon and California?

Bear Attacks--Oh My!

In the following video, Ron Spomer interviews Phil Shoemaker who survived an attack by a brown bear in Alaska by shooting it dead with a 9mm pistol. I believe the segment below is from a longer interview from earlier this year about bear hunting in Alaska more generally.

 VIDEO: " 9mm Luger vs. Grizzly!" (11 min.)
Ron Spomer Outdoors

 If you like this type of information, here are a few articles you might enjoy:

• "‘Hero’ son, 12, saves dad being mauled by black bear: ‘Killed it on top of me’"--New York Post (Sept. 18, 2024). The 12 year old shot and killed a bear that had his father pinned to the ground and was mauling the man. The two had shot the bear earlier, but only wounded it. It's not clear whether the two were tracking the wounded bear or just chanced upon it when the attack occurred. Nothing about the type of rifle or caliber.
• "Elk hunter is savagely attacked by Grizzly bear before shooting the enraged adult male dead in Idaho"--Daily Mail (Sept. 8, 2024). This involved two archery hunters attacked by the bear while hunting, with one injured. According to the story, both were able to use handguns and killed the bear. Again, no information in the story as to the type of weapons used or the calibers.
• "A Montana man shot a grizzly bear during an attack – it saved his life, but here’s why experts say it’s not your best defense"--Advnture (via Yahoo) (August 18, 2024).

    This July, a 72-year-old man was picking huckleberries in Flathead National Forest by himself when he was attacked by a female grizzly bear. He managed to access his handgun, shooting and killing the bear and surviving the encounter with serious injuries.

    After a summer that brought several high-profile grizzly bear attacks – a veteran who was mauled while hiking in Grand Teton National Park and a Canadian trail runner who says she was saved by her hair clip – some are asking if guns should be as ubiquitous as hiking boots and backpacks when it comes to recreating in bear country.

    The idea of using a firearm against bears is something bear biologist and Tooth and Claw podcast host Wes Larson tells us he hears a lot, but it’s not what he recommends.

 

Larson recommends "avoidance" first, but if that fails, using bear spray. His reasoning seems to be that it is too easy to miss the bear when using a handgun so the bear spray is superior because “[b]ear spray shoots out a whole cloud of aerosolized pepper spray, so when the bear is still coming at you, it passes through that cloud.” Larson is more interested in protecting the bear, not anyone taking his advice, as the next article reminds us.

• "Myth that Bear Spray Will Save You Proves Deadly Once Again" by John Farnam at Ammo Land. This article discusses an October  2023 incident where a couple hiking in Banff National Park in Canada’s Alberta Provence where both killed and partially eaten by a female grizzly bear. Farnam observes: "A fully-discharged bottle of bear spray was discovered at the scene. The bear was apparently unimpressed!" 

    The reality, and this is what the research shows, is that bear spray can be effective against a curious bear or one that has ventured uncomfortably close, but is not aggressive. But that is very different from deterring a bear intent on killing you.

• "Modern Sporting Rifles as Bear Stoppers? They Worked in Every Recorded Incident" by Dean Weingarten at Ammo Land. Weingarten, as you may know, has been collecting information on bear attacks for years documenting what worked (and what didn't). His primary emphasis has been on handguns, but in this article he turns his attention to the modern sporting rifle. I've never doubted they could work since elephant poachers often used AKs, but Weingarten offers more specific data. From the article:

    Of the defensive bear shootings I have found, four of them were with rifles reasonably characterized as semi-automatic civilian versions of popular military rifles.

    All four defensive shootings were successful. Modern sporting rifles most commonly are AR15 or AK47 style semi-automatic rifles. They are the most popular rifles in today’s America. It is certain more bears will be shot with them in the future.  ...

 He then goes on to describe each incident. Three of the incidents involved an AR style rifle, two using 5.56/.223 and the third shooting 6.8 SPC. The bears involved were a polar bear, and two black bears, respectively (yes, the polar bear was taken down with .223). A fourth incident, involving a grizzly bear attack in Alaska, was resolved by someone using an AK-74 style rifle shooting 5.45x39. All involved multiple shots (although it only took two shots from the 6.8 to kill the bear). So these are not bear hunting rifles, but worked perfectly fine for bear defense.

• "Details of .22 Pistol Defense Failure Against Polar Bear in Norway" by Dean Weingarten at Ammo Land. One of the few cases documented by Weingarten where a handgun failed to stop a bear attack involved an attempt to stop a polar bear with a .22 pistol. Weingarten found additional information concerning that attack in order to put it in its proper perspective. After quoting from a more detailed description of the incident, Weingarten notes three things about the response:

1. First, the group started shooting at the bear when it was still 50 feet away;
2. Two of the men kept throwing the handgun back and forth to each other as they would take a shot and then pass it off to the other, and so on;
3. And, finally, although they had shot the bear in the head 3 times, it was ineffective. Weingarten explains:

    Three .22 rounds hit the polar bear in the head. None entered the cranium. This is not unexpected. The brain of a polar bear may be slightly larger than a grizzly. A grizzly bear brain is about the size of a pint jar (29 cubic inches). The head of a large Kodiak bear has a volume of approximately 808 cubic inches, based on measurements supplied by Tom Smith of Brigham Young University. The Kodiak bear measured by Dr. Smith was exceptionally large, estimated at 1,400 pounds. If we assume a 1,000-pound polar bear, and proportional measurements, the head volume would be about 577 cubic inches or 2.5 gallons.

    If you have a pint jar in a 2.5-gallon container, you have to know where the jar is located to be able to hit it. It is easy to miss. There is a lot of muscle and bone in a bear head that can absorb or deflect a .22 LR bullet if they hit at a poor angle or in the wrong place.  A .22 is powerful enough to reach a bear’s brain if it hits the correct place at a reasonable angle.