http://www.backpackgeartest.org/

Excellent reviews and tests of hydration systems, packs, stoves, filters, etc, etc.  Worth a bookamrk, IMHO
=====
How someone who hands out fare cards from behind a piece of bulletproof glass is worth $55k  a year is beyond me. Nonetheless, NYC mass transit is at a standstill until they get their labor problems taken care of. How do you suppose folks are commuting? I was there for the last strike and remember seeing trucks full of people paying money just for a ride across the Brooklyn Bridge. Moral: if youre dependent on someone else for your transport, you are at their mercy.
=====
Im telling ya, a couple zip ties, some paracord, and a small roll of duct tape in you rbag turns you into McGyver…zipties (aka ‘cable ties’) are cheap, tough and damn handy. Stick a few in the bag and a few in the glovebox. You wont regret it.

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

I'm back from travelling, which always seems to spur me to make apost about how I need to have dedicated travelling guns. Why? Because it is not unrealistic to suppose that it is possible you could wind up getting caught in a Katrina-type situation and be on your own for a few days…and while its true you can live without water for three days there are some times where you wont live more than three hours without a gun.

The criteria? Pretty simple:
Common caliber, if possible, to streamline supply and resupply
Arms must be compact enough to fit in small case
Must be affordable to the point that their loss isnt a disaster

In a perfect world, it would be an AK and a Glock. But, cheap Glocks are still $400 and a decent AK is about $350~…more for a folder. Add the logistics headache of two different calibers, two types of magazines, and the possibility of getting caught in the wrong place with an 'assault rifle' and we move on to another choice…

Glock and KelTec carbine or Ruger pistol and Ruger carbine. Better choices. Requires only one type of ammo, one type of magazine. Drawbacks are the calibers….40 & 9mm. Plus the Ruger autos are cheap but the Ruger carbine isnt. And we still have the 'expensive' Glock. The KelTecs ability to fold in half has alot of appeal though.

So after much thought, I figured the way to go is a Marlin .357 and a Smith .357 (or Ruger…them Ruger guns are built like tanks). Cheap enough to assemble the package for less than $500. Caliber gives me two different chances at scrounging ammo (.357 & .38 spl.), the .357 has good stoping power, the removal of the stock makes transport of the Marlin easy. Add a ghost ring sight, sling, a pile of speedloaders for the Smith and youre good to go. The major drawback, obviously, is the limited speed of a lever action. Tradeoffs. Why not .44 carine and pistol? Certainly better terminal performance but ammo is harder to scrounge and weighs more. Yes, I could get an autoloader .44 in the Ruger but the magazines only hold 4 rounds and there are no 'hi-caps' for them.

If someone made 25-rd mags for the Ruger 10/22 Magnum (or .17 HMR) it might actually make decent choice.
=====
Lessons learned on this trip:

• Have some plastic zip ties/cable ties in your bag. They were very handy for an impromptu repair to my duffel bag in the airport.
• FRS radios are mighty handy – I waited at the luggage carousle while the brought the truck around. Coordination. It was like Princess Gate, it went so smooth.
• An Altoids tin, lined with bubble wrap will hold 6 AA-batts. good way to keep spares for the FRS and other items. Interstingly, TSA didnt have a cow about how it appeared on their x-ray machine. Oh, and line the tin with pbubble wrap because otherwise you'll discover that those tins will conduct electricity and short out your batts. 
• Double- and then triple-check your carry on for 'things you shouldnt take through security'. Seriously.
• Always carry a bottle of water, some kleenex, and a book.

I’m back from travelling, which always seems to spur me to make apost about how I need to have dedicated travelling guns. Why? Because it is not unrealistic to suppose that it is possible you could wind up getting caught in a Katrina-type situation and be on your own for a few days…and while its true you can live without water for three days there are some times where you wont live more than three hours without a gun.

The criteria? Pretty simple:
Common caliber, if possible, to streamline supply and resupply
Arms must be compact enough to fit in small case
Must be affordable to the point that their loss isnt a disaster

In a perfect world, it would be an AK and a Glock. But, cheap Glocks are still $400 and a decent AK is about $350~…more for a folder. Add the logistics headache of two different calibers, two types of magazines, and the possibility of getting caught in the wrong place with an ‘assault rifle’ and we move on to another choice…

Glock and KelTec carbine or Ruger pistol and Ruger carbine. Better choices. Requires only one type of ammo, one type of magazine. Drawbacks are the calibers….40 & 9mm. Plus the Ruger autos are cheap but the Ruger carbine isnt. And we still have the ‘expensive’ Glock. The KelTecs ability to fold in half has alot of appeal though.

So after much thought, I figured the way to go is a Marlin .357 and a Smith .357 (or Ruger…them Ruger guns are built like tanks). Cheap enough to assemble the package for less than $500. Caliber gives me two different chances at scrounging ammo (.357 & .38 spl.), the .357 has good stoping power, the removal of the stock makes transport of the Marlin easy. Add a ghost ring sight, sling, a pile of speedloaders for the Smith and youre good to go. The major drawback, obviously, is the limited speed of a lever action. Tradeoffs. Why not .44 carine and pistol? Certainly better terminal performance but ammo is harder to scrounge and weighs more. Yes, I could get an autoloader .44 in the Ruger but the magazines only hold 4 rounds and there are no ‘hi-caps’ for them.

If someone made 25-rd mags for the Ruger 10/22 Magnum (or .17 HMR) it might actually make decent choice.
=====
Lessons learned on this trip:

• Have some plastic zip ties/cable ties in your bag. They were very handy for an impromptu repair to my duffel bag in the airport.
• FRS radios are mighty handy – I waited at the luggage carousle while the bunkerbabe brought the truck around. Coordination. It was like Princess Gate, it went so smooth.
• An Altoids tin, lined with bubble wrap will hold 6 AA-batts. good way to keep spares for the FRS and other items. Interstingly, TSA didnt have a cow about how it appeared on their x-ray machine. Oh, and line the tin with pbubble wrap because otherwise you’ll discover that those tins will conduct electricity and short out your batts. 
• Double- and then triple-check your carry on for ‘things you shouldnt take through security’. Seriously.
• Always carry a bottle of water, some kleenex, and a book.

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

,Rawles' SurvivalBlog made a brief mention of the girlfiend today. Amazing the fanbase she has. It was in reference to the seismic intrusion systems we have…. we have both, the AN/PSR-1A and the wireless TRC3A. Good lovin' offa eBay.

,Rawles’ SurvivalBlog made a brief mention of the girlfiend today. Amazing the fanbase she has. It was in reference to the seismic intrusion systems we have…. we have both, the AN/PSR-1A and the wireless TRC3A. Good lovin’ offa eBay.

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/commander_zero/86226.html?thread=613842#t613842

My post about the USA today article on Bird Flu preppers generated a comment with a link to the website of the person mentioned in the story. Its worth reading – http://www.fluwikie.com/index.php?n=Consequences.FluPandemicPreparednessGuide

http://www.livejournal.com/users/commander_zero/86226.html?thread=613842#t613842

My post about the USA today article on Bird Flu preppers generated a comment with a link to the website of the person mentioned in the story. Its worth reading – http://www.fluwikie.com/index.php?n=Consequences.FluPandemicPreparednessGuide

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

“This is my boom-stick!”
You are THE ZOMBIE-KILLER.
While others are digging latrines, giving orders or
hiding, you're the one out there giving the
undead a fatal headache. Aggressive and brave
to the point of foolhardiness, you never think
twice about killing because that's what you do
best.
Typical skills: Marksmanship, melee weapons.
In your free time you: Train hard.
Chances of survival: High (though you have a
dangerous job you're a professional zombie
fighter).
Secondary class: THE PSYCHO

After The Zombie Apocalypse, Which Role Will You Fit Into? (11 possible results!)
brought to you by Quizilla

“This is my boom-stick!”
You are THE ZOMBIE-KILLER.
While others are digging latrines, giving orders or
hiding, you’re the one out there giving the
undead a fatal headache. Aggressive and brave
to the point of foolhardiness, you never think
twice about killing because that’s what you do
best.
Typical skills: Marksmanship, melee weapons.
In your free time you: Train hard.
Chances of survival: High (though you have a
dangerous job you’re a professional zombie
fighter).
Secondary class: THE PSYCHO

After The Zombie Apocalypse, Which Role Will You Fit Into? (11 possible results!)
brought to you by Quizilla

Originally published at Notes from the bunker…. You can comment here or there.

One of the LMI decided to take advantage of the weather yesterday to do a little backyard field testing of the military 'sleep system' sleeping bags that he got off of eBay. Out where he lives it was -12 last night so this was a good opportunity to test the bag. He laid a tarp on the ground, then his groundpad and then the bag. the inner bag and outer bag were used together and then the whole thing was inside its goretex bivvy sack. He was wearing socks and longunderwear and undershirt. For headgear he was wearing a headband over his eyes so they wouldnt freeze, and a hat.

He  slept out there in the yard for about five hours. Long enough for him to get the information he needed. The bag is designed with the intent that the user will be wearing his mil-issue 'bear suit' cold weather gear, and that is factored into the bags -30 rating. Our hero was not wearing the bear suit but he said that he was able to sleep and did not feel uncomfortable. He did say that it was highly advisable to have a face mask or something to keep your face from freezing since ducking your head into the bag coccoon-style would be unwise since the moisture from your breath would make things cold in a hurry.

His summation was that at -10 the bag was fine. He has doubts about its use at -30 unless youre wearing a polypro set of underwear and/or the pile/fleece bear suit. On the other hand, this was with the bag sitting outside…not in a tent, shelter, igloo, or other enclosure that might have offered some increased warmth or protection from the cold. He said its definitely worth the $190~ he paid for it.