PREPPER: Why Prepping and Current Events are Inextricably Entwined
LATEST FORM THE PREPPER WORLD...Includes Black Seed the cure for nearly everything..
Before I hurry back to the kitchen where I belong, there’s a short answer and a long answer. Here’s the short one: Prepping and current events are inextricably entwined.”
If you only wanted the short answer, there you have it. Thanks for stopping by.
The long answer is more involved. If you’re anything like me, you’ve also tried in vain to explain this to folks who just don’t get it.
We need to know what is happening in the world around us.
If we don’t realize that St. Louis is erupting with violent protests, we may stumble into a dangerous situation. If we don’t understand that the Antifa communists are planning sedition beginning on November 4th, we may not be prepared to hunker down and avoid the chaos. If we aren’t aware that there is a retail apocalypse going on, we may be totally stunned when the economy all comes crashing down.It’s essential that we pay attention to the world around us because it is just a larger form of situational awareness. While those who live on a secluded mountaintop and never venture down to a town larger than 3000 people may not need to plan around current events, most of us do not live these lives of perfect isolation. We go to doctor’s appointments in large cities. We take vacations. We run errands and go shopping and work in town. We attend the theater and go to concerts. We need to know what’s going on. We need to know the trends of civil unrest and whether a controversial verdict is about to be handed down.
Most of us don’t live in a safe bubble of our own making, and our awareness can help us be better prepared to avoid or deal with bad things.
Even if you hate politics, it pays to know what’s going on.
Many people avoid politics like a contagious disease. I agree completely that it’s all showmanship and that nearly all politicians are completely untrustworthy. That doesn’t mean I think they can be ignored though.The policies being made in Washington DC can affect us all, by parting us from more of our money or chipping away at our freedom. For example, if you knew that guns were going to be banned tomorrow, would it change what you do today? War is made by politicians, not by soldiers. They’ll get rich while we get poor and our children get killed. These are the thing we need to know. We need to understand WHY war is a racket, why Wall Street gets bailed out, and why health care we don’t want is getting forced on us.
The people in office are making decisions that affect us all, whether we’d like to ignore them or not.
We can learn so much about preparedness by studying actual events.
Perhaps the most important reason that prepping and current events are inextricably linked is that the analysis of an event can be incredibly educational. Those of us with preparedness mentalities do this naturally. We think about what we’d do if we were in a situation that has occurred. We see what shortages have befallen people after an event and we adjust our preps accordingly. We watch the inevitable patterns so that we can predict what may happen next if one day we are in an emergency situation.Here are a few examples.
- If you were attending a concert and a sniper opened fire, would you have any idea what to do? Before the attack in Las Vegas, I certainly wouldn’t have. I watched videos repeatedly and saw the panic that probably caused more casualties. No one knew what to do or how to protect themselves as shot rained down on them. I analyzed these videos and talked to people much smarter and more experienced than I, and developed a plan if I ever have the misfortune to be present during such an event.
- How do things go down during an economic collapse? The collapse of Venezuela has been a real-time, years-long lesson in economic collapse. We have watched the government crackdowns, the propaganda, and the eventual seizure of food. We watched as the government completely gave up and told people they were on their own. We saw the horrifying conditions in the hospitals and the shortages that occurred, as well as the hyperinflation. If the United States was to go down this path, we know, to some degree, what we can expect.
- Remember that Ebola scare? Those of us who had been following the pandemic when it was over in Liberia were completely unsurprised when the guy in Texas was diagnosed with it. We were ready to go into lockdown when everyone else was panicking and unable to purchase supplies like respirator masks. Luckily the illness was contained but had it gotten worse, a lot of folks would have been completely out of luck.
- How long will it be before help arrives after a disaster? The aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria have been an enormous learning experience for any preppers who are paying attention. Parts of Florida were without power for a week, and Puerto Rico is without power indefinitely. All hell has broken loose in Puerto Rico and it is a struggle to survive. Aid took nearly two weeks to arrive to the island, giving us a glimpse of what it looks like when everything is gone.
Prepping is multifaceted
In my opinion, there’s a lot more to preparedness than stocking up enough food to ride out the apocalypse, growing vegetables, and knowing 17 ways to prepare squirrel. Preparedness is an aware way of going through life and analyzing day-to-day events. We are always learning and always evolving. No matter how safe and perfect our lives may seem today, we know that tomorrow something could happen that changes everything.Like many of you, I grow a huge garden, preserve my harvest to enjoy over the winter, and go shooting at every opportunity. I read voraciously about old-fashioned skills and apocalyptic scenarios. I have stashes of food in every room of the house and know multiple ways to purify water or start a fire.
But the what-if mentality of a prepper is at the root of it all. I’ve been asking “what if” since I was a little kid (and probably driving my parents nuts with it) and I believe our ability to ask and answer that question is the key to everything. What more accurate way to learn “what if” could there be than to study real-life examples?
They say that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I believe that the same can be said about the events happening all around us right now.
Preparing For Unpredictable Scenarios
Prepping for the unexpected is one of the biggest challenges a prepper can face. We do our best to prepare by creating specific plans and gathering supplies for set scenarios. For example hurricanes and extreme weather conditions. We get better at preparing for such scenarios because we are getting better at predicting them.Sadly there are some man-made scenarios that are impossible to predict. These scenarios are so illogical and unpredictable that when caught up in one of them we may have little or no time to act. Examples of this would be an unforeseen terrorist attack or a shooting. When there are many unpredictable variables it’s very hard to plan for these scenarios.
Currently America and the rest of the world is reflecting on the tragic loss of life caused by the recent Las Vegas Shooting. Questions are being asked as to how and why this has happened. Why would someone want to inflict such evil on their fellow citizens. Was the shooter of sane mind, was he driven by political beliefs and what went so wrong in his life that he would commit such an atrocity against innocent people.
Even the shooters own brother can not comprehend why or what motivated his brother to act as he did.
As the F.B.I continues to carry out their investigations we may in time get answers to these questions. In the meantime we need to consider another important question. How can we can do our absolute best to prepare for these unforeseen atrocities?. In the remainder of this article I’m going to cover some areas that could help when prepping for the unexpected.
Adaptive Mindset
Now more than ever we live in a volatile world. We need to accept this and adapt our mindsets accordingly. Disasters, terrorist attacks and unpredictable atrocities are unfortunately likely to continue. They are becoming a fact of life so Ignore them at your own peril. Yes we must go on with our normal lives but we must also have a more focused approach accepting that any one of these situations could be just around the corner and plan for them accordingly.Situational Awareness
An important factor in being prepared is to be constantly aware of your situation. Especially if you are attending a large event. Wherever you are whatever you’re doing always try to be alert to your situation and surroundings. This is known as Situational awareness . This means having the ability to remain constantly aware of what is happening around you and being prepared and able to adapt to any variable that may change. A good example of this would be the quick thinking actions taken by a Las Vegas shooting witness Bryan Hopkins, a musical artist who had been at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. He ran for cover and hid in a freezer until he deemed it safe to make his escape.Prior Research
Whether for work or play I always research every trip and location thoroughly before I leave. The internet and google are a great tool for this. I use google maps and any other information available online to familiarize my self with alternative route planing and to check out my destination with regards to its layout, exits and so on. Now I may be the only person out there that does this religiously but this can help no end in an emergency situation.If you need to make a quick escape, having this prior knowledge puts you at an advantage . Instead of running around deciding on the best course of action. You will have greater knowledge because you have prepared. This gives you the ability to make a quicker decision because you are more familiar with your location and your options.
In going to such lengths I have on occasion been accused of paranoia. My reply to my accusers is “at the right level and for the right reasons paranoia is the best form of self-defense”. After all even the scouts motto is “be prepared”.
Emotional Preparedness
Sometimes this is more easier said than done because when we are under stress our bodies shift into survival mode. Better known as the fight-or-flight syndrome. One of the most important things you can do in an emergency situation is try to stay calm. Panicking will not help in fact it will do more harm than good and could cost you valuable time. Panicking puts you at risk of making a bad situation even worse.Basic Planning
As preppers we will have already prepared ourselves with some basic skills, gear and supplies and these will help in unpredictable scenarios. Ensuring that you always have some basic first aid items on your person is important. In fact a lot of the standard items that we carry in our every day carry gear (EDC) can be of great use. Also ensuring that you always keep a larger more detailed first aid kit in your vehicle is also a must. Doing this gives you more options if you can make it back to your vehicle.Prepping For The Unexpected Summary
This prepping for the unexpected article was prompted by the recent terrible Las Vegas Shooting incident. I wrote it to discuss my ideas and opinions on how we can approach being better prepared for such atrocities. Sometimes these situations are so illogical and random it can be hard to be fully prepared. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t attempt to be as prepared as we can. I welcome your comments and ideas on how you currently prepare for such situations.Lighting a fire in difficult conditions
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| Odd gathering juniper |
Then we proceeded gathering firewood. There were mainly birch and juniper. Like I said there was lichen everywhere and especially the birch branches were covered in it. So I considered those to be less of an option, except for a few that had broken branches on them. Those were more exposed to the wind and felt less wet to the touch.
The juniper on the other hand had a lot of upright branches and quite a few of them were bare; no bark and no lichen. Still they felt a little damp, but I figured that they would dry rather fast and that the inside would be dry anyway. So we gathered a bunch of those in several sizes.
I then started preparing the wood to get a fire going. I started by stripping off the bark and anything feeling wet. Each branch and twig was then placed on a flat stone in the sun and wind to dry out as much as possible. This combination really did work! Temperatures were pretty nice and the constant wind dried the wood pretty fast on the outside.
I then proceeded making what is called feathersticks, meaning shaving strips of wood from the branch, s that each strip curls up. Making them thin enough to catch a flame is the goal. I was moderately successful at that, since many a shaving came off, but I managed to get a few with relatively decent curls. These too were placed on the rocks to further dry.
The next step was to split the smaller branches into halves or quarters, thus exposing the dry inside and let those dry as well. The final step was to take some of the bigger branches, break them into useable lengths and carve them up to, creating course "curls" so that they would dry a bit faster too.
If you find juniper, you can use them bark and the wood itself to create very fine curls, almost dust by scraping them with the blade of the knife or a stone at a 90 degree angle. When dry, as when using the insides you could ignite them with a firesteel. I however had forgotten mine at home, so I used this dust at the very heart of the fire to be.
I usually build a tipi-style of fire instead of a pagoda-style. Why? This way I think that the wood is exposed to the flames to maximal effect and when burning, the ashes and embers fall into a pile, creating a hot, glowing heart, which retains its heat better. Also the wood collapses onto the heart adding more heat and fuel at a concentrated spot. Others use different styles, but this has worked for me thus far.
I start by laying a "floor"; a layer of wood on a wet underground or on snow or, in this case, a sheet of dry bark on top of the soaked coal. By reusing that coal there will be more heat, once it dries out, reducing the need for additional wood. On top of that sheet comes the juniper"dust" which I had collected there in the first place. Then some strips of more birchbark, next a layer of thin strips of wood like the mentioned quarters, making sure air can pass through and between each layer and then some bigger pieces; the halves.
Now because I had forgotten my firesteel I used matches; one to be exact, carefully shielding the flame from the wind, keeping a close eye on the development of the fire. I had to assist by blowing on the glow a few times, when the flames died out, but in the end.......
There is one other issue I would like to address; in wet or damp conditions I do not like to put my pack on the ground. The reason might seem obvious; it gets wet that way. But there is another issue; when roaming about in unfamiliar territory or when focused on other things, like foraging or collecting wood, it is easy to lose track of where your base site is. What I prefer to do is to hang up my pack whenever possible. Keeps it dry and clean, but is also helps finding your base again!!
You can see how Odd's backpack blends very well, as it is supposed to (military origin) and when standing a bit further off you might just pass it by and not see it at all.
Even in a wooded area with a green/camouflaged pack, hanging it would make it far easier to spot it and thus find your way back.
How To Store Water Correctly: Two Things You Need To Be Using
IN SHORT:
– First Thing: Use a bacteria killer like calcium hypochlorite (pool shock)
– Second Thing: Use only food-grade, BPA-free, high-density PE containers and get a WaterBOB bathtub bladder
Nothing is more important than water storage. It is the primary necessity we can’t live without for three days (after oxygen of course) and it is generally the first thing to become contaminated or shut off in the event of a disaster or bombing. In this post, I look at how to store water the correct way, and what two things you need to be using when you are storing your water supplies.
In my childhood, I spent a part of my life in a conflict area, and when there were reports of bombings the first thing my parents would say is “quick, fill the bathtub”. For anyone normal, this would be a puzzle as to why you would want to fill a bathtub. To someone that has experienced bombings, floods or disasters, it is pretty easy to realise how quick water supplies get shut off and how quick your own resources can drain.
How much water you need to store
On average, humans use two gallons of water per day. That is both in hygiene and drinking.For the drinking, we can get by on one gallon per day (8 glasses). That other gallon is rationed amongst hygienic purposes such as brushing teeth, washing dishes, cleaning hands and added into cooking or mixing with backup dehydrated foods.
In looking at this, you can already start to see that if you were prepping a supply of water, how much you would need just to have enough for a week. For a family of four, if we used the figures above then we would need 56 gallons to last us the week. The average bathtub holds 50-70 gallons, but you can’t keep them clean or sealed unless you have one of those WaterBOB bathtub bladders.
You can see with that figure above that if you were trying to prepare for a month’s supply, or longer as some of us preppers do, then you are going to need a very effective water storage system.
What containers to use
This is the second thing you need to be using, a safe and sturdy water container. When it comes to long-term storage of water you need food-grade, BPA-free, high-density polyethylene containers. These aren’t just your average disposable plastic bottles. These are made for what you are doing, which is long-term storage so that when the day comes, you can be sure you are drinking healthy water.
Storing more than 50 gallons
There are various types of containers you can get depending on how much you want to store.
For anything over 50 gallons of water, I would use a blue water PE storage barrel.
I use two of these and have found them easy to wash out when I cycle
new water in the barrels and they come with a hand pump which is pretty
handy for a hose connection into a smaller bottle or container for the
kitchen.If you have the space, then a 260-gallon tank might suit you better. I only just recently found out that something this size existed from a few friends who fill these with rainwater. They found the only difficult thing about it was actually fitting it into their house, but aside from that it is a great reserve to be using in the basement or outside of the house as a sanitary flush system or hygiene-use backup.
Storing less than 50 gallons
For smaller storage units, and something to use for camping or just as an extra in the kitchen, the 7-gallon Aqua Containers are a good rigid item and one I have been seeing a lot of preppers and survivalists use.How to store water
There is a system to storing water, and it’s pretty easy. All you have to do is clean, pour and store. But all of these have to be done correctly. So let’s take a further look at how to store water correctly. I kept the preservatives for the next section, as they deserve their own section for the detail.Clean water and clean container
For the first step you need to make sure you have a clean container and clean water. Cleaning the container is simple and you would know how to do that. Just don’t use any harsh chemicals to clean them.For the second clean, make sure you are already using clean water. If you are using tap water it might pay to test your water or use a filter from the tap (one of those attachment filters) to keep your water clean and ensure you are only using clean water in the barrel.
Pour and store
Pouring the water in is pretty easy. If you are using a container that holds a large amount of water for long-term storage place it in its location before filling it. The smaller ones you can easily fill and move.When you are storing them make sure the area is at normal room temperature at all times of the day. If there are any windows in the room avoid the spots where sunlight may hit the container. I only recently came across this when working on a biogas digestor, sunlight makes things grow inside containers such as algae. It goes without saying that you want to avoid any growth in your water containers, so avoid all direct sunlight.
What to add to your water to store it
We need to add chemicals to water to stop disease-causing growths such as bacteria, fungus, and viruses. Here is what you can use:Pool shock (Calcium Hypochlorite)
I use pool shock because of its intensity, cost, and it’s just plain easy to keep. It is also an EPA approved way of treating water.This is one of the best disinfectants on the market and if you are treating water for long-term storage you are going to be needing a lot of treated water. In that respect, pool shock works quite well as it is a concentrate designed for pools, so on the scale that we measured a one pound bag can be used to treat up to 10,000 gallons.
For these measurements, I use the following EPA Guidelines (there are also instructions on the label as to how much you should be using):
- Take one heaped teaspoon of pool shock
- Add it to two gallons of water
- Stir until the particles disappear
- Use 16 ounces (one pint) of the mixture you just made in every 12.5 gallons of water.
If you are using this powder more than once, store it in a hard plastic tub. If you keep it near any metal it is likely to cause some corrosion.
Iodine
Iodine is an alternative to pool shock and bleach. Some people might want to use it if they have allergies to bleach. Using it is quite simple and as far as ingredients go, common household iodine is all you need. To use iodine you need to:- Add five drops to each litre of water you are disinfecting
- If the water is cloudy or coloured, use 10 drops of iodine
Bleach
For bleach, only use regular unscented chlorine bleach. This type of bleach will come in either 6 or 8.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite. If you are using 6% bleach, add two drops to one litre, or eight drops to one gallon. If you are using the 8.25% bleach, use two drops per litre, or six drops for one gallon.Once you have added the drops, stir the water and let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight chlorine odour, repeat the dosage and let it stand for another 15 minutes. If the chlorine is too strong, you should pour it from one container into a new clean one and let it stand for another 15 minutes.
How to use stored water
It’s easy enough for smaller containers to just be poured into a bottle or cup, but for much larger ones you need to use a pump which can be a simple hand pump just to get the water out.Portable water filters
As a backup, it is also a good idea to use a portable water filter. I did a review on the best water filters available
online just recently which you should check out as to which one would be to suit your situation. 
I will let you know here that I found the best water filter to be the Sawyer water filter system as it connects to any normal plastic bottle as well as a bladder bag for your backpack water carriers.
Final thoughts on how to store water and what to use
When it comes to prepping I am all about efficiency, so for my prepping standards I choose to use the pool shock powders as they are far more convenient to store and use.As for emergency water, if you can get your hands on a WaterBOB bathtub bladder you are definitely a step ahead of the game. The bathtub can hold more than enough water to last you and your family for a week and it is a perfect and safe water keeping device.
Black Seed – The Remedy For Everything But Death
Posted on October 3, 2017 Written by Leave a Comment
Used throughout history for its amazing healing powers, black seed was reportedly found in King Tut’s tomb. This spice has been extensively studied and proven effective against many modern diseases, yet few people have even heard of it. We are here to spread the word about this potent cure and encourage everyone to stock black seed in your medicine cabinet.
Originally Published : By Diane – askaprepper.com
What is Black Seed?
Black seed is the seed of the Nigella Sativa plant but is known by many names including black cumin, black sesame, black caraway, onion seed, and Roman coriander. Black seed is the most descriptive name, but the most accurate may be the Arabic name which translates to “seed of blessing.” It is reported that the Islamic prophet Mohammed called black seed a “remedy for all diseases except death.”What Does Black Seed Treat?
It would be impossible to discuss all of the conditions and diseases that black seed treats in this article. Black seed benefits have been studied in over 656 peer-reviewed studies as far back as 1964. The research is solid, documenting the benefits of black seed and black seed oil. Here are just a few of the well-documented benefits of black seed:
Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
A 2010 research study found that 2 grams of black seeds per day reduced fasting blood glucose readings by an average of 45 mg/dl after four weeks and 62 mg/dl at eight weeks. HbA1C readings were reduced by 1.5% after 12 weeks. Participants had decreased insulin resistance, reduced HbA1C, and increased beta-cell function. Participants had no adverse liver or kidney reactions.Helicobacter Pylori Infection
Helicobacter Pylori infection is implicated in a large number of diseases, including peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis, and gastric cancer. Black seeds were tested against triple eradication therapy using clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and omeprazole in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia and black seeds were found to be as effective as the triple antibiotic therapy.Hypertension
A randomized, double-blind study conducted in 2006 showed that 100-200 mg of Nigella Seed Extract taken twice a day for eight weeks significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values in patients with mild hypertension. Participants also experienced a decrease in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Black seed has also been shown to have positive effects on heart health. No complications were recorded during the 2-month study.
Bacterial Infections Including MRSA
MRSA is a significant health problem encountered in hospitals and clinics worldwide. It is resistant to various anti-staphylococcus agents. Laboratory testing of black seed extracts inhibited the growth of MRSA. More testing is necessary for MRSA and other resistant bacteria. However, black seed is known to have antibiotic properties.Asthma
Both animal and human studies have confirmed that boiled water extracts of black seed opens asthmatic airways, allowing easier breathing. Pulmonary function tests showed rapid improvement in asthmatic patients taking the extracts. Thymoquinone, an active compound found in black seed is a powerful anti-asthmatic.
Protects and Heals the Skin
Black seed oil has been shown to be beneficial and healing to the skin. Cleopatra, famed for her beauty is rumored to have used black seeds to enhance the health and beauty of her skin. Black seed oil contains valuable vitamins, minerals and trace elements that nourish the skin and help it heal.Black seed oil regulates the body’s immune cells and contains anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF.) TNF is a problem in some autoimmune skin diseases. Black seed oil has been shown to be beneficial when applied directly to the skin for the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections and acne.
Black Seed Oil for Skin Cancer
Black seed has been shown to have a wide range of anti-cancer effects and specific activity against squamous cell carcinomas have been shown in vitro. Black seed extracts inhibited cell reproduction and increase cell death in squamous cell carcinoma. More studies are needed, but black seed oil shows promise as a potential therapy in squamous cell skin cancers.
Digestion
Black seeds have carminative properties, meaning they aid in the reduction of gas, bloating, stomach pain and digestive problems.Candida and Fungal Infections
If you have problems with candida and fungus in the digestive system or on the skin, black seed oil may be the solution. It has been shown effective in battling candida infections.
Black Seed Supports the Immune System
Nigella Sativa contains beneficial antioxidants, acids, and vitamins that support the immune system. Black seeds appear to balance the immune system, up-regulating some functions and down-regulating others for better immune health. It appears to have a calming effect on the overactive immune reactions that cause autoimmune reactions.Many Other Uses
Black Seed (Nigella Sativa) has been documented to have over 600 beneficial effects on health. It is a powerfully healthy supplement that belongs in every medicine cabinet. Unlike many supplements, numerous studies have been done on Nigella Sativa that prove its efficacy.Medicinal Properties of Black Seed
Black seed has been used for many different diseases throughout history. If you are concerned about a specific health condition, it is easy to test black seeds or black seed oil over a period of 3 months or more to determine whether it may be effective. Also search a medical library for original research on Nigella Sativa and your condition.Black seed is known to have these medicinal properties:
- Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-virus
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-ulcer
- Anti-Hypertensive
- Antioxidant
- Antispasmodic
- Bronchodilator
- Beneficial for reducing blood sugar and regulating insulin response
- Protects the liver and kidneys
- Interferon Inducer
- Inhibits Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)
How to Use Black Seed
The easiest way to use black seed is to sprinkle the seeds on salads or in a smoothie. There is probably some benefit in crushing the seeds before just before use. Your blender will do the job when making a smoothie.Another easy way to use black seed is to add black seed oil to your juice or a smoothie. You can also take a teaspoon of the oil straight several times a day. It has a slightly spicy taste that most people don’t find objectionable. If you choose to use the oil, make sure your supply is fresh. Black seed oil can become rancid, just like other oils.
Black seed oil is considered safe for culinary use and showed no side effects in testing. However, it is always possible that some individuals will have a reaction to a new food or oil, so start slowly and make sure it is tolerated. Like other herbs, spices, and essential oils, black seed is very potent, and a little goes a long way.
PrepperGuns 101: Guns for Smaller People
The man charged straight at me. He was huge, nearly three hundred pounds and over six and a half feet of nothing but muscle and violent intent, and he was unbelievably fast. I backpedaled rapidly but coolly as I shot repeatedly.My shutter clicked and clicked, and I got one fantastic photo of a former NFL lineman completely flattening the opposing quarterback who’d tried to sweep around and up my sideline.
You get used to being the small one. I’m a poor physical match for a hand to hand fight with many of the people around me, but I’m unwilling to be cast in the role of victim. I carry a handgun at times in recognition that not all of the people around me might be willing to let me live in peace. It didn’t take long to learn, though, that a lot of gun design did not have people of my size in mind. There are some special considerations to gun choices for smaller people; and these are the topic of this post.
In long guns, compact design rules.
It’s basic physics. The longer the lever arm, the more impact the weight at the end will have. It’s also basic physics that the smallest deviations of the far end of a rifle barrel are magnified all the way to the target. That means a shooter has to hold the end of the barrel under tight control, and the farther away it is from the shooter the harder it is. When the shooter’s arms don’t reach very far along the barrel length and the barrel is heavy compared to arm strength, that’s really hard to do.
How to minimize this problem? Have the barrel end as close as possible to the body; while keeping the actual barrel length as long as possible (since the longer the expanding gas pushes the bullet, the faster it goes).
Option one: Go with carbines. Carbines are pretty normal in design but have shorter than usual barrels. There is a little decrease in bullet speeds and a bit less accurate aiming on iron sights. On the other hand, the carbine is easier to hold on target and easier to maneuver in close quarters such as within buildings or woods.
The
good old M1 Garand rifle and its carbine version. The loss of a bit of
barrel length makes a surprising difference in the ease of holding on
target without a rest.
IWI Tavor X95. The magazine being behind the hand grip allows the barrel to start very near the shoulder.
My Glock 19 fits my hand beautifully. Salty’s Glock 17 fits his. The reverses are not true. Try before you decide. Besides general hand feel, be sure to check if your fingers are long enough to activate releases and safeties.
How much finger strength does the weapon require?
Salty’s got a charming, fun Nagant pistol from pre-WWII Russia. It literally took me two hands to get the trigger pulled. Not my first choice for a self-defense handgun, you might say. Ok, most guns aren’t nearly that bad, but some magazine releases and safeties require enough force that a simple finger push won’t activate them; I have to change my angle on the grip to make it happen. That’s no good; it slows down operation of the gun and varies its position in my hand, compromising aim. Go through a full range test before you decide.
The right caliber for the job.
To be honest, I think some shooters think of caliber as a proxy for other sizes, and end up with the mindset that bigger is always better. Large calibers on compact frame handguns can really beat up your wrists, though. Would you care in a fight? Heck no. But it will discourage you from having as much range time as would be good for you. You’ve got to consider the gun’s mission though, since larger calibers do have more stopping power.
For handguns, I favor the 9 mm. It’s comfortable enough and cheap enough to fire that range time is a pleasure. If you shoot FMJ most of the time and just do a magazine of personal defense ammo every now and then to make sure the gun likes it and stay familiar with the added muzzle rise, you’re good to go. I think the extra rounds are a good trade for the lesser stopping power compared to something like a .45 caliber. Unless I’m hiking in bear country.
Ammunition
sizes. I find No. 10, the 9 mm, a good combination of lots of rounds in
the magazine with decent stopping power, but number 12, .22 long rifle,
I save for paper targets and varmints.
Pink is a nice color. Salty’s got a lovely 9 mm in pink; and a very pretty bicycle in it too. (If you don’t think pink is a manly color, you’ve never seen Mario Cipppolini win a bike race when his team’s color was pink.) But gun makers, you get nothing but disdain from me when you make gun stocks pink to attract the ‘girly market’. Bleh.
Tiny .22 handguns that can hide under the little black dress? I’ll carry a bag and something I can trust. Rimfires just aren’t reliable enough for my taste for personal defense, and even with good ammo a small number of .22 rounds coming out of a short barrel sounds doesn’t seem like enough to convincingly end the trouble.
You can conceal it … but can you count on it?
EJ Snyder "Preparedness For The Days Ahead"